Because Of You

Only The Begining

Leo's POV

Emmett has been alone at home a lot since we moved. I have work every day except for weekends. I end up leaving before he wakes up, and then get back around dinner time. He has recently brought to my attention that he feels lonely because he doesn't get to see anyone throughout the day. I planned to go and get a surprise for him after work today. In less than two minutes I will be on my way to receive the present.

"Mr. Lakes, could you please Grade all the tests tonight for me?" Mr. Doxis asked me before I left the classroom.

"Sure, but I won't have time to get them all done tonight," I said while we both walked out of the room.

"That's fine, just please get them done by the end of this week." We both walked out of the school, splitting ways to our own cars.

~~~

The bell above the entrance to the store rang as I entered. My eyes immediately rested on a small calico kitten. It didn't take me long to pick out his surprise and all the things needed for it. Within less than an hour, I was on my way back home, but before I could start the car my phone started to ring loudly in my pocket. When I fished it out and looked at the screen, I noticed Emmett's contact pop up. Without hesitation, I answer it full of excitement.

"Leo, where are you!?" Emmett's concerned voice blasted through the speaker right against my ear.

"I'm on my way home. Is everything alright, love?" I asked worriedly. My excitement buffered as I became tenser with suspense.

"Leo, why didn't you tell me you would be late? I- I thought something happened! You're almost an hour late even though the school is five minutes away by car." Instant guilt filled me as I thought about how this all could have turned out. Emmett could have had a panic attack. He has terrible trust issues and separation anxiety.

"Sorry, love. I will make it up to you when I get back in about six minutes." Quickly I turned on the car and started pulling out of the parking lot. I could hear Emmett let out a sigh and a few ticking sounds in the background.

"Can you stay on the phone with me until you get here?" Emmett's voice was quiet and almost shy sounding. I couldn't help but smile at how cute he sounded.

"Most definitely! As long as I get to hear your beautiful voice." I could almost imagine seeing his reddening face in front of me.

"My voice is annoying, but thank you." Emmett chuckled half-heartedly at his degrading comment. A frown formed on my lips as I noticed these comments becoming more common in our conversations.

"You know that I love you, right?" I asked him hesitantly, waiting for the awful comment he will come up with.

"I don't get why, but sure I guess." His reply left my heart in pain. He doesn't think I love him? Am I doing that bad of a job?

"I'm sorry if I'm not saying it enough." I didn't know what else to say, I could hear the hurt in my own voice when I spoke.

"Shit, I'm doing it again aren't I?. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to do that. God, why do I always fuck shit up." I could feel him mentally hitting himself based on the tone in his voice.

"Baby, stop saying stuff like that. You didn't fuck anything up, alright? I'm just pulling into the parking lot now, so I will see you when I get up there. Emmett's sigh on the other end of the line was the last thing I heard before hanging up. Quickly I got out of the car, grabbing the carrier and two bags of supplies.

I rushed up to the second floor and opened our apartment door. Emmett was standing right in front of me with a welcoming smile on his face. His eyes widened as they landed on the carrier in my hand. After setting it on the ground, I opened it up only to have the small calico kitten run out of it.