Not What I Expected

Chapter 11: Brutal Discoveries and Nights In

"I had no idea things were so bad between you guys." Bella rubs my arm, comforting me with her touch.

"I guess I was just blinded, I wanted to be loved so bad deep down that I was willing to believe anything he fed to me." Her lip pulled to the side, sympathetically. Her phone dings, breaking the gentle and calm aura that filmed the room. She glanced down at her house, only a second before picking it up in shock.

"Oh my god!" She stands up placing a hand on my shoulder. I sit up straight, waiting to hear whatever disbelieving news she has on her phone.

"Connor got arrested," she states, stunned.

"What?" I jumped up, it felt too soon to make a joke like this, so I had no reason not to believe her.

"He and his friend got arrested for having sex with a bunch of girls in public."

"Crystal Lake?" she nodded, looking at me with fearful eyes.

"That's where he was going to take me!" I felt sick to my stomach, thinking of all the things he was planning on doing to me. I didn't know this man at all. I took a seat, fiercely trying to gather my thoughts. Bella paced around the room, likely feeling as dismayed as me.

"Call Leo and Christian, tell them to come here." It was the first idea that popped into my head.

"Are you sure?" Though Bella was often rash with her decisions, she never allowed me to do the same.

"Yes I want us all together right now." without a second of hesitation, she dials Christian and pleads for him and Leo to come as soon as they can.

The next hour felt cold. The two of us tried to bring energy into the room but failed miserably.

The boys arrived eventually, immediately bringing some form of light and safety to the house. We gathered in the living room and informed each other of everything we could. Eventually finding peace within each other.

The night flowed on, and 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.

Chris and I walk into the kitchen, one after the other. I had never really gotten a chance to talk to him privately, now was the perfect time.

"So" I elongated, grabbing his attention, "I notice you and Bella getting 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 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 Chris, I approve of him.

"Yeah well, I've never really been this strung over a girl either. I guess you could say I like her a lot." We shared a smile. I didn't respond as I had heard everything I needed to hear, however, Chris 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 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 active plan to have a threesome with Leo and me." We both laugh together at the ridiculousness of that idea.

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

"You know Leonardo doesn't shut up about you." I stood still, shocked. I wasn't expecting to hear that. I wanted to know more.

"What does he say?" try so hard to act nonchalant about it.

"He goes on about how strange you are, nothing he has ever seen before." Chris had his back turned to the kitchen counter, he was leaning against it with his arms folded, looking towards Leo and Bella in the living room. My excitement fell, what was I expecting?

"I wasn't expecting anything nice if I'm honest."

"Look I know he may seem closed off, but try not to worry about it.'' He tries to reason.

"Worry? Why would I be worried about what Leo thinks of me?" I tried to swat away the potential allegations.

Suddenly I feel a hand grab my shoulder, Chris leans closer to utter something,

"Do me a favor and don't tell him I said he talks about you, he would kill me" I gave Chris a trusting smile before he walked into the living room as I continued making the hot chocolates.

"Kill him for what?" Leo says as he walks into the kitchen.

"Nothing, we were just having a joke." I look at Leo in awe.

"What?" he asks, "Nothing," I said through my forced smile. I face away from him to continue fixing up the hot chocolates. I could feel Leo staring at me through my peripheral vision. Suddenly, I feel him tuck the front of my hair behind my ear. His touch was so warm and welcoming, yet so sudden and unexpected. His fingers dropped from behind my ear to my shoulder where he gently swiped his fingers across the ball of my shoulder.

"What do you want?" I asked playfully without looking at him, trying to play off the tension that formed so quickly. My Imagination began to take control of my mind...

"You're beautiful." I quickly turn my head to look at him. I was shocked by the words he uttered.

"What?" I asked, truly believing he wouldn't repeat himself. I was wrong.

"I said you are beautiful." He started with a straight, serious face. I didn't know how to react, I wasn't used to getting these kinds of compliments, I wasn't used to getting compliments of any matter.

"No I'm not," I say nervously through a chuckle as I turn to look away from him, this was new to me. Leo cups my face with his left hand. I stare into his deep, emerald eyes. Just then, he pulls my face closer and lightly kisses my forehead before whispering.

"You. are. Beautiful."

My brain snapped, as did Leo's fingers.

"Earth to Rosa." I looked at him apologetically

He gives me a weirded-out look before he walks back into the living room, holding two of the four hot chocolates. I was left stunned by my own thoughts.

I beg these feelings don't come back.