"Hi! I'm Sara," the strawberry blonde introduced herself and hugged me. "You look like a tomboy...," she scanned my attire. "No offense, but you really need help, you know... with your clothing selection. We can go shopping together. Oh, that will be so much fun." She hugged me again.
"Let's not make a big deal." Leo glared at her.
"Big deal? Don't be surprised if she gets snotty comments, looks, and stares from jealous girls. Hi, I'm Haley, by the way." The dark-haired girl waved at me.
"I say just get used to it. I'm Jedrek nice to meet you." He extended his hand to me.
I hesitated initially, but I didn't want Leo's friends to think of me as a rude person, so I shook it. "Hello."
Jedrek brought my knuckles to his lips and kissed them.
"Okay, that's enough." Leo took my hand off from Jedrek and kept it in his. In the process, he discreetly wiped the kiss-off of my knuckles with his thumb. I thought that was adorable.
"We got to go," Leo said, ignoring all at once and opened the car door for me.
"Never knew Leo could get this hyper jealous," Haley commented.
"Later haters," he waved them off. I took my seat in the car. Leo came around and took the driver's seat.
"Sorry about that, my friends... they can be too much sometimes." He said.
"Umm.. about that, could you not include me with your friends?”
"I couldn't agree more," he said.
“Don't get me wrong. It's not them; it's me. I'm not very comfortable socializing with people."
"Are you free on Saturday? We can go out to a movie and dinner." He asked.
"Um... I can't. I'm busy."
"Then Sunday it is." He decided. I shook my head. "I'm busy on Sunday too."
"Are you against dating or just trying to shut me off again, Aries?" He peeked at me and scowled.
"No. It just... I work on weekends with my aunt."
'Please don't ask me where? please don't ask me where?' I silently prayed and hoped.
"Oh, okay. I understand." He said, trying to refocus his attention on the road.
This was it, the end of a good beginning. I'm so close to being revealed my dirty little secret. Maybe I should just tell Leo and end it once and for all, and save the heartache before he and I become the US.
"Just stop near that blue house." I point out, diverting the topic in my head.
Leo slowed down the car. Finding a space on the right curb, he parked the car.
I unbuckled my seatbelt and turned to Leo. "Thanks for the ride, but I would rather get my exercise by walking the next time."
"Bullshit! You're not walking anymore, not on my watch. Feel free to drive me some time."
"I don't have a car," I said honestly.
"You're welcome to drive mine. You do have a driver's license, right?"
"Yes, I do." I nodded.
"Good, I'll add you to my insurance." He unbuckled himself.
"What?" I asked in shock.
"I want you safe and protected when you drive." He answered, shrugging his shoulders as if that was the most natural thing to say.
"Leo, you don't just add anyone to your insurance."
Too fast, we were moving too fast - with the speed of light. I was getting scared now. I unfastened myself and had already pulled the door handle to open.
"Hey," he grabbed my wrist. I looked at him.
"Aren't you forgetting something?" He asked.
"Um... a kiss?" I spontaneously said. But immediately realized what I had done. 'Why the heck did I say that?'
"I was going to say your backpack, but yeah, a kiss would be really nice." He pointed. I chuckled nervously and picked up my backpack. My eyes darted at my house, a human hovering at the front door.
"Shit!" I muttered softly. 'What is he still doing here? He is never home this time of the week.'
"What?" Leo's eyes followed my gaze and looked from the car window.
"I have to go," I jumped out of his car. Panic took over me, and I ran straight without checking to my right and left before crossing the road. What if there was a car coming at full speed and...? But I made it safely to the other side. I ran inside the house and got tangled in the web of my stale life.
~xXx~
A Glimpse On Leo's P.O.V.
After that bite, Leo was connected to Aries. He could now feel all her emotions and vividly.
In the morning, Leo felt her happy and excited about something, but then a sudden, painful emotion arose in his chest. His wolf became edgy.
He waited at school for Aries. His frustration matched his wild impatience. His wolf was becoming restive. She was also late to come to school.
~*~
Leo detected Aries' scent from afar. At last, she was nearby. He wanted to talk to her, but she ignored him and passed right by him. Throughout the day Leo was only becoming more and more impatient and left with no other choice but to go to her class to get her attention. He didn't mind interrupting the whole class to get closer to her.
After Ms. Zigler permitted Aries to leave, she just stormed out of the classroom. Leo bothered her and Aries was getting in a defiant mood. He was ready to take punches and slaps. But instead, Aries started crying. It hurt him to the core to see her in such grief. His own eyes filled with tears as she sobbed uncontrollably. The wolf within him whined and scratched the surface within.
'There has to be something, a reason why Aries would cry so much?' He thought.
He didn't want to look weak. He wanted to be strong for her. The way she embraced Leo was as if her life depended on him. So Leo neither moved nor interrupted her. He decided he'll stay and give her all the time in the world if she needed it, and hold her until her smile returns.
He just wanted her to be happy—happy with him. He promised himself he would not put her in duress or
