The New Boy

An Odd Hang Out

I woke up from my nap by the sound of heavy rain outside hitting my window pane. Bella must have left after she got me into my bed. I was, for the first time in a long time, mildly relaxed. tears had dried down on my cheeks and a pain throb in my head. I had cried myself to sleep. No one ever talks about the moments just after getting out of a toxic relationship. I felt refreshed but mentally exhausted. I looked down at my phone to see 5 missed calls from Leo. I roll my eyes and call him back.

*Ring* *Ring*

"Lucia!" He practically yells into the phone.

"Okay first of all, lower your voice, second of all what."

"Where the fuck have you been, I've called you a hundred times."

"You only called me five times.." I somehow manage to push out a sarcastic remark.

"Whatever, where have you been?"

"I've been sleeping. Why does it matter any how."

"Cause I didn't know where you were!" He yelled through the phone. I don't know what came over me but I completely snapped in that moment.

"Why do I have to tell you where I am all the time! I'm not a fucking child! I can take care of myself. I don't know what kind of toxic masculinity problem you have but I don't need you to protect me, okay!? I've spent half of my useless life protecting myself without a father."

There was silence, I might have gone too far but I needed to lash out to feel grounded.

"Lucia...Open the door." I was stunned, there was no way this boy was seriously outside my house. I ran down stairs leaving my phone on my bed. I peeped the door to see Leonardo standing there drenched in rain. How many times did we have to meet under rainy weather conditions?

I stepped aside, gesturing for him to come it. I closed the door behind him, confused as anything. He completely neglected me and made his way over to relax on the living room couch.

"Leo, what are you doing here?" 

"Its not just me." He responds, lifting his legs up to rest them on a cushioned stool in front of him

"Huh?" Before he could continue, the front door bursted open revealing Bella and a surprising addition to the storyline, Christian. 

"Lucia!" She rushes over and hugs me, "How are you feeling? any better?" 

"I'm fine, but what is going on?" 

"What would a breakup be if I wasn't here to deal with it with you?" She jokes. 

"Okay but why are they here?" I giggled through my frustration whilst gesturing to Leo and Christian. 

"Christian wanted to help out however he could. such a sweet heart." Her eyes drooped as she blushed over Christian who was now sitting next to Leo watching tv." 

"Okay thats one out of the two of them, Leo?" I pressured. 

"Well why would I bring Christian and not Leo?" She palmed my forehead gently before making her way over to the boys. 

"awesome." I uttered to myself. It wasn't all bad, I guess the company was definitely something I needed, but I wasn't sure how much I needed male company right now.

I peered over to the three of them looking very cozy on the couch, "Looks like I'm hosting then, Hot Chocolate anyone?" I waltzed over to the kitchen

"I'll help." Christian jumps up to follow me.

Christian and I walk into the kitchen, one after the other. I had never really gotten a chance to talk to him privately, mostly because our lives felt like they were part of two different worlds, apart from Bella that is.

"So" I elongated, grabbing his attention, "I notice you and Bella getting really comfortable with each other."

"Yeah, she's pretty cool." Oh no Christian, you're going to have to give me more for me to accept you.

"Just cool?" I furthered my questioning.

"I mean, yeah, she's fun. There's not a lot of girls now who are actually chill to be around, she's exciting." I smiled at the sincerity of his description.

"Listen, you didn't hear from me, but I've known her my entire life, and you are the first guy she's ever been this hung up over. Consider yourself special. She doesn't shut up about you" He chuckled to himself. I like Christian, I approved of him.

"Yeah well, I guess you could say I like her a lot. She a lot different to other girls I've been with." We shared a smile together. I didn't respond as I had heard everything I needed to hear. 

However, Christian continued, "Hey I'm sorry about Connor" Christian leaned his waist against the counter but turned his head to look at me,"I know you and I haven't really gotten a chance to get to know each other but I still feel really bad about how little we all knew about what was going on with you two." I bit my bottom lip. It was difficult to talk about, I hid the issues in my relationship for so long because I didn't want to look weak. I guess I also didn't want to accept that my first boyfriend experience was such a failure.

"Don't be sorry, It's not your fault. I should have spoken up sooner." I denounced.

"No no, I get it. The first girl I ever went out with was crazy." he laughed while shaking his head.

"Crazy how?" I engaged in his personal story while stirring the powdered chocolate into the cups of warm milk.

"Just super jealous, very physical too. She would grab me and push me when things didn't go her way. I think my turning point was when I found out about her plan to have a threesome with Leo and I." We both laugh together at the ridiculousness of that idea.

"Wow, so you get me then." I smile at him, he nodded back, placing the finished cups of hot chocolate on a tray.

Before I could make a move back to the living room Christian grabbed my arm, "before we go back..."

My heart began beating faster, my eyes bulged slightly. I was fearful of what he was going to say or do.

"I'm glad we got to talk. Bella is really special to me and I hope you and I can develop a friendship." he gifted me a smile. The fear flooded out of my body in a rush of relief. I really liked Christian, he was a genuine guy and a softie at that. The fact that he cared about me beyond Bella was important and not something you find very often.

We headed over to the living room to enjoy the rest of our night, watching movies and talking about anything and everything.