If She Gives You Her Heart Don't You Break It || Kate & Leo Oneshots

Trust me - Christmas

The speakers hum cheery Christmas songs and a sea of disorganised party-goers mill around, swimming between various party guests. 

Christmas lights twinkle a myriad of colours, as if tapping to the beats of the song. 

Kate stands in a corner, smoothing down her dress, watching as Jim meanders his way through the crowd, two drinks held high above his head. Kate smiles, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. The passion of their love has dissolved.

The only reason she agreed to go with Jim was to find someone else. To find a distraction from her husband.

Leo stands across the room, his arms around Gisele. He doesn’t love her, he never did. 

He doesn’t understand the reason he even suggested going. Perhaps for a quick hookup or something? The chance to break up with her was calling to him, calling. Walking towards him.

The chance wears a red dress, has her hair curled elegantly and tied with strands of tinsel. 

She is what beauty is.

“Hey.” She tapped him on the shoulder, wrenching him from his reverie. “You looked sad, are you okay?”

“Hmm?” He softened his eyes, unclenched his jaw and smiled down at her. “Yeah, all good, thanks. I like your dress.”

She looked down, blushing at his pleasantries. “Thank you.” She hesitated.  “I-I’m Kate.”

“Leo.”

“Hi.”

“Hi.” He giggled. “You here with anyone?”

“Yeah. My husband’s over there. And you?”

“Mhm. My girlfriend.” He pocketed his hands, shifting his weight from his heels to his toes. “She’s too busy flirting with some other guy though.”

Kate nodded, understanding him. She watched his face crinkle as he turned to face the woman, dressed in a black slip dress. She followed his glance and frowned at her. 

“Do you not like her?”

“We’re…drifting.” Leo sighed. “She’s more interested in sportsmen and I don’t exactly fit the bill.”

“What do you do?” 

“I’m an actor.” She raised her eyebrows, prompting him to smile.

“Yeah, I was in What's Eating Gilbert Grape and uh, the basketball diaries.”

“Wow! That’s amazing.”

“Yeah. So, Kate, what do you do?”

Kate scoffed, shaking her head.“I’m an actress.”

“No way! That’s so cool!”

“Yeah. I’ve done Heavenly creatures.”

“Is that one of Peter Jackson’s?”

“Yep!”

“I think I’ve heard of that one! Wow! What are the chances that we’re both actors, huh? So, I- what's the deal with your husband?”

“I uh-” She twisted her ring and looked down, steadying herself. “He’s just. Um-”

“You don’t have to explain, Kate. It’s all good.” He reassured her, resting his hand on her shoulder, gazing into her eyes.

God, he was going to drown in them.

“Thanks.” She swallowed the lump in her throat, feeling more at ease. “I should probably get back to him now, I think he got me a glass of, um, of wine.”

“Wait.” Leo turned her back towards him, taking a split second glance at Gisele who was pressed against a wall, a man clumsily kissing her neck. “I’ll go with you, if you like?

“Will your girlfriend not mind?”

“Nope.” He grimaced, watching Gisele lead the drunken man towards the toilets.. “She’s a bit… occupied. Maybe you can introduce me to that delightful husband of yours.”

“Sure.” Leo took her hand and she hesitantly sauntered towards Jim.

“Hey! Where have you been, dumbass? Who is this?” Jim yelled, slamming down his glass and wrenching Kate away from Leo.

“T-this is Leo. He’s my friend.” Kate stared up at him, holding back tears as he breathed beer onto her face. “Yeah, we go way back.”

“Hmh.” Jim stared at Leo, his eyes blurring. “Are you having a nice christmas?”

“Yes, sir.” Leo smiled. “I’ve not seen Kate in years, we lost contact about- was it about last year? Yeah- it must’ve been. It’s nice seeing her again,”

He smiled at Kate, winking at the secret they now shared.  “We spent Christmas together one year, in uh- in New York. Have you got any plans this year with Jim, Katie?”

Kate almost blushed at the nickname. She’d met Leo merely five minutes ago and he was already prepared to share secrets with her AND call her nicknames

“We might just stay in, watch Home alone, drink some wine. How about you?”

Jim watched the encounter between his wife and Leo, disdain smudging his face.

“Right, Kate. We best be going home now. I’m not feeling so good.”

Kate switched her eyes between Leo and Jim, her smile dissolving from her face.

“I might stay for a while, you can go home if you want. I’ll stop by the pharmacy before I come home.”

“Right." Jim huffed, eyeing Leo suspiciously. "I want you back before one am though. If you’re not, don’t bother coming back.” Jim took one last scowl and swayed away.

"Oh thank fuck." Kate sighed, watching him swing out of the door. "God, wasn't he starting to piss you off a little? You can literally smell the alcohol from a mile away! Uh!"

"If you went home with him, in this state, what would he do?"

"Ummm.. he would.. I-" Tears escaped her eyes, meandering down her face. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Does he hit you?”

Kate looked up at him, trying to swallow the lump in her throat. Wordlessly, she nodded.

“You deserve so much better than him. How about I let you stay at mine tonight, we can figure it out from there.”

“He won’t let me back if I’m not home tonight.”

“Screw him.” Leo smiled, his eyes glowing with affection as he wiped her tears away. “I’ll look after you. Trust me.”

Kate smiled, pressing herself to his chest, knowing she could trust him. “Thank you. I really appreciate it.”

The Christmas music faded out at around 11pm and Kate and Leo made their way back to his house, driving down the sleepy streets. She laid her head on his shoulder, listening to him drowsily humming along to the radio and tapping her arm.

Later that evening, they sat beneath a blanket, mugs of hot chocolate in hand and a plate of gingerbread made by Leo on the table in front of them. 

“We’re gonna have the best Christmas ever!”

“Pfff! Nothing will ever beat that year in New York.” She joked, holding him closer. 

Laughing, Leo put down his mug and moved his arms around her, bringing her closer to him. 

“Merry Christmas, Kate. Thank you for trusting me.”

“Thank you for saving me. Merry Christmas."

They exchanged a quick weary glance before closing their eyes and drifting off to sleep, dreaming of the magical christmas adventures they could have, dreaming of how everything was going to change.