She Was Ugly

Chapter 30: The Notes pt 2

Leo's POV

Time stood still. Everyone passed around me in a blur of colors. They all blended together like strokes of a painting.

I had no idea how long I had been sitting on the park bench. A couple hours probably. It was already dark out and the nighttime air had settled in a while ago. Crickets were chirping and fireflies flashing their lights.

It was very peaceful here, it made it easy to think.

The park was completely empty by now. When I first came here, it was filled with kids and their parents playing on the swings and in the sand. Laughter filled the air as children ran around playing games. Now, the only sound was the nature around me.

I had staggered my way to the park after my talk with Athena.

I couldn't think straight after what she told me. It broke my heart. I've loved her since we were children and she tore out my heart and stomped on it by just saying one simple word.

No.

I always knew there was the possibility of her rejecting me, but I never thought she actually would. It might just be my imagination, but ever since Homecoming, I've felt like Athena likes me too. I don't know what changed.

I couldn't think straight. What do I do now? Should I keep trying to win her affection or should I give up and watch as she moves on with her life?

Both choices had the chance of leaving one of us heartbroken.

It was scary. This whole thing was scary and I didn't know how to deal with it. Back in France, I had a couple girlfriends. Now I don't want to sound cocky or anything, but none of them ever rejected me. In fact, girls were always the ones coming up to me and flirting.

I didn't know how to deal with rejection. It's never happened to me before, especially not from someone I love.

My phone buzzed in my pocket. My twin sister's name flashed across the screen. Should I answer? Against my better judgement, I answered the call.

"Hello?" I answered cautiously.

"LEO! Get back home now! It's almost 11 and we have school tomorrow!" Via shouted at me. I had to hold the phone away from my ear because she was yelling so loud. "Okay, geez. Take a chill pill won't you? I'm coming home now. I'll be there in 5 minutes."

I hung up the phone and started walking. I'm going to have to go home at some point. I can't avoid what happened forever, even though that's all I wanted to do.

---

As soon as I walked in my front door, Via grabbed me by the collar and dragged me to my room.

"Spill. Now." Via commanded.

I put my hands up in surrender. "Okay, okay. I will."

"I went over there to talk to AJ about what I did before she fainted. She told me that she's sorry and that she doesn't love me." Via let out a gasp. She probably wasn't expecting me to say that.

"Are you okay?" she asked me. "I'll be fine eventually," I replied.

"It's getting late I should go back and get to bed. Goodnight." Via was careful not to make a noise when she shut my door. Our father went to bed a couple minutes ago and he wasn't the best person to be around when they were woken up from their sleep.

I stripped off my clothes and got in the shower. The water was scalding hot. I had turned it up as high as it would go, hoping the extremely hot water would distract me from the pain I was feeling. Spoiler alert: It didn't. No matter what I did the ache in my heart would not go away.