The Encounter

A New Friend

I looked at the time. It was 7:40. I have exactly 20 minutes to get ready for dinner with Leon. I don't even know where he's taking me but I'll dress fancy just in case. I knew exactly what to wear.

I pulled out my short black dress and a black leather jacket to go with it. Then, walked over to my other suitcase full of shoes. I had a huge collection of shoes and felt the need to take them everywhere I went. I pulled out almost every shoe I owned out of the suitcase till I found my long black boots. 

I made my way to the bathroom with my make up bag in my hand and my outfit in the other dodging the pile of shoes all over my hotel room. By now it was 7:50, I have literally ten minutes to make myself look even slighty presentable for Leon. I don't want to scare him away. 

I put my clothes and boots on. I applied a bit of concealer, lipgloss, eyeliner and mascara. Now I had to decide what to do with my hair, ugh. I'd put my hair up in a ponytail but I've been told I look much better with my hair open so I decided to leave it wavy like it already is.

I heard my phone vibrate on my bedside table, I'm guessing he's here. I picked up my phone and bag and rushed out the door barely closing it behind me. 

Once I got downstairs, I saw a guy wearing a white V-neck with a black leathered jacket, black jeans and a pair of black Yeezy's waiting by the hotel lobby. I had no idea if that was Leon, but I was hoping it was.

"A-are you Alexa?" The guy asked with an eyebrow raised.

"Leon?" I answered smiling, half confident that this was Leon I was talking to.

"You got it, babe. I like your jacket. Matching outfits before we even start dating? Awesome." He said with a wink and gave me a flirtatious smile before opening the car door.

"You know, I could always take it off. Don't flatter yourself." I said with a smile.

"It's not even been ten minutes. Am I that hot?" He said before shutting the door and making his way to the driver's seat.

He could already make me smile and laugh, exactly what I needed. He drove fast as hell and I don't know why I found that even slightly hot considering my life's in danger as long as he's driving.

I tried memorizing his face and features during the car ride. He had grey eyes, dirty blonde hair and the most perfect smile ever. 

"Here we are." He said with excitement breaking the silence.

My heart dropped. He brought me to Erik's favorite French restaurant. What if I see him... for the second time today?

"D-do you want to go somewhere else? You look like I've just brought you face to face with Satan." He asked with a confused look.

"No no, it's amazing." I lied.

---

"Want me to order for you?" Leon offered.

"Y-yeah, sure." I said. I was too busy scanning the whole restaurant for any sign of Erik than looking at the menu.

Lost in my thoughts, I completely ignored the waiter and Leon until he broke the silence again by saying, "You know - if I knew all the tourists Anabel dealt with were as beautiful as you were I wish she'd cancel more often." 

"Gay." I replied with a wink.

"I tried." He said while shrugging his shoulder.

"Oh, look. Food's here. I hope you don't mind me completely pigging out." I said.

"Pretty and hungry, just my type. Anabel was right." He said with a laugh.

His laugh was so cute.

---

"Your jokes are so lame." I said, while Leon opened the door for me.

"Icecream isn't though, we should get some. I mean, unless you're tired." He replied.

Before I could answer, I was distracted by two model like figures coming our way. It was a pretty girl locking hands with a gu- Erik. Could that have been Aimee? Why did I have to see him for the second time today? Why when I'm with Leon? All these questions came flooding and I couldn't deal with it.

He saw me and the first thing I did was lock my hands with Leon and started walking away as quickly as I could in my heeled boots.

"Alexa, the car is that way." Leon said. I could hear the confusion in his voice.

"Just walk, please."

"No." He said, letting go of my hand, frozen in one place. "Do you know him, Alexa?"

I turned around to face him, making sure Erik was gone. "Yeah, I do. He's an.. ex."

"Is that why you fucking held my hand? To make him jealous?" Leon snapped. "You know what, you can have icecream at your hotel and also get there by yourself. Need directions?" 

"No thanks." I said with a straight face. Whatever dude.

---

I was halfway to my hotel barefoot with my boots in my hands when I got a text from Leon.

"Listen, I'm sorry for overreacting. Can we talk?"

I really don't wanna talk to that asshole.

My phone vibrated again.

"I can literally see you ignoring my text. Look to your right."

I looked to my right only to find Leon's car parked over to the side. He got out of his car and walked my way and was about to apologize but I cut him off before he could. 

"Were you following me?" I said, harshly.

"How could I leave a girl as beautiful as you alone at this time of the night?"

"What do you want?" I said, annoyed.

"I want you to hear me out.. while we grab coffee. There's one just a few shops away. Walk with me." He said, grabbing my arm.

His grip was tight, I had no other choice. We didn't speak till we got there. 

"I hate Erik." He said, putting his cup of coffee down.

"H-how do you know him?" I asked, curiously.

"He dated my sister."

How many girls did Erik date after me? What the hell?

"What did he do?" I said with my voice cracking.

"He dated her, made her fall for him, got her into heavy drugs, ruined her life pretty much."

"Is your sister's name, Aimee?" I asked, carefully.

"Nah, thats the girl he left my sister for. After she went to rehab." I could see the hurt and hatred in his eyes while he said those words.

Rehab?