Red Roses 》Valdangelo 》Book 1 (COMPLETED)

◽⚫➡ Nico ⬅⚫◽

My alarm clock blows up, and I growl. I slam my hand on the top of it to turn it off, and then drag myself out of bed. I rub my eyes, still awaking. I yawn, and stretch my arms up, and then stand tall.

I grab my phone, unplugging it from its charger, and slipped it in my jeans, not bothering to change. I slip on my shoes, and open my door.

Immediately, I am greeted by my father's angry face.

"Alright, punk, where have you been?" he growls, and I can smell his disgusting breath and feel it hit my face. He looks the same as the last time I'd seen him, when I tried to print my pictures, except he wore a white undershirt instead.

"Sleeping." I reply snottily.

"You know what I mean! Now answer me, boy!" he screams.

I glare, "At the hospital."

He moves his head away from mine.

"Why were you there?" he demands.

"To support a friend." I bite, saying each syllable carefully to let the message sink in.

"Oh, yeah? Well you won't be doing that anymore." he spits.

No, duh. I think, and internally smile at his idiocy.

"Then what will I be doing, Father?" I ask sarcastically and with ease.

He doesn't answer, and just walks away, probably back to his room to sleep more. I sigh and shake my head. Words cannot define this man.

I move to the living room and to my couch. I look at the TV. It had a movie still in the box below, from probably a month ago, when I was still with Will. To think, back then, it was simpler. You love, or you don't. Who knew things could get so complicated, on one topic alone? I nearly laugh at the irony.

I look around and listen. It's early morning, no one is awake. I'm alone, as the sun has just risen, in silence and in daylight. Somewhere in the distance, birds on singing and whistling, cars are zooming and honking, but I pay little mind.

One thought crosses my mind, and seems to stay at the stopping sign inside my head and ears.

I shouldn't be at peace.

I look down, thinking about that. My mind wanders to Leo, of course, and I sigh again. I miss him. But I hurt him. I hurt him by loving him. And now he will never be the same. I killed my happy, energetic, joking sunshine. I let him slip away.

I stare at my reflection in the TV. I see a boy with long dark hair, pale skin, and black clothes. I see piercing eyes that you can't read, my lips the only hint of color on my face. I see a stranger.

Leo makes me happy...but is it possible I'm taking the happy away from him? Is it possible I'm just absorbing the love? Am I really that selfish and oblivious?

I look back at my reflection, and I see a different boy. Sure, he looks the same, but I can tell he isn't. The boy isn't just scary or intimidating, he is human. He holds a brightness to him that he's never beheld, a brightness that left many years ago and hasn't returned. He seems oblivious to the light, but really, he is just afraid of what a tainted, dark boy like him would do to it. I see him thinking, realizing that maybe love is not tainted, maybe the sun sets every night and returns every day, and flower is natural and special and delicate, and every human being meets someone who makes their life worth wild even if it falls short. This boy is mature for his age, and gas come to know things that only a man who was about to die would know, good and bad things. This boy is passionate, yet overcome by fear, fear that seems to be...dissipating.

This boy, is me. He is strong, like his long-gone sister, and smarter than before.

"I love you, Leo." I say, and smile, because I know he loves me too, and soon it will be him looking back at me.

Unless I let him go.

A/N Next chapter will be last, for once I say that I hope you found this chapter somewhat positive/happy.