Leo's Gold

Seven | The Park and Feelings

The park was bright, filled with laughter from children playing together. The sun beamed down onto the grass and the swings with rays that warmed the skin of many people who were outside getting the fresh air that the world had to offer. Leo quietly observed the children and the dogs that were on leashes for just a brief moment before looking down at his favorite book, The Tempest by Shakespeare. It was simply his favorite piece by William Shakespeare, and he had read almost a dozen times, but each time it got more interesting and he understood more and more of what the author had to write and explain.

Leo was a very bright student all through out school, and through his early college days. He had always had a bright understanding for art in itself and the fortune and knowledge that books give you. Art had always been an aspiration for Leo since he was a very small boy, and he had worked very hard to self-teach himself the ways the brush goes, what paints to use, and how large the canvas needs to be to draw his vivid images that he gets in his mind. Now as a twenty-seven year old, he wanted nothing more than to open the studio he has always wanted and begin a new chapter in his crazy-filled life he has lived.

He smiled to himself, reading the knowledge filled words in the book, before closing it and deciding it was best to go back home and shower before he went to work. Every time he thought of his work at the bar, he got a disgusting feeling in the pit of his stomach that questioned him why he had not just stayed with his parents and build a better relationship with them so they could give him the money he needs. But if Leo knew anything at all, he knew that he would one day fulfill his dreams on his own, even if his parents wanted him to follow the family tradition of being a lawyer.

Sage watched the big Chinese fish swim in the park as she sighed to herself. The bags under her eyes were enough identification that she got zero sleep last night. She wore sweatpants and an old and baggy AC/DC t-shirt that her dad have given her. Her hair was pinned up in a bun and she wore sunglasses trying to hide the fact she got no sleep.

Her mind had been racing since Sunday when her parents announced the divorce they would be having. She knew at the very moment they were signing the papers and bringing it to the courthouse to make it official. All of her life she had always wanted a love like her parents, but now she believed the damn thing didn't even exist. How could it when her own parents were breaking up from a long marriage?

Annoyed at the entire thought, she decided she needed to somehow take her mind off of it. She knew there was a spa just down the street, but she had never been the one to go to a spa. Sage wasn't a preppy girl, she was more of a tomboy and where she had hung around bikers for most of her teenage life, she had grown tough and wasn't scared of what life had to handle. If her freshman self could see her now she'd probably run away and hide.

Since high school, Sage had learned how to do makeup and fix her hair right and what clothes to wear. She had become a successful woman and she was proud of herself and how she could take care of herself without someone else there. She didn't know why at the thought of someone else, her mind immediately raced to Leo. Leo of all people couldn't financially support her and he was simply too awkward for Sage. But when she really thought about it, Leo was charming and his green eyes ignited some feeling inside of Sage. The way he smiled and the way he laughed and the way he looked at her like she was the most beautiful girl in the world. I fucking like Leo.

Leo walked through the park procrastinating the fact he had to wash up before work. He watched the fish jump high in the water and the way the birds sung a sweet song and the way the trees danced with the wind. The park was elegant and filled with tiny little beautiful things that would make anyone adore the scenery.

As he came upon a corner he saw the brown ashy hair, the blue crystal eyes she beheld. Sage. He watched her bounce her right leg up and down nervously, how she bit her lip and looked around the park. The way her bangs would fly in her face from the wind and she would huff and groan and fix them eventually. Leo knew this girl was the most beautiful girl he had ever met. He knew that if she would accept the feeling that they both get when around one another, he would promise to never do anything like her ex did, and he would only show her love.

Leo didn't have to deny it because he know his feelings had already been there since the day he laid eyes on her at the bar crying. The feelings only intensified as she accepted his friend request, and then established that they could be friends. Even at Pete's Diner, when he watched her sip on her chocolate milkshake, he liked her even more. Leo realized as the days went on, he would think about her and want to see her again. He realized that he could love Sage if she would let him.

And fuck, did that scare him.