Pizza-line Bling

Mushroom Pizza

*Leslie's P.O.V.*

I mean it's quite funny how I ended up in this situation. Head in my hands, sitting outside Drake's house, when he is not even acknowledging my existence.

How am I supposed to get in?

What am I supposed to tell him?

"Hey, Drake. I am sorry you have been ignoring me all this time. I just came here to tell you that your grandma is dying"?

Hell to the no.

His grandma should be the one to tell her family. I am here for support.

Taking a deep breath, I stood up and prepared myself for the most awkward, sad and eventful night of my life. I knocked the door twice and waited with my sweaty hands crossed behind my back.

"I didn't know we were having guests over," was all I heard a woman say before opening the door. A younger copy of Azura, aka Drake's grandma, smiled sweetly at me.

"Um, hello," I unnecessarily waved uncomfortably. "I'm Leslie, um, Mrs. Azura invited me over for d-dinner," I stuttered, feeling like the ground was swallowing sand. My chest was about to burst from my stress and so were my tear producers.

"Ah, sweetheart, of course. But are you feeling okay? You look really pale. Come inside, I'll get you something to eat and show you to the bathroom," she genuinely offered and dragged me inside carefully.

Once her hand found my hand and back, I instantly felt better. It was like having my mother caress me to sleep. My heart pace slowed down to normal, something that didn't go unnoticed by the woman.

"Are you going to be okay? Do you want to use the bathroom for a little while?" she asked and I nodded. "Go wash your beautiful face, and if you need any makeup you can use mine. You'll see it right next to the sink, okay?"

"Thank you," I told her truthfully and followed her to the bathroom.

Don't look at your reflection in the mirror. Don't do it, Leslie. Fuck!

I looked like total crap. My hair was all over the place and my makeup was smudged and completely ruined. To say I tried to fix my mess of a self would be an understatement. To say that I achieved my goal... I'd better not even mention it.

Sighing, I reached for the doorknob, but before I could twist it the door opened quickly, sending me the feels of deja vu, and my butt to keep company to the floor.

Too bad – for the floor – I never landed on it. A strong pair arms grabbed my waist and got me back on my feet.

"We should really stop doing this," Drake chuckled lightly.

I wanted to see him, but I couldn't. My eyes were stuck, flirting with the floor, while I was begging them to date Drake's ones.

"Hey..." he whispered. "Are you okay?"

"I'm here for your grandma," I shook my head. "You are not obliged to talk to me if you don't want to," I finally glanced at him and started to walk away.

"Leslie, I'm sorry-"

"Save it. I told you I'm here for your grandma," I whisper-yelled, not wanting anyone to hear us arguing.

Especially, Azura.

At the table, the only normal behaviour was Samantha's, the woman who had opened the door for me and was also Drake's mother. Among Azura, Drake and I an awkward and really uncomfortable silence was deafening me. Samantha was having a small conversation going, asking about my life and future dreams, but at some point the questionnaire ended.

I forced myself to take another bite of Azura's delicious Spaghetti Bolognese and gave her a small smile. She wasn't able to eat either. The stress must have gotten her stomach too, along with her mind.

As I was waiting for her to start talking, my name was heard from another person's lips. I turned to Drake and signalled that he doesn't say anything right at that moment.

And that's when Azura spoke up.

"Samantha," she turned to her daughter. "Drake," she looked at him. "It's so hard to say this to you, but..." she took a big breath. "Um... I have been visiting the doctors because I felt really weak these days." Both one's eyebrows had furrowed, while Azura's tears where already bathing her cheeks. "He said I barely have two months left to live. My body is giving up on me and I am expected to move to a better world soon."

My heart broke into a million pieces. Seeing a grandma talk to her loved ones about leaving them forever was the most heartbreaking thing I had ever experienced in my life. Not to mention their reactions...

Samantha quickly got up and ran to the bathroom, where she cried and screamed for her mother's life. She even got sick a couple times and then cried even more. I felt like helping her, but I was too scared. I was scared that she would kick me out of her house and life, when all I want is to help them.

Help them?

How?

Who do you think you are, Leslie?

Face it. You can't help them right now.

And it's true, but I couldn't leave. Not like that.

Drake's face was going back and forth from extremely pale to a dark shade of red. He didn't bother hiding his tears. He wouldn't be able to even if he tried. Out of the blue, he slammed his palm on the table, making all of us flinch. He got up and picking up his chair, he angrily crushed it on the wall, damaging both objects.

Well, who cares about broken objects when you have a broken heart?

I couldn't bare sitting in silence. Azura had invited me in order to help her, not just sit on a chair and watch her family break down.

I got up. I held Azura up and helped her to her bedroom. Putting a handful of napkins on her bed, I tried to calm her down and remind her that she now had me too there for her.

"Please try to sleep," I begged her. "I will take care of the others."

As if it's easy...

I found Samantha laying on the bathroom floor, crying her eyeballs out.

"I'm sorry. I know I shouldn't be here, because I clearly don't belong here, but please let me help you just for today," I kneeled down and talked to her with a worried look in my eyes.

"Don't apologize, Leslie," she sat up. "My mother must have seen something in you to invite you here on a day like this. Thank you for not running away and helping her."

Samantha insisted on staying in the bathroom and taking a hot bath, so I got out and went to look for Drake.

He wasn't in the kitchen where I had left him. The chair was still on the floor like an unfinished puzzle, but Drake was nowhere near.

And just like an hour ago, I was asking myself questions I couldn't answer.

What am I supposed to do?

I walked silent steps towards the bedrooms of the house and knocked on a black door in the far right of the corridor. When no one answered, I closed my eyes for a second and then peaked inside.

Drake was crying. Punching his pillows and tearing his bed sheets.

I couldn't see him like that. I couldn't leave him alone. Azura had warned me about his over reaction. I had to take care of him.

Not giving it further thought, I walked to him and stopped him from his brutal actions. I took his hands in mine and forced him to sit down on his bed. He wouldn't stop crying.

With a fast move I trapped his arms under my hold and hugged him tight. It took him some time, but he eventually hugged me back and calmed his hysteric cries.

"I'm here, Drake. I'll be here whether you want me or not," I whispered in his ear so quiet that I wasn't sure if he had heard me.

"I want you, Leslie. Don't leave."