Loving Levi Greene

Chapter 8: A Look through Levi

I am soooooo happy you've made it this far with me!

I appreciate you!

I am changing it up a little in this chapter!! I want to show a little bit of Amelia from Levi's perspective. Is Amelia imagining this connection? Does Levi feel it too? Keep reading to find out!

**********Levi's POV************

I look down at Amelia.

I felt her whole body go rigid, uncomfortable with Joseph's question.

Her lip trembles ever so slightly, and I feel my gut twist at the sight of it. She's hurting. What happened? Why is she hurting right now? Did one of her parents die?

I am riddled with worry and I don't understand why. I hardly know this girl. This is more than just a feeling that you feel for just anyone when they're visibly in pain.

This is empathy specific to her.

"My mother has passed away. About three years ago. She got sick." Amelia muttered.

Shock rolls through me.

She lost her mother. And from what I've heard, her father is not known for his endearment. Her mother was probably all she had.

That's why she was with Abigail and her family at the park, not with her own.

I suddenly feel guilty for giving her so much negative commentary about courting at the lake. She doesn't have her mother to guide her way through this transition, as the other girls her age do. She's just doing her best under the circumstance she's been given.

In this moment, I am putting myself in her shoes. She most likely feels lost, trying to find an appropriate suitor, all on her own.

And I gave her so much grief about the very idea of finding someone for herself.

I am angry with myself. She is so innocent. She doesn't deserve the death of her mother and I don't deserve to be her escort tonight.

She looks down at the ground and I hate it.

I want her beautiful eyes to look back at me.

I don't want her to feel this way right now. And I don't want her to think about this right now. We are supposed to be enjoying this night.

I flick my eyes to Joseph, annoyed with him for bringing this subject up. I know it wasn't intentional, but I can't help but to feel this way. Amelia triggers something primal in me.

A need to protect.

To protect her feelings and her wellbeing.

What is wrong with me?

I have never felt this way about a woman before, and certainly not about one that I barely know. They've just never been at the top of my list of priorities.

Until this one.

"Amelia.." I whisper down to her.

She looks up at me through wet, spiked lashes.

Her emerald green eyes glisten with a deep sadness, they are bright and look like glass.

Her lips are slightly parted, eyebrows curved inward completing a textbook look of sorrow and sadness.

And longing.

I want to take it away from her. I want to claim it as my own, to make it my burden instead of hers. I can see the troubled thoughts and emptiness lurking beneath her beauty.

I want to give her peace.

She's waiting for me to respond, but I do not know what to say.

I open my mouth to say something, anything that would take the pain away.

But I come up short. There is nothing I can say. Nothing I can do.

And I feel helpless.

Abigail reaches over and grabs the hand of Amelia, stealing all of her attention away from me.

Turning her eyes from me, she looks over to her friend. No doubt, one of the few people in her life to be there for her in her time of mourning.

In this moment, I find myself wanting to thank Abigail for being there for Amelia. This is a ridiculous impulse, being that Amelia does not know me and I barely know her, so I do not act on it.

I wish I could act on it.

"Lets not discuss such things, my friend. We are to have a beautiful night filled with dancing, laughter, and happiness." Abigail says.

Joseph looks at Amelia with regret and says, "I am sorry for bringing it up Amelia, please forgive me."

Amelia pulls back from Abigail's touch, straightening her posture. She uses a handkerchief to dab at her eyes.

"Of course, of course. It is quite alright Joseph, you did not know." she says.

Joseph looks down and Abigail is still looking at Amelia with a face that says "I am here for you."

I really like Abigail.

Amelia gives her friend a smile and looks out the window, sorrow still etched into her beautiful features.

Everything in me wants to reach down and take her small hand in mine. To comfort her. To tell her I am here and It is going to be okay. I want her to know that I want to protect her. I don't know why I feel this way, but at this point, I can't help it.

I know better than to do this. She deserves better than me. She is the essence of innocence and I am far from that. I have done so many wrongs in my life, made so many mistakes. I will not allow myself to let Amelia get involved with such burdens. She already has enough of them.

The only thing I can promise, is that while I may not be the one for her, I will make sure that she is safe.

She may not know it, but there are dangers in this town. People that she cannot trust. Places she does not need to go. People that do not wish the best for her.

And men that would kill to be with someone like her. The belle of the ball. A diamond in the rough.

We ride in silence for the rest of the way to the ball.

I decide that I will protect her until she does not need protecting. Until she finds someone worthy of her. However long that may take.

Even if it this means that sometimes, I'll have to lurk in the shadows to ensure her safety.

I'll be watching, and I am honored to do so.

********************************************

Well guys, I hope you enjoyed Levi's perspective! I enjoyed writing it! I intend to bring in his POV every few chapters or so. I think it's important for us to see things through his eyes.

Thank you for reading, and I hope you're ready for the next chapter!

Please comment if you enjoyed this chapter, it motivates me and I appreciate it!

See you at the Ball!

-Allie. :)