Sun-Kissed Hearts (girlxgirl)

Chapter Twenty

As the phone rang, Michael's mind raced with a whirlwind of emotions. He couldn't bear the thought of Leah being upset or hurt because of the cruel words on social media.

Leah's voice sounded on the other end of the line, but it was different from usual – strained, guarded. "Hey, Michael," she said, her tone lacking its usual warmth.

"Leah, are you okay?" Michael blurted out, his concern evident in his voice.

There was a moment of silence on the other end before Leah responded. "Yeah, I'm fine," she replied, but Michael could hear the underlying tension in her voice.

"No, you're not," Michael insisted, his worry growing with each passing second. "Leah, what's going on? What did you see?"

Leah hesitated, her breath catching in her throat. "It's nothing, really," she said, her words sounding unconvincing even to her own ears.

But Michael wasn't buying it. He could sense the turmoil in Leah's voice, the hurt that she was trying so hard to hide. "Leah, please, just tell me," he pleaded, his heart aching at the thought of Leah in distress.

Finally, Leah relented, her voice barely above a whisper. "Someone posted a picture of us on social media," she confessed, her words laced with bitterness. "And the comments... they're awful, Michael. They're saying the most horrible things about us."

Michael's heart sank as he listened to Leah's words. He felt a surge of anger rising within him – anger at the faceless cowards who had dared to attack Leah, anger at himself for not being there to for her.

"Leah, I'm so sorry," Michael said, his voice filled with regret. "I should have been there for you. I should be with  you right now."

Leah's voice softened, her tone tinged with sadness. "It's not your fault, Michael," she said, her words a balm to his wounded heart. "None of this is."

But Michael couldn't shake the feeling of guilt that gnawed at him. He wished he could hold Leah in his arms, to chase away the hurt and the pain. "Leah, I promise you, I'll find out who did this," he vowed, his voice firm with determination.

Leah's breath hitched, and for a moment, Michael feared she was about to cry. But then, to his relief, she let out a shaky laugh. "You always were the protective type, weren't you?" she said, the hint of a smile in her voice.

Michael couldn't help but smile too, despite the seriousness of the situation. "Yeah, well, someone's gotta look out for you," he replied, his voice gentle with affection.

There was a moment of silence between them, but it wasn't uncomfortable. It was the kind of silence that spoke volumes – a silent understanding, a shared bond that transcended words.

Finally, Leah spoke again, her voice soft but resolute. "Thank you, Michael," she said, her words echoing with sincerity. "Thank you for always being there for me."

Michael felt a surge of warmth fill his chest at Leah's words. "Always," he promised, his voice steady with determination. "I'll always be here for you, Leah. No matter what."

And in that moment, as they stood on opposite ends of the phone line, Michael knew – knew with absolute certainty – that he would do whatever it took to protect Leah, to stand by her side through thick and thin.

                                                                       *********        

Leah's fingers scrolled through her phone screen, her eyes scanning the cruel words that had been hurled at her. Each comment felt like a dagger to her heart, a reminder of the ugliness that lurked beneath the surface of social media.

Lost in her thoughts, Leah didn't notice Nathan approaching until he was standing right beside her. His presence startled her, but she quickly composed herself, tucking her phone away.

"Hey, Nathan," she greeted, forcing a smile despite the turmoil raging inside her.

Nathan returned the smile, but there was something in his eyes – a sadness, a vulnerability – that made Leah's heart ache. "Hey, Leah," he replied, his voice tinged with a hint of melancholy.

Leah studied Nathan's face, noting the lines of worry etched into his features. "Is everything okay?" she asked, her concern evident in her voice.

Nathan hesitated for a moment, as if debating whether to confide in her. But then, with a sigh, he began to speak, his words tumbling out in a rush. "It's Paige," he admitted, his voice heavy with emotion. "She's been so distant lately, always busy with Ava. It's like she doesn't have time for me anymore."

Leah's heart went out to Nathan, knowing how much he cared for Paige. "I'm sorry, Nathan," she said, her voice soft with sympathy. "Have you talked to her about it?"

Nathan shook his head, a bitter laugh escaping his lips. "What's the point?" he replied, his voice tinged with bitterness. "She's always so wrapped up in her own world, she wouldn't even notice if I was gone."

Leah reached out and placed a comforting hand on Nathan's shoulder. "I'm sure that's not true," she said, her voice gentle but firm. "Paige loves you, Nathan. She just might not realize how much you need her right now."

Nathan's eyes glistened with unshed tears, and Leah felt her heart break for him. "It's not just Paige," he confessed, his voice barely above a whisper. "My parents are separating. Turns out, my dad's been cheating on my mom with his secretary."

Leah gasped, a surge of shock coursing through her veins. "Nathan, I'm so sorry," she said, her words filled with genuine sorrow. "That's terrible."

Nathan nodded, his shoulders sagging with the weight of his pain. "I hate them, Leah," he admitted, his voice trembling with emotion. "I hate them for tearing our family apart, for betraying my mom like that."

Leah wrapped her arms around Nathan, pulling him into a gentle embrace. "I'm here for you, Nathan," she said, her voice soft but resolute. "Whatever you need, whatever you're going through – I'm here."

As Leah held Nathan in her arms, comforting him through his pain, she felt a sense of closeness and connection that she had never experienced before. She could feel the weight of his sorrow, the depth of his despair, and she was determined to do whatever she could to ease his burden.

As Nathan's tears began to subside and his breathing steadied, he pulled back slightly, his eyes searching hers with a newfound intensity. And then, before Leah could even process what was happening, he leaned in closer, his lips hovering just inches from hers.

Leah's heart skipped a beat, her mind racing as she tried to make sense of the sudden shift in their dynamic. She knew that Nathan was vulnerable, that he was hurting, but she never expected him to turn to her in this way – not when he was still reeling from the revelation about his parents, not when he was still so raw with emotion.