The Group Chat [Leico Valdangelo]

part seven

• Leo •

If Leo had wanted attention, he would've stood on top of the table at lunch and sang "Big Girls Don't Cry" at the top of his lungs, but he didn't want attention. Which is what he got. Naturally.

The burns on Leo's arms weren't even that bad, honestly. But Mr. Apollo had to make a big show of wrapping them in bandages. Now, since Leo didn't have a long sleeve shirt on, everyone saw and gave him looks of pity.

"Hey," Jason said, walking up to Leo right after lunch.

"What do you want?" Leo snapped, subconsciously picking at the bandages. He couldn't wait to get them off.

"Do you um...I have an extra jacket you can borrow, if you want," Jason offered.

"Leave me alone," Leo replied angrily. He honest to god just wanted to be left alone.

"No one wants to be alone-"

"Yeah, well get a fucking clue, because I do."

"My god, you're worse than Nico," Jason laughed. "See, I have this habit, where I typically make sure all my friends are alright before I even think about my wellbeing. I...I'd like to think of you as my friend, Leo-"

"Why would you want to be friends with me? I'm a psychotic kid that killed his mom, right? I'm just some freak."

"We're all freaks, Leo. Me, my friends, you, your friends. We're all different in the same way." Jason tapped his head. "I'm smart. I see things like that in people. You're sad. I can see why."

Leo laughed.

"Dude, if I wanted your opinion, I would've asked. I'm not sad."

"Your bandages say otherwise," Jason eyed them. Leo scoffed, before he laughed.

"Oh, so that's what you think these are? You think I hurt myself? Please, Jason. They're burn marks from a mechanic accident from last night," Leo lied, but he was pretty good at it. He deserves on Oscar. Finally, a Leo gets an Oscar!

"Oh...that's why you're not hiding them."

"Yeah...oh." Leo looked away. "Now, I was perfectly fine when I was alone. Skedaddle along, now."

"You don't have to keep pushing people away-"

"Oh, is that the bell I hear? Yup, that's it. Bye, Jason."

"Wait, Leo-"

But Leo was already gone.

---

"And then he said, 'you don't have to keep pushing people away'," Leo mocked in a deep, manly voice. "Fucking douche."

Nico just looked away.

"You know, if I wanted him to talk to me, I would've asked. But nope. He takes matters into his own hands! And then he points out my bandages and is all like 'I know what those are'. Bitch no you fucking don't," Leo ranted to Nico, who hadn't said a word. "And he just," Leo made an inhuman screeching noise. "He pisses me off."

"Valdez, language please," Mr. Vulcan said.

"Right. Sorry." Leo started fiddling with pieces of things on his desk, and before long, he had made a small helicopter.

"Woah...what's that?" Ethan Nakamura asked, looking over at Leo.

"I dunno. Sometimes my hands just move and I make stuff," Leo shrugged, before lifting it up, watching as if flew across the room.

"Wow, Leo. You really have a talent," Mr. Vulcan said, grinning at Leo.

"Thanks."

And that was the end of the conversation.