Chapter 75- Taunting Returns

Unedited but needed to get this out :D

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[] A M E L I A []

Since the weather had surprisingly calmed down in the last few days, we had all decided to head back home tonight. We had missed out on too much school work, and despite all of professors being understanding about our situation, we still had to go home and get ready for finals.

However, the sooner we got our work done there, the sooner I could come back here for the holidays. There was so much catching up to do, and also lots of things left to aid Levi with, and I couldn't wait.

As Leo pulled the rest of my bags into the car, I turned to face my family. Lillian had left much earlier, and Jamal, Andre, and Gemma left nearly ten minutes ago to fill Leo's car with gas. We were waiting for them to return and then we were going to hit the road.

I walked up to mom first, hugging her goodbye tightly. I did the same with dad, and he gave a kiss to the top of my head. I finally turned to Levi with a smile. He ruffled my hair lightly.

"Get home safe, Lia," he said.

I smiled and nodded. I felt a presence behind me and a hand wrapping around my waist a moment later. I looked to my side, seeing Leo staring at my parent fondly.

"Thanks for having us here," he said with a smile.

To my surprise, mom took s tep forward, her hand coming up to rest on Leo's shoulder.

"There is absolutely nothing for you to thank us for. If you guys weren't here..." she trailed off, her eyes landing on me. "This would've been much harder."

I smiled at mom, about to reach forward to give her a hug. However, a loud honk stopped me before I could do that. I turned around, only to see the Jamal pulling up into the street, stopping just in front of my car.

I sighed and turned to look at mom, then dad and Levi behind her. With one last goodbye, I walked away from my family and stepped towards my car.

* * *

"Hey there sleepy head," I vaguely heard a voice call out.

I groaned, falling deeper in the seat to resume my sleep.

"Moonie, I'd carry you but I would legitimately break my ribcage if I did that in this state."

I sighed, slowly fluttering my eyes open as he spoke. His bright eyes were the first thing I saw when I woke up. He was standing my by side of the door, holding it open as he peered down at me. His hand was on my shoulder, his other reaching for my belt.

"Come on, love. It's getting ridiculously cold."

I finally snapped back into my senses and sat up in my seat. I finally looked up to see that we were in front of Leo's apartment. I sighed and finally got out of the seat, stepping outside into the cold. It was nearing 12 at night now, and was definitely colder than since we left.

As soon as I stepped out, Leo closed the car door behind me, and his hand reached for my own. I snuggled closer to him, and together, we made our way inside his place. I didn't see Leo's car around the parking lot, and I assumed that Jamal drove it to the campus since it was closer to their dorm.

Once we were upstairs, we both shed our winter gear, then made a beeline for Leo's room. We were already in our pajamas since that's what we both wore before we left my house a few hours back. It took me forever to realize that the boys had a brought spare clothes from home before they came to mine, all thanks to Jamal. Otherwise they'd be in the same pair for the short while they were there.

As we lay in his bed, my body nearly draped over his, as much as it could without hurting his bruises, I couldn't help but think of the last few days. All of it. I feel like after all that's been happening, I never got time to reel on what went on.

After a few moments, I felt Leo shift under me. I immediately tried to move away, thinking I'd hurt him, but Leo surprised me by wrapping his arm tighter around my waist, crushing me to his bogy even more. My head fell against he croon of his neck, my ear against his heartbeat. I groaned, looking up to him in discomfort.

He smiled down at me.

"I'm going to crush you to death," I grumbled.

To my utter annoyance, he moved forward and pecked my nose. When he pulled back, he was met with my scowl. Ignoring it, he spoke.

"What are you thinking about Moonie?" he asked, reaching up to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear.

I blinked up at him, surprised that he just knew I was off. But then again, I wasn't too shocked, since he always seemed to know what I was feeling. I sighed, absentmindedly tracing a pattern on his chest.

"It's just so different now, Leo," I started. "It feels like the past four years of my life were a lie. Like a sick joke. Jackson targeting me, all the words said to me, the abuse, all because they thought I was the murderer's sister. And now, the same people are coming to aid as if I need saving now."

I looked up at him, only to see his intense gaze set on me. I reached up with the same hand that had been dancing across his chest. I brought it down onto his cheek, cupping it softly as I stared up at him with nothing short of wonder.

"But they dont know that I don't need saving anymore. They don't know that I was saved long before I found out the truth."

Leo sucked in a breath.

"How did you do it Leo? How did you pull me out of the hell I was in?"

His hand tightened on my waist, while the other reached up to settle on top of my hand on his cheek.

"I didn't do anything Moonie. You did all the hard work. I was simply here," he said softly.

I shook my head in denial.

"You weren't just here Leo. You were here, and you listened. And maybe that's all I needed. You let me discover myself again, without any judgments," I stopped short, wanting to say everything I felt for him in this moment. "But I think I fell for something much bigger than that."

I felt him freeze under me, his heart accelerating, matching mine. I slowly lifted my head up, pulling myself out of his arms. Leo jerked as I did that, his arms reaching out to try and cage me again. I put a hand on his shoulder to stop him and pushed him back down again softly. He complied after a few moments, and I rubbed his shoulder to comfort him. He finally settled down, and that's when I brought my hand down and settled it against his heart.

I watched as his eyes turned from panicked to serene, his breathing picking up. I stared at him, drinking in his features that shone in the dim light of the room. His fluffy hair, that never needed much attention since he always ran his hand through it. His brown orbs, always watching and speaking more than he did himself. They were the guide to him. I can simply look into his eyes and see what he was feeling. Rage, calmness, aprehension, agony, or more recently- love. I felt the rise and fall of chest against my palm and I watched that for a moment, basking in the fact that he was here.

When I was finally done observing him, I looked at him again, smiling at him as I did so.

"You have the biggest heart I've ever seen, Leo. You fought for me, you let yourself get hurt for me, you waited for me, you were patient, and pushy when you needed to be, and you were honest with your feelings Leo. Most importantly, you weren't scared of me."

I finally leaned back down towards him and left a slow chaste kiss onto his lips.

"I love you for all of that and more," I murmured against his lips.

He released a breath and wrapped his arms tightly around me. We were breaths apart, his eyes being the only focus for me at the moment.

"You're wrong," he whispered.

I frowned in confusion.

"I was scared Moonie. I was so damn scared of how you made me feel. I've never felt this way for anyone and I don't think I ever will. I love you too, if that's even enough to describe what I feel for you. I don't ever plan on stopping."

He finally cupped my cheek and pulled me against him for a scorching kiss. I kissed him back with all I had, pouring all my love for him into it. We finally pulled apart, panting for air, and Leo left a chaste kiss into the croon of my neck. I shivered against him and he finally pulled me away from him, settling me back down into his side. He turned to me then, his thumb caressing my bruised lips as he watched me.

"I can't believe you're here Moonie. In my room, my bed."

I smiled warmly at him.

"I'm here, baby. And I swear, I won't ever leave without letting you know. I know what it's like when people leave. And I'm so sorry I put you through that, but I swear I won't again. No matter what the situation is," I said honestly.

He breathed out a sigh of relief.

"Good. I'd find you even if you didn't let me know," he grumbled.

I chuckled and snuggled closer to him, closing my eyes softly. I heard him sigh loudly, his hand finding a spot on my head to caress, lulling me into sleep.

"I dreamed of this Amelia. Having you here in my arms...I just...I can't believe what the past two weeks were like. Not having you there, I just lost sense of living Moonie. I can't remember what I was like before you."

I flipped my eyes open and reached up to cup his cheek again. He closed his eyes, snuggling into my palm.

"I wish I met you sooner," Leo murmured, his bretah hitting my hand.

I thought about that and shook my head.

"I think we met at the right place at the right time."

He flipped one eye open and rose a brow at me.

"Why's that?"

"Its almost as if you were meant to heal me. If you met me before, there would be no scars to heal," I whispered.

Leo sighed and turned to his side. He immediately brought me into his arms, my arms falling flat between us. He slowly ran his hands through my hair again, and I was loving the feel of it.

After a moment, he spoke.

"I don't know about that actually. Since I've been in love with you for about four years now."

I frowned in confusion and looked up at him questioningly.

"Four years?"

He nodded. I peered up at him and he only gave me a neutral look in return.

"The day I fell in with you was four years ago."

He took a breath before speaking again, his voice barely above a whisper.

"I remember that day so well too. I had woken up so damn depressed and I didn't know why. I saw my parents at the table and they were both having breakfast as they normally did," he spoke softly. "Except Clara wasn't there. I asked them where she was and they said she already left for school."

He took a breath before continuing. My own hitched as I dreaded what he was about to say.

"I felt so uneasy that day. I called her a bunch of times but she never picked up. It had been 5 months since her accident. Mom and James said to just let her be by herself for a while so I stopped calling her that day. Then the day morphed into the afternoon, and soon the evening. She came home at 6 with the biggest smile then. I asked her what happened and she simply said she wanted therapy. Two days later, the day she started therapy, she told me what happened the day she met you. About her boyfriend dumping her, her humiliation and the bus incident. And I fell in love you the moment she told me what you did for her."

He was smiling down at me, his hand continuously caressing my hair down.

"What's on your mind, Moonie?"

I bit my lip, peering up at him nervously.

"The day we were at your house, did she tell you who I was?"

He nodded.

I paled.

"Why didn't you say anything?" I asked breathlessly.

"You told her not to tell me. I didn't want you knowing because that would be one more thing you'd think I was trying to repay you for. I didn't want that. I wanted you to love me for what I felt for you. Not for what you did for Clara," he explained.

I nodded thoughtfully.

"But Amelia, that doesn't mean that it didn't mean anything for me."

He reached up to caress my cheek with the back of his hand.

"Goodness, Moonie. I don't even know how to thank you for that day. You're a literal angel," he breathed out. "You just... save, Amelia."

I blushed deeply, unsure of what to say.

"I... I didn't do anything Leo. She just needed someone that day and I happened to be there."

He shook his head.

"There were others too Amelia. You chose to help. Not them."

I swallowed thickly, trying to understand the look he was giving me. He stared down at me, pure devotion shining in his eyes. I blinked rapidly, trying not to cry simply from the look he was giving me. He sighed, reaching forward to kiss the top of my head. When he pulled back, the same look was still in his eyes as he watched me.

"You said you stopped fighting when you found out Clara was getting therapy... So, you leaving fighting..." I trailed off.

"Was because of you," he confirmed. "You made me a better person before we even met."

I frowned deeper.

"But how can you love me when you didn't know what I looked like?"

He suddenly lurched forward and planted chaste kisses all over my face. I burst out laughing at the sensation and pushed him back slightly to hear his answer.

"Leo!"

He finally stopped and pulled back grinning.

"I had an image in my head," he said.

He then playfully rose a brow at me and gave me a onceover.

"You almost made it."

I gasped and smacked his arm lightly.

"What? Did you imagine me sexier?" I asked with a raised brow.

He shook his head at me. I frowned in confusion.

"Hotter?" I tried.

"No."

"Funnier?"

He rolled his eyes. "I have Andre and Jamal to keep me entertained."

"Blue eyes?"

"Brown is my color."

"Taller-"

He pecked my lips, effectively shutting me up. I froze midsentence, watching him as he pulled away from me.

"You're much more beautiful than anything I could've come up with. Absolutely beautiful," he murmured dazedly reaching up to push my hair out of my face. "And for the record, you could lose all your teeth, turn wrinkly, have stinky feet, or any other random trait, and I'd still find you to be the most beautiful person I've ever seen. I love your soul, Amelia- you being pretty is just a bonus."

I grinned up at him as he continued to play with my hair. Although we were both tired, I didn't want to stop talking. It had been so long since I was able to just relax with him, so I spoke up again after a moment.

"What does Moonie mean?" I suddenly asked.

"I named you after the Moon, smarty pants."

He pinched my nose. I let out a giggle, swatting him away as I did so. He smiled down at me and pulled his hand back after a moment, bringing it to rest on my waist.

"I know that, but why do you call me that?"

He sighed pecking my forehead lightly before pulling back to look at me.

"Because the moon always mesmerized me, always caught my attention. It has the hardest job in the world. It has to stay awake when everyone else is asleep. It has to brighten up the lonely night. It guides people when they feel as if no one can help them," he breathed out deeply.

I sucked in a breath as he spoke, tears gathering in my eyes before I could stop them.

"That's what you do Amelia. You were the moon for me. Right from the beginning."

Without a word, I pulled him down by his hoodie and brought his lips crashing onto mine again. He groaned against my lips, kissing me slowly before pulling back.

"Then you were my sun, Leo. Without you, I couldn't shine."

He flashed his beautiful smile at me again, his eyes drooping with sleep. Without a word, I snuggled into his chest, finally succumbing myself to a deep slumber.