I sigh once I set my tray down. Looking at the empty seats around me, I frown. This is the first time I've been the first one at the lunch table. Where are they?
"Nevaeh?" I turn to find Leon with his mountain of food on his tray. You know, I think he really loves food. I smile softly, waving at him.
"Hey." I glance at him then at the seat next to mine and pat it before turning back around.
"You're early." He takes the offer and gets comfortable. I nod, lifting my glasses before popping a tater tot into my mouth. He playfully rolls his eyes at my appearance. I ignore him, smiling at my burger.
"So where's the other two?" Leon pauses from his buffet to think about the boy's whereabouts.
"Well, Kahlil's probably huddled up in a corner of the library reading his Bible or some shit." He says this with the utmost serious tone before going back to his mountain, which has decreased in size by a third by the way. I roll my eyes at him. Kahlil doesn't go to the library, he's probably reading it on the bleachers.
⚀ ⚀ ⚀ ⚀
I sigh when it's still just us at the table. Seriously, is everyone dead or something. Turning back to Leon, I rest my cheek in my palm which is comfortably propped up on the table by my elbow.
"So, Adriano? Do you guys have class together before lunch or something?" Leon furrows his eyebrows, throw a chip into his mouth.
"What, am I not good enough company for you?" He playfully whines though it sounds more deadpan than anything. I huff.
"Leon!" I drag out his name, pouting from under my bangs. He sighs, glancing at me.
"Fine." I smile, cheering up. He turns to me with a small smile before grabbing a brownie.
"Brownie for my brownie?" I pause for a second staring at him as he smiles innocently at me before my jaw drops.
"Leon." I pick my jaw back up.
"Yes?" He says through the smile with the brownie still held out for me.
"Did you really just reference Madea Goes To Jail?" His smile widens.
"Maybe," He brings the brownie closer to me.
"Brownie?" I glance at the dessert. Then our eyes connect as we stare at each other for a few seconds before we burst out laughing. This last for a couple of minutes, causing my stomach to burn and my throat to go dry. Leon calms down first, coughing a little and drinking some Sprite. After a big gulp, he clears his throat.
"No, but he's just talking with his cousin, Hannah, about who knows what." I smile, nodding. It's so sweet that he makes time for family. They must have a really close and great relationship.
⚀ ⚀ ⚀ ⚀
I laugh my ass off, almost falling out of my seat.
"Ah, oh my gosh!" I quickly cover my mouth, giggling in it. Leon watches me carefully as he tries to mask his amusement.
"Did you really get panted your first match?" He stares off into the distance as if to reminisce about the past.
"Oh, yes. It was in the middle of summer on a Tuesday. The place was hot while the fights were heated." I roll my eyes playfully as he jokes around, the corner of his lips trying not to quiver into a smile.
"And?!" I decide to play along as the amazed and awestruck kid.
"Well.. lets just say I wasn't wearing underwear." My eyes widen as I move closer to him.
"So you don't wear anything underneath!" He chuckles, pushing the now empty tray from him.
"That's my information to know, ButterCup." My jaw drops at the name. He smirks at me, seemingly proud of himself.
"You did not just steal my name." He smiles, shrugging. I push at his shoulder which causes him to chuckle. Then sticks his tongue out before pushing my shoulder, causing me to giggle.
We keep shoving each other and giggling until we hear someone clear their throat. We turn to see Kahlil and Adriano standing in front of the table with confusion laced in their features.
"Um, hey guy—"
"Y'all fucking?" Kahlil and I snap our necks to Adriano with wide eyes.
"Adriano." He glances at Kahlil then shrugs before taking a seat across from us. He stares at us intently while my cheeks betray me.
"I mean it makes sense. The innocent good girl and the brooding bad boy..." He looks to me as his mouth form words of Kahlil which causes me to freak out. Luckily, Leon gives a look. He just rolls his eyes and glances away.
"Hoping from guy to guy?" My eyes widen as they snap to Kahlil, but he's too busy in his own world to pay attention.
"Oh, am I next?" Leon and I make eye contact, our gazes laughing at the irony before we look back to Adriano.
"Adri." He sighs, waving his hand while I adjust my glasses.
"Fine, fine. Just joking anyway." I smile softly while the other two boys laugh. Then my eyes trail to Kahlil who's still silent and standing. I take in his expression and then actually notice his irritated eyes.
"Kai?" I furrow my eyebrows as he snaps out of whatever trace he was in. He blinks a couple times before clearing his throat and taking a seat.
I frown while Leon and Adriano are too busy in their own conversation to notice anything else.
⚀ ⚀ ⚀ ⚀
Leon Norton
He can't believe these two.
Too obvious, way too obvious.
Leon does what he does best and pretends to not notice anything while he watches from afar. He was never much for meddling but it actually pained him to see Nevaeh truly being oblivious and dense.
Nevaeh..
He glances at the girl next to him who sits with confusion licking her face. It's crazy how much has changed between them over the course of a weekend.
But it was sorta inevitable. With her breaking down after he showed her his worse, they both gave apart of themselves to the other. And suddenly things became
easier.
She wasn't afraid anymore and he felt he could tell her everything.. but he didn't.
He wasn't prepared to relive every horror of his life nor damage hers even more with his baggage.
But I'll have to tell her eventually...
Not only for the simple fact that she opened up about her first love but also 'cause that very person was a dangerous murderer who is currently back from wherever he went.
"..yeah but can I come over tonight?" Leon arches an eyebrow at Adriano.
"Don't you have dinner with your mom?" He sighs, slumping his shoulders.
"Nah." Leon smirks, sitting up straighter. Nevaeh and Kahlil start paying attention when they see his mischievous expression.
"Lemme guess," they all lean in with confusion yet curious faces, wanting to know Leon's thoughts.
"Mama canceled to go have some fun with her priest." Adriano frowns, giving a sour look while the others smile.
"Shut up." He pouts crossing his arms. Kahlil and Nevaeh laugh at the childish Adriano.
Then a thought pops into Nevy's mind as she turns to Leon then waves for him to come closer. He complies and she puts her lips next to his ear, hiding them with her hand.
'What about our plans?' His eyes gleam with remembrance as she furrows his eyebrows. Moving back, they make eye contact.
"I guess you both can come?" Adriano gives a confused expression as he looks between the two.
"Huh?" Leon glances at Nevaeh to see her shrug and gives Kahlil a quick glance to see him brooding again before looking at Adri.
Someone gets jealous easily.
"Nevy was going to come over tonight." Both the boys jaws drop then Adriano grips his hair, distraught.
"Leon, what about Janae!" Leon sighs, seemingly bored with the conversation.
"They already met." They both freeze, their eyes the only thing moving as they go from Nevaeh to Leon.
"Wha- I.. Nevaeh!" Their eyes snap to hers as her cheek glisten with a cute redness. Her eyes widen at the sudden attention shifting to her.
"I- Um.. yes... she's a very nice lady?" Her voice quivering and questioning as if scared to tell the wrong thing.
Wouldn't want people jumping to conclusions now.
Leon chuckles to himself, causing Nevaeh to sneak a glare his way.
"Okay, no, seriously, are you guys fucking?" Nevaeh tries to ignore him through her face betrays her. "We can all hang out together." Then she turns to Kahlil.
"... if you want to come.." Leon almost chokes on his breath as his eyes widen. Did Kahlil Collins, the golden and church boy really just think naughty of Nevy's innocent invitation?
Now, that face was golden.
Deciding to take control of the hilarious situation, he clears his throat just as the bell rings.
"Alright, class—no after school for you, Kahlil—then my place!"