Leona gotten her heartbroken many times, slowly losing trust in people. Her life slowly falling into a downward spiral, people she loves leaving her, betraying her. But then Santiago Cruz comes along, will he be able to gain her trust?
[ongoing]
"God, Jayden, nothing is gonna get you. Like eating a little boy will satisfy its taste." Jayden rolls his eyes, "Well I hope it eats you." I stick my tongue out at him. I put the blanket over him, "Now sleep!" Jayden rolls his eyes, again. "That's not how that works, babe." I shoot a glare at Ryan who walks into the room along with Marshall. "You're late," I turned to Marshall, ignoring Marshall. "Sorry, Sis, I'm trying?" Trying my ass. "Excuses," I turn to Ryan, "why are you here?" Marshall clears his throat, everyone's head turns including Jayden's. "Not in front of the kid, besides you two are sixteen either kiss and makeup or one of you man up and call all this bullshit off."
"Fine!" Everyone's attention turns back to me, "Get out!"
---
"You okay, Leone?" Romeo hugs me slightly, I look up him confused, "Yeah? Um what happened?" Alex walks around to the other side of me, "Yeah, what happened," Rose sighs, "She had a mini panic attack nothing to serious besides the fact that she may have kinda blew Santiago off." Alex gasps, "You blew Santiago Cruz off!?" I move out of Romeo's grasp. "It's no big deal. He's no one important."
"To you because you have no taste." Alex sticks her tongue out in disgust, "Come on, Romeo, you must think Santiago is attractive!" Romeo sighs, "I'm actually friends with Santiago I can't answer that." Alex rolls her eyes, "Seriously not helping my point. Besides me and you are friends and I think you're attractive."
"Sorry to disappoint but you aren't exactly my type, Alex."
"What I'm trying to say is, it's completely platonic!" Romeo laughs, "I know what you meant, besides it's kinda fun to annoy you. But yes Santiago is attractive." Alex yells out a 'Ah ha!' then realizing how loud she was so she decided to shut up for once. Wait since when was Romeo and Santiago friends? "If Santiago is so attractive why don't you jump him, Romeo?" Romeo wasn't openly gay, to be completely honest only Alex, Rose, (maybe) Santiago, and I were the ones who knew. "Why are we even talking about this? I blew Santiago off, no biggie. The more you three talk the more I feel like I'm suffocating, I just really wanna go home."
"No biggie!? Leona-"
"Alex."
Alex looks at Rose then looks at me, "Right...sorry, yeah we can take you home."
---
There are many reasons why I have trust issues. Ryan Batten, is one of them. Not the first but definitely one that hit me the most...emotionally. Yet we only broke up twice. The first time was an innocent fight. Marshall said to man up so I did...big mistake, but so was taking Ryan back.
(Flashback)
I walk into the living room to find Ryan talking on the phone, "Yep, thank you...I will. Of course, see ya." He hangs up the phone then looks up at me, "What?" Just smile, Leona. No big deal. "Nothing. Who was that?" He glares at me. Maybe you're trying to hard. To hard or not hard enough. He can probably sense my fear. "None of your concern, learn to mind your business. Being too nosy can land your dad fired, remember?" I nod, noted. Ryan's dad works in a company and my dad works for him. One of the ways we met, another big mistake. "Where's my jacket?"
"Who knows you just threw it where and expect me to-"
Before I could finish my sentence I was slammed against the wall, Ryan's grip on my neck getting tighter and tighter. "You have a real attitude problem. You try to make yourself all high and mighty but you aren't. You're Leona, do you know what Leona means?" Leona is french meaning lion or a lioness. I wanted to say that but I couldn't. Ryan was right, I'm not high and mighty no matter how hard I tried.
He lets out a noise, sorta like a growl. My feet touch the ground as he lets me go. I didn't even notice him lifting me. All I felt was the burning feeling in my throat, the feeling of being able to breathe again. 'You're weak' is the last thing I hear before the door slams. I turn around to see the reflection of myself in the mirror. Tears streaming down my cheeks, I raise my fist up and punch the mirror, not even shattering it. Dumbass, why would you even try. We all know what he said was true. Everything is your fault, maybe you should just learn to keep your mouth shut.
(Present)
It's a long walk from the school to my house, and I don't own a car for traumatic reasons. The three don't offer to drive me anywhere purely out of respect of my fears but it makes me feel like a burden to force them to walk with me because I'm a idiot who's afraid of cars.
Romeo walks far ahead of us, looking down at his phone.
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"Romeo!"
I'm not sure why I yelled, I just panicked. He stops, quickly looking around then turning to look at me. In front of him is a busy street, cars zooming past, honking every now and then. He's not even near the street yet why did you yell? He walks up to us, "Sorry I walked ahead of you guys," he turns to look at me, "thanks Leona, I almost..." He stops himself mid-sentence, smiling apologetically.
We all continue to walk until I stop right before we get to the crosswalk. Alex notices first, signalling Rose and Romeo to stop to. "You okay, Leo?" I watch as the cars drive by to me it seems like their going one hundred mph but the actual speed limit must be at least twenty-five mph. A hand on my shoulder causes me to jump. I look to see Romeo looking down at me, worriedly, "You okay?"
