Our Roundabout Love

7

Leo POV:

The diner experience with Hope was interesting. I found myself getting upset, not at her though, well at first that's what I thought but now as I'm just sitting here eating my pancakes not trying to let her know that I'm over thinking about her being on the bridge. God why am I getting upset with myself.

I knew this anger within me was for no particular reason. I was just realizing that I was letting out the side of me that no one sees. The more angered side of me. That was always lingering but I never showed. But for some reason she was bringing it out of me. Like no one else could. Which just made me more angry.

The whole bridge incident was scary and I was just smiling through it, when in actuality I wanted to show how worried I was for her but from what I know about her so far that would of been a quick way to a defensive conversation with her that I didn't feel like having at 2:00am when all I was out here to do was clear her out of my head. I think about her too much and I just don't know why. What I do know though is that I will think about her a hell of a lot more, especially after what happened today.

Damn this girl is just living rent free in my mind. What makes this even worse is that I know she isn't trying to. I just happen to be perfectly aligning with her. Like at the bridge. She said she wasn't trying to kill herself, which I believe so my actions were pointless. Normal but pointless. That's another reason why I'm mad at myself. I have found that my little savior complex was itched once again.

"We should get going." I say abruptly. She looks at me strangely as I would expect considering this came out of nowhere. "We have school tomorrow and it's getting late." I say hoping to clarify. She nods in agreement and I flag down the waitress for the bill. I pay and give her a smile telling her thank you for everything. I just see Hope storm a little in-front of me. I think she was jealous but I know better than that.

We got into the car and I decided not to play music on the way home, I only did it on the way here to make it less awkward. We sit in silence for a bit but she breaks it.

"Tell me about yourself." I looked at her with amusement but I’m sure she couldn't see me since it was dark. Was she trying to get to know me? I didn't really care why but it just made me happy.

"What do you mean?"

"What do you mean, what do I mean?" We stopped at a light and I saw her facing me now. "it's not like I'm trying to be your friend or anything but the car ride back is thirty minutes long. I might as well make conversation." I smiled at her and just continued to drive, debating on whether or not I should. "You just going to leave me hanging like that." I groaned playfully caving in.

"I mean I guess, what do you want to know?" I asked, needing some direction so I can at least satisfy her curiosities.

"How do you fake a smile so well?" The question was puzzling and endearing just like her. It threw me off to say the least and I'm glad there were no cars on the road at this hour because I'm pretty sure I would have crashed.

"Ask a real question." She laughed and moved a little bit closer to me.

"It was real, but obviously just a little too real for you." I found myself not amused by the tone in her voice, it was almost like calling me a little b***h and so did the laugh that continued well after. To say I was annoyed would be an understatement.

"Why do you pretend like you don't care?" I ask her. The laughing stopped and I found myself satisfied.

"Touché." She said with amusement and I realized at this moment I wasn't just going to go home and stop thinking about her. Or the next day after. No one has been able to see through me like that in just a mere week of talking everyday for thirty minutes. She was different or maybe I'm just egotistical and think I'm good at hiding when in reality I'm not. "Okay let's start over, why did you move to a shitty place like this."

"I didn't choose where my mom did, she said it would be a good change from the busy city life we were used to."

"That must suck being pulled away from all of your friends." I laughed out of spite for what she said. If only she knew.

"It didn't. I wasn't in that city long, only for eight months, which is longer than usual." I looked over at her to see her reaction and she seemed confused so I clarified. "Me and my mom have lived in a lot of cities so I just never really made any long lasting relationships."

"Sounds exhausting." I was a little intrigued by her answer because most people say that my lifestyle sounded interesting, and fun. I for sure thought that was what she was going to say considering she's only lived here her whole life and hates every second of it.

"It's not that bad."

"Still must be rough though, I might not like living here but the consistency has at least been somewhat comforting." I smiled but I'm sure she couldn't see it.

"Enough about me, what about you?" She immediately turned away and looked towards the window.

"There is nothing to know Leo." I frowned at her and shoved her shoulder lightly.

"What I'm not going to do is share one sidedly." She shoved my shoulder lightly back and sighed.

"Me and my mom don't get along that well, my best friend is my brother and everyone in this area hates me." I pulled into my driveway since she lives right next door. I stared at her happy that she gave me a little sliver of herself.

"What's up with you and your mom?"

"We just see things differently. I live my life in the complete opposite way she envisioned it." I nodded understanding what she meant. My dad and I have the same relationship.

"I think you're fine just the way you are." I turned away immediately because I didn't mean for it to slip out but it did. This is embarrassing.

"You don't even know me, it's only been a week." I turned back around and let out a laugh. I'm glad she didn't make it awkward but as I finally looked at her face I saw the shade of pink in her cheeks that were only able to be seen because of my porch lights. She looks cute like this. She normally does but it was nice to see a side that wasn’t cold or forced like when she first met me but I knew not to get used to this because she was still a mile away.

Her face shifted and along with that so did her distant demeanor "I think I should get going. I have to be back home before my family wakes up." All good things must come to an end I guess.

"Okay, Miss.Blush-A-Lot." I could tell I caught her off guard by the way her head snapped back to me.

"Shut up d**k face!" It was evident that she was uncomfortable so I didn't push her further than I needed to. She unbuckled her seat belt and went to open the door but I stopped her light putting my hand on her shoulder.

"What now Leo?" Her voice screamed irritated but I wasn't going to let that stop me.

"Will you go out with me tomorrow?" She laughed while putting herself back in my car.

"You're joking."

"I would never." I say, cracking a big smile.

"Do you like me or something?" The high and mighty tone in her voice made me laugh.

"I like talking to you." She looked at me skeptically. I just wanted her to say yes already.

"You're weird but fine and we are just going to hang out which isn't going to lead to anything." I rolled my eyes. I decided a long time ago that I didn't want this to get to that point. I just wanted to talk to her. It was crazy to me too but just like I said I can't get her out of my head. So what's the point of trying?

"Yeah okay just meet me at the bridge and don't die before I get there." i joked she rolled her eyes and got out of the car but to my surprise she knocked on the window. I rolled it down and she leaned down.

"Bye Leo."