adored

24

Guys i have so many cute plans for my other story to love and loath layla, go read it!! also this chapters kinda long but I really like it so please vote/comment if you do tooo <3

Leo DeMarco:

Steam curled and swirled into nothingness above the pairs plates of pasta, however Leo's thought were spiralling in a less tantalising direction. Since they had left the art gallery his mind was torturing him playing liyana and that Jamal guy talking on loop. Rationally it was nothing, she had left Jamal to leave with him but still he needed to have confirmation. He twirled his fork slowly, unable to tamper down his need to ask about it any longer.

"So..." he started, unsure of how to word it without sounding weirdly possessive and scaring her off.

She smiled, resting her chin on her hands and listening intently, "so?"

"So what was that guy saying?" he asked, trying his hardest to feign nonchalant-ness. However, his set jaw and furrowed eyebrows indicated that he was anything but nonchalant.

Liyana was buzzing internally, she could tell where this was going and the thought excited her. She wasn't sure what it said about her that Leo being potentially jealous made her tummy flutter, but alas she couldn't change how she felt. Nor did she feel any reason to. 

She exaggerated thinking about it, her eyes glinting with amusement before replying "Hmm, just that he's in love with me and want to get married and live happily ever after"

Leo said something under his breath that liyana couldn't fully make out. Perhaps liyana was just hearing what she wanted to hear, but it sounded awfully like 'get in line'.

"Why, are you jealous?"

Leo didn't deny it. He didn't like liars, nor did he ever intend to lie to her, so instead he just held her gaze.

His eyebrow raised as he spoke, "Is there a reason for me to be?"

She laughed, shaking her head before twirling her spaghetti before taking a bite,

"You're not answering"

But it was as if liyana hadnt heard what he said, a far away look taking residence in her eyes. 

Leo let it go, his thought instantly switching to earlier and liyanas mood changes. 

"Fine answer another question for me"

Liyana shook her head slightly, trying to dispel the haze she had gotten lost it before nodding, "okay, whats the question?"

"Earlier your mood completely switched and I feel like i did something wrong."

Her stomach dropped. He had noticed and that made her want to curl up into a ball and disintegrate into a pile of ash.

"please tell me what was wrong?"

Before liyana could reply he corrected himself, "what I did wrong?"

He looked at her so sincerely it made her head woozy and her tongue ready to spill everything to him.

"You didn't do anything wrong. If anything, you do everything perfectly."

"Then what happened?"

"Its just sometimes you say things and they confuse me, so i was just thinking about that throughout the day. Im sorry if I spaced out or seemed annoyed at you, that truly wasn't my intention."

Liyana noticed the way Leo listened intently to every word she said, he didn't cut her off or interject when he could've. Even the fact that he had picked up on her emotions and wanted to talk about it, such a minuscule thing but still it made her heart swell that much more. Emotional intelligence was underrated she thought. 

 "What did I say?"

"Like the matching tie thing"

His eyebrows drew together forming small creases that liyana wanted to soothe away. Now he was confused. He thought she'd have liked the suggestion.

"Oh. Why's that confusing?"

She squirmed, feeling more and more awkward by the second,

"Well thats like a coupley or like datey thing to do, and its just confusing like where we stand. You're so unbelievably lovely to me and we went out for dinner the other day on what felt exactly like what a date would feel like, but it wasnt one and it's just a bit confusing"

Leo said her name so softly, Liyana could almost feel her heart break but before he could let her down gently she decided she had to carry on,

"Im not- its okay, I get it if thats not how you think of me I just want to know so im not always tryna work out what you're thinking"

He laughed then, a soft laugh that was too sweet for this world. A sound that she truly believed no one was worthy of the privilege of hearing.

"And here I was thinking I was being too obvious about my feelings for you"

He wrapped his hand delicately around her arm across the table whilst leaning slightly closer. 

"You should've told me before, I would've happily cleared it up"

"I cant get you out of my head, I can't get you out of my heart. I'd like to be yours, if you'll have me"

She stopped breathing.

"I wanted that dinner to be a date and I wanted to match today and be coupley and datey with you bc I just- i just adore you"

She blinked slowly, 

"Do you need any more clarification? Hmm?"

"You'd like... to be mine?"

"Yes, i'd very much like that"

he was smiling at her so softly, a cotton candy like expression.

"Well thats a coincidence, because I'd very much like to be yours."

His smile widened,

"Well im one lucky guy then"

His mind then caught up with his tongue, rationality surfacing. His tone took on a more serious tone, his expression almost nervous,

"If its okay with you, even though we've been friends for a while i'd still like to take it slow. I want to enjoy and savour getting to known you even better but with the romantic point of view."

Liyana liked the idea, she didn't want to rush something she felt could be dreamlike. She also didn't have the experience in relationships and so moving slowly but knowing the feeling was mutual was a comfort to her.  She felt in control of her emotions, sure of herself, and excited at the new frame on their dynamic.

"Mhm sounds perfect"

"But just so you know, I am not interested in anyone else nor am i doing anything with anyone else."

She squeezed his hand, grateful for the reassurance. 

"I was joking earlier, I have no idea what that guy was talking about. The whole time my mind was on how he wasn't you and how all i wanted was to get away and find you."

He was smiling so much his dimples had made a rare appearance, it was cheesy them holding hands over the candlelit table gazing into each others eyes as their pasta got cold but it was serene, it was comfort, even the occasional lapse of silence was cushioned by it.

 Liyana thought that it felt like getting into her fluffy duvet after a long day and that instant warmth that cocoons her. Somehow thats what being around leo had begun to feel like.