ZARA

Chapter 36: A little different

It was the next morning a morning I didn't even want to wake up to. I could barely even sleep yesterday knowing that Owen was with that man. I was to scared to close my eyes, because I would start thinking about the terrible things that could be  happening to Owen.

Overall, today was the day of activities and fun things, which I would have been excited to do if Owen was here. I noticed that I was the only one that woke up.
I had a small headache and I didn't even want to leave my room.

Angel and Ryan were sound asleep.
I looked over to see it was only 5am, so I still had time to sneak around and be by myself. Alone time got me out of my bed. I threw on leg warmer socks I get every year in my stocking for Christmas and tipped toed down stairs.
And sat in the grand lounge for a while. Only being still leaning onto the back of the warm couch and covered myself with a warm fuzzy blanket.

I know this wasn't aloud but it was a pretty view to look at.
the window was a little distraction from the loud noise playing in my head. I wasn't tired at all so I wasn't planning on sleeping.
But all of a sudden a quiet voice called for me.

I turned to it quickly and it was Leo. I haven't spoken for what it felt like ages. I missed him a little.
"Zara why are you awake?" He whispered to me scratching his dirty blonde hair approaching the couch.

"I just wanted some time to be alone before all these annoying people tell me to cheer up." I smiled at him
"Shit.. I'm sorry." He said awkwardly
"Your good." I assured him and he sat down.

He was wearing a white tank top with plaid black and white pants.

It was a little quiet for a bit. I didn't want to tell him about Owen, I didn't feel like crying again. So we just sat there. He was sitting a little far from me and in the corner of my eye I could notice him just gazing at me. I looked at him for a second to see he looked worried.

He turned away as soon as we made eye contact.
I moved my eyes back to the big doors to see the nightly view of the beautiful river. To feel some sort of peace after all that happened.
I kinda wanted to just be alone. Or have Owen by my side, but Leo was always so supportive of me so it was ok. As long as he didn't talk to me.

"You ok?" He asked shifting through the couch to grab a blanket and put it over himself.
I nodded.
"You look upset Zara... what's wrong."
"I'm fine." I said with a lifeless expression on my face staring at the view
"No your not." He continued.

"Zara I'm your friend... tell me what's wrong?" I didn't answer him I didn't feel like talking. I didn't want to talk about any of it. Even though Leo is Owens best friend who deserves the truth. I just can't find the right words to say to him.
What if he blames me? What if he gets mad at me?

"Zara what the fuck!" He got frustrated
"Please Leo." I finally answered looking away from the view, turning my body to the opposite side of him.
"You need to let me know what happened to you." He removed the blanket from him and scooted closer to me.

He was close, kinda like how Owen was. I didn't face him though he was just facing my back.
"It's okay.." he whispered stroking my hair behind my ear and running it down my back.
And squeezing the back of my arm.

I finally faced him. As a another stupid tear ran down my cheek.
And in a response he hugged me.

I was crying in his arms which had made me feel a little better.
My only wish was to see Owen. I missed Owen and I was scared to think about the things Ashley's dad was doing.
I could feel his hands run up and down my back on the blanket as his chin was on top of me head.
"It's okay." He whispered to me while I was crying to him.
I didn't say anything really we just hugged for a minute and I finally unhanded him

And in an instant he got a little confused.
"Where's Owen?" He questioned
I hesitated before answering

"I um- I don't know." I cried to him

"Did you guys get into a fight." He asked

"No.. Ashley told her dad he beat her. He didn't. And they took him." I finally said quickly in defence to his question.

In an instant Leo stood up from the couch in shock.
"Fuck." He said running his hands through his hair
"Yea I know." I cried

"No no no Zara this is really bad."
"I know it is ." I responded
He brought himself closer to me placing his hands onto my shoulders.
"Zara you don't know this but.."
"What??" I started to get even more worried

"In the period of Ashley dating Owen. His dad was always coming home drunk and was never really there for her." He explained
"Go on." I added
"It was a complete norm until one day he came home with someone else.. a guy. The guy looked beat up really bad. And they went down stairs to see what was going on." He paused taking a deep breath out.
"They saw him take the random guy down stairs in his basement and heard 5 locks that shut the door."

I didn't say anything my eyes just widened in shock.
It stayed like that for a few seconds.
"Zara." Leo said with a little shake to my arms.
I looked at him in a response my heart was beating so fast that I felt it coming out of my chest. I was sweating so much I could hardly tell where I was for a quick second. I felt a huge pit in my heart and I felt like I was loosing air.

"ZARA." He yelled shaking me again
"-y-yes." I shivered, how could I be sweating and cold at the same time?

"We have to help him." He stared into my eyes with a warning look. This was bad. It was really bad.
"We have to go now." He said as he threw the blanket off my body and pulled me up from the couch.

He grabbed my arm and rushed me to the door where the view was.
And began tugging on it. But it was locked. I was still in shock. And frozen.
"Why isn't it opening." He whispered aggressively has he continued to tug on the door.
The aggressive tugs soon turned into him banging on the door with anger.
An anger I've never seen in him before.

I could see the frustration on his face as he was slamming his fist into the door almost trying his hardest not to yell. It was like I snapped out of my trance.

"Leo stop." I comforted him pushing him away from the door as he was fighting me back with frustration.
I saw tears rush down his face, he was so scared and hurt. I looked at his eyes placing my hand on his cheeks attempting to calm him down.

"Leo, we can get through this. It will be ok." I cried to him. As he dug himself into my body which caused a hug.
I stroked his hair and he lightly as we dropped to the ground where we were both kneeling into a hug.

He grasped onto my waist pulling me closer to him while continuing to cry as his head rested on my shoulder, he was hurt but I only let Owen do that to me so I pulled away.
Instead I held his hand.

"Why don't we both go get some rest.. in our own rooms."
I uttered to him with a smile.
And he nodded, and we both stood up and I wiped the tears from his eyes and he placed his arm around my shoulder as we both went up stairs.

————
I finally reached my room, and hoped into my bed staring at the ceiling. It was now 5:50 and I was back to my old thoughts. However my interactions with Leo were..... different today.
It felt weird.

Anyways I just really want to save Owen and be with Owen. And even kiss him, just to hold him again. I really didn't give a fuck about the activities we were going to do today.