Leo
"What? Why" She asked. I could already see the worry in her eyes.
"The men that came to your house the other night didn't want to hurt your family they wanted to take you, but since that failed they've decided to convince you to go with them some other way" I said afraid she would react badly.
And she did.
"What!? My family is in danger and you brought me here!?"
"I-"
"No. Take me back right now" She said and crossed her arms.
"Just listen to me-"
"I don't want to! Take me back, I want to be with my family. I can't believe you would be so irresponsible. You could've at least told me when you saw me-"
She kept yelling and yelling, not letting me explain and I was getting worked up. I didn't want to fight with her, I really didn't but I couldn't control my anger.
"Shut up and listen to me!" I yelled and grabbed her hands, "Your house is fucking guarded, okay? I made sure no one would try anything the moment I found out about this"
Not even one day together and we're fighting. Maybe asking her that while we're trying to get her out of this mess wasn't the best idea.
But I wanted her and I wanted her to be mine. I couldn't explain why I had become so drawn to her in just a couple months, but she was all I could think about.
She looked at me in confusion, "Guarded? How?"
"I have connections" I said.
Please don't ask anything.
"What do you mean?"
Fuck.
"You know you never told me where you work" She realized squinting her eyes studying my face.
I felt guilty and anxious. I didn't want to lie to her, but she would probably freak out and hate me if she found out. I was just like the people she was protecting herself from, or worse. I was lying to her face, keeping secrets from her that I knew would bother her if she knew. I felt terrible.
"I'm-I'm" I panicked not being able to come up with something.
"You can't tell me that either can you? She mumbled hugging herself and looking down. She looked so disappointed and sad that I wanted to tell her everything right then and there.
"I know nothing about you, yet you know so much about me. I know you can't tell me everything, but at least give me something. I feel stupid being with someone I know nothing about"
She was absolutely right, she shouldn't be with someone who she knows nothing about.
But I was so happy she said yes. It was selfish of me, but I would eventually tell her everything.
"Wait here" I said and started walking to my room.
I took out a box from my closet. I never thought I'd ever want to see this again, but here I was, taking this out again for a girl.
But she wasn't just any girl. She was Tessa and if I couldn't show her my present, I would at least show her a bit of my past.
I walked back into the living room with the box in my hands. She was now sitting on the couch and I sat down next to her.
"What's this?" She asked scooting closer to me. I smiled at the action.
"I can't talk to you about what's happening in my life now, but I can tell you a bit about my past if you want to know"
The moment I said that I saw her whole expression change. Her eyes brightened up and she smiled, "Of course I do!" She said excitedly.
I opened the box bracing myself for what I was about to see. It was full of photographs with me and my family or our drawings. I went back and took it a year after I left. It was almost all there was left in that house.
"Who are these people?" She asked.
"This is my mom and my dad" I said pointing to a photo. It had been years ever since I lost them, but I still felt all the sadness, "And this is my little brother and me"
"You were so cute" She giggled and took the photo to look at it closely, She looked at me then back at the photo, "You look just like your dad" She said.
By the time she said that I was on the verge of tears but I was trying really hard to not let my emotions show. I didn't want to make her sad.
"And your mom is so beautiful. What are these?" She asked pulling out a few drawings.
I took a deep breath to stop my voice from trembling,"Drawings, my brother enjoyed drawing and we spent a lot of time doing that" I said.
"Is that you and your mom?" She asked looking at a photo of my mom holding me as a baby.
"Yes" I said but my voice cracked. She immediately looked at me and her expression changed from curious to worried.
"Are you okay?" she asked putting her hand on mine. I hummed in reply not trusting my voice. I took her hand in mine and squeezed it gently, "We can stop looking through them if want to" She said.
"No, you deserve to know about me. You're right" I said.
"It's okay, I appreciate you showing me this, we can stop now"
She was so mad and disappointed a few minutes ago but now she was so kind and understanding.
"I'm sorry I just miss them" I said and a tear escaped me. I cursed mentally and dropped my head so that my hair would cover my face and she wouldn't see.
"What happened to them?" She asked.
"Some people broke into our house and they killed them. I was the only one who got away. I took the car and drove away when I realized it was too late. I could bare drive but I had to"
Should I tell her about the girl I saw that day? I was positive it was her, but that was the day her mom was killed and I decided to not make her any more sad.
It was hard for me to finish the story. I said it very slowly to make sure my voice didn't crack or tremble. I didn't want her to see me like this.
But when she gently pushed my head on her shoulder and wrapped her arms around me I couldn't help but break into tears.
"It's okay to miss them and be sad. You don't have to hold it in"
"I didn't want you to see me like this" I said quietly.
"Why?" She asked and put her hands on my face pulling me back to look at me.
"I d-didn't want to make you sad"
"You make me happy by sharing this with me" She said giving me a warm smile and stroking my cheeks.
She leaned in and gave me a peck on the lips. It was a simple peck but the feeling it caused me was unbelievable and I wanted to feel it again and again.
"Do that again" I told her lost in the moment.
"This?" She leaned in for another peck but I put my hand on the back of her neck and kept her there with my lips on hers.
There was no sadness anymore, no pain. It was just her and me. There was no stupid mafia, there was no one after Tessa, nothing keeping us apart as long as I had her close to me.
As the kiss got deeper, she let out a sweet sound and pulled back and looked down in embarrassment. I rested my forehead on hers and pulled her chin up to make her look at me, "I want to hear you. I want it all"
She gulped looking at me. She looked so cute and embarrassed and it was a contrast to her usually confident and bold self. I loved seeing new sides of her. Especially knowing she only showed them to me.
I chuckled at her reaction and pecked her lips again, "Or maybe I should take you home now. It's getting late" I said.
She took a few minutes to process what I'd said, "Oh! Yes, of course"
"Let's go then" I said standing up.
We got ready and got in the car. I didn't really like having the radio on but she liked that, so it didn't bother me that much now.
"Leo, how did you find out about my family and I being in danger?" She asked suddenly.
I didn't know how to answer that. What was I supposed to tell her? That I kept one of the guys that tried to broke in and tortured him until he told me everything? No.
I cleared my throat trying to find an excuse but she was quick to notice, "You can't tell me that either" She said in a quiet voice lowering her gaze.
"I'm sorry" I said not knowing what else to say.
We kept quiet until we reached her house. I grabbed her hand and made her look at me before she could leave, "I won't let anything happen to any of you. You're safe, I promise" I said.
"Thank you" She said. She looked hesitant for a moment before leaning in and giving me a quick kiss and leaving me with a stupid smile and my eyes still closed.
Stupid feelings.
__________
"What!?" Nate and I both yelled in shock.
"What am I going to do?" Ares said to himself as he lowered his head and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"How did he die?" Nate asked.
"It's supposedly suicide, but this man owned money to so many people like us that I am not convinced" He sighed.
"So you're telling me you didn't do it" Nate said crossing his arms.
"Of course not" Ares said defensively mirroring Nate's action.
"Right, whatever helps you sleep at night. Are you going to the funeral?" Nate said.
"Yes"
We were all silent for a few seconds before Nate started laughing.
"You have never even talked to her and you're going to her dad's funeral?" He said still laughing.
"I have once" He mumbled.
"Whatever Riri" Nate said.
I couldn't help but chuckle.
"Don't call me that!"
"Can we at least come?" Nate asked grabbing my hand.
"No"
I was honestly relieved that he didn't want us to go. Tessa was Serenity's best friend and if Tessa saw me there she would have even more questions. She already had enough and everytime she came up with a question I couldn't answer I felt like absolute shit. It had been a few days since the day I asked her to be my girl.
I shouldn't have asked her to be my girl. I'm so bad for her, what was I thinking?
But I wanted her to be that for me. I wanted it to work.
"So lame " Nate said rolling his eyes, "Do you know who will take care of her now?"
"Right, yeah. Sure someone will" Ares said. It looked a bit awkward but I let it go.
Nate however didn't.
"Very convincing" Nate mumbled, "Anything you have in mind, Riri?" He asked with a smirk.
"Yes, I was actually thinking that if you call me that again I'll pull your tongue out of your throat"
"Ooh hot"
"That's it. Get out. Both of you" Ares said firmly and pointed at the door.
Nate rolled his eyes and left and I followed right behind him.
"Wait" Ares said, "There's this new guy, Vincent. Nate, can you keep an eye on him?"
"Yes, boss" Nate mocked.
I spent the whole day lost in my thoughts.
How will I get Tessa out of this mess without involving them? How will I keep her a secret? How will I keep them a secret?
I texted Tessa to ask her if she's okay, but she didn't reply until next morning. She was probably busy comforting her best friend.
The next day Ares told us he wanted to go to the school to see if Serenity was okay.
Tessa replied the next morning asking me if I could pick her up from school and I was dying to see her. I'd missed her so much and the only thing on my mind was her and the whole situation, but I couldn't go. Ares would be there and I couldn't let him see me. That's why I said I'm too busy and I can't come today.
She replied with a simple "ok" which made me feel like shit. I was a shitty boyfriend, but I was only protecting her.
Protecting her from my best friends.
They would probably be offended if they found out. Especially Nate.
"Leo!" I heard someone yell and snapping their fingers at me.
It was Nate.
"Sorry I was thinking"
"Shocking" He pretended to gasp in shock.
I rolled my eyes, "What do you want?" I asked.
"You've been really distant. I'm worried" Nate said looking serious now.
"It's nothing"
"But-"
"I said it's nothing"
It came out a bit too harsh and I instantly felt guilt when I saw how shocked he looked.
"Fine" He said and walked away.
How do I always mess everything up?
_________
I was waiting near Tessa's house. She would probably be here any minute now. I couldn't pick her up but I could at least wait for her to come here so that I see her for a bit. I really wanted to see her.
I saw her walking towards the car with a confused look on her face. I got out of the car with a smile, happy to see her, and approached her.
"I thought you were busy" She said.
"I wanted to see you"
She looked torn for a few seconds but then she smiled and hugged me, "I missed you"
"A hug is all I get?" I asked with a chuckle.
She rolled her eyes smiling and leaned in to kiss me.
I wish I could just stay here forever.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
"I am"
"You asked me to pick you up this morning. Did something happen?"
"No, I just wanted to see you. I've been thinking about what you told me the other day and I can't help but be paranoid" She said.
I wrapped my arms around her and brought her close to me, "You don't have to fear anything. I'll do anything to keep you and your family safe" I said.
In reality I was scared. I was so scared that something would happen to her and her family and it would be out of my control, but I tried to make sure nothing like that would happen.
The man that was after Tessa was the same man that Ares wanted taken care of. He'd done Ares wrong a lot of times and Ares was done forgiving him. Obviously the man tried to hide when he found out Ares was after him.
He won't be hiding for a while though.
"What can you do? They're a whole gang. They're bad men"
Gang. Bad men.
Would she consider me a bad man too? Technically I was only a hacker, but I did do some dirty business when it was necessary.
I pulled back to give myself some space. That sentence had me really anxious.
"What's wrong?" She asked.
"Nothing"
"You look upset. Did I say something wrong?"
"No, I said it's nothing"
Once again, it came out a little too harsh. She looked so sad and shocked. I wasn't upset with her. I was just worried that if she found out what I was doing she would probably hate me.
I don't want her to hate me, but I guess I am already making her hate me without telling her what I do.
"I'm sorry" She mumbled dropping her gaze to the ground.
"No, I am. You were just worried and I-" I trailed off. The look on her face was heartbreaking. I hadn't felt so strong emotions in a while before meeting her.
I didn't know what to say. How to make it better. I wanted her to smile again. I hated seeing her so disappointed in me.
"Didn't you say you were busy? I'm probably keeping you, I should go" She said and started walking away.
"No!" I panicked and grabbed her wrist, "It can wait"
"But it was important"
"Not as important as you" I blurted out. I was a bit embarrassed admitting that, but it made her smile, so it was worth it.
"Look who's being romantic now" She smirked putting a hand on my chest.
"I'm not romantic" I said stubbornly.
"You are. You're so cute" She said pinching my cheeks as she held back her laugh.
"What!? No!"
"Aw you're blushing" She chuckled.
Oh God.
"Stop" I said feeling my face get even hotter.
She was laughing now. Laughing at me, but I didn't mind. As long as she's laughing.
If Nate was here he would probably call me a clown.
I loved the way she laughed. Even though many would call it loud and weird, it was really endearing to me.
I smiled at the sound.
"Why are you looking at me like that, stupid?" She asked once she calmed down.
I was caught off guard. I was so focused on her that I didn't realize I probably looked weird staring at her.
"Because you laugh like a donkey"
Great job, Leo
"Donkeys are cute at least" She said still smiling.
"My cute little donkey" I chuckled.
"Please don't make this a nickname for me"
"I wouldn't but now that you said that I will"
"Whatever" She rolled her eyes, but I could still see a subtle smile, "I have to go now"
"Take care, little donkey"
"Oh My God" She sighed in a annoyance.
I chuckled at the reaction and leaned in to kiss her before she could leave.
We both smiled at each other and I leaned on my car and watched her as she walked to her house.
I hadn't felt this happy and excited to be with someone in a while. Ares and Nate had saved me, helped me and I was so grateful for them, I loved them, but when she was with me I was a whole different person, like I was before everything happened.
But I couldn't shake off the thought that all good things come to an end.
(Sorry if this chapter was too long <3)