I sat with my back against the bark, reading the last of my book over lunch. Others entirely took over our usual table, but as the days slowly warmed up, it was pleasant to be outside.
Leo lounged with his head on my lap, and I absentmindedly ran my hands through his hair while reading. The tree provided shade but with the right amount of light for reading. Seri and Devan were sat in front of us, sharing answers for their Maths homework. Quinn had decided to track down Lathen and have ‘a chat’ in her words.
A chorus of cheers broke the ambience. Looking up, it was the cheer team moving into the grassy area. Turning the page, I noticed Tiffany being lifted into the air and carried by the football team to the field.
We were all looking at the commotion.
‘Tiffany must have been made head cheer.’
I had seen Tiffany many times at Jack’s Hideout, and it didn’t take long to figure out she was part of the werewolf family. She was an extrovert not to mention her brother and their pack. She would make a great leader for the cheer team.
I placed my hand back on Leo’s hair and continued to read.
“What’s all that about?” Leo asked.
The voice of Quinn made an unexpected entrance, “Tiffany is the new head cheerleader.”
She stood looking over at the crowd, and a sheepish Lathen stood behind her, looking in my direction… It was Leo he was watching.
Devan greeted, “Hey, bro.”
Lathen nodded in response.
“Sorry, I didn’t return your calls. I needed some time,” he replied to Devan.
“No problem. It's been a weird couple of weeks. I think we’ve all needed time,” he stated.
Quinn nudged Lathen’s shoulder, and she sat down near Devan and Seri.
“Lexi? Can I talk to you?”
I took a stealthy, deep breath as Leo moved to sit up. Walking away from the group, I stayed in the open.
“What’s up?” I turned to Lathen.
He motioned to walk further, but I knew the others couldn’t hear us.
“No. I’m fine here, thanks,” I said, crossing my arms.
He took a moment. “I need to apologise,” he admitted, putting his hands in his pockets, “For losing my cool when we were talking.”
Talking. I kept my silence and waited for him to continue.
“I’m sorry things got heated and for upsetting you. I also should not have left like that. It was cowardly.”
“Do you and I have the same recollection of this ‘talk’?” I asked sternly, my heart began to speed up and anxiety rose.
He sighed, “I’m not sorry for kissing you.”
“Then there’s nothing to talk about.”
I started to walk away, but he grabbed my arm gently to stop me.
“Wait, please, Lexi.”
I returned to him, “You crossed a line, Lathen. I did not want that.”
“I was a douche, I know. But-” “There should not be a ‘but’ in that sentence.”
He continued anyway, “I wanted you to know how much I care for you.”
‘Hilarious way of showing it.’
“You basically told me I was a liar, and my feelings weren’t real. I was frustrated at Leo getting close to you so quickly. I took a shot,” he defended.
“Wrong shot to be shooting, especially in an argument.”
He gazed to the side, “Well, you should know my feelings have not changed.”
He looked back at me and finished, “I can and will wait for us.”
I didn’t know how to respond to that. I looked down and stated, “Well, you should know that Leo and I are together now.”
Looking back at him, I continued, “Try something like that again, and it will be more than a slap.”
He considered the witch sat against the tree and stated, “I don’t think he is right for you.”
“That’s your opinion.”
I turned on my heel and returned to my spot. Leo sat beside me this time as Lathen sat with Devan.
Leo cleared his throat quietly, and I muttered, “I’m fine.”
“A circle this Thursday?” wondered Quinn, pulling her crossed legs closer.
A chorus of yes around Leo suggested, “My house will be free on Thursday.”
“Party at Leo’s!” Devan cheered.
Quinn shoved Devan in jest, “Shh! We don’t want the populars to turn up!”
Jingling my keys, I watched Quinn walking in front of me, at the end of the day, to the car. Before we walked too far away from the school's entrance, Devan called out to Quinn.
I paused in my stride. Quinn turned to look at him and, touching her growing pixie cut that was fading to pink, she told me, “Go on without me. Your house isn’t that far.”
I nodded to her and continued to be accompanied by Leo, and he asked, “So, are you missing your brother?”
Alex and his year group were on residential for two weeks in Hathersage.
“Pfft, no… Not yet, anyway,” I admitted, “Are you missing your sister?”
“Eh,” he shrugged, “A little. I’m used to her being there all the time.”
“It’s peaceful, right?”
He laughed and changed the subject, “I wanted to show you something I found this morning. It came out of nowhere…”
“Oh?”
He put his hands together in prayer, “Please may I have a lift.”
I laughed as he begged and taunted, “Didn’t take you for the begging type.”
He followed behind me to the car.
Leo opened the door and let me walk in first, and the home was quiet… It’s empty.
“Where’s your parents?”
“Pre-natal appointment,” he said.
I looked around. It was modernised. I assume from the Mants living there—varnished wooden floors and carpeted staircase and living room. I couldn’t see the kitchen from where I was standing. Pictures and family photos were everywhere; it was a loving, homely vibe.
I felt Leo shift behind me, and I moved to the side, assuming he wanted to move past me. Instead, I was blocked against the wall, causing me to look up at him in confusion. His arms trapped me, caging me against the wall. He was smirking.
Grinning, I reminded, “I thought you wanted to show me something?”
“That can wait. I’ve been wanting to do this all day.”
I giggled at his statement, and he leaned down from his 6"2 height with eyes glinting mischievously. His hand strayed from the wall to my waist as our lips touched. It was a whisper of a touch, and my hands entered his stubbled fade and reached up for more.
I no longer felt the wall at my back as I leaned into him. Our lips connected repeatedly, and I became hyper-aware of his bare hand on my skin, making its way to my back. His thumb stroked my hip.
My hand also wandered down to his clothed chest. His other hand joined the teasing of my skin under the shirt. I couldn't help but giggle as he brushed over a tickly area.
Scratch.
Our lips smacked as we pulled apart and paused to listen.
Clink, scratch.
It was coming from the front door. I didn't sense anything. No animal. No person. I picked up on the taste of metal and the fur feeling on my tongue.
"Lexi," he whispered.
I looked back up at him; his eyes were narrowed, glowering at the door.
“Hide yourself and go to my room. Keep hidden.”
He pulled away and put his weight on the door. My heart rate increased, his actions putting me on edge. My anxiety hitched higher.
"Who is it?" I whispered back, pulling my energy in, cloaking myself.
"Someone I hoped never to see again."
Scratch, Clink!
I could hear metal turning and scratching as I walked past and climbed the stairs. Leo watched me go up and opened the door when he could no longer see me.
"Derick," I heard Leo say.
'It's just Derick? Why hide?'
I paused at the upper railing; I could tell which room was Leo’s from his signature and consoles on the floor. It was directly in front of me, away from the stairs.
"Hello, handsome. I missed you." Came a woman's flirty voice; Derick wasn't alone.
"Maddie," Leo grunted tightly.
I couldn't help but lean over the banister, trying to look. I saw a brunette with large curls clinging to Leo's arm; his back was to the stairs, seemingly blocking access. I couldn't see her face, but she was model thin, with heels to catch up to his tall stature.
"Your stuff is in the garage," Leo grunted, walking away.
She stayed attached to his arm as they moved. I heard footsteps leading away and breathed a sigh of relief.
Up righting myself, my ears picked up on whispering of echoing and jumbled voices.
‘What? It couldn’t be.’
I listened a little longer. I could hear the mumbling voices of the trio downstairs, but there were unmistakable whispers along with them. There was no mistake. Following the hushed whispers, I entered Leo's room.
Surveying the room, I saw it. On the bedside table sat a black velvet pouch covered in dirt. I knew exactly what it was, and I was freaking out inside.
‘The necklace. How?’
Swallowing, I contemplated picking it up to ensure the necklace was inside. The sound of clicking heels on the wood floor stopped my debate. I listened carefully under the whispers, hoping she would not ascend the stairs.
My luck was up; I heard the muffled thump of footsteps on the carpet. Panicking, I grabbed the bag and hid between a display case and the back of the open door.
“Obscuravale," I breathed as the voices stopped their incessant nattering.
The footsteps paused on the landing; I nearly held my breath, hoping I wasn't heard. The fur feeling on my tongue grew ten-fold. I watched through the crack of the doorway. She looked around at the bedrooms before slowly coming closer.
She was gorgeous, with a face of flawless make-up. I would believe her if she claimed to be a model. She was a little taller than me, even more so with the heels; she walked in with no effort.
I looked away as the insecurity hit me, and I couldn’t stop the green-eyed monster of jealousy. It was apparent she knew Leo more intimately. Why did he want to forget a face that perfect?
I shook my head; that was a conversation for later.
‘You need to focus and stay hidden, Lexi,’ I scolded myself.
Looking back up, she was much closer, standing in Freya’s pink room. Maddie finally turned to Leo’s room; this time, I held my breath as she walked through the doorway. I reassured myself I was hidden.
I watched her enter the room and study it as if looking for something. Moving to the bedside table, she inspected the dirt left behind.
“Maddie,” Leo thundered.
I jumped slightly a small scream left my throat. I never heard his footsteps.
Her head snapped to the door, and she quickly sat on his bed, legs crossed and leaned back on her hands. Her face changed to a prerogative one as he neared the doorway. I felt his senses sweep the room, but I kept my self-hidden still.
“Leo,” she tempted, flicking her hair back.
I saw his face appear as he entered the room further and glanced around with his arms folded.
“What are you looking for?” he demanded.
“A good time,” she coaxed, inspecting her fingernails, “Like the old days, it’s no fun without you,” she sighed, pouting.
“Cut the crap,” Leo huffed.
“Oh, come on! One last time?”
Maddie leaned back further and patted the bed next to her.
I felt numb and looked down at the floor. I knew I didn’t imagine it. They did know each other intimately. I felt numb to the conversation, refusing to accept the jealousy, envy and sadness. It wasn’t my business, it’s in his past.
Leo said nothing, and a shadow blocked the light. Glancing up, he leaned against the display case, arms still folded. Did he know where I was?
“Who is she?” Maddie’s voice turned cold.
I tensed up. The veil was still present; she couldn’t see me.
“What are you on about?”
“The girl your fucking? Who is she?” she accused.
“Who says I’m seeing anyone?” he defended.
“You would have jumped at any opportunity in the past. So obviously, you’re seeing someone else to refuse me.”
“Derick is waiting for you,” he finished curtly.
She huffed and left the room, “This is not over.”
“Oh yes, it is.”
He waited a few seconds, ensuring she went downstairs. He looked over his shoulder, looking past me. Of course, he knew where I was, but I didn’t reveal myself.
Crash!
Leo tutted and quickly left the room. I leaned back onto the wall and slid to the floor, clutching the bag to my stomach. Taking a deep breath, I relaxed a little. Opening the pouch, the necklace was indeed still there. I closed it back up and felt my cheeks, no tears this time. Yet, I felt the need to cry.
