Tommy kisses Leni on the forehead before they rushes off to fifth hour.
Leni goes slowly to her next class knowing she'd get there before her teacher because he's always late. She finds her seat at the back of the room away from any social interaction. People thought she was too quiet. They created the oddest rumours about her. That her father was an ex-military or that her mom was a drug addict because of a small incident last year that somehow got plastered all over the local news. Leni ignored these rumours she ignored these people too some of them were harder to ignore.
Roby Wirsching was a guy at school who always seemed to have his attention on Leni. Always staring at her following her around the school to her classes when Tommy wasn't around. She never spoke to him but he always spoke to her she would slip into the bathroom to get away from him and go to class late. That caused another rumour that she was spending time with Tommy between classes. She didn't care about the rumours they didn't bother her in any way. But Roby did. Once he'd tried to hug her she'd gone stiff and tried to push him away but he was too strong.
She thought about telling Tommy or Liam so they could help her but she felt it wasn't important and she was overreacting. She was thankful for the days Roby wasn't at school, those were rare.
"Hi Leni." Roby says our teacher still wasn't in the classroom.
Leni's heart beat faster than normal out of fear. Calm down he's just talking to you. He is leaning against her desk both his arms placed firmly in front of her. She sinks lower into her chair wishing she could just disappear.
"Hi." Leni squeaks out the word.
Roby cocks his head "Nervous?"
No I just want you to get the heck away from me.
"No I'm not nervous. I would like you to go away." Leni says her voice more clear.
"Woah feisty today." Roby laughs. Leni sits up a little taller
"Go. Away." She commands.
Roby leans closer "No."
Leni gets up out her chair and rushes out of the room, out the front door and straight to Tommy's car. She gets in and locks the doors. She cries for awhile getting tired she falls asleep in one of Tommy's sweatshirts.
Leni wakes up to the bell ringing signalling the end of school. Sara taps on the passenger side window. Leni unlocks the door, Sara sees her ruined mascara.
"What's wrong ,love?" Concern floods her voice.
She can't speak she begins to cry again. Sara motions for Leni to scoot to the middle seat she moves over and Sara pulls her torso onto her lap and holds her there stroking her hair. Liam gets into the back and Tommy gets into the driver's side. Leni could tell they'd been talking about something but they stopped as soon as they saw the state she was in.
"What happened?!" They say at the same time. She groans and hides her face.
"Nothing. I just had a breakdown." She lies.
If I tell Tommy this now or ever he won't hesitate to go find Roby and bash his face in. That would just make the problem worse. Tommy takes Leni's hand in his. She eagerly accepts the comfort.
"Nah. I don't believe it." Liam says "What really happened?"
Leni shakes her head "I don't want to talk about it."
Sara shoots him a glare that would make any child want run home to their mother crying, silently daring him to ask more questions.
Sara speaks before he has the chance. "So I'm guessing you are going home with Tommy?"
Leni nods. Liam says something but it was too low for Leni to hear.
"Liam and I will go and Tommy can take you home." Sara lifts Leni's head so she can look into her eyes. "Whatever it was it will be okay."
Leni nods wiping away another tear. Liam gets out then Sara.
Leni scoots closer to Tommy leaning her head on his shoulder they' driven like this many time before Tommy has perfected driving with one hand.
"Did someone hurt you?" He asks.
"No." Not yet.
"Won't you tell me what's going on?"
Leni shakes her head. They stay silent the rest of the drive home.Tommy parks in Leni's driveway.
"Will you stay for a while?" Leni asks.
"Of course." Tommy says.
