Unexpected Love

Family Secrets

Family Secrets

       "What is she doing here," Leo asked in surprise, referring to me. Melanie turned to look at me and smiled. 

       "What do you mean? She's my friend. The one I was telling you about? I told you she was hot, eh," she whispered the last part, jabbing her elbow into Leo's side and now I could see the resemblances. They both had dark hair, only their eyes were complete opposites, and his were even darker than Alice's. 

       "Actually," I began, finally tearing my gaze away to look at Melanie. "Maybe I should go. You don't see him as much as you'd like, so I should leave you to spend time with him," I said quietly, my gaze darting back to him. 

      The tension in the air was so thick, you'd have to use a chainsaw to cut it. Melanie's tiny eyebrows furrowed as she looked at me in confusion. 

       "No. You have to stay. I wanted you to be here," she pleaded. I glanced at Leo and back at Mel. 

       "Yeah Gemini. Stay," he said. I looked at him again in surprise. I felt a sudden flare of… I wasn't sure what it was, but I felt it. He was telling me to stay, when he didn't. He left me and that hurt so badly for so long. 

      "Okay, did I miss something? You two know each other," Melanie asked. 

       "We've bumped into each other before," Leo said quickly. I kept my mouth shut and I tried to ignore the ache and longing that I felt for him. 

       Melanie looked between us but didn't say anything. 

       "Dinner's ready," Alice called. Melanie grabbed my hand and I gave into the pleading look in her eyes. As much as I didn't want to sit there near Leo, I couldn't say no to Melanie's sweet face. I sighed and gave in and she smiled widely at me. 

       We went into the dining room and when I sat down, Leo sat directly across from me and he was staring at me the whole time. A man came in a few minutes later. He seemed to be in his early forties, his dark hair starting to gray along the sides. I'm guessing that this was their father. He had a dark, scruffy beard and he smelled like cigarette smoke. He had the same light sky blue eyes as Melanie. 

       "Hey Dad," Melanie said. He grunted and looked up and stared at me. He sniffed the air and a sudden storm blew in his eyes. 

       "Who the hell are you? Get the fuck out of my house!" He was yelling and my eyes widened. What the hell? I stood up in surprise. 

       "Dad! She's my friend and she's staying. What's wrong with you," Melanie asked, standing up beside me. 

       "Do you have any idea what she is? Leave," he demanded, turning back to me. My breathing had quickened and I quickly left, leaving my bag inside. I walked down the long drive of their house, and I wasn't sure what exactly had happened in there, but I wasn't going to stop walking. 

       I heard yelling in the house and the front door slammed but I didn't slow down. 

      "Gemini," called a voice behind me. I still didn't stop as Leo ran up to me. He grabbed my arm and whirled me to face him. 

       "Where are you going? Why are you leaving? You don't have to leave, Gemini," he said. 

       "You didn't have to leave either," I snapped. His face remained expressionless as he towered over me. 

       "No. I didn't. I felt like I did at the time though," he said quietly. I watched him carefully for a moment. 

       "Why do you and your father hate me? Because of what I am? I get it, okay. I'm dangerous, but not all of us are monsters, okay? We're people too, Leo. I just don't see-"