The Firefly

8°

-Hi?- I asked, bringing the phone to my ear and looking out of the corner of my eye at Jake, who would surely be listening.

-Amby, I need to talk.- My friend's metallic voice simply came out, sounding like she was crying.

-Leda, are you alright?- I asked her alarmed when I became certain of her sobs.

-No, everything is not ok. Just tell me if you can talk now.- She asked letting out a desperate cry.

I immediately looked at Jake who nodded wrinkling his forehead, he may not have had the sight but he had the hearing.

-I'll be right back, Mr Hale.- I told him, catapulting myself out of the room and disappearing behind the white wooden door.

-What's the problem, Leda?- My mind was already imagining the worst things.

-Nathan, he's the problem.-
-Nathan?-

-He doesn't understand! He doesn't understand that I have a boyfriend and that he is jealous of him.- I closed my eyes, biting my tongue.

Neither Nathan nor I liked Vince, but since Leda loved him, I had accepted him, unlike him who, no matter how hard he tried, was incapable of it.

-Today he came to my house when he was there and went crazy.-

-But who? -

-Nathan, Amby! Nathan freaked out.-

I grimaced as I began to walk around the island of the villa's large kitchen.

-Explain more, I'm sure he did it for a reason.-

-Vince opened the door and told him to leave because we were together and Nathan started shouting horrible things at him.- I explained all in one breath.

Something didn't sit well with me, Nathan wasn't that kind of guy and in addition it was Leda, who was biased, who told me the story.

-What did he tell him?- I asked cautiously.

-That he's only with me because of the way I look, that he doesn't know what I'm really like.-

Really Nathan said that?

-And that he doesn't really give a damn about my feelings.- She continued, raising her tone of voice.

-And then when Vince told him to leave, he said he's a toxic and too jealous guy.-

Exactly what I thought, I bit my tongue.

-Ok, that's fine Leda. Now calm down, they didn't get physical did they?- I asked her already imagining the two-metre colossus that was Vince beating Nathan.

-No, but only because I got in the way.- I sighed relieved, at least the worst hadn't happened.

-Where is Nath now?-

-What do I know, I shut the door in his face and didn't want to know anymore.- She spat acidly.

-Don't tell him I called you.- She ordered me, sniffling.

-Can we meet tomorrow?- She asked, lowering her voice.

-Is Vince there with you?-
-He just got back from McDonald's.- She said almost in a whisper.

-Is that why you're whispering? Don't you want to be heard?- I asked as her boyfriend's voice echoed in the distance on the other end of the phone.

-What are you doing, love?- He asked in a deep voice and immediately the voices became more muffled, as if the phone had been quickly hidden under some blankets.

-Nothing, babe.- She reassured him and a door closed.

-I can't talk now, see you tomorrow.- She said, returning to holding the phone and ending the call.

I looked at the screen, upset, I didn't like the situation.

The absurd idea of Vince putting his hands on her popped into my head but I knew Leda, if that had ever happened she would have told me.

Plus I would definitely have noticed bruises or something, which there weren't.

No, it was something else. He was destroying her mentally and I had never noticed.

I typed Nathan's number on the keyboard. It rang several times, but no answer.

Maybe he was sleeping.
I thought, even though deep down I knew he wasn't.

I went back to Mr. Hale's room still with my mind thinking of a billion possibilities why Leda had been so careful not to be seen on the phone with me by Vince.

-Excuse me.- I said distractedly to announce my entrance.

Jake had finished the last two slices of pizza and placed the box on the bedside table.

He was lying in bed with his eyes closed, but when he heard me enter he opened them slightly.

-I'm sorry... was you asleep?- I said in a low voice. In response he shook his head and sat up.

-No, I was thinking.- He corrected me by crinkling his eyes, getting up from the bed and running a hand through his raven hair.

Without countering I turned around ready to bolt for my room when once again her voice called out to me.

-Brat, before you go, could you check that everything is ok in the bathroom?- he asked, lowering his gaze even though he couldn't have met my eyes anyway.

Looking at him I couldn't help but hold back a smile, it was the first time he asked me something nicely. I didn't think he was capable of it.

I opened the white door next to his bed and looked inside Mr Hale's small private bathroom, switching on the light to check.

-Everything is in its place, Mr Hale.- I reassured him by stepping aside to let him through.

Although he couldn't see he walked as if he was capable, his step was sure and he didn't seem uncertain of the direction he was taking.

If he had landmarks he knew his way around.

-Are you sure you don't need anything else?- He nodded, closing the door behind him.

In the room I tried several times to call Nathan, Leda's situation made me suspicious and I could not put my heart at rest.

<When you can call me back, it's urgent.> I wrote to him before placing the phone on the bedside table and closing my eyes.

I restrained myself from sending it to Leda as well because I didn't know if Vince checked his messages and I didn't want to complicate things further.

I sat down on the chair of the small desk nearby taking my face in my hands, just hoping Leda was okay.

I looked out the window and gazed at the city lights, resting my head on my right arm.

I lost myself in thought as I let myself be hypnotised by the coloured lights of the landscape.