Leo

Chapter 7

"Party guest number 5? What kind of character is that?" Evelyn groaned.
We were currently at the lunch table, while discussing our play that's coming up. I don't get it. Why do we have a play? It's not like we're in the seventh grade, we're seniors in high school if anything. Maybe I'm just a little mad with my part.
"Who are you Marlie?" Evelyn asked me angrily. I looked at her and I slammed my paper with my part on the table.
Props decorator, it read.
I honestly wasn't that surprised at my part. I had wanted the props decorator, the only problem was with who was Juliet.
"You guys think you have it bad?" Jacky wined (when does she even not complain?)," I have to be Juliet's mother. I can't deal with dumb Amanda Johnson being Juliet. That was supposed to be my part!" Jacky stood up and dramatically pointed towards Amanda even though Amanda didn't notice.
Oh, by the way, we're doing Romeo and Juliet.
Kai grabbed her arm and made her sit back down.
"Everyone just needs to chill. Okay?" Kai said.
We all glanced at him with evil eyes and he seemed to shrink.
"Hey guys." Leo said as he put his plate down.
We all looked over at him and he froze.
"What happened?" He mumbled with wide eyes.
Jacky grabbed onto Leo's arm and pulled him towards her. "You happened! Why did you have to get the part of Romeo when Amanda Johnson is Juliet? Do you know how much we hate her?"
"I'm...sorry?" Leo mumbled confusingly. Jacky let go of him and he sat back down before glancing at me. I didn't bother looking at him back. I wasn't mad at him for getting the part. I was mad at Amanda Johnson for bribing the school for the main role so she could kiss Leo.
That kiss was supposed to be mine. And now her lips are going to be all on him and that's all I'm going to be thinking about when I see him.
"Well, at least I got Romeo's best friend, right?" Kai chuckled.
We all looked over at him and he paused before stuffing his mouth with pudding so he would shut up.
-
I was busy painting one of the many props as I sat on the floor while I watched Leo rehearse in awe. I didn't know he was such a good actor.
The theater teacher called cut and almost immediately Amanda Johnson was chatting it up with Leo. If she wasn't so pretty than I wouldn't be so on edge. But, it's not like Leo and I are dating. Cause we aren't. But we're definitely something, whether our friends know about it or not.
"Hey, um, Marlie." Evelyn appeared next to me.
"Huh?" I looked up at her dumbly.
"You've been painting the same spot for five minutes." She mumbled motioning towards my hand. I looked towards my brush and that one stroke was drastically darker than the rest of the prop.
I groaned in frustration.
"If it means anything, her skirt is way too short for her to be a proper Juliet." Evelyn mumbled as she gave Amanda the evil eye. I didn't quite notice that before. Her skirt is too short.
I looked away from her and Leo and I stood up.
"I'm going to wash the brushes." I said as I walked away.
As I was done washing my brushes, I walked out of the girls bathroom to be stopped by someone.
"Marlie," Leo appeared in front of me.
"Leo, hi." I smiled weakly.
"About this whole play thing, you're not mad right?" Leo grabbed both my hands while playing with my fingers as he scanned my face for any clues. Luckily for me, I was good at lying.
"No. Of course not." I smiled," I mean, it's not like we're dating or anything."
Leo's smile suddenly flattened and I instantly regretted what I said.
"Right. Right, of course." Leo mumbled as he let go of my hands.
"I should...get back to painting." I mumbled awkwardly. I held up my brushes and he nodded.
"Yeah. I need to get back to rehearsal anyway." He mumbled. We both maintained eye contact until Leo walked past me, towards the stage.
What did I do?
-
It was now the day of the performance and Leo hasn't really talked to me since our little incident. And if he does talk to me, then he doesn't use eye contact, which I hate.
Ugh that sounds so pathetic. I've only known Leo for three months! So why am I feeling these types of things for him?
As it was getting nearer to Leo's kiss scene, I felt terrible. I should've said that to him earlier. I guess him and I had different thoughts about the term "us". But I liked his way of thinking better than mine.
I walked across the stage when Leo and I immediately made eye contact, before he turned around almost immediately.
I tried not to seem hurt by that, but it can't be helped. I was undeniably jealous, but I wanted Leo to do good in the play. I cant be jealous. That'd be selfish. I wouldn't be jealous if it was anybody else. Anybody else other than Amanda freaking Johnson.
Amanda looked over at me and gave me an evil smile and I tried to ignore her. I'm going to try to be the bigger person in this situation.
The curtains opened the scene began.
After a couple of minutes, it was time for the monumental kiss.
I watched as Leo glanced over towards me once he said his last line before the kiss.
He leaned forward and quickly peaked Amanda's cheek. She looked at him disappointedly.
"Oh my gosh." Evenlyn said behind me.
"I know right?" I mumbled.
"Did you see that? Leo DIDNT kiss her! He must really like me." Jacky exclaimed behind us. Evelyn and I looked towards her and eyed her.
"What?" She asked innocently.
If Leo didn't kiss Amanda, then what exactly does that mean?
Once it was a break after Leo's kiss scene, Leo was backstage getting his hair styled.
The girl who was supposed to style his hair quickly appeared in front of me.
"Marlie! I need your help. There's an emergency on the stage so I need you to take care of Leo's hair." She quickly said.
"Wait, what?" I asked nervously.
"You'll be fine." She patted me on the back before quickly walked out.
I paused in my place. Leo's hair is specifically something that I've been ignoring to touch. I felt like if I put my hand through his hair than I wouldn't be able to hold myself back anymore.
This is just the worst.
I gulped before walking up to Leo. He seemed the slightest bit surprised to see me, but then his expression turned cold again.
I slowly grabbed a little bit of hair gel before touching his hair with it. His hair was soft and silky against my finger tips, exactly how I imagined it to be.
"By the way..." I mumbled without making eye contact with him," You're doing great out there."
Leo scooted up in his chair so that his knees were placed on each of my hips," Yeah?" He asked.
I nodded," I'm sorry if what I said earlier was a bit...insensitive." I gulped," I mean, I didn't mean it like that. We're something, don't you think?"
I stopped styling and he looked up at me with a blank expression. Gosh, I must be so confusing to him.
"But, why didn't you kiss her?" I asked him curiously.
He shrugged plainly," Its just a play." He mumbled.
"Not to you." I shook my head," You are amazing at acting. You shouldn't not do something just because I said something dumb."
He sighed," It just makes me mad." He finally said," That you really don't think that I'd rather be kissing you up there. Cause I would. I knew you were jealous and it just makes me frustrated that you have to be jealous in this type of situation." He groaned.
I looked at him blankly. That's absolutely not how I pictured this conversation to go.
He opened his mouth to say something else but it got interrupted by, "Leo, it's time!" Amanda called from the front of the stage. I finished styling his hair and I sighed while rubbing my hands on a towel.
"Good Luck." I smiled as Leo stood up. He looked over at me and nodded his head before going onto the stage.
That was a bit unexpected.