PREVIOUSLY...
I ran out to get some fresh air. I was thinking too much about this. It was nothing. Jay's words were useless, creating nothing but difficulties and unease for me. Without thinking, I went back to my room and grabbed my phone. I opened Leo's chat and before I had time to think straight, I texted him: Hey, this might sound ludicrous but help me clear my mind. What are your real motives? Why are you being so nice, is there a sinister reason behind all this?
I regretted this as soon as I hit send. And before I had time to delete the message, he replied back...
NOW:
Leo: My real motives?
Lia: It's nothing, sorry. Forget it, bye.
Leo: No, wait.
Lia: What?
Leo: I don't know how to say this but... can we meet? Like right now? I really want to talk about something, you know to clear your mind.
Lia: I already asked you to ignore that. Please don't think about it much.
Leo: Pretty please?
Lia: Ugh, fine. Where?
Leo: The lake near your house. I'm waiting don't be late.
Lia: Okay.
I was puzzled as to how he knew where I lived. Did it slip out from Jay's mouth? He was the only one who knew out of the bunch but Jay and Leo were definitely not that close and Jay always stays cautious about what he is saying. I decided to ignore this for the time as I had bigger things on my mind. I wore my shoes and headed out quietly. It was past midnight so there were no voices, just eerie silence. The trees swayed in the wind, leaves whispering lightly. The lake was nearby so I decided to walk. As I got closer, my heart sunk with every step I took. The lake was isolated and there was no trace of Leo. No matter how friendly and nice Leo has been, I should not trust anyone like that. I had no weapons with me either. How am I so stupid?
Slowly Jay's words replayed in my head: "You never know what goes inside a mafia's head and Leo is no exception". I shook my head and decided to walk back.
"You are going to leave without seeing me?" Suddenly Leo's voice broke the silence. I slightly flinched before turning back to face him. I was never scared of such situations. Was I afraid of being attacked by the mafia Leo or being deceived by the Leo who has gotten so close to me. Eww.. I drowned away these thoughts. Since when was my mind working this way?
"I thought you didn't come so I decided to wait by the pole," I answered back.
"Or you just thought I was going to delude you and kidnap you," He said while slowly walking towards me, hands in his pockets. "That Jay really is something. Why do you believe him so much? Were you his daughter in your past life?"
I smiled uncomfortably. "Hey I just want to clear some things. I know Jay it was who said something. I could read from his expression that day. Jay really isn't wrong, who knows my real motives. And we have only met a few times and the relations between Jay's mob and mine haven't been great, but I really want you to understand me. Want to sit near the lake?" Leo said offering me his hand. I accepted it as we walked down the lake. We sat under the gleaming moon, the wind messing up our hair. Leo slightly smiled at me. I didn't say anything. I just stared at his face, which was shining like the moon itself. This reminded me of my real dad, and his face under the moon that night, reflecting nothing but pain. I quickly looked away before destroying the peace of my mind and closed my eyes.
"I am not a bad person. In a way yes, I am a mafia but for you- I mean in deceiving or hurting you, I am anything but evil. See, I have no reason to kidnap you or hurt you. I just really want to be friends with you," Leo stated. Something in his tone was telling me he really meant what he said.
"Sometimes I really want best friends in my life all over again but then I feel like I don't deserve to feel what I felt before. Maybe no one will be able to make me feel like Angelina did or Loris but I met you and I just feel like it would be cool getting to know you," Leo looked down, shy and sad.
"Who are these people?" I asked. "And where are they now?"
"Dead," Leo declared. I was shocked, I patted his shoulder as his continued. "I used to be a ordinary teenager in Florence, Italy. I didn't grow up in such families like you and the others. I went to school normally, had friends and lived a normal life. My parents were pretty rich. They were neglectful but expected me to ace every subject in school and be perfect. They were crazy about getting the honor of having an exceptional child and I studied day and night to achieve high grades. They were so happy when I won trophies in school. But as I grew up they decided to not let me stay happy. As far as I was giving them good grades and obeying them it should have been fine but they stopped me from hanging out with my friends. They wanted me to study every minute of the day because they didn't want me to become a 'stray dog like my friends'. My mom passed away when I was fifteen and my dad became brutal. He started losing his temper easily and beat me. I decided to run away from home and my dumb brain thought the best place to hide was my friend's house. Obviously I was quickly found. Angelina and Loris were siblings coming from a poor family. Loris used to work shifts in a mall and the next day I woke up to find the store had been robbed and Loris had died after three bullets hit him. I knew dad was behind this but there was nothing I could do. How could someone in their right mind do that? Angelina and her parents were suffering, both economically and mentally. Soon after Angelina took her own life leaving me alone in this world with no one but my crazy dad. I lied to dad that I had gotten a job overseas and travelled to America to join J- I mean eventually join my boss's mob. I am not telling you this because I want you to pity me but I just really wanted to get this off my heart and maybe to blackmail you to stay with me. I am a selfish jagoff, but I really need someone," Leo finished with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
I never knew behind his bubbly side was this Leo, broken and lost. I hugged him for comfort and he immediately melted in my embrace, trying to suppress his overwhelmed tears. In some way I could relate to him. I didn't feel as vulnerable now and decided I would someday share my past with him too. So he doesn't feel embarrassed or alone. We stayed like that for a long time before I separated us. I looked at his face, sullen and beautiful.
I couldn't help but say, "I believe you,"
I guess I really did, more than I should. "And I am not leaving."
Leo then said, "Are you sure you mean it? Not only for tonight but for longer because what we have has to last longer..."