Between Two Fires

^.^ Chapter 23 ^.^

"That's not what I'm saying-"

"It is!" Lea exclaims. "Cyan is the only girl I have come across that doesn't just let you have your way." She raises her eyebrows, daring me to disagree and I don't. She had a point, "But that doesn't mean she hates you. If i recall correctly, you are also the only person who has spilled a beer on her and stormed off after shouting at her because of...." She trails off not finishing her sentence.

Celia. The unspoken name echoes through the air for a few seconds, unspoken but its presence is clear. I sigh and it takes me a second to answer and when I do it's barely a whisper, "I know. I shouldn't have taken it out on her. I really don't know why I did.... I just lost myself for a second."

I can feel Lea's sad eyes on me and I can't bear to look at her. Lea was the only one who had seen me at my most vulnerable state after Celia. She was the only one who knew the real pain I hid behind these walls but even she had only seen it a couple of times in the past two years. 

"It's time to let go, Luca. You can't let the pain of losing her keep you from letting anyone else in. Loss is just a part of life and you are losing out by living in fear." Although her message is cryptic, it's very Lea-like and I understand it loud and clearly. I know she is trying to look for me - the old me. 

But that wasn't going to happen.

"It's to early for this conversation." I finally meet her eyes but my walls are firmly back in place. Lea recoils, knowing I am shutting her out again. Her shoulders drop in disappointment but I just shake it off.

"Fine. Well in short, my advice is as follows: Don't treat her like you do every other girl-"

"What's wrong with how i treat other girls?" I Interrupt..

"Really Luca? The last two years you've been going through girls almost as much as Ethan did in his last year of high school if not more." She grimaces. "You treat every girl like your next conquest."

She had a point. "But that doesn't mean I'm not nice to them. I also always make my intentions clear." I explain, standing my ground.

She just rolls her eyes and glares at me, "Look, it's up to you whether you take my advice or not. Also don't expect from Cyan, what you don't give to her." Her tone is clipped, making it clear that I have really pissed her off. She fixes me with her own cold glare. "And finally. Do Not Hurt Her."

"I'd never-" I try but she cuts me off.

"Ever. " She deadpans, leaving no room for discussion. 

Well, there went my option of getting her out of my system to try and move on.

******

Cyan's POV

The cold morning air tickles my skin refreshingly as I make my way out onto my porch. I had found it extremely hard to go to sleep last night which had made it even harder to wake up this morning. Thankfully, the cold breeze was helping chase away the last tendrils of sleep which were still wrapped around my sleepy brain.

I was surprisingly excited. I say surprisingly because my thoughts before finally drifting off to sleep had mainly surrounded Luca and the fact that we would be alone for the rest of the day. With no escape on my behalf since I had no way to leave if things got awkward. Now, the sun was coming out and I was excited that I might get the chance to surf again. 

The sound of a car door opening catches my attention and I look off to the road that lead's up to Luca's house. He hasn't noticed me yet and the idea to sneak up and scare him pops into my head.