Stripped to the Heart

Chapter 24 - Will you be mine?

"So... did you want to go to the movies with me on Saturday?" and no, this isn't Joy it's Leo. We finally gave 'us' a chance when Joy asked me that question 2 weeks ago in my bed. Joy has been surprisingly cool about it. I didn't think she would actually take it very well, I thought she would tell everyone and taunt me about it. I mean I know I'm not proud of it and neither am I proud of not trusting her but I suppose Leo should know too, maybe in a month though.

"Yeah, that should be great Lion Boy!" I replied when I finally stopped contemplating things "Ugh, stop calling me that, Annie!" He knows I hate that. "Goddamit, goodbye." with that I hung up and slammed my phone down onto the counter before realising it and looking down, scared to see whether it was broken. As I turned it over I sat down, feeling like the phone. Broken, annoyed and dead. Now I'll have to fix this and that will take a while.

"Well, how much will it cost?" I stared down at my phone, it was new and uncracked but I was waiting for him to find the price. "$280 please" I sighed and handed over the money, I would have bought a new one for that price but this one has all my contacts, details and so much more, even my past. I wrote a recount of it on my phone. It also shows it in diary form, this phone has been mine since I was 10. An old phone but a handy phone, everything is cheap for it and I see Joy sometimes handing over $1000 to buy an acessory for her's. I just smirk and tell her it was a waste of money.

I was meant to go to school today but i just rang up and told them I was sick, even though I was spending the day with Leo who had also called in sick. Her mother had been going well and the money I gave them had been used towards her wheelchair, I think I'm in her good books but you know I did sort of bribe her. She has been put into the category of 'call if you need anything' so they pretty much think she'll be fine. I saw the stress rush away from Leo when he told me that his mother was going to be fine.

Leo and I are still friends but I wouldn't be surprised if that becomes more very soon, I mean he asked me on a date. But today is our day, the day where we just hang out and learn about each other, maybe the day I also tell him about me. I'm being optimistic that he will react like Joy did, but he's a boy, maybe he won't.

"Hey Leo, come in." By this stage I was practically a butterfly breeding house, the butterflies were flapping like there was no tomorrow. "Okay, hey Anna could I ask you something?" Yes here it comes, OMG I might actually be his girlfriend! "Yeah" I said, trying to sound casual. "Can I have the pleasure of...a water?" instantly all dreams of mine were crushed. "Ok" I meekly squeaked out before running into the kitchen to grab the water jug.

When I came back out we went upstairs to the game room, I found my laptop and the old computer, I started both up and opened minecraft. We played for hours before I finally grew bored and needed the toilet, "Sorry, I just have to go to the toilet. Be back soon." I spoke quickly and hurried out of the room.

After the toilet I wandered into the kitchen and started making a sandwich, I finished and then remembered Leo. When I was making the second sandwich I heard the stairs creak and I assumed it was Leo coming down for something. "Hey Anna" he said, pulling himself up onto the bench "Get off my bench!" I said it with a little bit of sarcasm and started towards the stairs before I felt someone's hand on my arm.

I looked into his eyes and realised the grey strips were really beautiful, "You're really beautiful up close" I thought I was the one speaking but I realised it was him when I glanced at his lips. I found him leaning in and I leant into it too. Our lips touched and I felt every nerve in my body light up and fire all my senses at once. It was a soft but sweet kiss and I pulled away when I remembered that I still had to tell him and that we weren't even dating.

I rushed up the stairs and fell into the beanbag before contemplating my options, I could tell him or I could not tell him. I should at least let him think about me that way first yes I have to tell him.

"Hey Leo, can I tell you something?" I yelled it down the stairs and I instantly saw his head pop into the game room, I ushered him in and he sat on the chair opposite me. "What is it?" he asked. "Before I start I want you to know that I have worked out my feelings and I think I actually might...like you. Please don't think of me weirdly after this, the me I am now has nothing to do with the me I was. It was a hard time for me and I have changed completely, I am ashamed that I was like that and I really do like you." Then I told him, I told him everything I told Joy and one more thing.

"There was a boy, his name was Dylan and we got close, very close. Then one day he disappeared and came back 2 weeks later. I thought he was gone so I just found another boy and began dating him. Dylan came back and punched me, he called me fat and a slut. That was 3 years before I left that place. Everytime I saw him he would hurt me, I had no option or choice. That is sometimes why I get a bit nervous and fidget. I used to have trust issues but as you may know I'm strong and I'm completely different to what I was..."

I looked up at him and saw him in deep thought, I waved my hand and he snapped his attention to me, "what were you thinking?" I asked him without hesitation. "Nothing, I have to go." I quickly stood up and walked him to the door, I didn't even get a goodbye because he ran across the street. Well that didn't go well. I thought to myself before shutting the door.

I ran upstairs and called Joy, hoping she might be able to help me and cheer me up. My thoughts kept thinking back to Leo and why he had run away from me, even throughout the phone call. I couldn't concentrate, my thoughts were on one thing.

Leo.