Fifty Reasons to Stay (Book Three)

Chapter Twenty- Moving Backwards

Monday, November 2nd. Leo woke me up early in the morning and told me to go take a shower. I couldn't find the words to ask why, so I obeyed, though really I just rinsed off and then waited a minute before Leo asked if I was done yet.

He was getting into the clothes he usually wore to work, and then it hit me— he didn't want to leave me home alone, so I would have to go to work with him. This would be terribly embarrassing.. I could tell.

I got out of the shower and frowned immediately at the clothes he picked out for me. "No.." Did he know me at all? That would look terrible on me!

"I'm running out of time here, Donnie. Hurry up and find something to wear.. I have to make sure Andrew gets to the bus stop. Be good."

I rolled my eyes, going over to my drawer. He thinks I'm five years old.

I made him help me put on something much more comfortable, which turned out to be a gray, long sleeved shirt and black jeans. I fumbled with my watch I always wore but couldn't find my ring anywhere........

"Let's go, Donnie! If I'm late for another lecture I'm going to get fired!" Leo yelled from the bottom of the stairs, sounding extremely impatient.
Chill, Leo.
Just chill.

I put on my shoes and walked down the stairs carefully. I still wasn't the strongest and my fatigue didn't make it any better...

Leo was holding a half asleep Teresa and threw the door open. "Good, good. You can eat when we get there. And can you drop her off in the nursery for me? Thanks. I'm really going to be late."
~~
Arriving at the university, Leo was already halfway down the sidewalk by the time I opened the car door. The clock was about to hit 8:30— the time when his first class started.

Fortunately, I knew where the nursery was so I didn't get lost trying to find it. I dropped Teresa off and wandered around for a little while, forgetting where Leo's office was. Hmm..
Probably in the main building... the really big one with a clock on the top. I opened the door and peeked inside. Yep.. this was the building. His office was on the second floor... but I didn't know which room, so that was awkward. I just assumed it was the one with the door closed, as every other office door was open.
I was wrong, and I don't want to talk about that.
But the rude bitch behind that door told me where his office was.

Once I got inside I shut the door and leaned against it for a moment, cheeks red and taking in my surroundings.
Polished dark wooden desk, little houseplant in the corner, a bonsai tree sitting on the storage cabinet. Two comfortable looking chairs in front of his desk and a big spinny chair for him. He had a Mac computer with a boring screensaver, and I took the picture frame from beside the screen. It was us.. at the annual teacher's gala three years ago. I didn't know he kept this...
But nevertheless I put it in one of the drawers because that was embarrassing.

I sat in his chair and searched his computer for my favorite "I'm super bored" game— solitaire.
And there I stayed for just over an hour, losing track of the time and my life outside of the game... until Leo waved a hand in front of my face. "How long have you been playing that?" He asked, sitting on the desk and watching the screen. I just won again.
I snapped out of my trance. "Huh?... I.. not sure." I quickly stood up, realizing that we weren't alone and a young student was awkwardly standing at the door.
Leo sat down in the chair. "Alright.. have a seat, young lady. We need to talk about your grades."
"You ever think that maybe it isn't me, but it's you?" The girl asked while sitting down. "Maybe you just want me to fail."