Rebel The Odds

Chapter 13 - Completely, Madly, Absolutely

Chapter 13

Ethan was angry, no, angry was an understatement, he was enraged. He felt every fiber inside his body screamed like it was on fire and the only way he'd cool it down was by opening the windows and letting them escape.

The moment when he entered the fast food restaurant across the street of the gym he worked part time in, his eyes had immediately zoned at a familiar looking back, the cat cotton key-chain hanging on the zip of her bag had given it all away.

Leah was here.

What was fate trying to prove to him with all these coincidence of bumping into her in the most unpredictable places ever? Leah was literally everywhere around him, his aunt's café, near his part time gym job and in his mind when he closes his eyes.

So when he saw Leah, after only two days of not seeing her, he couldn't help but be excited, that is, until he saw three other boys surrounding her. And her posture obviously uncomfortable and tense because of them.

How dare they...!

"Whoa man, chill bro, you want to start a fight?" one of the three said taking a step towards Ethan but he immediately shrunk back when he saw the deadly threatening gaze Ethan held.

One more word, just one more word and Ethan swore he would lose control right there and then, he would beat all three of them up until they were admitted to hospitals, he would beat them until their faces were disorientated and barely recognizable, he would beat them until-

"Ethan" a soft hand placed over his chest and almost instinctively, his head snap to the occupant of the hand as his breath came to an immediate halt.

Leah peered at him, with her hazel eyes seeming worried as she used a little more force to push the palm of her right hand flat on the left of his chest, a contact she has never initiated before,

"Let's just go, ok?"

She whispered the words so softly, he doubted anyone except him heard it. As he stared at her, he felt something and quickly pull down her hand, only to hold it gently around his hand. Leah cast a questioning look at their hands.

He didn't want her to feel the loud beating of his heart, not yet.

Sending one glare to the three boys causing three of them to almost stumble back, the fast food had grown silent as Ethan tugged her hand gently, out from there.

An overwhelming roller-coaster of feelings was what he felt, and he wasn't sure if the best idea would be having Leah with him but he couldn't fathom the thought of leaving her and seeing her being bothered by annoying pest again.

He wasn't sure if he could hold himself together if he saw something like that again.

When they came out, he pulled her until they reached his motorbike and he turned to her while holding the helmet she had wore before.

Leah stared at it for a moment before looking at him softly, "I am hungry" she said with her brows furrowing slightly, her other hand placed carelessly against her stomach as if to press her point. She was annoyed, and hungry.

Ethan nodded his head, he didn't trust his words so he simply pushed the helmet gently to her. Leah took it and wore it over her head as he helps with the straps like before.

No words were exchange between them as Ethan sat at the front of the motorbike while he waited for a few seconds until he felt hands creeping at the hem of his biker jacket. Making sure she was securely seated, he drove from the area. 

After a short drive, Ethan stopped beside diner and parked his motorbike before helping her out and holding her hand with his loosely so if she felt uncomfortable she could pull out.

They entered the diner and Ethan led her to a secluded booth beside the window. They slid on the red leather chair and sat across one another. Soon a waitress came to take their orders, Leah eyed Ethan questioningly, not saying anything to the waitress. 

Ethan hadn't mutter a single word to her.

Ethan turned outside the window, away from her gaze and crossed his hands In front of his chest.

Leah's eyebrows shot wide incredulously at his behavior, she turned to the kind waitress who offered her a sympathetic smile. "I'll just take fish n' fries, with the Oreo smoothie" The waitress nodded her head and took a step back, 'Dump him' she mouthed to Leah before walking away to give the orders.

Once the waitress was gone, Leah turned to Ethan and furrowed her eyebrows, "Ethan, what's wrong?" she asked, her hands on the table while she swing her legs underneath. 

She had absolutely no idea why he was giving her the cold shoulder.

"Are you upset with me?" she asked boldly, before this, she never really thought she would speak so casually to him but when he came to her rescue earlier, she couldn't help but feel slightly less awkward with him, and perhaps more safer. 

"What did I do?"

Not earning an answer from him, she leaned forward "Ethan"

"Ethan" she said the second time.

"Ethan... I am leaving" Like a hand touching a hot water, Ethan's head whipped towards her direction with his eyes wide as saucers, his eyebrows furrowing in slight anger.

Leah perhaps would have felt intimidated had she not been annoyed by his silent treatment. Despite him not looking directly, she stood up, "If you don't tell me what's wrong, I am leaving"

"Nothing's wrong"

Leah rolled her eyes, "I could tell" she said sarcastically.

Ethan sighed, closing his eyes for a moment, damn it this girl!

"It's just... I just have too much to think about" he said with a loud sigh, rubbing the back of his neck frustratingly. He avoided eye contact with her.

The girl's face softened upon hearing that, she leaned her head on her right palm supported by her elbow on the table and stared at him curiously as he did not look at her. "About what?"

"Nothing"

"You're lying. Is it a private matter that you can't tell me or you chose not to tell me?" Leah pried.

Ethan ran a hand over his head, messing his hair, he was frustrated, not with her but with himself, and he was angry, he was still angry about those three boys earlier that he regretted not at least leaving a punch on each of their faces, and he was just so confused, so confused about everything. He felt overwhelmed.

Still not looking her in the eye, he looks down on the table,

"It's nothing" he said, 

"If you can't tell me, just say so-

"It's none of your business!" he blurted out at the moment only for his eyes to widened when he realized what he had just said.

Lifting his head up, he was ready to curse himself if he saw Leah hurt by his words or worse, not even affected by it but instead, he found himself completely awestruck and taken aback when he saw her smiling at him with her head tilted adorably and a strand of her brownish-blonde hair falling down to brush across her cheeks but she paid no heed to it, instead, all her attention was on him. Only on him.

"Finally you looked"

Like an arrow that had just shot his heart in a ruthless battlefield he knew he would lose to, his heart stopped then begin to pound, the fastest it had ever been as one solid emotion rush through him like a waterfall. And he knew what it was.

Leah frowned slightly as their eyes meet, "And what are you saying?" she asked, "We're friends remember? You are my business"

Oh murder him with a sword, this was no crush, no, this was never a puppy love to begin with,

Ethan Daniel Edwards, for the first time in his life, had fallen completely, madly, absolutely, devotedly, utterly in-love, with none other then a girl name Leah, who like cats and is sitting across him with the most beautiful smile anyone could ever see.