Love Takes Trust

7

LEONA

After school Santiago and I walked to my house. I kinda feel bad for making him walk and I did tell him he could drive, but he insisted that he'd walk with me. I kinda wasn't ready to tell him about the whole "accident".

The sounds of cars honk starts to grow louder and louder, each step I take gets shaker and shaker. "Hey, are you okay?" The sound of Santiago's voice calms me down slightly. I felt weak and I didn't want him to see that. I didn't- well I don't want him to feel sorry for me like everyone else does.

I was lost in my own thoughts until I was suddenly being pulled back, falling into Santiago's hold. His heart was racing and it didn't take me long to realize why. A few inches away from us was cars zooming down the busy street.

"You almost gave me a heart attack," Santiago sighs in relief. I start to shake violently causing Santiago to jump, "Leon, are you okay! You're shaking really bad!"

"I'm fine," I say as I try to get out of his hold on me, only causing him to squeeze me tighter.

"You're not fine, Leon! You're having a panic attack."

"I'm fine!" I snap, tumbling into the street before being pulled back by Santiago. Seconds after him pulling me a car races by. "Leona, do you have vehophobia?" Santiago asks.

"I have ptsd from a...car accident." I struggle to get the last part out. Santiago's eyes widen in surprised, "Why didn't tell me I know I calmer route!"

"This is the only way to my house that I know of."

"Welp we're going my way! No more scary busy streets." He exclaims before taking off in the opposite direction. I smile slightly, quietly following behind him. His movement slow down until he's walking next to me, "Rome told me you had trust issues. I'm not trying to force you to trust me but just know you can. Whatever you kind of bull you've heard Alison say isn't true. I- I'm not gonna hurt you."

"Thanks."

"Thanks?"

"For not forcing it. Ry- some people don't get that. They push me to the edge until I fall." I mumble to myself, I can see Santiago in the corner of my eye looking down at me smiling slightly, "Thank god I'm here to catch you, right?" Santiago ruffles up my hair before turning to face forward.

Maybe Santiago isn't who I thought he was. I always thought he was some stuck-up guy who let wealth get to him, but he's actually has a soft side- not even a soft side he was just soft in general, and that scared me to death. I almost don't want to believe it because a voice in my head keeps screaming that he's exactly like Ryan Batten.

---

The walk was slightly longer than my normal way but it was quieter, no cars anywhere. As soon as we enter the house we are greeted by loud cursing in Spanish, which soon stops as the two notice us. Nyma's lips curl into a smirk while Marshall has a surprised expression on his face, "Quien es?"

"Un amigo. Santiago Cruz," Santiago holds his hand out to Nyma, her smirk still on her face.

"¿Tu hablas español?"

"Si."

Nyma's lips now curl into a smile as she winks, "Me gusta." Marshall hits Nyma on the head, the motion kinda reminds me of Romeo hitting Rose. "I'm Nyma Moreno, Leona's sister-"

"Not my sister." Nyma rolls her eyes at my comment then sighs, "I'm Marshall's sister. Me and Leona aren't related but," Nyma turns to glare at me, "I like consider myself her sister."

Nyma and I are the same age but I never met her until I was ten. She treated me as the sister we both never had and she was always there for me. She only comes on special days like birthdays and holidays, and this time it for my brothers birthday. The thought makes me sick to my stomach and I'm not talking about his birthday.

When I was little I was sick, really sick. I survived but unfortunately the illness messed with my memory so I don't remember much from that time, but I'd give anything to forget the accident. So I wouldn't have to live in this nightmare. I wouldn't have to live in fear of everything.

Nyma and Santiago sit on the couch eating some food the Nyma's mom made. I watch as Santiago's face lights up as he eats. It's kinda relieving to me, he was so genuine even though he knows I have secrets that I'm not ready to share.

"Leon, you don't want any?" Santiago asks as she shoves a plate into my lap. "Oh- um thanks," I take the plate, looking down at it. I don't have much of an appetite, I eat when I feel like it but mostly I'm in the mood to eat. Right now is the time but I eat anyways, it would be awkward if I didn't eat too, right? My phone vibrates in my pocket, I take it out to see Romeo texted.