Caramel || Leonardo DiCaprio

Chapter 9: Blueberry Pancakes

Originally Published: November 13, 2022

NENA'S POV:

I tiredly packed my small suitcase the following morning. I didn't get much sleep after overthinking why Leo didn't want to kiss me back. He literally leaned away from me, and it crushed my feelings. I sighed as I folded my pajamas neatly even though I would probably take them down to the laundromat when I got home. I turned my head when Leo re-entered the room from the bathroom, lugging his own suitcase over to the bed.

"Did you have a good time last night," he asked after clearing his throat a little.

"You already know how much I loved it," I quietly reacted, not wanting to speak more than necessary. There was a temporary silence before he tried to say something again.

"What time does Ellen leave for the airport?"

"Like four this afternoon," I curtly replied, it hurting me to act that way in front of him.

"Are you upset with me," he cautiously checked.

"No... You gave me a great mini-vacation. I can't be mad at you, Leo," I partly lied. The bigger part of me was in pain more than anger.

"Do you want to stop somewhere to eat on the ride home?"

"It's whatever you want to do," I shrugged, gathering more items such as my hairbrush.

"I was thinking we could stop somewhere like iHop. I thought pancakes sounded good, since it's still morning," he lowly chuckled, me faking a smile.

"Okay, I do love their food. I hope they have blueberry pancakes. I know the pumpkin ones are more fall, but I just love their blueberry," I quietly giggled, shocked by how I was sounding normal again already. I hated how I couldn't stay mad at Leo.

I was grateful when he switched on the radio while we drove, still not fully in the mood to have conversations with him. We stopped at the restaurant about halfway home, me getting blueberry pancakes while he got the pumpkin special.

"I'm so sad Ellen's leaving today," I admitted, gazing sadly over at the condiment container.

"Would you want me to go to the airport with you," he gently asked.

"I kind of assumed you would, since Tobey will be there," I shyly confessed.

"I would be there anyway," he sweetly responded, causing my heart to flutter.

When it was time to say goodbye to my sister, I kept crying, not realizing how much I was going to miss her until moments before she had to board her plane.

"I'm going to miss you," I whispered as I hugged her tight.

"I'm going to miss you too. I wish we really did share an apartment together," she said.

"Yeah," I slightly laughed. "It gets kind of lonely out here." I looked at her misty eyed as I sniffled a tiny bit.

"You could always move back home. I'm sure you could find a better job than what you have here." She tucked my hair behind my ear since it was getting in my eye.

"No... I mean, I get paid a lot here, and I'll be okay."

"Yeah, but you also pay more for rent here."

"I know, but I don't want to leave. I just want you to stay." I struggled to smile as my lip kept quivering, accepting the tissue she handed me from her purse. I blew my nose before trying to compose myself.

"You have Leo right now," she quietly pointed out.

"I don't know for how much longer. He's only here temporarily too, and I stupidly tried to kiss him last night and he pulled away."