Leah and Riley sit across from each other as they eat their lunch. Leah would've made food, but she craved Italian food. While Chris went to the bathroom, Leah explained her problem with him to Riley. She summed it up as much as possible for her, hoping Riley could help.
"Oh, there's a simple explanation to that," Riley says.
"Then do you mind telling me?" Leah sets her fork down, ready for her "simple explanation".
Riley shrugs. "You like him."
She just stares at Riley, taking in every word. "That is probably...THE most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. I hate that man to death and after that."
"If that's the case, why are we sitting here discussing why you can't get Chris out of your head."
She opens her mouth, and realizes she has nothing to say. There's no other reason for it. But Leah refuses to believe that she likes him.
"What happened? Couldn't cover it up? You like him."
"I do not like him!"
"Don't like who?" Chris says. He slides in next to Leah.
"She meant 'her'," Riley answers. "Her father's new girlfriend. Which, in my opinion, was not a good choice of woman. I'm not saying she's a slut, but the password to her panties is anything along the lines of 'Hi', 'Hey', and 'Hello'."
"Can I meet her?" Chris says.
Leah glares at Chris. He laughs and returns to eating his food. She looks at Riley.
Jealous, much? she mouths out.
She realizes why Riley would say that and blushes. She looks down at her plate, picks up her fork, and stabs at the pasta.
"Hey, put that down. I'm not finished with you."
"It can wait."
"Put it down or I swear I will voice it loud and clear to your father."
She drops the fork and looks up at Riley, who is grinning with success. "You're a bitch, you know that?"
"Oh, guess what? I don't care...I know you do."
She rolls her eyes. "No. I. Do. Not. I hate him with a very strong passion. Why the heck would I like him?"
"Because you know he has everything you want."
"Like what?"
"Strength. Muscle. Confidence. The power to keep you safe. And, seeing that he hasn't completely destroyed you yet, a good heart."
Leah doesn't know how to protest against that. Those are qualities of her ideal man. But she comes up with something to say, anyway. "But there was that thing."
Riley raises an eyebrow, not sure what she's referring to.
"You know, the--" She cuts herself off. Riley really doesn't know what she's talking about. "Oh, crap. I never told you."
"Told me what?"
She makes sure Chris isn't looking, then points out the area on her neck where the few remaining red marks have just recently faded.
Riley becomes instantly furious. "He did that to you?!" she says a little too loudly.
"Shh!" She looks around, making sure Riley didn't grab any attention. "Shout a little louder so I can shove some bread down your throat!" she whispers.
"How else am I supposed to react? With a smile? When were you planning on sharing this with me?"
"Why are you acting so surprised? You knew already. You came in after it was over."
"You know my memory sucks like hell. You should've told me yourself."
"You two realize I'm sitting right here," Chris says, dropping his fork.
Leah blushes. "Yes, I know."
"So why didn't you tell her how I strangled you?"
"I did."
Riley glares at him. She is more than ready to blow this out of proportion. "You're such a bastard. You say it like it's nothing."
He shrugs. "I didn't kill her."
"You could have. What is wrong with you? Do you not know what control is?"
Leah can't stop looking around. She hopes no one is listening or watching. This is becoming bigger than it needs to be, and she wishes Riley would just stop. She knew she should have waited until they were in private to tell her. "Riley, please. Not here. He did control himself. Like he said: he didn't kill me."
"Are you serious right now? Your neck color turned back to normal just this morning. How could you just let this pass?"
"Riley, you're exaggerating. Why are you being like this? It's done. It was days ago, and I've gotten past it. So should you. Please, just eat."
"I cannot believe this! You need to report him! It's your job. If something goes wrong, or he violates a rule--"
"You know why I can't do that, Riley."
"Of course you would defend him. It should be obvious since you're falling for him."
Leah stops chewing and stares at Riley. Her throat closes up, making it a little hard for her to breathe. Riley's words make her both angry and embarassed.
"What was that?" Chris says, asking Riley but looking at Leah.
As soon as Riley realizes what she said, her face turns into a worried look. "Oh shit."
Leah looks at Chris, waiting for some miraculous sign that he didn't hear that,
"Falling for...me?" he asks, pointing at himself.
Leah doesn't like the spotlight. She's feels pressure as if all the eyes on the restaurant are on her. It feels like high school again, when she had to read an essay in front of the class, and she felt like she was going to throw up.
"Oh my God, Leah. I'm so sorry," Riley says.
"Can we just eat? Please? I want to get out of here as soon as possible.."
"Leah, please. I didn't mean--"
"Just drop it." She rests her forehead in her hand, covering her face as much as possible. It's blazing red with embarassment, and she can feel tears lightly stinging the rims of her eyes. She was right. This moment was and is like high school. She tries to enjoy her lunch, and her best friend ends up embarassing her in front of her crush.
No! she thinks. It isn't a crush! I don't like him. He is a criminal. He is an asshole. He has no class. He's a slob. The list will probably grow over the next few months. I know I don't like him. So what if I can't get him out of my head? Maybe it's just a thing. Maybe I'm just feeling so lonely, I think I like him. But no. I refuse to. And that's why I need to work on forgetting about him and finding something with Robert.
She makes the mental note: call Robert.
