Savior

36| Looming

Chapter 36: Looming (Leo's POV)

Claire was in bed with me up in my room and we were watching TV while Flynn was in his room, volunteering to keep Ace and Max with him for the night. She laughed while watching the movie but I was zoned out and completely distracted. 

I saw them today. I acted as nothing happened but I saw them. It wasn't just at night, Theo was here, looming around my neighborhood, probably hoping to catch a glimpse of her and confirm that this is where she was. And he was alone, which confused me. 

He couldn't take her alone, he wouldn't be able to. So if that is what he was trying to do, he was only confirming whether she was here or not, and if he sees here, he'll come get her. And he won't be alone. 

"Babe," she said before tugging at my hand which was holding hers. "What is up with you? You've been zoned out this whole time. You okay?" 

I nodded, "Yeah, I'm okay." 

She turned the TV off and sat up, looking at me with a scrutinizing gaze. She knew when I was lying now. It wasn't that I'd developed a tell that only she knew about, it was just that I didn't like lying to her. In fact, I hated it. So much that she'd know when I was doing it because that's how half-heartedly I did it. I looked at her while she sat in front of me. 

"What's going on?" she questioned. 

I shook my head, "It's nothing." 

She clicked her tongue before straddling me. She lifted my chin and forced my eyes to meet hers before she held my face, lightly tracing my skin. "Are you lying to me, Leo?" I sighed. "You have to tell me if it's bothering you so much, babe," she explained. 

"Of course, it's bothering me," I mumbled under my breath. 

"Has it got to do with me?" she whispered, leaning in slowly. She knows what she's doing when she's doing it. I hated that she had this kind of control over me. Her lips slowly touched mine but she pulled away before I got the chance to deepen the kiss. "Tell me," she spoke, her lips brushing against mine. 

I sighed in defeat, "Theo's been looming around. I saw him when I went out," I admitted. 

"Looming around?" she questioned. 

"I think he's waiting to see if he can find you here. Claire, I'm worried," I huffed. 

"You don't have to be worried, you're here. Nothing is going to happen to me." 

"How long will I hold you here like this? You think I like you staying here in this way?" 

"In this way? With me here 24/7 and all to yourself? You don't like it?" she frowned. 

"I love it, Claire. I love having you here all the time and all to myself. What I don't like is not being able to take you out. To a nice expensive dinner or take you shopping for some dresses or taking you as my date to a fancy party that we sneak into without an invitation." She looked at me quizzically. "You did it in high school, don't play dumb." 

"You were there?" she laughed. 

"It was my party," I chuckled. 

"I ran into you, do you remember that?" 

I nodded, "I remember you staring. Like the weirdo that you were, that you are, still obsessed with me," I smirked. 

"Aesha had to come drag me away before we got kicked out, remember?" she chuckled. 

"Claire, what I'm saying is that I want to take you out. To a nice, real date. And I can't do that because of this stupid mess." 

"Which is all because of my dad," she said, rolling her eyes.