My Bully, My Neighbour

Chapter 22 (Edited)

As time passed, I began to feel very comfortable around Leo's friends. Melissa was training to become a doctor at Chicago University. Derek was at the same university as her, studying law. She told me that he also runs a sports blog which was very successful. I loved the fact that they had managed to work at their relationship for so many years. Derek seemed to be a very quick thinker- sarcastic but caring. I knew that Leo adored him. Jake was a very cheerful, hyperactive guy. His positive energy was very hard to resist and his lame jokes managed to crack me up every single time. I couldn't understand how he didn't have a girlfriend.

Leo was a much happier person in their company. The three boys seemed to have a blast as they recounted their school days and the crazy things they had done. There were some moments when I just sat back and watched Leo's face light up as he spoke. Melissa's hand on my shoulder brought me out of my reverie. "You really like him, don't you?" She asked. "Yeah, I do. Is it that obvious?" I asked. "You're looking at him the way Derek looks at his blog." Melissa said and I laughed. "How does Jake not have a girlfriend? He seems to be a great guy!" I said. "Well, Jake is all about that bachelor life. Or he is for now. I think he's one of those guys who finds true love a lot later." Melissa said and I nodded. "Okay, don't tell Derek I said this, but I feel like Jake is going to have an epic love story." Melissa said.

"Are you telling her about our epic love story?" Derek asked, taking Melissa's hand in his own. "Uh, yeah. I was. She's very impressed." Melissa said and I played along. "Yes. You both are my new OTP." I said. "What's an OTP?" Leo asked. "Dude! You don't know what an OTP is?" Jake shouted. "No." Leo said. "He doesn't know! It is a term to describe a couple that you ship to the very end. No matter what. Aria, they're my OTP too." Jake said to me. He raised his hand for a high five and I obliged. "Ah Jake! I have taught you well." Melissa joked. Dinner was amazing. Jake paid, despite all four of us protesting. "Ah, ah. Shut up people. I'm the host, so I pay." Jake said as he followed the waiter to pay with his card.

"So D, where are you guys staying for the night?" Leo asked. "We'll probably go back to Remy's. Lizzie you have the keys right?" Derek asked. Melissa frowned. "No, I thought you had it." She said. "Oh not again." Derek moaned and Melissa cradled her head in her hands. "What?" I asked. "Last month, we both had to leave the house early. We both came back late both of us had forgotten to take the keys. We were locked out for a night. Looks like its happened again." Derek explained. Jake came back after paying and noticed that the mood had changed. "What's up?" He asked. "We don't have the keys. It's too late to ring the doorbell. Remy and Mike need the sleep. We don't want to wake Robert up." Melissa's voice came muffled through her hands.

I leaned to Leo and asked, "Who are these people Melissa's talking about?" "Remy is Melissa's older sister. She got married when we were sixteen. Her husband's name is Mike. She had a three year old son, Robert. She's expecting another child late this year." Leo told me. "Wow!" I exclaimed. "Hey, so why don't you come stay with us?" I asked. "Seriously?" Derek asked, his face showing how hopeful he was. "Really?" Leo looked surprised that I had suggested it. "Yeah totally!" I said, enthusiastically. When I was still met with surprised faces I sighed and explained. "You can call me weird, but I loved spending time with you guys and I don't want it to end so soon. It would be great if you stayed at my place." I said. "A sleepover. Guys come on, it's been ages." Leo was getting excited.

"It will take a while to set up the beds and stuff. Really, you don't have to do this." Melissa said. ""It's no big deal. My father left yesterday morning, and the housekeeper change the sheets today, so it's ready. If you want to take it." I said. "Come with us. There's a match today too. Chelsea versus Arsenal. I was going to watch it alone at my place, but we can watch it at Aria's. All of us." Leo said. "There is popcorn." I added. "Jake say something!" Leo said. "It's not such a bad idea." Jake grinned. "Melissa?" I asked. "Okay. I'll leave Remy a voice mail, letting her know where we are." Melissa brought her phone out and I gave her the address. Jake also called up his aunt to let her know that he was at Leo's place. Apparently it was a very common occurrence.

Melissa and Derek got into the car with Leo and myself. Jake decided to drop his car off at a colleagues place and collect it the next day. We followed him there and he got into our car. Before going home, Leo stopped at Starbucks (which, thankfully hadn't closed yet) and I ran in to get all of us espressos. We planned to stay up for a while. Then we got home and I lead the three of them on a grand tour of the house. Leo went to his apartment to get clothes for Jake and Derek. He came into my flat and threw the clothes at the boys. "Get changed. Game starts in fifteen minutes." Leo said and the boys scrambled to the bathroom. Melissa roared with laughter at how Derek and Jake fought to go to the washroom first. They quarrelled like first graders till Leo pulled them apart and sent Derek to another washroom.

I took her to my room and brought out the largest sweatshirt I owned with a pair of trackpants. "I really hope these fit you. I'm kinda shorter than you." I said as I handed her the clothes. "Oh no. This should be fine. Thanks Aria." She said and held her arms out for a hug. I obliged. Melissa really felt like an amazing friend to have. I, too, changed into my PJ's and joined Melissa at the kitchen counter. I prepared the popcorn while Melissa went about distributing the coffee. The match started and the boys forgot about us. Melissa and I chatted the whole time. I asked her about her sister and she asked me about how I met Leo. I told her everything- the bulling, the shifting of school and how we met a second time. "It's like fate really wanted you guys to be together." Melissa said.

Our conversations were fluid. We shifted from one topic to another without any trouble. I found out that we both loved the same shows- House M.D, Pretty Little Liars, F.R.I.E.N.D.S., Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother.... and we shipped the same people. It was such a relief to find someone I could talk to about all my ships. We were discussing books when the boys trudged to the kitchen with their empty bowls. "Is it half-time already?" I asked. Leo gave me a blank look. "The match is done. We lost." Leo said. "Oh, I'm sorry." I said. I glanced at the clock which read half-past one in the morning. "Wow! That's late. We should get to bed." Melissa said and everyone mumbled their agreements.

Jake, Derek and Melissa headed to their rooms. Leo hugged me. "Thanks Aria. You totally made my day." He said and I smiled. "You know, it's late. You can spend the night here if you want." I said. "Seriously?" He asked. "Yeah. Also all our friends are here. You should have fun." I said. "Okay princess." He said and leaned down to kiss me. Our kiss was cut short when someone cleared their throat. Derek and Melissa were standing there. Melissa slapped Derek's arm and said, "Why would you do that?" Derek shrugged and said, "Lizzie wanted to know if she could borrow a band for her hair." Derek had a mischievous look on his face. "Yeah. Come with me." I went inside and got Melissa a band. "Thanks. He shouldn't have interrupted you." Melissa said. "It's okay. Goodnight." I said and Melissa hugged me and left the room.

I crawled into bed and Leo knocked on my door. "Can I sleep here? Jake is not easy to hug." He said. I laughed. "Yeah, come in." The night had turned out much better than I had expected.