The Brightest Star

38. Leo

Leo's POV

"King." My voice cracked before I could hold my eyes, but he was arm lay over my side too hard over what felt like a bruise. He held me to his chest with a death-like grip.

It wasn't like I didn't want to stay close to him, but my body felt sore, and when I tried to wiggle my way out of his grip, it seemed like it only tightened more.

King startled awake, making me jump a little. "Oh, shit. Sorry Leo," he said in a deeper voice from sleeping as he loosened his hold. "What time-" his words were cut off by the alarm clock on his phone. "I guess that answers that." He shifted passed me to grab his phone and turned it off quickly.

I wasn't sure what came over me as he fumbled with his phone alarm while stretched over me, but I reached up and hugged him, burying my face into the nook between his shoulder and neck. I just needed it. I needed to forget about the outside world for a few minutes longer. I needed to feel warm and comforted.

King nearly fell on top of me from my unexpected movement. I heard his phone drop to the floor as he caught himself. His arm soon wrapped around me as he turned his head in the dark room, his nose brushed against my cheek. It just happened so fast. My head turned to where his nose had bumped into me, and our lips lightly touched.

My body froze, but my hands tightened around him. I could barely see King's eyes looking straight down at me in the darkness. He didn't move either.

Something inside my stomach flips, and a lump in my throat forms. His breath is hot on my lips as I felt them part. My mind goes blank, all my worries melt away, and all those confused feelings disappear.

He moves just enough for our noses to lightly rub together, making my stomach jump into my throat. I remember the first time we kissed, and this overpowering feeling of wanting to feel like that again took over. My chin slowly tilts up, bringing my lips closer to his. I wanted to feel it again.

Before our lips could press together, King suddenly pulls away, making my stomach fall hard from my throat, and the world, worries, and confusion all come flooding back as King quickly sits up, facing away from me.

"I'm sorry. That wasn't- I didn't mean to-," he started to say as his fingers brushed back his hair. "I'm gonna go to the bathroom and get ready." He shot off the bed and grabbed his clothes.

I wasn't sure what to say as I lay there staring at the ceiling. I wanted to kiss him so badly. Was something wrong with me? When he closed the door, I smacked my hands against my face. My face burned under my palms, but I needed to get ready for school.

After dragging myself out of bed and getting ready, Kiki was nice enough to give us both a ride which I was thankful for. It was quiet between us, making the ride seem long and awkward.

Once school ended, King walked me home like usual, and again, I couldn't find much to talk about besides a few things about school. Everyone was starting to calm down around me. The dirty looks were becoming fewer and the same with the hateful comments when Jess or King wasn't around.

We finally reached my house, and I inhaled deeply before walking inside, trying to keep my shaking under control. I peeked around for my dad. I had hoped he wasn't still on my bedroom floor. I walked straight in there to find no sign of him.

Walking back into the kitchen in confusion, I heard footsteps walking down the stairs and froze in place as he walked into view. Too tense to move, I looked to the floor.

"I don't know why I woke up in your room this morning, but it seems you never even checked on your mother before going to school. What if something happened to her last night?"