Billy's Burgers

MARLEY

Billy's Burgers is the most popular fast food diner in all of Redwoods.

It's safe to say that every popular click comes here to eat after school, including Luca and his posse.

And wherever Luca goes, I go.

Not because I stalk him, but because he has great taste in food.

Lilith sits across from me as she patiently taps her forefinger against the table.

Although it's routine for us to race here before the after school traffic can beat us, to wait for Luca and his friends to arrive, Lilith is always grumpy until we order.

And me, not being Luca's stalker, always forces us to wait to order until he arrives so that I can stand behind him and pretend I'm a part of his group.

Lilith likes to call me insane. I prefer the term strategic.

The front bell goes off and I glance over my shoulder, biting my lip when I see him walk in with his football playing friends behind him.

I swear his contagious smile brightens the room. His blonde curly hair shines in the sun's light, and I swear I see a halo above his head.

I can't tear my gaze away from him as they make their way to the front counter.

Fingers snap in front of my face, and I turn to scowl at Lilith, "I'm not a dog. Stop doing that."

She smirks and leans forward, "I'll stop doing it when you stop acting like one."

I huff out an offended breath, "I'm not. I'm simply admiring what has graced my presence."

She rolls her eyes, "Whatever. Can we get in line now?"

My smile widens and I nod my head. I'm quick to scoot out of our corner booth and make a beeline for the front counter.

My palms grow sweaty as I stand behind Luca and his group of friends as one starts his order.

"By the way," Lilith says as she peers over me and watches them with annoyance. "My mom's… church is having a buffet next weekend. Do you want to come?"

My head whips around, "Buffet? Yes please! Your moms cooking is the best." I exclaim. I gasp when my shoulder suddenly rams into the person behind me, and my eyes widen.

I quickly turn around to find Luca staring at me. My shoulder throbs from the impact, buffets stuck in the back of my head as I stare into his beautiful green eyes.

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry. I have no idea how that happened," I hiss out at him. "I wasn't even paying attention. I was talking to my friend and I guess I got too excited. I mean who doesn't get excited about food? It's so yummy." Oh my god I need to shut my mouth, "She invited me to a buffet and her moms cooking is the best. Not that fast food isn't good either. It's why I'm here. To eat fast food,"

My rambling cuts off when Lilith puts her hand over my mouth. I cringe back, replaying my words in my head and can't help but feel idiotic. Why did I keep going? I should've left it at the apology.

Luca chuckles, and my face turns red. He'll never talk to me again. At least, not on purpose. Not that he has before.

"It's okay," He says, eyes glued to Liliths hand on my mouth. I clear my throat and pull her hand down, shooting her a thankful look.

She smirks at me.

"You're Steph's cousin, right?" He asks with furrowed brows.

I swallow down my squeal, Luca knows who I am!

"Yeah! Uh, my name is Marley." I nod my head and cross my arms over my chest. "And this is Lilith," I jab my thumb back at her.

He glances at her and gives her a tight smile, "Right."

The bell goes off again, and I have no doubt more students from school are starting to arrive.

"You just gonna stand there or are you gonna order?" A deep voice bites out from behind me. My body freezes at the dark presence that looms over me, and my eyes widen.

My heart skips a beat in my chest at the annoyance that leaked into his voice, and I suddenly find it hard to move.

"Huh?" Luca asks with furrowed brows.

He glances behind him to see his friends had all sat down at their regular booth and the girl at the register is waiting for him to order.

"Shit, my bad man." He gives Ares a tight smile and turns to order his food.

Sucking in a breath, I turn to look at Lilith, to see if she's freaking out as much as I am, but she only looks annoyed.

Right. She wasn't the one he was glaring at the entire time during lunch period.

I was.

Suddenly I find myself staring into dark onyx eyes, narrowed to slits as he glares down at me. I have to tilt my head back to get a good look at him, because Ares Abernathy stands a little over six feet tall, and I barely come up to his pectorals.

Luca is only five feet and nine inches.

His skin is tan, a few shades darker than Lucas' pale self. Ares is also more muscular, with thick bulging arms and broader shoulders. He has a gold ring piercing his left eyebrow, and a dog tag hanging around his neck.

Are those veins sticking out?

"What?" He grits out between clenched teeth and I snap my gaze back to his. My face flushes with heat, and I whip myself around to face forward again.

What are he and his friends doing here? They never come here. Ever! Are they suddenly craving burgers? Is he here to glare at me some more?

I bite down on my tongue to hold in the groan that wants to escape. I could barely handle it at lunch. I'd hardly be able to eat if he does it again.

Luca is still ordering. For once, I urge him to hurry, because standing in front of Ares is going to drive me insane. And not in the same way I am for Luca.

Lilith snorts at my side and I elbow her hard in the ribs.

"Oh, fuck," She hisses out.

I squeak out when a puff of hot air brushes the back of my neck.

"It's kind of pathetically obvious how wet you are for your cousins boyfriend." Ares mutters.

My back grows stiff as goosebumps line my skin. What in the world did he say?

I don't turn around. I don't know what to say to that. The only person who knows about my obsession for Luca is Lilith, and she wouldn't tell a soul.

He chuckles behind me and I sigh in relief when Luca offers a small smile before going to his booth. I watch him walk away with a dreamy smile, hes always so nice to everyone. He's like a saint.

A large hand gently pushes me forward, "Hurry the fuck up," Ares snaps from behind me, "Other people want to fucking order."

My ears burn as I quickly shuffle forward and give the girl my order. My hands curl into the hem of my shirt as I shift from foot to foot as I wait for Lilith to give hers.

Don't look back, don't look back, don't look back. I repeat the chant into my head over and over.

"Disgusting," I hear him mutter. "Who the hell flirts with their cousin's boyfriend anyway?"

My body freezes.

"A whore?" One of his friends, I don't know who, offers.

Hot coals sear into my heart and I suck in a breath. Shame like I've never felt before consumes me, and I blink back the tears that threaten to escape.

I'm not a whore. I've never slept with anyone, or even kissed anyone before.

I'm not a whore?

I barely notice when Lilith grabs my hand and drags us back to our booth, all the while shooting daggers at Ares.

I peak over my shoulder at him, and see the frown marring his pretty lips, his dark eyes glaring back at me.