"You're doing it again." He said. I slowed down a little bit but didn't turn around to look at him.
"Aries, please, talk to me," he pleads. My heart ached for causing him pain that I didn't mean to, but I was already making him suffer. Tears welled up in my eyes. I was terrible at hiding my emotions, and right now was not the time to feel the love when I was just grossed out by the morning incident. So I just walked away. I didn't want Leo to see me like this.
I repeated the process of ignoring and staying away from him for the rest of the day.
Until Leo walked in my biology class, during the middle of a lecture, and my heart leaped.
"Mrs. Ziegler, sorry for interrupting your class, but I wanted to talk to someone, and I was wondering if I could talk to her. It's a very urgent matter, ma'am."
I gradually sank lower in my seat, hiding behind a guy in front of me. 'What the hell is he doing? How could he just walk into the class like this and ask for permission?'
"Is everything okay, Mr. Carter?" Mrs. Ziegler responded with concern.
"I really would like to talk to her?" He pressed.
"Okay. Who do you want to talk to, Mr. Carter?" She asked him. And I tried to cover myself behind this head in front of me.
"Aries." He said my name and a round of gasp filled the room. Mrs. Ziegler was casting a quizzical look.
I was now getting irritated. I took a deep breath to calm myself down.
"Miss Spring, could you please come over here," she called me. I peered at the teacher, walked out of my seat, and stood next to her. She looked at me and then looked back at Leo.
"Miss Spring, if you wish, you may leave the class."
"With all due respect, ma'am, I would like to continue my lecture and do not wish to leave," I said and gave Leo a stern look before returning my eyes to Mrs. Ziegler. She looked at Leo with a mixture of surprise and confused look.
"I need to talk to you, Aries," Leo said.
"I'm sorry. I can't talk to you right now. I'm busy."
"It's urgent."
"It can wait."
"No, it can't."
"Leo?"
"Aries, Now. Please."
"Okay, you two. You are wasting my and other students' valuable time." Mr. Z said irritably.
To avoid creating more drama, I angrily put my stuff in my backpack, and without sparing a glance at Leo or Mrs. Ziegler, I stormed out of the class.
I heard Leo, apologizing, and thanking her and followed behind me.
"Aries, wait."
I ignored him and just kept walking in the empty hallway. I was angry but mostly, at myself, with my life.
I felt very fragile—ready to break at any moment.
"Where are you going?" He demanded.
I didn't answer him and quickly made my way toward the exit. Today just wasn't going to be a good day, wasn't it?
"Aries."
"Will you just leave me alone?" I said out loud but never looked his way.
I exited out of the double doors, at the back of the school and into the woods. I know this was me being childish, even spiteful towards him, but I got my reasons.
I strode straight. Where? I didn't know, and I didn't even care.
"Aries, I'm sorry."
"Go away." I scowled and just kept walking. The anger was bubbling inside me. It was so hard for me to turn around and look at Leo. I was afraid I might do something if I saw his face.
"Stop doing this. Damn it, Aries stop ignoring me like I'm fucking nobody." Leo grasped my elbow, a little too harshly.
I was so angry about his inappropriate behavior. I wanted to slap him, yell and scream at him, but instead, I began to cry. I really couldn't understand why I was crying in front of him? All that anger melted into tears, releasing all the pent-up emotions. I was scared, it was why I couldn't do anything, and I cried.
The pain, sorrow, and grief I'd bottled up for so many years were now pouring out of me. At the same time, I felt free to let myself go. I kneeled on the grass, covered my face with both hands, and began to cry, looking utterly miserable and depressed.
Leo took me in his arms, and I let him. He smoothed my hair over and over. In a way, it was calming. I hugged him back. All this time, I wanted him to leave me alone, but now his presence was helping me regain my composure. I didn't think Leo would ever hurt me. I knew this just from the way he cared for me, and here I was throwing away the love he was offering to me.
Leo lifted my chin with his finger. He brought his face slowly, close to me—to close his lips on mine. I didn't hesitate. He gently pressed his lips against my lips, sending waves of pleasure through me. He moved slowly, kissing me tenderly, for a few seconds, then pulled away and looked at me. His eyes were glistening with affection. The kiss was short, sweet, and romantic.
"Why did you do that?" I asked him softly.
He cupped my face in his hands. "Because you needed some love besides comfort."
'Oh...Leo.' I leaned and rested my head on his chest.
‘This pleasant moment, you have shown it. I feel that I got the whole world by coming into your arms.’
'Why? Why was I choosing my freedom over love? Over Leo?'
A comfortable silence had surrounded us. I'd spent this short time embraced in Leo's arms, listening to his heartbeat, playing with his fingers. His closeness, his presence, was soothing me.
"Did you sleep well last night?" Out of the blue, he asked. I thought his question was vague.
"I had a fever and a little difficulty sleeping, but I was okay in the morning." I don't know why I elaborated instead of giving him a one-word answer.
"Hmm... I see. Aries, are you still angry with me?" He then asked.
"No, but I'm
