Chapter 29

I think I might implode if I take another bite.

"This really might be the best Alfredo on the planet." I say to Fatima who is still able to stomach more food.

"What time is it?" Lucy asks from the sofa.

Fatima checks her watch and shoots up from the carpet the next second, "Shit Russel's probably freaking out, it's 12pm." She shakes her head, smiling at us as she does, "I can't believe I've had this much fun with strangers and you guys could've totally turned out to be murderers." She scoffs.

"Murderers." Ella repeats testing the word in her mouth.

"You should probably get her some water." Fatima giggles, buttoning up her pants, "Well, thanks for the free food and not killing me." She salutes before waking off.

"Shit, sorry Sunny. We have the same phone covers I never noticed!" Ella's excitement almost distracts me from her words.

I hear a muted voice as she hands me my phone and I realized that I'm on a call.

"You tried to call him didn't you?" Lucy shakes her head at Ella and pulls at her arm, "Water is definitely next on the menu." She says, walking the both of them to the kitchen.

"Sunny?" Leo's confused voice is heard through the speaker.

"Hey I didn't mean to call it was an accident."

He's in a very loud building and I hear muffled voices and the booming of speakers. I'm guessing he's out with Marc and Eddie.

"Was it?" He teases.

"Yes." I giggle, rolling my eyes.

"Is it safe to come over because I'm kinda dying of boredom over here." He yells over the music.

"Yeah, it sure sounds like it."

"Trust me I'd much rather b-"

"Leo! Thigh tattoo will leave with her friends if you don't get your ass back to this fucking table." I hear Eddie's muffled voice through the speaker.

Oh.

"Get the fuck off of me." Leo grunts and I hear him struggling, probably to remove Eddie.

"So Sunniva, can-"

"I gotta go." I rush out.

"Wh-"

I end the call not thinking it through. There's too much going through my head right now. That girl at the drive-thru, Dione, the bartender with the pretty hair and now...

It doesn't matter, it really shouldn't matter. We're not together, he said that's what he wants right now. We're not together and he's allowed to... be with other people of course he is. It doesn't matter.

"She's your friend so she's sleeping in your clothes and in your bed." I hear Lucy's voice behind me.

"We have the same phone covers and the same pajamas!" Ella beams entering the room, "What's wrong Sunny?" Her face falls as she slowly walks towards me.

"Nothing, I'm just real tired all of a sudden." I say to Ella as she plants herself down on the carpet next to me.

"Who'd she call?" Lucy asks.

"Leo."

"What did he say?" She asks, sitting down on the sofa in front of us.

"Not much. He's just out with friends, you know?" I whisper and smile slightly when

Ella leans in closer.

"We should get you an aspirin." I say getting up from the carpet. Luckily Lucy doesn't ask anymore questions but I know she wants to.

Ella's snoozing comfortably in my bed now and I'm glad we were able to cheer her up. Apparently Derek asked her on a date but he never showed. It really pains me to hear this because he's such a sweet guy and I had no clue him or Ella were at all crushing on each other.

"You wanna sleep with me tonight?" I turn around to see Lucy standing at my door.

I nod in response and follow her out the room.

"Tonight was fun." I sigh, tying my scarf around my head before settling into bed beside her.

"It was, I almost forgot what it was like having that many friends." Her words make me sad.

"It's okay." she shrugs patting my arm, "At least you chose me after the breakup." She smiles gently.

"Of course I did."

"Tahlia never really liked you anyway." She giggles at my shock, "She always complained about how we never got a real chance to be together because I was already dating you." She continues.

I shake my head, "I'm so sorry."

"It's not your fault. You helped me realize who my real friends are." She shrugs, "Tell me what happened with your hottie."

I smile at her words, "I told you noth-"

"They're with girls, aren't they?" She accuses.

I just nod not being able to find my words, suddenly chocked with sadness.

"How you feel about that?"

"I mean it's not like we're together or anything so-"

"How do you feel Sunny?" She presses.

"A little sad." I admit.

She sighs looking at me with pitiful eyes. I can see her biting her tongue.

She closes her eyes for a moment before opening her mouth, "How bout we try something new this year? I'll stop trying to be your Cupid." She says.

"And I'll stop being clingy." I add.

She presses her fingers to her lips and then pats them on my forehead before turning around.

I fight my urges by tucking my hands into my chest. It lasts for about a minute until I give up and wrap my arms around her making her giggle in response.

"Starting tomorrow." I giggle along with her.

Lucy laughs as Ella's feet drag her into the kitchen.

"Good morning Sunshine." She drawls.

Ella smiles with half shut eyes, "Good morning."

I hold out a plate of eggs and bacon for her and she accepts with a wider smile.

"You giving extra credit classes today, Sunny?" She asks.

"Yeah in the next hour." I say, eyeing the clock.

"I'll take you, I have to stay at the school to do some filing for Vice Principal Rossi." She bites into a slice of toast.

"It's Saturday." Lucy comments, taking a sip of coffee.

"It is Saturday." Ella laughs, shaking her head.

"I hate this guy." Lucy rolls her eyes.

"Mr. Smith will be there too so maybe we can put gum under his desk or something." Ella smirks mischievously.

"You do realize that you're both staff individuals and not students right?" I scoff.

Ella playfully rolls her eyes at me and Lucy giggles beside me, "She's an honor student, she can't help it." Lucy shrugs.

I check my phone for the first time when I get into Ella's car and see a missed call from Leo.

If he was out drinking last night he's probably still asleep now so I'll wait until after class to call him back.

I've decided that being able to be near him and share moments together means so much to me and I'm afraid to lose it by having that conversation with Leo. It truly does suck knowing that he's with other women but we aren't together and there's really nothing we've discussed that rules against it. Even with this label we have that encourages us to see other people I don't want to. Leo's sort of the only person I want to be around and I guess what makes me saddest is that he doesn't feel that way about me.

Loud music erupts from the speakers blasting me back into reality.

Ella jumps in shock before turning down the dial and looking up at me with a sheepish smile, "My moms divorce playlist." She explains with a sheepish smile.

I can't help but laugh at her explanation and she joins me before starting up the engine.

I wait by the door as the kids fill up the classroom. It took a few lessons but luckily everyone's finally attending.

I'm sorry Oliver but I don't think it's an open invitation." I hear voices from the hallway and peak out to see the back of Roger's head.

"They're mean to you Roger. Why do you want to go to their pool party?" Oliver's tiny voice speaks.

"They were mean and it's just a stupid pool party." Roger grips his right arm tightly.

"But I wasn't invited?" Oliver's words take me all the way back to a time I'm so glad has passed.

Roger shrugs in response and when he turns around to face me his eyes widen in surprise, "Sorry I'm late Miss Wallace." He says and bolts into the class.

I look at Oliver's sullen face and walk towards him, "You okay, Oliver?"

His teary eyes don't look at me and he nods in response, "Can I sit at the back today, Miss Wallace?" His soft voice squeaks and I think I might cry myself hearing it.

"Of course you can." I say and he doesn't wait a second before he zooming past me.

Sixth grade.

The kids are all very attentive during the lesson and they're asking all types of questions and it's moments like this I feel so fortunate to have found my passion. The look of a lightbulb going on when they repeat my explanation back to me in their own words is like an endless joy to me. It's sounds odd but this feels like my kingdom, I feel unstoppable here.

I hear footsteps running after me and I turn around and see Simon with the sincerest expression of boredom on his face.

"Miss Wallace, my brother Aiden wants to know if he could get your number." He points behind him where I see a skinny boy in red sneakers far too big for him.

"Simon, your brother looks 16 years old." I comment, trying to hold back my laughter.

"16 and a half." The boy yells down the hallway.

I stand in shock until an arm lays around my shoulder making me shiver in fright, "Get lost, buddy." Mato calls out with a large smile on his face.

I can't contain my laughter anymore as Simon and his brother both bolt down the hallway until they're out of sight.

"I'm sorry Sunny. I grew up with 3 younger sisters and I forgot how much fun it is chasing away teenage boys." He laughs, removing his arm.

I join in his laughter as we both walk down the hallway.

"Ella says you guys had a pretty fun time last night."

"We did but I doubt she remembers most of it. Did you know that her and Derek were crushing on each other?" I ask as he opens the door to Vice Principal Rossi's office.

"Who doesn't know-" His words halt on account of the scene in front of us.

Derek swiftly moves backwards allowing Ella to hop off the desk. Derek wipes at the side of his mouth that's tinted pink and Ella does the same while popping her lips together trying to smooth out her pink lip-gloss.

"Hi." I speak first and Mato bursts into laughter beside me, causing me to do the same.

"We were just..." Ella fumbles with wide eyes.

"Oh we know Ella." Mato's laughter proves infectious because Derek now joins in.

Ella looks at him offended and swats at his chest. He grabs her hands and rubs his chest dramatically.

I feel a little guilty for laughing so I pull Mato's hysterical self out the door with me.

"I feel bad." I bite my lip, trying to hide my large grin.

We continue giggling quietly until the door opens abruptly.

We all stare at each other holding back laughter.

"So..." Ella starts, "You ready to go, Sunny?" She asks, glancing at me then at Derek.

"Maybe I should take Sunniva home." Mato suggests and I nod in agreement winking at Ella sneakily.

She winks back at me, "You sure?" She asks.

"Yeah." I respond.

She hugs me and then Mato as Derek winks at me with a devious smirk and I roll my eyes at him.

"I just hope they find a room that isn't in the school this time." Mato comments as he holds the door open for me.

I spot the black Jeep immediately and then the large man leaning against the hood. He walks towards me, eyeing Mato and I with disdain.

"Hey." His rasps

"Hi." I squeak.

"You told me to come after your class." He says.

"Of course." I facepalm , "I completely forgot." I frown, embarrassed by my horrid memory.

"It's fine. You ready to go?" He rushes out, reaching for my hand.

I turn to Mato who looks so lost I instantly feel guilty, "I'm sorry Mato, this is my friend Leo," I gesture to an irritated looking Leo, "Leo, this is Mato. His is one of the classes I shadow."

Mato composes himself and smiles at Leo, holding out his hand. Leo glances at Mato then his hand and then back at me.

"You ready?" He says.

I'm instantly showered in awkwardness by Leo's rude behavior. I can tell by the look in his eyes his internally battling with something. I sigh heavily and nod in response.

"You sure Sunny?" Mato's voice speaks beside me.

Leo's eyes dart to him immediately, "She's sure." He shoots.

His chest is heaving and he closes his eyes to take in a breath. He looks at me again when he's calmed down and turns around walking towards his car.

"I'll see you Monday okay?" I smile at Mato and he smiles back at me but it doesn't mask his discomfort.

"Okay Sunny." He says, patting my arm lightly.

I wave at him before following behind Leo.

He's leaning against the passenger's door running his hands through his hair as I approach him.

"Leo, what's going on?"

I feel like these last three words are constantly leaving my mouth.

"I should ask you that." His tone is a lot colder than his eyes. His eyes are looking at me in confusion.

"I called you." He speaks.

"I know."

"You didn't call me back. Are you... Did I do something wrong?" His voice is softer now and he doesn't meet my gaze.

It's so unnerving seeing him this uncertain.

"What? No." I step closer towards him and hold his hand between mine, "Why would you think that? I was going to call you back after class." I explain.

"I don't know. I just thought... I don't know what I thought." He sighs, running his free hand through his hair again, "Are you sure there's not something going on? You've been acting strange." He questions meeting my eyes again.

I stutter for a bit with the words on the tip of my tongue. His eyes are like a truth spell, I feel unable to hide anything.

"Maybe just a little upset." He steps forward, alert by my words, "You were a kinda rude to Mato." I say, thinking on my feet.

He deadpans.

"Leo." I whine.

"Alright alright." His laughter feels like air filling my lungs, "I won't be mean to your 'friends' again." He rolls his eyes as he pulls me towards him.

I smile up at him when his arms circle my waist and he widens his stance so I'm able to wrap my arms around his neck.

"How was your morning so far?" I ask, running my nose along his.

"Pointless until now." He smirks before molding his lips against mine.