"I'm sorry," he said. "I laughed because I find you funny." he still continued to chuckle. "What I meant to say is it's worth trying because you said no doctors."
"Pediatricians are doctors too, you know."
He shook his head and slid his hand in his back pocket. "By the way, Skye is worried and wanted to know why you're not home yet." He showed me my phone.
"Wait, you'd my phone this whole time?" I asked, taking my phone from his hand.
"Yeah, it fell. I picked it up. I tried to catch you, but you rushed out of the lab so quickly." He scratched the back of his head, "I would’ve run behind you but Mrs. Roger made me stay in the lab. I planned to stay in anyway, waiting for you, thinking you might come back looking for it." He explained.
"You could have just given my phone to Mrs. Roger.”
“And miss the opportunity, No way.” He said.
I looked into his eyes curiously.
"Alright then, shall we go?" He got on his feet.
"Leo, Skye is anxious. I should go home."
"And what about the pain in your stomach?"
"I don't think anything has broken; it's just a welt. I'm fine, really." I assured him, but he didn't look convinced. "I won't lie to you, Leo. I am tired and just want to go home."
"Fine." He sighed deeply and closed the car door. He then went around and picked up my backpack from the ground and placed it in the back seat of the car. While sliding into the driver's seat, he asked me for my home address. I gave him the directions verbally.
I saw messages from Skye, and they were displayed on the screen lock. I guess while I passed out, Leo must have read the notifications.
I texted Skye: 'I'll be home soon. I'm with a friend.'
'Friend?' She quickly replied.
I texted her back: 'Yeah.'
It was very quiet in the car, and I broke it to ask. "Why did you put me in the car?"
"Since you were avoiding going to the principal, you also wanted to avoid the nurse's station. So..." He tore his eyes away from the road to look at me for a brief second. He smiled and went to look at the road again.
Smart move, I thought. "Thank you, Leo," I stated instead.
"You never told me your name?" He asked.
"It's Aries."
"Aries!" He said with a surprised tone. His phone was buzzing, but he ignored it and continued to ask me. "Like the sign in zodiac?"
"Yes."
"So, are you named after your birth sign?"
"Yes."
His phone vibrated again, and he chose to ignore it still.
"You can answer your phone. It seems like someone is trying to get your attention." I indicated, assuming his girlfriend might be calling him.
Even though I'm not acquainted with Vivian, I felt envious, and couldn't help my intense feelings of detestation for her. 'Why?'
"Not while I'm driving," he said firmly. His phone went off again. Irritated by the sound, he peeked at his phone, silenced it, and then placed it in the cupholder.
"It's Vivian, nothing important." He stated. I could sense a loss of interest from his attitude.
'Trouble in paradise,' I thought.
He looked at me while his fingers clenched on the steering wheel.
"So you have a boyfriend?" He asked, tearing his eyes away from the road to look at me again.
"No," I answered and looked down at my fingers. He went back, looking at the road. I didn't see his facial expressions.
With my plan to fleet away from this town I never took any interest in any boys. I and he would never be a friend, I mean I'm a bit of an anorak, and he's so much more attractive and exciting that he would never be interested in a girl, who is boring like me. Someone like Vivian is a perfect match, besides we had nothing in common—except for matching eye color. He was the blue sky high in the heavens, and I was the blue water on earth. After today he'll just forget me. He's only helping me out of obligation, and it's very kind of him to do so.
"Vivian seemed such a nice girl, you two get along so well," I said, trying to ignore the small-minded jealousy that surrounded me, which still managed to upset me to a great deal. Leo kept his eyes on the road, he was avoiding looking at me.
"Thanks." He responded only with one word. He didn't even smile, nor his eyes showed any emotions.
Vivian was one of the most beautiful girls in the school. She and Leo were inseparable since they started dating, I assumed since Vivian often bragged about Leo and their impeccable relationship. I'd heard her talk to other people in the bathroom, or during P.E. She even started volunteering to work with him. She did everything with a fascination for Leo. I wondered what's changed between them?
"You guys seemed perfect together..." I said and Leo spoke and cut me off.
"But she's not my type." He states.
"Pardon me?" I asked to make sure what I just heard.
"How could you say that about your girlfriend?"
"We dated for quite some time, but there's nothing between us anymore, she's not my girlfriend anymore." He confirmed. "We are only friends, and she only helps to do volunteering work with me. She is a nice person, though."
'Person, he said person, not even a girl.’ I guess not everything that glitter is gold.
He continued to talk, but I missed some part of his conversation. "... like you.” He finished his chat, and to avoid awkwardness I just nodded. God, I hope I didn’t agree with something.
“So what do you do? Do you work?" He asked.
A surge of nervousness developed in my stomach. My fear was so intense that it got me right where it sting. The rush of guilt and shame flooded through me, and subconsciously I reacted and did something stupid—I opened the car door while the
