Dizzy
He tried to enjoy his breakfast without letting his thoughts bother him—and to an extent, Leonardo was able to do just just that. Oddly enough, having breakfast with Savannah didn't feel awkward, and having the girl around didn't really bother him as much as it did before.
It was that gradual, gradual ascension of trust.
Savannah ate a lot, just like she said. And Leo was astonished, witnessing the girl devour five cooked eggs, two waffles, and two decent-sized pancakes. Leo himself only ate about half that amount, on top of his two cups of tea—Savannah had five. And she claimed she would make up for it by buying Leo more tea to replace what she'd consumed, though her offer was turned down.
"I don't understand how you managed to eat all that," Leo said, partially to himself but it drew a laugh from the other.
"I guess old habits die hard."
Leo lifted his eyes to glance at Savannah. For a brief moment, he found the girl smiling big and bright, but that smile faded almost in an instant for some inexplicable reason.
He didn't think much of it. Rather, Leo's phone once again seized his attention by making the slightest noise, thus urging him to take the device in hand.
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You have (1) new message from Blue.
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Blue
Won't you respond, Leonardo Diaz? I only wish to know if you are doing well.
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Purple
why should my well-being be any concern of yours
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Blue
Can a sister not want the best for her brother?
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Purple
please don't call us siblings
i'm still suspicious you have ulterior motives for all this
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"Is everything okay, Leonardo?"
Savannah's curious little voice broke through the distraction that was Blue. Leo returned his gaze with an equally puzzled one. "Why do you ask?"
"You look troubled, that's all."
"That's 'cus I am troubled," Leo muttered, massaging his temples as he breathed deeply. If he stressed any more, he knew he'd have nothing to show for it but a migraine. "It's not you, a part of me wishes it were you so at least I could rule out all these questions. I don't need any more of these..."
Helpless and aware of it, Savannah said nothing more but instead began to clean up. She grabbed their empty dishes, carrying them over to the sink so that she could wash them. She wanted to know what was wrong. She wanted to help Leo, to solve the mountain of problems that was evidently continuing to build itself up in the boy's mind. But right now, she felt that asking Leo about it would only irritate him further.
In due time, she told herself.
In the meantime as she busied herself washing the dishes, Leo returned his attention to his phone.
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Blue
I really wish I knew another way to earn your trust, Leonardo Diaz. :( Because I swear to you, I have no ill intentions.
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Purple
tell me your real name
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Blue
My real name is irrelevant to our relationship.
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Purple
well why can't you tell me?? are you someone i know??
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Blue
I believe the picture I showed you should answer that question. Do you recognize me?
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Purple
no... but that doesn't really mean anything
but whatever, if not your name, then tell me something else. tell me something worth knowing
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Blue
Your blood is purple. :)
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Purple
and? do you know anything else about it??
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Blue
Somewhat. I know that you are healthy, Leonardo Diaz. The blood is not a sign of sickness or terminal illness. You are well. This makes me glad.
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Purple
i've had dizzy spells
how do you know it's not because of my blood?
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Blue
Such things are natural. I do not believe they are tied to your colored blood. Plenty of people experience them. Although, I do understand your concern, Leonardo Diaz, but I assure you, all is well.
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Purple
what else do you know?
i need to know everything you know
everything.
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Blue
Too much knowledge at once is as bad for the mind as no knowledge at all. You will only overwhelm yourself. Time in necessary.
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Purple
i've waited long enough knowing nothing
i'm tired of waiting
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Blue
We shall talk more at a future time, Leonardo Diaz.
I hope your day goes well for you. Take care!
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It left him feeling more frustrated than he had been in a long time, giving him the urge to chuck his phone across the room and not pick it up again. But he didn't. Leo did, however, forcefully set it down on the table as he pushed back his chair to stand up, which caught Savannah's attention.
"Leo...?"
The boy pressed a hand to his forehead. The migraine was on its way, he was sure of it. "I'm fine, don't worry about me," he said, already knowing Savannah would ask. However the other wasn't satisfied with this response, detecting the obvious lie.
"You should lie down."
"Maybe I will."
With that soft-spoken, somewhat defeated comment, Leo started to make his way over to the couch, already feeling the signs of another dizzy spell coming onto him.
They were less frequent these days, but still present enough to make him uncomfortable. Typically, they occurred along with the headaches, both induced by his stress and anxiety. In high school, especially after his classmates learned about his blood, the dizzy spells happened almost every week.
He wobbled over to the couch but hazy vision caused him to lose his path. His foot struck the end table. Savannah turned her head, preparing to ask if Leo needed any help, when suddenly her eyes were met with the sight of the boy's legs collapsing from under him. His head knocked against that same table.
"L-...Leo??"
Savannah dropped the wash rag into the sink, along with Leo's mug she had been thoroughly cleaning, before hurrying frantically over to the unconscious boy.
Unconscious. That fact alarmed Savannah to a strong degree, mainly because she wasn't sure if it had been induced by Leo's head hitting the table or otherwise.
Heart hammering against her chest, Savannah hoisted the boy up onto the couch—it was a bit small, so Leo's feet had to dangle a bit over one of the arm rests, but it had to be more comfortable than the floor, so it would have to do.
Other than that, though, Savannah was nonplussed. She tried for a few useless seconds to wake Leonardo up. To no avail.
Her first thought was calling an ambulance.
But then she promptly discarded of that thought, recalling Leo's strict disapproval of the mere idea of going to a hospital.
Of course, while discarding of this thought meant respecting Leonardo's choices, it also meant that poor, panicking Savannah was at a complete loss of what to do.
"Neighbors, I'm in an apartment building!" She sprung to her feet. Maybe someone could help me.
Not wanting to wait another second, Savannah took one last glance at Leo's resting, discomforted face and raced over to the door, swung it open, and hurled herself outside. She made a dash for the nearest door and furiously began knocking.
"Hello! I need help!! Please, I'm not a doctor!!"
Yeah, nice wording, Savannah. What are the chances they're a doctor, either? Stupid, you're stupid-
The door opened suddenly. Savannah flinched, posture fixing itself in a split second as she attempted to get a hold of herself. She couldn't, as her mind sat on pins and needles knowing—or rather, not knowing—what was wrong with Leonardo, but she didn't want to look like an absolute blubbering idiot in front of a stranger whose help she wanted.
A short stranger, she discovered. A girl with dyed blonde hair and a pair of full lips, parted almost in a way that made it seem like they were about to voice a question.
"Can I...help you?"
"I hope so," Savannah blurted. "My friend, he collapsed and hit his head and I'm worried he might have a concussion, or, or something else might be wrong, but he hates hospitals, and-"
"Whoa, okay, just slow down there," the stranger gestured for Savannah to calm. "Where's your friend?"
"Right next door, he-"
"Leonardo?"
"Yes! Leo!"
The stranger's eyes grew wide. Next thing Savannah knew and the girl was hastily shutting the door to her own apartment and ducking around the corner towards her neighbor's. Savannah followed.
The blonde's gaze fell on Leo, unconscious on the living room couch. "Oh, no," she breathed, "poor Leo...did this just happen or did he seem unwell before?"
"I-I don't know, he seemed...okay," Savannah said, annoyed with herself for fumbling with her words. She watched as the stranger knelt down beside the couch and placed a hand over Leo's forehead. "He seemed stressed about something so I...I suggested he lie down, and he just-"
"Relax, I'm sure he'll be fine." Turning her head slightly, the stranger looked back at Savannah.
"What's your name?"
"Me? I'm...Savannah."
"Oliver. It's nice to meet you."
Oliver turned her attention back to Leo. She sighed deeply.
"It probably is just stress," she said, brushing the boy's hair out of his face. "He always seems like he's in a rush in the mornings, avoids talking to me, hides his face a lot..."
"He does it around campus, too," Savannah added sadly. "I really wish he wouldn't, my heart hurts seeing him like this..."
"Are you two dating?"
Surprised at the question, Savannah hesitated, looking down at her feet as she forced a smile. "If I could be so lucky..."
"Hey, if you're friends with someone like him that's a step in the right direction," Oliver said encouragingly. "Don't be so down. Now would you mind getting me a damp rag or ice pack for him? I'm not a doctor either but he is a bit warm, so..."
Savannah did just that. No more than twenty seconds later and she was handing Oliver both a damp rag and a bottle of water she grabbed from Leo's refrigerator. Then she stood back and watched. There wasn't much else she felt she could do in this situation but anxiously tap her foot.
"Relax, Savannah." Oliver displayed a kind smile. "Like I said, it's probably just stress. He'll be fine."
"Will he though??"
"Why are you so doubting?"
Savannah didn't know how to answer. She couldn't bring up Leo's blood condition, that she was afraid it could have something to do with that, but she couldn't mask the fact that she was frantic for the boy's sake.
"You're just on edge," Oliver said, rising to her feet again. "I'm sure Leo will wake up within the next couple hours, okay? And if he doesn't, just knock on my door again."
Savannah pursed her lips, nodding. "...okay." She lifted her head to glance at Oliver, watching as the blonde took one long look at Leo before turning around again and heading back to her apartment.
She closed the door behind her.
Savannah made her way over to the couch and knelt down where Oliver had been. Tenderly, she took hold of Leo's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.
"You have to be okay," she whispered. Her voice wavered. "You have to be..."