Chapter 14

"Goodbye Miss Wallace." A few girls greet me as I get in my car and I wave at them through the window.

It's been the most stressful week and I'm relieved I'm not giving extra credit lessons tomorrow. It has been exhilarating though since Miss Porter was sick on Wednesday I got to take over for her and let's just say I kind of crushed it. The kids are super energetic but they were respectful and interactive during the lessons so I couldn't be more thrilled.

My phone beeps and my chest fills with excitement but it's just a forwarded prayer message from my grandma. I try not to think too much about my rapidly beating heart.

Leo and I have been texting all week. Just your everyday text though. How I am, how he is, asking me why I was at the supermarket so late that time he saw me, asking if he saw me wave at him when I left. All pretty average stuff but the issue is that I can't convince my heart that it is.

It took forever to get over him just disappearing from my life without an explanation but here we are, friends again and I might be a little too invested but I need to quit it because this cannot be like the last time. I cannot be the girl pining after Leo Woo with a bleeding heart. I'm a woman now and I'm in control of my emotions... I think.

I put my phone on speaker when I see Lucy's call.

"Hey Sunsun."

"Hey , how'd the meeting go?"

"Great, I fucking killed it but I wanted to tell you that a certain someone invited me out to dinner tonight so I might be home late but don't wait up." She rushes and I hear the ruffling of papers.

"Oooh is this certain someone Mr Grover perhaps?" I tease.

"Yes.” She drags her answer and I can practically see her rolling her eyes, "But no more questions until later." She demands.

"Also we're out of milk so stop by at the store before you get home."

"Ok-"

"Okay, okay I gotta go. Smell you later." Lucy’s words are rushed and I can tell by the echo of her heels that she's running in a hallway. Interning is stressful work.

I make quick work of grabbing a carton of milk and rush down the isle. I stop just before colliding with someone and I look up to find that it's Leo.

"Hey." I say and cringe at the excitement in my voice.

His hair is tied back and unlike every other time he doesn't have on his jacket but instead a black T-shirt with faded lettering. I don't know how he manages to look attractive all hours of the day. It must be exhausting.

"Hi." He greets.

"You're just-"

"How was-"

We pause and I laugh at the awkwardness that fills aisle five.

"You go first." I offer.

"How was school today?" He folds his arms, making them look even bigger.

"It was great. Kids were great." I reply, “How ‘bout you? How was your day? Did you fix motors and stuff..."

Why was I given the gift of speech, clearly I do not deserve it.

"No, slow day.” He grins, "No motors and stuff." He teases and his smile is infectious.

"Well do you Marc and Edwardo have anything planned for tonight?" I ask and gesture to the six pack of beer in his hand.

"No, it's just me tonight."

"Me too, Lucy's on a date so I'm alone unless the ghost that roams around decides to stop by." He smiles at my words. He's always had a great smile.

"Well or you could join me. It's the semi finale of Day 1 tonight and I can't wait for Lucy."

His face scrunches up in confusion.

"Sure." His quick response shocks me more than his answer.

I hope I don't look as nervous as I suddenly feel.

"Uh... well I guess I'll see you in a few." I say and shuffle past him.

We have the awkward delight of being right across from each other as we pay for our things and I grab a pack of gum to delay my purchasing so we won't have to leave at the same time too.

I sit frozen in my car for a few seconds before starting it up.

It's an awful wish but I hope Lucy has to cut her date short so she'll be able to save me from my silly mistakes.

As I enter the apartment building I turn to the full parking lot in search for Leo's Jeep but I can't see it.

Maybe he changed his mind.

My thoughts are proved wrong when I see a large man leaning on the wall across my apartment door.

"I beat you here." His deep voice carries down the hallway as I make my way to him.

"I guess you did." I say breathlessly at our now close proximity.

I fish for the keys in my back pocket and wave them in front of him.

"Can't enter a house without a key right."

"Wrong." He says as I open the door.

I turn and see the smirk on his face, obviously because of the shock on mine.

"Different sunsets remember?"

"My Mom used to sit me and my sister outside and tell us that the sky fairies were putting on a show for us." I say looking up at the multicolored sky.

Leo's fingers tighten a bit around mine. He likes to hold my hand, I think. I like it too.

"It looks different from this side." He says and I turn my head to look at his face scrunched up in thought "Or maybe it doesn't. I don't really pay attention"

"How could you not?" I question quietly.

"Only people outside 'round this time are starting trouble or getting in trouble." He says, still watching the clouds fade.

"Oh, I'm s-"

"Don't say sorry. It’s just different sunsets." He shrugs.

"I remember." I nod and gesture for him to follow me inside.

“You can make yourself comfortable. I'll be right back." I say, pointing at our tiny living room.

I skip off, trying not to look as panicked as I feel.

Why did I not think this through?

Standing in front of my mirror I assess my appearance.

My hair is in cornrows and my eyes look sleep deprived but at least they're honest.

"I'm okay.” I say patting down my hair, "Yeah, I'm okay." I pull at the hem of my sweater and smile brightly at my reflection.

I urge my nerves to calm down as I make my way back inside to where Leo has in fact made himself comfortable.

"Would you like something to drink?" I ask the giant who has his limbs draped across the sofa.

"No."

"Okay." I sigh and slowly plant myself down beside him.

Our sofa is not as small as it suddenly feels. His arm is stretched out behind me and I have to tuck my legs in to avoid contact with his.

I pull at the braids laying at the nape of my neck and look up to find him staring down at me trying to contain his smile.

"What?" I ask.

He shrugs and leans forward to grab the remote on the table.

"Nothing." He smirks handing me the remote, "Let’s watch this show." He says.

I divert my gaze from his and face the television as it comes to life. The end of the Day 1 intro plays and I'm tuned in and very excited.

"Perfect timing." I smile and Leo nods in response.

A minute into the show and I accept that I just won't be able to pay attention. Not if we're this close. I will have no skin left on my fingers to rip off by the end of this show.

"So who'd you thinks gonna win?" His voice makes me shiver and I can't bring myself to face him so I just shrug at the screen.

"You still do that." His hand pulls at mine and I quickly turn to him in surprise, "... when you're nervous. I remember." He smiles and lightly taps his finger on the end of my nails.

"I guess." I whisper.

"Are you nervous right now?" He whispers back as he strums my knuckles.

"A little." I choke.

He closes his eyes and nods his head.

"You want me to go?" He ask, his eyes piercing my soul again.

"No." I turn my body to face him, "Do you want to go?"

He shakes his head slowly, "No."

The sound of the television is the only noise as time seems to disappear.

He ends our trance by looking away first to face the screen again.

I smile, silently watching how calm he looks. I never noticed how tense his body usually is until now.

He doesn't let go of my hand so I turn my body in a way that doesn't break our contact. I keep stealing glances at him and I notice the faint scar on his chin. I've always wanted to ask him about it but we were never that close. It wasn't until that day when I saw his awful brother hurting him that I realized where most of his scars come from. My heart tears a little at the thought of someone hurting him.

At our first tutoring session Leo was so nervous he didn't speak the entire time. My mom came into my room to offer us snacks and he practically jumped from the carpet to the wall and then he just took off. I didn't think he'd come again but he did and as time went on he got a little more vocal and a lot less scared and I was so happy he trusted me and my family.

I'm happy to pick up where we left off, with him here with me holding my hand.

"You just gonna stare at me the entire time, Wallace or are you going to watch your favorite get voted out?" He smiles lazily and I have to fight to pull my eyes from him.

"Jackson is not going anywhere." I declare.

He hums loudly, "Whatever you say."

My nerves ease up while we sit here watching the show in silence. I'm glad he's still holding my hand.

They're announcing finalists but the stress of the week catches up to me and exhaustion takes over my body. I see the TV in flashes as my eyes fight to stay open and my head slouches to the side, too heavy to hold itself up.

"It's okay Sunniva." A deep voice whispers and a hand pushes my head downwards and onto the sofa arm where I find my peaceful slumber.