Leonardo Decashier

One: gas station

Abby

7:45, Monday, Abby's car

"What do you mean you're not coming?! This meeting could guarantee your admission into practically any college in Texas. I thought this was important to you." I sighed, turning off the car radio so I could hear him better. Andrew cared a lot about my goals, always pushing me to join this club and that scholarship competition. It was touching, but now wasn't the time. 

I sighed before saying "It is important to me. I just need some time to breathe. Look," I drummed my fingertips across the steering wheel, trying to think of something to make him feel at ease. "I'll come to the next one, I promise. I just need a day off. With cheer rehearsals and student council responsibilities, and the 5 page english essay due Thursday... I can barely hear myself think. And you should think about some time off, too. You just got a new job, and I heard Ms. Johnson giving you a hard time about your project."

"Okay, I get it. I'll cover for you at cheer practice, okay? Take the time off. You need it."

I smiled, thankful for someone understanding my exhaustion. "Thanks, Andy. I'll talk to you later."

Turning the music back up, I debated between my 70s or 80s playlist. Maybe put Calvin Harris on shuffle... I settled with my 80s one and listened to a few songs before pulling up the flourescently lit gas station with a single car in the lot. That's... settling. I finished the ending to "Loving Touching Squeezing" by Journey, and then grabbed my keys and headed out. 

I wanted to hurry and grab just a few things so I could go home and start on my temporary vacation with a fat sleep. Noticing the empty counter, I shrugged it off and grabbed my typical red Gatorade, Reese's minis, and a new Journey's Greatest Hits CD for my car. I walked up to the counter, seeing a tall figure behind it in my peripheral vision. Without looking up, I said "Just these and uh.. $10 on 5, thanks." I looked up from rummaging in my wallet to see why they weren't speaking. 

He had light green eyes, messy blonde hair, and his face was stuck in a scowl while holding the Journey CD. I would be lying if I said he wasn't the cutest teenager I'd ever seen, but it was strange considering I'd never seen him and there was only one high school in this town.

"Is there a problem, sir?"

He finally looked up and said "Really? Journey?" 

Oh no. I went off before I could stop myself. "Oh I see the problem. You have an underdeveloped music taste. That's fine, maybe it will get better as you age. Again, I want just these and $10 on 5, thank you."

He laughed, like an angel with dimples, before saying "Geez, can't handle a person's opinion conflicting your own? Makes sense I guess, miss homecoming queen."

I wanted to like him, I really did, just because he was so handsome. But he needed to be put in his place.

"First of all, I'm fine with people having conflicting opinions, as long as they are justified. And I just can't see you will ever be able to justify that stupid opinion. Also, how do you know I was homecoming queen? I've literally never seen you before, Mr..." I squinted at his name tag. "Leonardo." 

He groaned and wiped his eyes, keeping a smirk on his face. "Okay, that'll be $17.83, thanks and goodnight."

I scoffed, keeping a smile on my face I didn't even realize was there. "Oh hold up mister, what's all that about? Did I say something?" He kept his smirk holding up his hands to feign innocence. "Oh, nothing."

I chuckled, setting down my wallet and crossing my arms. "No really. What's the deal?"

"Don't worry about it. All you should be worrying about is the paper due Thursday for Mr. Forest," he said, widening his smirk.

"How did you..." My heart dropped. 

"There's no way," I said, coming closer to him to get a better look.

"Yep. We've had home period together since the ninth grade. You've copied off half of my science quizzes, sat in front of me all last year, we were even lab partners our sophomore year.  The whole year. And not once have you bothered learning my name. Pretty sure you've called me Jason, Adam, Chance.. that was the worst. I really hated that name."

I scrunched up my eyes, unfolded my arms. "I am so..."

He laughed lightly, putting my items in a bag and sliding my card and receipt over the counter. "It's alright, Abby. It was a pleasure being used for answers. It kind of made me feel smart. Really, not a big deal."

I picked up the bag, trying to rack my brain for why I'd lost the ability of facial recognition. How could I have not recognized him? 

"Did you change your hair? Lose some weight?"

"Nope. I've always kept the same, dazzling look. I mean, to give you credit you don't really pay attention to most people. I mean you've been calling Emily Danny for the past year. I mean honestly how do you even come up with all these names? Kind of impressive."

I stared in shock. I guess keeping myself so busy turned me into some kind of working robot. I felt so guilty, not even bothering to learn my classmates names. It kind of made sense, with meetings and rehearsals, competitions, tests... I'd just slid past the social part completely, besides with Andrew. 

He laughed at my expression. "Abby. Are you okay? Look how about this, I forgive you for your years of ignoring my existence, and you can forgive me for insulting Journey. Are we cool?"

I shook out of it, gathering my things only to proceed leaning forward on the counter. "No, it's not okay. But I'm going to make it up to you."

He raised his eyebrows, the smirk dissolving. "Oh?"

"Yes. Starting off with music. I'm gonna give you a complete musical awakening. Give me your phone"

He kept staring for a second before pulling his phone from his black jeans pocket.

I typed in my name into his contact list, adding a smiley face at the end and texting a quick "hi" so I would be able to find his number later. 

"Look," I started, handing his phone back. "I'm not going to school tomorrow, I have to... figure some things out. But we'll be in touch. We'll be in touch very soon, Leonardo."

He smiled at me, crossing his arms. "I think that's the first time you've got it right."

I smiled back, walking to the clear door to exit. "I won't ever mess it up again."