My (not so) bully

•|Chapter 9|•

I knock on my door, waiting for my mom to open since she should already be home and I didn't bring my keys. She opens the door and smiles. "Leo, you're here." I nod slightly and walk inside. "Yeah. I'll be upstairs." She doesn't ask where I've been, knowing I get rather annoyed if I'm in a bad mood and people don't mind their own business. I walk inside my bedroom and close the door behind me, taking my phone from my pocket. I check it and see a few messages from Ivan. Then I call him and he answers almost right away.

-Ivan: "Leo... Where do I even start?"
-Me: "What do you mean?"
-Ivan: "About Noah, obviously!"
-Me: "Oh... About that, don't worry, he's changed of the past years."

He stays silent for a moment before speaking again.

-Ivan: "And you really believe him?"
-Me: "Well... Yes...?"
-Ivan: "Too bad! You shouldn't! What exactly has changed in him?"
-Me: "For starters, he doesn't pick up on me and is really sweet. Sure, he tends to be a bit annoying but he's really kind and even listens to me."
-Ivan: "Doesn't it sound too good to be true?"
-Me: "...What do you mean?"
-Ivan: "I mean that it could all be fake! Some stupid dare or just something to humiliate you in front of everyone. Do I have to remind you the living hell he made you go through all those years?"

This time it's me being silent. I never thought about that. But I just couldn't imagine that being all fake. He was way too sweet. Too kind. But too good to be real? It couldn't be.

-Me: "No. I remember that well. But I'm sure that he's not messing with me."
-Ivan: "How can you be? Has he even said that he's sorry?"
-Me: "Well, now that I think about it no... B-But he's probably trying to demonstrate me that he is through his actions."

I can hear him sighing through the phone.

-Ivan: "God, you're so easy to manipulate."
-Me: "Huh-?! What?!"
-Ivan: "Can't you see it?! He's definitely trying to manipulate you into falling in love with him and then he'll probably humiliate you in front of all the class or even school!"

Manipulate me? Humilate me? No, those words don't fit Noah anymore.

Right...?

-Me: "I-I have to go."

He probably knows that I need some time to think and doesn't push the topic further into my mind.

-Ivan: "Leo... Take some time to think about it and don't rush things. Take care."

He hangs up. I almost throw the phone on my bedside table and let myself fall on the bed as I stare at the ceiling. Noah? Faking all he's said to me? But what has he said to me, anyways? Ivan's right, he didn't even tell me he's sorry. So why in the world would he go from being my worst nightmare to almost my boyfriend? That doesn't make sense. Though, I'm not gonna think about the worst when I still haven't talked to him about this. So tomorrow I'll ask him during the break. I can only hope that Ivan's wrong.