Chapter 50- Taunting Antics

Heads up lovelies, this chapter can either make you, or break you. But it is my absolute favoristist (yes, that's a word now) up until now! Proceed with caution because Leo Kennedy and Amelia Harrison are going to mess with your hearts 😭

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[] A M E L I A []

My lungs stopped functioning.

I stared at Leo, my mouth agape, and his words running through my mind like a marathon.

"You saved my sister, you saved my friends, you saved me. You have it Amelia. That's what makes people love you so easily. That's what makes me love you easily."

I sucked in a breath, my hands unintentionally tightening on his arms.

"I love you Amelia Harrison. Because you're you."

No. This can't be true. Absolutely not.

I watched him carefully. He was still on his knees in front of me, his one hand on my cheek, the other wrapped around me to keep me warm. His face was almost in level with mine, and the fact that he was slightly looking up to me as he said all this, caused a frenzy of emotions to run through me.

I swallowed the lump in my throat, not letting his soft eyes impact me.

This couldn't be happening right now. Not now.

Not when I had relived the biggest nightmare of my life.

Not when our date had gone so wrong.

Not now.

Before either of us could say a word, we heard footsteps coming our way. The sound snapped us out of the trance we were in, and both of us looked over to see who was approaching us.

To my surprise, Leo didn't let go of me as we turned, instead, he gripped my waist tighter, as if he was ready to protect me if need be. I ignored the feeling brewing in me as he did this, and focused my gaze on Andre who was walking up to us now. He had a worried look on his face, and he didn't waste a second in coming to sit beside me on the bench. Leo finally dropped his hand from my cheek, since I had to face Andre, although he looked as if he wanted to do anything but that now.

Shifting my focus away from Leo, I turned to Andre. Behind him, Jamal and Gemma were approaching us as well. They all gave me sympathetic looks, but I didn't want that right now. I just wanted to go home.

"Amelia?" Andre timidly called out.

I wanted to respond. I wanted to say something. However, the moment I opened my mouth, only a strangled sob escaped me. Arms surrounded me then, Andre's soft voice calming me down.

I hid my face in his chest, not wanting to see anyone's face right now. I heard Leo cursing, and Gemma saying something, but I couldn't comprehend anything right now.

I just wanted to go home.

* * *

The ride to Leo's apartment was quiet. It was decided that's where we'd all be going, since no one wanted to leave me alone in my dorm in this state. I didn't want to go to Leo's, but Gemma had convinced me, saying that it's better for me to be with someone tonight.

But how could I tell her that that someone can't be Leo. Not after what he told me.

For now, I stayed silent. Andre had taken it upon himself to calm me down. Leo had to be the one driving, since he didn't drink tonight and Jamal didn't want to drive in this weather. He didn't want to though, and I could tell since he was visibly shaking, his hands gripping the steering wheel tightly. Jamal sat in the passenger seat, his eyes flickering to me worriedly every few minutes. Gemma was silent, her quiet sniffles letting me know she was also hurt by tonight's events. I simply hid my face in Andre's chest, his presence oddly reminding me of John. John was also like Andre in a way. He was there for me like no one else was. Almost like a brother.

I sighed and closed my eyes, my head resting against Andre's chest. He patted my hair down softly, murmuring "it'll be okay, little one," over and over again. I focused on his words, making the best out of them. Before I knew it, the soft movement of the car and Andre's comforting embrace, lulled me into a deep slumber.

A little while later, I felt myself being jumbled. A breeze brushed against my skin and I shivered. However, a warmth soon replaced the cold, and I snuggled into it. I was floating, I could feel it, but couldn't do anything about it. I felt restricted by something, but I wasn't sure what it was. For now, I sighed and accepted the warmth.

I heard hushed whispers around me as I continued to float around. None of them made sense, but I tried to decipher them anyways. I heard the jingling of keys, and soon enough, I heard the whoosh sound of a door being opened. I continued to float in the air, feeling lightheaded now. Suddenly, the dark around me turned darker, lulling me into a deeper slumber. I felt myself being placed down onto something soft and warm, and I immediately snuggled into it. A warm pressure on my head was the last thing I felt before completely giving into the sleep once again.

* * *

My eyes fluttered open slowly, the darkness greeting me as I woke. I came to my senses after a few minutes, and realized I was in Leo's room. I sighed and looked up at the ceiling. It was still dark in here, meaning this horrid night wasn't over. I sat up in his bed groggily, my body aching. I stayed there for a few moments, not wanting to leave the room. I wondered if Gemma, Andre, and Jamal were still here. If not, did that mean I would be alone with Leo?

What would I do then?

His confession left my mind a mess. Not to mention how he confessed. How could he say that then? Say such intimate words in the cold, dark night. I felt furious. And then, I felt warm all over. Then I thought of the party, and just how wrong it had gone. I was a mix of emotions, all hitting me in different ways-

You killed her-

You should've done better-

-you knew.

I gasped and threw the covers off of me. I quickly shot out of the bed, not wanting to think anymore. I was sweating horribly, my breaths coming out in short puffs as I tried to get those voices out of my head.

I took a few steps around Leo's room, trying to get myself together before I broke.

As I walked, I suddenly caught sight of something bright on Leo's sidetable. Curious, I turned on the lamp on his sidetable. As dim light flooded the room, my eyes landed on the bright sticky note sitting on his table. Beside it was a bottle of painkillers, along with a glass of water. I reached for the sticky note, my heart racing as I saw 'Moonie' scribbled on the top.

'Moonie, take 2 of these pills for your headache, and then head to my closet. Pick out whatever you want to wear and head to the bathroom.'

I frowned at the note, unsure of whether or not I should follow his directions. Where was he? And why wasn't he coming to see me?

Despite not having the urge to do anything right now, I reluctantly followed Leo's instructions. I downed two tablets, and then headed for his closet. Inside was an array of dark colours, all neatly arranged by the type of clothing they were. I saw a pile of hoodies and grabbed one, then reached for somewhat smaller sweatpants. I then headed to his bathroom.

My heart thudded against my chest at the sight before me.

Candles.

Candles everywhere.

I stared in awe at the sight before me. The tub to the side of the bathroom was filled with water. A new toothbrush, a hairbrush, and a box of makeup wipes sat on the countertop, waiting to be used. A hair dryer completed the set. Candles lined every corner of the room, casting a warm glow in the bathroom. There was music playing somewhere in the distance, and I caught sight of a music player on the counter.

My eyes watered. I couldn't take it anymore.

I looked around the bathroom once more, and suddenly, my eyes latched onto another note by the sink. I reached for it shakily, tears streaming down my face softly.

'Stop crying Moonie, you've had enough of that. From now on forth, I swear to you, nothing will get to you before me. You deserve everything good in the world, and I'll be the one showing you that. So rest Amelia. Rest, and let me take your pain.

-Leo'

I slumped against the sink counter. The clothes I held fell tumbling to the ground in a heap. I splayed one hand across my heart, feeling it burst out of control. And surprisingly, for the first time since the incident, I was able to think of something else besides Jackson's words and all the taunts anyone has ever thrown at me.

"I love you Amelia Harrison. Because you're you."

* * *

I stared at the door before me.

My heart was hammering against my chest, my hands clammy. I let out a deep breath and softly opened the door. I took a brave step outside Leo's room, despite not feeling an ounce of it.

I was hoping that everyone was still here. That Gemma, Andre, and Jamal stayed the night too. But I knew that was impossible. His apartment was too silent. And as I saw him standing just a few feet away from me in the kitchen, I knew it was just us.

My eyes widened as I saw him. His back was to me when I came out of the room, but the moment he heard my footsteps, he immediately turned around.

Calm.

He was always so calm.

I stared at him, my mouth wide agape. He was still in his clothes from the party, making me wonder just how much time he put into the whole setup for me. It was 3 in the morning now. Did that mean that for 3 hours, he only tended to me?

I stared at him, my mind reeling through all the possibilities of what happened after I fell asleep. Leo stayed silent, his eyes raking over my body once. His eyes narrowed in satisfaction, seeing as I agreed to what he asked me to do.

I tugged at the sleeves of Leo's hoodie unsurely, not knowing where to start. I finally took a breath, ready to tell him what I needed to.

"Leo, I-"

"-I love you Amelia."

I froze. My head snapped up to him in an instant, my heart thudding against my chest rapidly. He stared at me for a few more moments, and then slowly pushed himself off of the counter. He started making his way towards me, and I stayed locked in place, unable to move.

He took his time getting to me, almost as if were approaching a wounded animal. He finally came to a stop in front of me, his eyes searching for mine. Ever so slowly, he reached a hand up and brought it down to my cheek. I sucked in a breath as his skin came into contact with mine. I waited for him to make the next move, since I couldn't do anything on my own right now.

He stared at me for the longest time and then started to lean in closer. I closed my eyes tightly, not being able to help it. After a moment, I felt a soft pressure on my forehead.

I sucked in another breath, unsure of what to do about the way his touch was affecting me. It was ripping me apart on the inside.

I felt his breath fanning my face, and then he moved back.

"I love you."

And just like that, I pushed out of Leo's hold.

Leo looked devastated when I pulled myself away from him. His eyes held a desperation I wanted to erase, but I couldn't.

"You're wrong Leo. Whatever you feel, it can't be love. I don't need your pity, especially not after everything that happened-"

I sucked in a breath, a small whimper escaping me at the mere mention of what happened tonight. But I continued, wanting Leo to let this go. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Then, I snapped them open and turned to Leo once again. His eyes bore holes into my soul, and I held his gaze, not wanting to show my weakness to him.

"I'm thankful for everything you've ever done for me, Leo. But I don't need your pity. It's just something that is a burden for me. So please, stay away from me," I said strongly.

Leo continued to stare at me, his eyes emotionless. I let out another breath, calming myself down before I shattered at his feet.

"I just wanted to say that I don't need to stay the night here. I'm going to my dorm, so don't let Gemma find out."

I ducked my head then and quickly made my way around Leo. I wanted to leave. I needed to get out of here before he saw me. My lip started to tremble the moment I turned my back to him, and I thanked the heavens that Leo was letting me leave. I was almost at his door now, my heels that I wore tonight coming into view. I could reach for them now and just grab them and leave-

Suddenly, arms wrapped around my waist and pulled me flush against a solid chest. I gasped as Leo's embrace surrounded me from behind. His hold on me was strong, unwilling to let go. I could feel his breath hitting the side of my head, and his arms left a warm trail everywhere they touched. A frenzy of butterflies erupted in my stomach, and if it wasn't for him holding me, I might have collapsed.

We were both frozen. He was breathing deeply behind me, his warmth coccooning me in. I stayed taut against him, thinking that if I moved, that would be it for me. I'd be utterly hopeless in the arms of Leo Kennedy.

"Moonie, don't you get it by now? I see you. I see right through it all," he murmured angrily in my ear.

I sucked in a breath, my heart rubbing painfully against my chest. Leo continued speaking, his arms wounding impossibly tighter around me, my hands imprisoned in between us.

"If you thought it was pity I felt for you Amelia, you wouldn't have come this far. I know you. I know you feel it too. This understanding between us Amelia, it runs deeper than the both of us sharing a similar past. It's not just pity or empathy Amelia."

He let out a breath, his head digging into my hair.

"It's the fact that I wake up early to go to English class just because it gives me a chance to sit next to you. It's about the fact that I can spend all my life counting the fucking specs of gold in your eyes, or watch how your face lights up when you play with snow. I can hold you all night when you're scared, and make the ones that caused you pain feel it ten times worse. I can sing to you, if it means that your attention is on me, and not the horrors of your past. I can smile when you need me to, I can go to parties and hang out with people I don't like, and I can do everything else I hate, if it means seeing you happy. I can live for you Amelia."

I sucked in a whimper, tears threatening to escape my eyes. I closed my eyes as Leo left a long, lingering kiss to the side of my head.

"And I know you're scared, terrified even, of what the future holds. But don't worry Amelia, I can be strong enough for the both of us."

He finished with a sigh, his head falling into the croon of my neck. I forced back a shiver, and blinked away my tears. He stayed there, and after a moment, I realized I needed to move.

"I need to go Leo," I said, my voice barely a whisper.

I tried breaking out of his hold, but he just held on tighter. His face was digging into my neck, his nose rubbing the spot below my ear. And I tried once again to push him out, but like always, Leo found a way in.

"No you don't Amelia. You don't need to go anywhere. You don't need to hide from me, love. I'm not letting you take this pain by yourself. And I'm sorry. I'm so fucking sorry for leaving you alone when I knew that fuckbag was out there, still breathing. I'm so sorry."

And that's when I sagged against his arms. The last of my resolve falling through.

"Everything will be different now, Leo. I changed two colleges before coming here because it got too much. Because everyone found out," I breathed out.

That's when Leo finally loosened his hold on me. His hands fell to my hips and he slowly turned me around in his arms, then wrapped them tightly around me once again. This time, I didn't fight him. My hands fell to his chest, serving as the only barrier between us. I finally caught sight of his face, and I nearly broke seeing his bloodshot eyes.

How did I miss them before?

It looked like he cried for a long time, and seeing this, my own eyes started to water once more.

Pain.

Pure pain was etched across his face as the first of my tears fell.

How was this possible?

Here I was, crying for all the things wrong in my life, and Leo cried for me. But now, seeing him this way, hurting for me, was causing another foreign feeling to course through me. I didn't want to see Leo cry. Not now, not ever. This was the worst kind of heartbreak I had ever felt.

What was this?

He brought his hand up to the side of my neck, cupping it gently as his thumb brushed the tears away from my cheek. His eyes searched my face, finally taking in all the emotions and fears I didn't want him to see.

And then, he finally latched his eyes on to mine.

"This time is different Amelia. You have Andre, Jamal, Gemma, Clara and you have me. You have yourself back Amelia. A stronger, more mature, more beautiful version of yourself. This time anything that hurts you will have to go through me first. So just dive in Moonie."

I stared at him, feeling like absolute mush in his hands. His hands were so firm, so sure, as they held me. His hold was molding all my broken pieces together. I stared at his brown eyes, my resolve weakening by the second. I sagged in his arms as he spoke the words, and he only tightened his hold on me. At last, I bravely reached up and rested my hand on top of his that was on my cheek. I felt the roughness along his knuckles, reminding me just how he hit Jackson tonight. I felt a shiver run through me as I reeled through the memory.

"I might hurt you too Leo," I whimpered.

He shook his head immediately, leaning in closer to me. The air around us was shifting, and I didn't know how much longer I could stay put.

"You're not capable of that, Moonie. I told you. You're the most beautiful soul I have ever met."

He suddenly leaned forward, closing the last of the distance between us. My breathing hitched, and my one hand that was still holding onto his shirt, tightened around the fabric, clutching him desperately as he leaned in closer to me.

He slowly reached up, and brought his lips up to my forehead, leaving a warm, hard kiss. Then he cupped my neck harder and leaned in to kiss my free cheek. Then under my eye. My nose.

I was falling apart.

He was causing a frenzy of emotions to ram through me. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't think. I could only feel.

I could only feel Leo Kennedey all around me.

I melted into his touch, as he lastly brought his lips just beside my own, leaving a chaste kiss nearly a breath away from where I wanted him to. He pulled back then and rested his forehead against mine.

Both of us were breathing erratically. He was pressed up against me, no part left untouched. I snapped my eyes open, only to see that his were trained on me.

He slowly pulled back, his arms falling back around my waist securely. I tried to catch my breath, but no matter how I tried, I couldn't. But more than that, I couldn't think. I couldn't think past anything but Leo.

I stared at him, my mouth slightly ajar.

How did he manage to do that? How did he manage to turn one of the worst nights of my life, into one of the most calming ones?

I stared at him in awe.

He was a work of magic, of art. He was everything beautiful the world had to offer. He was patient, he was humble, and yes, he got angry, but always for the right reasons.

I stared at the enigma before me, and then, my eyes shifted to his lips.

And before I could even comprehend what I was doing, I brought my hands down to Leo's face, and brought his lips crashing down onto my mine.