Milk and Cigarettes

Chapter 19

After allowing my emotions to spill
completely out, I calmly told Leo about the conversation, or lack of conversation, I had with Roger. I remember the rage that filled his eyes as he spoke,

"Wendy." His head dropped down as he rubbed his forehead. "We'll sleep here tonight and then, tomorrow, we are driving out of this state and not looking back." Leo pointed to the motel behind him and I felt concerned with how seriously he was taking Roger's threat. "And how could he talk to you like that? He's supposed to be your friend!" He began pacing back and forth. "No, no, he isn't going to talk to you that way." I watched as his hands drew into fists and I took his into mine.

"Don't worry." I felt my face scrunch up and I laid my hand against his cheek. "You can't take Roger seriously. He's just angry. He wouldn't actually hurt you, and I know he didn't mean what he said to me." My voice began to quiver and I stopped talking.

"Are you sure? I mean, Wendy, I've had guys tell me that before and mean it." Guilt fell over me as I failed to remember his troubled past. I should have never mentioned that bit of Roger and I's conversation.

"Well," I honestly said, "no, I'm not sure. But I really don't think he'd do something like that." I replayed my words in my mind and the statement sounded like a joke. Roger was always unpredictable when he was upset. "But either way, let's leave Arizona tomorrow." I put my hand beneath his chin and tilted his head up. "Okay? Okay? There won't be any talk of the past after today. From here on out, it's 'The Adventures of Leo and Wendy'!" I playfully smiled and he mirrored my action and kissed me.

We walked hand in hand to a convenient store and bought a couple of 8 oz. containers of milk. Leo swung my hand in his and the plastic bag in his other hand followed. The sun was beginning to go down and the sky was filled with a glowing blue and strips of florescent orange. He looked over at me and even though he had looked at me a billion times, that time made my heart drop. I felt everything in me freeze, just like when we had first met. His expression was still and he stopped walking, which caused me to do the same. Our hands were still clasped together and he used that as an advantage to pull me into him. His hands were suddenly in my hair and it felt as though my heart were in his teeth. Leo's soft gaze forced my heart to resume it's normal yet abnormal hummingbird speed. His lips pressed against mine and if it weren't for him practically holding me up, I would've fallen. I grew breathless with each kiss exchanged and he stopped for a moment, resting his forehead against mine with his eyes closed. At this moment, my mind was completely blank. My entire body was tingling and I just wanted to keep bringing the taste of his lips back to mine. He opened his eyes, which heavily held a deep gaze, and stood straight. Leo's words, quietly said, buzzed in my ears as though the sound from his lips were the only sound on Earth.

"I love you, Wendy."