Chapter 11

I wouldn't say I'm anxiously waiting for my two friends to walk in but they sure are making a 'be there in ten' last way fucking longer than ten.

I continue throwing punches at the bag in front of me to distract from the wait.

I haven't seen them since two days ago when they helped me train for a fight and I know that they were at Sunniva's party last night. I feel kinda shitty that I missed it but the logical part of my brain thinks it's a good thing since I'm actively making an effort to stay away from the redhead.

I decided to stay home because the night before the party I had a fight and accumulated too many visible bruisers to avoid questioning and I'd rather not scare the shit out of Sunniva and her friends.

"It's just pizza man. I'll buy you another fucking box after we're done." I hear Marc's voice behind me.

"It's not about the pizza.” I stop and turn to see Marc pinching the bridge of his nose, "It’s the principle." Eddie finishes and he's so serious I can't help but laugh.

"Of course you two wouldn't get it." He complains and moves to the bench. He drops his bag in front of his feet and I hear a clinking sound as it hits the cement flooring.

"I swear it was one slice." Marc explains to me.

"What are you alerting the authorities?" Marc teases Eddie who’s watching him tap away on his phone.

"No.” He scrunches his face up childishly, " I'm just telling Sunny I'll be there after..." He trails off.

What the fuck?

Normally I'd think he was screwing with me but his face doesn't hold a trace of humor and it's when looking up at Marc's nervous expression that my blood runs cold.

"Did something happen last night?" My voice is low and calm. Much calmer than I feel inside.

"No.” Eddie scoffs, "Are you serious? You think that I would do that to you?" He gets up and I can tell that he's pissed.

His words leave me confused. I don't care. I shouldn't care about her life beyond the vow I made about keeping her out of sight. Anything else she does in the dark has absolutely nothing to do with me! It shouldn't fucking matter! It...

"Doesn't matter." I shrug and rip the tape from my hands in anger.

"Oh give it a rest Leo. It’s obvious there's history there but I swear on my life I wouldn't go anywhere near your shady fucking past." He says.

I turn around to get more tape in my bag across the floor but his next words hold me in place.

"I'm definitely not the guy you need to be worried about trying to get some Sun."

I turn back to find the evil grin on his face and then I look to Marc who's eyes go wide.

"Not me." He lifts up his hands in defense.

"He's name is Mato, I think but she likes to call him Mr. Smith." Eddie's voice deepens at end, laying it on thick, "They even have little inside jokes that made me feel little left out." He pouts like the immature dick he is.

He's fucking with me.

"She said he teaches at the school. Didn't say what subject though. I'm guessing it's anatomy because he sure was studying Sunny's body like she's part of the curriculum." His smile grows wider as I make my way to him but luckily Marc steps forward before I can get my hands on the man I'm always threatening with violence.

Eddie backs up until he's at the bench and he leans over to shuffle through he's bag while I'm trying my best to see if my glare could actually burn holes through his thick fucking skull.

"Take this to her place." Eddie says, holding out a small crystal bowl and I look up at him still very angry but now more confused which in turn spikes my anger, "She baked cookies and saved some for me. I told her I'd bring it back but you should do it."

Marc steps away sensing the calm settling in but he's mistaken since I'm still highly confused and upset.

"What? No, why th-"

"Because she looked like I told her that her grandma died when I said you weren't coming." He explains, extending the bowl.

Why would she be upset about my absence? She shouldn't. I'm Finridge north side trash and she's the fucking sun that shines over this whole damned town.

"No." I decide. I can't get an idea of Sunniva and me- and they need to get it out of their heads as well!

"What?" Eddie's face falls along with his arm.

"I said no. You don't know what the fuck you're talking about okay? And I don't care either way so don't bring this shit up again." I say and turn toward my bag.

"But Leo m-"

"Let it go Eddie" Marc's voice perks up.

We're mostly silent as we train and to my pleasure Eddie doesn't bring Sunniva or the party up again. They suggest that we get shit-faced tonight and I agree to it because frankly it's been a minute since I've gotten laid plus I need to get it through these two's thick skulls that I'm not holding onto anything that happened in the past with Sunniva.

They're gone when I come back from the bathrooms so I'm guessing they went home. It's not until I've exited the gym and open my bag to check for my phone that I see it. The fucking bowl. Eddie must've snuck it in while I was taking a piss. This fucker cannot take no for an answer and I'll fucking report him. I zip the bag up the rest of the way and shove it onto the passenger seat when I get in. I try to ignore it but I haven't been able to get the idea of some teacher prick flirting with Sunniva last night out of my damn head. No doubt she was uncomfortable. Sunniva Wallace does not know how to flirt. She's awkward but confident despite it.

Eddie is probably lying just to have me go along with his stupid plan, whatever that plan is and it's not going to work.

But Sunniva wouldn't make someone drive back to her apartment to return some bowl. It must mean something to her and if Eddie already said she'd be expecting him then she's probably waiting right now.

I shouldn't keep her waiting... What if she has somewhere to be soon and she's just sitting in her room waiting for an important bowl that's not coming?

I shouldn't make her wait.

I turn right instead of left at the next stop. I can't believe I'm actually doing this. I shouldn't be doing this but it's just a bowl. I'll just give it to her and split right after.

I see the apartment building next to the diner I saw her at that morning. That’s where Marc says they're staying.

I turn off the ignition and just sit for a few seconds.

"Fuck me." I groan and reach to open my bag to feel around for the reason my dumbass is here.

Theres an old man and two kids inside the elevator when it opens in and to my surprise he smiles up at me. I ignore him and enter the elevator when the two kids follow him out.

"4D." I read a above the door.

This is the one she texted Eddie. Isn't it?

I receive my answer when Sunniva's friend opens the door then jumps back.

"Jesus." She clutches her chest.

I just stare at her and notice she's wearing tights and has a mat rolled up under her arm.

"The snitch." She states looking up at me in utter boredom, "What do you want?" She questions in a tone that matches her expression.

I'm taken aback at this encounter because nobody besides Knives has ever spoken to me this way. Everyone was too afraid because most of them knew who I was. I can't tell whether I'm shocked or pissed but I stay still.

Her eyes look down to the bowl in my hand and they reach a conclusion, "Oh, you can leave it on the kitchen counter." She says and before I can ask her where the fuck that is she's out the door.

Now I'm both shocked and pissed off. How could she let someone she hardly knows into her home? Sunniva's home! She'd have them both fucking killed before her sister even caught whiff of her back in town.

I'm standing in the middle of their lounge very pissed off when Sunniva walks in wearing a similar tights to her friend that clings to her thighs and vest that allows me the perfect view of her tits because she's not wearing a fucking bra.

Fuck me.

"Leo?" She's gasps and as rushes over to me, her chest bounces in the process.

Fuck me and my entire fucking life.

I force my eyes from her body and look up at her face which also is too appealing to have me stick to my plan of just dropping the bowl off and leaving.

"You didn't have to. I'm so sorry." Her face scrunches up in discomfort and pulls at the large puff that's pushed to the back of her head.

"It's okay. Something came up with Eddie... and I thought I'd bring it." I lie and I don't regret it because I'm happily blinded by the smile that appears on her face.

"That's so sweet, Leo. Thank you." She says, reaching for my forearm and my body goes completely stiff.

A high pitched whistle rings through the air and she lifts her hands to her chest in shock, "Oh shoot!” She exclaims, "Would you like some tea?" She yells over her shoulder as she runs in the direction of where I assume the kitchen is at.

Her perfectly shaped ass is my new view when she skips off in a hurry. Is she even real? There's no possible way.

I reluctantly follow her and before I can decline her offer I see her place a small cup next to another one on the counter.

"I'm not really in a tea kind of mood..." I'm never in a tea kind of mood.

"Oh." She pouts and my shorts get a little tighter.

"But I'll have some." I say without thinking and once again don't regret it because of the look on her face. As if she won first prize or something.

But her smile drops suddenly as she reaches for the bowl in my hand and sets it on the counter besides us and then moves closer towards me. Wide eyes staring at me in shock.

"Are you okay?" She asks and I see her hands lifting and dropping as she tries to fight the urge to reach for me.

The faded bruises may not be as faded I thought.

My hands run over my face trying to cover it completely. As if I didn't already look like a thug to her before this definitely helps.

Her touch surprises me again when I feel her small hands trying to pull mine.

"Do they hurt? Do you need me to call somebody?" She asks with worry in her big brown eyes.

"Do you need my help?" She's so sincere I can't bring myself to laugh. How could Sunniva ever be the one to help me?

"No, Sunniva it's okay. The guy I was sparring with at gym today was a little too intense that's all." I lie for the third time.

I note that her hands are still holding mine and I drop my arms to my side to free them.

"Oh okay." She sighs, "You want to ice it?" Her hand reaches for mine again.

Why does she keep touching me? And why is it making my chest and pants tighter?

"No, I'll live."

"Okay well I'll make you some lavender and lemon tea to help with aches, okay?" She looks up at me and tightens her hold on my hand to comfort me I assume. I'm a little stunned. I completely forgot what she's like and once again I'm in utter shock that she's actually here with me, touching me.

I nod slowly staring down at her face and I can tell she's a little shy because she's biting her lip.

"Uh okay just... just sit over there.” She looks towards the counter, "It'll be done in a second."

I nod again and make my way behind the counter to plant myself on the stool.

I watch her reach into a cabinet and she almost has to hop to get what she's looking for. Her ass bounces as she does this and it's almost hypnotic. She must be trying to fuck with me on purpose but when she nearly drops something and turns to me, giggling at her own clumsiness I realize Sunniva is completely unaware of just how dangerous her presence is to the weak-willed and right now I've never felt weaker.