I nod my head, but I don’t stop my strides to the kitchen.
“Well … is she okay?”
Pulling the fridge door open, I take out food I know Trinity’s drunk stomach will appreciate. “She’s drunk and upset, and she refuses to go home.” I carry the food in my hands while walking up the stairs to my bedroom.
“Is she safe?” Elijah asks, as he follows me up the stairs.
“She will be once I’m with her,” is all I say.
Why is Elijah so concerned for her anyway? The time we spend all together, the four of us, Trinity and Elijah seem friendly with one another. Like they’ve known each other most of their lives. In a way, I envy that. I wish I could connect with someone that quickly. Especially if that someone’s name was Trinity Jones.
I always convince myself they’re just friends, that they have no chemistry whatsoever between them. But what if they’re not? That would sting like a bitch. I’ve never been this invested in a girl before. The feeling of want this intense and painful scares me.
As I glance at Elijah from the corner of my eye, I find him looking at me with a small smile. Weirdo.
Going into my closet, I dodge all my still-packed boxes. When I find my black backpack, my hands make quick work of stuffing everything inside—food, a blanket, and a hoodie for Trinity.
“What’s going on with you and her?”
That’s the same question I keep asking myself. I’m just as confused as Elijah looks. All I know is, she shouldn’t be alone in her state right now.
I shrug my shoulders and shove past him. “I don’t know, man.” I hear and feel his footsteps pound down the stairs behind me, matching my own. “Tell Amelia that she’s okay, will you?”
“Leo—” Elijah stresses, but before he can continue, I slam the door in his face.
* * *
“What’s all of this?” Her voice cracks as she rubs her sleepy eyes.
Taking out all the supplies, I set them down in front of her. Holding my hoodie in front of her, I watch as a light shade of pink rushes to her cheeks. “This is just in case you get cold.” I gesture to the food and raise an eyebrow. “And for your hangover stomach.”
She nods and smiles at me. “Thank you,” she whispers softly.
Setting all the things aside, I plop down beside her hunched-over body and lean my head against the tree house wall.
Silence.
I get why she likes to come up here. It’s very peaceful. You instantly relax at the sound of crickets.
“You know, I wasn’t always like this.” She breaks the silence.
Glancing at her, I see her gaze on her hands.
“I used to be so happy. I used to live in the moment, but now, I’m stuck in the past.”
Looks like both our lives are nightmares instead of fairy tales.
“I get that.”
Her moist eyes find mine. “You do?”
“It’s funny how life works,” I start. “You have everything, yet you feel like you have nothing.”
I don’t know what this girl does to me, but every time I’m with her, I feel like she’s prying me open. Digging out the person I had bottled up.
Even though I’m a rock star, when the lights dim and I’m left alone, I’m just Leonidas. And that’s why I feel so attracted to this girl. She doesn’t treat me as the world-famous Leo; she sees me as Leonidas.
“I don’t want you to call me Leo,” I tell her strongly and confirm when she gives me a confused look. “I want you to call me Leonidas … my name.”
