Ships Book [on hold]

Lazel• 2•

Lazel• Feelings

HAZEL

I turn to face Leo. He's controlling his ship, the Argo II. He looks over at me and smiles slightly, which makes me half-smile. Then I remember what he said after Frank left.

~

"Hazel, before you do anything, I just -you need to know how I feel about you. I like you. A lot. I know you may not feel the same way, but you needed to know," he had said.  "You're so beautiful, inside an out. I'll be okay when you stay with Frank."

That had made a tear slip from my eye. He called me beautiful again. "I do. I do feel the same way," I say as his eyes widen. "But I don't know what to do."

~

I turn back to Frank. He has a hopeful look in his eyes. It is true, what I told Leo. That I have feelings for him, but I don't know what to do. Frank is telling me to choose between them, but if I choose one, will I loose the other as a friend?

I don't want to loose either of them.

Frank takes my face in his hands and kisses me passionately. I kiss him back. The sense of familiar and love and warmth and Frank rushes through me. I love him.

I pull away with a smile on my face and then smile sadly at him. I look down at my feet and clasp my hands together in front of me. "I choose... no one."

I look up at him and he looks hurt and confused. "What?" he asks.

"Neither of you. I choose neither of you. I want you both to be my friends still. I'll tell Leo later," I say. "Um, yeah. Okay," he nods. I nod back to him and kiss him by his mouth, on the cheek, and turn to walk to my room.

***

"Hey, Leo." I say sitting next to him on the blanket, -the one we slept with last night- in the stables. "Hey, Hazel." he says back.

"Um... aren't you going to ask me?" I say rubbing the back of my neck, expecting for Leo to ask the obvious question. Leo raises his right eyebrow, "Ask you what?" "You know. Who I'm going to pick," I say hesitantly. He drops his gaze and says, "Oh. Well, I don't think you should have to pick. I mean, I don't think it's fair for you. So, no. I'm not going to ask," he says.  By the look on his face it seems like he thinks he's lost.

I smile at him, "Thanks, Leo. Hey, are we going to picnic or what?" His face brightens at that. He reaches on the other side of him and grabs something.

Leo pulls out a picnic basket and sets it in front of us on the blanket. I grin. "Awesome," I say. "Awesome," Leo agrees.

***

Leo and I just finished our last sandwich when he says, "This was fun." "Absolutely," I say back.

I lay my head onto his lap and laugh. He grins at me. I find myself looking into his eyes. His beautiful eyes. Then I see he's looking into mine. He starts to lean down and I prop myself up on my arm. I forget everything else except for Leo and me.

He threads his arm through my propped-up arm and pulls me up to him so I'm sitting in his lap.  Our mouths are suddenly pressed against each others. My arms are wrapped around his neck and his around my waist.

Then I pull back. "Frank," I whisper in explanation. "Y-you picked him?" Leo asked quietly, he sounded nervous.

So not Leo like.

"No. I mean, I didn't pick anyone. I told him I just wanted to be friends with him. ...But I also told him I just wanted to be friends with you," I say the last part quieter than the rest, like it might blow up the world if I dare to hurt Leo.