The Most Painful Life

Chapter 2 - Getting Over Zack And Meeting Leo

Hey! I'd really apriciate some feedback for this! I imagine Leo looking sort of like Andy Biersack, without all the make-up & slightly more built.. There's a photo in the side if you don't know who he is:)

After the dream I'd had at Zack's two days ago, I was petrified of him leaving me. I realised I probably was too clingy for a best friend, and that my feelings were probably starting to slip through the protective walls I'd built around myself to stop anyone finding out my true feelings. I decided to distance myself from Zack for a few days. I hadn't answered any of his calls or texts. I pretended I was ill and locked myself up in my apartment since Sunday morning.

The next morning I woke up from a dreamless sleep and put my black jeans and white shirt on for my work shift at the local Starbucks. It was 12 - 5, decent hours and decent pay, 4 days a week. I was walking down to work when I noticed someone I'd never seen round the area before. He looked about 23, had dazzling blue eyes, long dark brown hair, muscular build and stretches in both his ears. He was gorgeous.

I'd never seen anyone look so gorgeous before, except for Zack of course. Nobody could compare to him, but this stranger came pretty damn close. I tried to forget about the stranger when I got into work, I assumed I was just missing Zack, and was looking for a replacement subconciously. I still hadn't replied to his texts, and he seemed to be getting suspicious, so I texted him back explaining that I was ill and I've been in bed since Sunday. I told him I'll come round to his Wednesday after work. Even though I was trying to avoid him, I could deny how much I really wanted to see him. I just hoped my nightmare would stay as that, but I had a terrible feeling something was going to go wrong sometime soon.

I'd been in work about an hour when the gorgeous stranger I'd seen this morning walked into the shop. He walked up to the counter and looked up at the menu on the board behind me.

"Hey, can I help you?" I asked with a smile.

"Yeah, can I just get a cappuchino please?" He replied. I nodded and turned to make his order. His voice was amazing. So soft and melodic. Not quite as soothing as Zack's, but I tried not to compare them. After my nightmare, I'd decided to try and do everything I could to fall out of love with Zack. I wanted him as my best friend and nothing more, and comparing this gorgeous stranger with him wasn't helping at all.

I handed the stranger his order and took his money from him.

"So, you got a name beautiful?" He winked and laughed at me. I was stunned. He was talking to me? This gorgeous boy who could most likely get any woman he wanted was calling me beautiful? It was certainly my lucky day.

"I'm Charley." I smiled back at him. "You?"

"I'm Leo. Just moved in the new apartment building down the street actually. You live local?" He said. I nodded in response.

"Yeah, just across the road from KFC actually. You know them old shabby flats?" I laughed.

"Yeah I was gonna move into one of them, but then I saw the new ones, and I'm a sucker for more updated stuff." He said. He smiled at me and continued to talk. "So, I'm just gonna drop myself right into the lion pit and ask you - are you single?" He went bright red and smiled shyly. I couldn't help but laugh. The shop was empty except for the two of us, so I saw no harm in an early afternoon flirt.

"Yeah, actually I am." I said.

"Great! You don't mind if I ask you out sometime then?" He said.

"Sure!" I smiled. He took my number and put it in his phone.

"I'll call you tonight. But I gotta go now, I'm meeting up with a few friends. I'll see you later, Charley." He said, and walked out of the shop. I waved to him. I couldn't believe what had just happened. The only guy that had ever made me stop and stare, except for Zack, had just offered me out on a date. I was ecstatic!

When I got home later that afternoon I noticed I had another text from Zack. He asked if wanted to go over to his for a while, I was more than willing to go, I needed cheering up. I was feeling a little low after a few customers at the shop decided to comment on 'how stupid and idiotic' my orange and pink streaked blonde hair looked. I'd also overheard them talking about how slutty they thought I was, and how I'd never amount to anything, and end up working in places like Starbucks for the rest of my life. It hit me hard. I'd never really been criticised like that before. Especially not by complete strangers who didn't even know me.

I got to Zack's house at about 6.30, and gave him a huge hug.

"Glad you're feeling better. How was work?" He asked. I told him about the customers who commented on my appearance, but totally forgot to mention anything about Leo.

"What dicks! Don't listen to them, you're beautiful just the way you are. And your hair is fucking immense!" He said, playing with the different coloured strands of my hair. It was so soothing. I soon fell asleep in his arms, on the sofa.

I was woken by my phone ringing from my pocket. I pulled it out of my jeans and looked at the screen. Unknown number, but I answered it anyway. Zack was just waking up as the caller began to speak.

"Hey, Charley! It's Leo, fron the coffee shop earlier.. you remember, right?" He asked with a hopeful tone. My mood grew and I couldn't help but smile. I noticed Zack was fully awake now, staring at me with a puzzled look on his face.

"Yeah, of course I remember." I laughed.

"Great! So, do you wanna.. like.. go to the movies or something later this week? If you're not busy that is.." He said nervously.

"Sure, sounds great. I'm free all week after 5pm, so yeah.. whenever you wanna go, just let me know." I replied.

"Tomorow good for you? I'll pick you up at 6 outside your shabby old apartment?" He asked, laughing. He remembered my discription of my apartment from earlier. I couldn't resist him. He was so cute.

"Yeah sure. I'll see you then! Bye!" I said.

"See you tomorow them, gorgeous." He said before putting the phone down. I noticed Zack was still staring at me.

"Who was that?" He asked.

"Oh, nobody." I said.

"Didn't seem like it was nobody.." He said, he sounded sad.

"It was just someone I met at work today. We're off out tomorow so you'll have to find a new friend to hang out with." I joked. He smiled at me, but I swear I saw a flash of hurt in his eyes.

"So, who's the lucky guy then?" He winked at me. I wished so bad that it was him I was going out with tomorow, instead of Leo. But I had to get over Zack, before I lost him forever.

"He's called Leo. And he's bloody gorgeous!" I said, blushing.

"Leo? Leo Roberts?" He asked. I nodded. How on earth did Zack know him?

"Oh fuck." He mumbled.

"What? How do you know him?" I asked, confused. Zack sighed and sat closer to me.

"Leo Roberts has a bit of a reputation as a ladies man. Girls think he's gorgeous, they'll go on little dates with him, he has sex with them, then he'll leave them. Or so I've heard.." He explained.

"What!? Are you serious? But he was so sweet and shy in Starbucks, and on the phone! I can't believe it.. I won't believe it. I'm gonna give him a chance. It's not like I'd have sex with him on our first date anyway, I'm no whore. You know that." I said. He smiled and hugged me, before driving me home so I could get some sleep before work in the morning.

 I couldn't believe what Zack had told me about Leo. There was no way they could be the same person. He must've been talking about someone else called Leo. It just didn't make sence. Either that or Zack was lying. But why would he ever lie about something like that?