Happiness
1718 Words
Still no word from Leon. I knew I messed things up. Lilly bursts into my room.
Lilly: Briggs just texted me. Leon has a thing for you!
Me: What?!
Lilly: Yeah. The reason he really left yesterday is that he knows you just got out of a relationship. So he doesn't want to pressure you right back into one, so he's trying to keep his distance.
Me: So he's single?
Lilly: Yep. And apparently he's got his eyes on you.
I don't know what to do with this information. I hide my face. I pick up my phone and clutch it to my chest.
Me: I have to call him.
Lilly: You can't. He doesn't know that you know he likes you.
I think for a moment. I can call and apologize and see if he wants to come over. I raised my finger to her and made the call. He doesn't answer. It goes to voicemail. Here goes nothing. I took a deep breath and started speaking.
Me: Hi Leon. It's me Melanie. I'm really sorry if I spooked you, but im not sorry about the kiss. Something in me felt it was right. I'd like you to come over. I really have to tell you something and I would prefer to tell you in person. When you get this message, call me back.
A few minutes later, I saw Leon's name pop up on my phone. I answer immediately.
Me: Hello?
Leon: Hey. You called?
Me: Yeah. Can you come over?
Leon: I'm actually downstairs. We are headed up. I'll see you soon.
I look at Lilly.
Me: He's already here.
Lilly: Oh yeah. I forgot to mention that he was coming by. Its game night.
I grab her hand.
Me: It's makeover time!
We rush to the bathroom and get ourselves dolled up. She does her magic just like she did before and I look good. She gave me an outfit to put on. Girl should have a career in fashion. She hands a cute black strapless dress that stops right above my knees paired with some black lace-up heels. I rushed to my room and put it on. When I came out, the boys were already sitting on the couch. Leon sees me and smiles.
Leon: You look great.
Me: Thanks. You look good too.
I feel all eyes on us. I look over and saw Kai looking at me. I wave. He quickly gets up and walks out the door.
Me: Is he ok?
Leon: Yeah. He's fine.
I felt weird knowing that he left when I waved to him. I brushed it off as him having a bad day. Clearing my throat, I grabbed Leon's hand. It feels weird taking his hand for once, but I like it. I pulled him towards my room. I close the door.
Leon: You want me that bad?
I start shoving him out of the room.
Leon: I'm kidding. I'm kidding. I got your voicemail. So what did you want to tell me?
My head is looking at the ground. I look up and tell him what I feel.
Me: So after you left yesterday, I did a lot of thinking and realized I am developing an attraction to you. When you said that to my ex, I thought, what if I was his girl? I would probably be happy. And so I decided I want to be your girlfriend.
He stands there not saying anything. Lilly was wrong. He doesn't like me back. He grabs my hand and kisses it.
Leon: I'd love it if you were my girl, but I don't want to rush things. How about we go on a date right now?
Me: But it's game night. Won't everyone be mad?
Leon: No. They're gonna owe us.
Me: What do you mean?
He raises a finger to his lips. He slowly backs up to the door and flings it open. Lilly and Briggs are at the door. They scurry away like cats.
Leon: See? They owe us. Get whatever you need and let's go.
I grab my phone and we leave my room. We walk right past them, who refuse to make eye contact with us. We headed down the hall to the elevator to get in the car. When we got there, Kai was smoking a cigarette. He looks up and notices us.
Kai: Heading out?
Leon: Yeah. Just taking a drive.
Kai: I see you wasted no time. Have fun.
Kai scoffs and walks into the building. Leon stares him down as he walks away. I felt the tension between them. He opens my door like he has always done since the day we met and I get in. He closes my door and we drive off.
Me: I really think something is wrong with Kai.
Leon: He's fine. Are you hungry?
Me: Not really.
We went to a drive-thru ice cream shop. I order a cheesecake milkshake and he gets a chocolate shake. We drive to a park.
Me: I remember this park.
Leon: It's where we came to when we left the burger joint.
He gets out and once again opens my door. He offers his hand. I accept it. We walked down to the pier where I told him my story. We take our shoes off and slip our feet into the water.
Leon: You know that night was the night I started feeling my attraction to you. Not because of pity but because i knew your pain so well.
Me: What do you mean?
Leon: I guess it's my turn now. Did Lilly tell you anything?
Me: She told you about your parents and how you guys adopted Kai.
Leon: Well then I guess I'll skip to life now. Once we finished school, Lilly, Kai, and I moved out. We got jobs and got our own place together. Our parents paid the first few months for us. Lilly worked as a bartender where Briggs was a security guard. Lilly, I guess, had an instant attraction to Briggs. Kai works in IT and I work in a warehouse. He has been in a few relationships, but it has been a while since he has been in another one since those. And I met a girl named Summer. She seemed so great. Just like with Daniel, everything was great until she started "working late". I thought my girl was making money, but she was actually working everyone in the town's pipes if you know what I mean. I didn't believe it until one day I came home, and she was in our bed with another guy. I realized if a girl this sweet is capable of doing this, then all women are. Luckily, my family was there for me. So that day I gave up on love until I saw you.
There are tears in my eyes. He was abandoned and cheated on. Yet here he is sharing his story and smiling at me.
Leon: I didn't tell you to this make you sad.
Me: I'm sorry. I just never want you to go through that again.
Leon: Well, if you become my girlfriend, hopefully I won't.
Me: You won't.
I grab his hand. He leans in and snatches my shake. He takes a big sip. I leaned forward towards the water and splashed water on him. He puts my shake down and splashes me back. I asked for everything in his pockets. He looks puzzled but hands it to me. I take a picture of myself and make it my contact photo on his phone. I then get up and rush everything to the car. I sent Lilly a quick text saying I'm sorry about her outfit. I ran back and pushed him in the water.
He doesn't come back up. Oh no! Can he not swim? I doubt that because he saved me that night. Did I just kill him? I dropped over the edge of the dock and searched the water. Something jumps out and grabs me. Its Leon.
Leon: Haha. That's what you get.
I swam away and started splashing him. He splashes me back. Eventually, we stop and swim back towards each other. Then we were floating in front of each other.
Leon: Well, that was unexpected for a first date.
Me: This is the most fun I've ever had on a date. I feel like I can finally be myself.
He gets closer and puts his arms around me. He just holds me, with no intention of trying to go for a kiss. He just continues to hold me. I wrap my arms around his neck. I break the silence by asking a question.
Me: How old are you?
Leon: Seriously?
Me: Yes. You never told me or mentioned it.
Leon: I'm twenty-seven. You?
Me: I'm twenty-five.
His eyes widened. Didn't think someone's eyes could go that wide.
Leon: Are you telling me you were with that guy for seven years and never had s*x?
I look away, and he turns my head back towards him.
Leon: Look. It's nothing to be embarrassed about. I'm just kind of shocked you were able to go that long.
Me: I always wanted my first to be special.
Leon: Will you go out with me?
Me: Wait what?!
Leon: Before you get any idea. I'm not asking because of what you just said. Probably bad timing.
Me: You think?
Leon: I do like you. I don't want to let the chance slip away.
Me: Ok. Yes.
He holds me closer. I hugged him back. We stay like that for a while.
We swam back towards the dock. We allow ourselves to dry off a bit, then get back in the car. We drove back home. When we arrive, everyone is outside. We get out of the car, and he grabs my hand to kiss it. Everyone seems to know what that means because Lilly gives me a hug and Briggs says congrats. Kai, on the other hand, looks mad, upset, even defeated.
I can't believe how happy I am right now, but I also feel down. Like I did something wrong. I have great friends and a great boyfriend. I don't know what more I could ask for right now. But somethings eating at Kai.
- Writer
