Chapter 11

Leigh's POV:

I watched as Kallina began to laugh at another one of my 'customer experience' stories. I loved the sound of her laugh. She giggled at nearly everything, but I found that I wasn't annoyed like I normally would be. I could tell that her laughter was genuine, unlike all of those other girls who had tried to talk to me in the past. She wasn't like them. She was friendly, generous, caring, and beautiful. She was down to earth and real. I always found myself wanting to be beside her. I've never had a friend like her before. At that moment she looked up at me, her big blue eyes smiling back into mine sweetly, and I sighed peacefully. I knew that everyone had their own flaws, even her, but still she seemed utterly perfect to me.

My cheeks were getting sore from all of the smiling, but I just couldn't help it. I couldn't do anything BUT smile when I was around her. It was the best feeling ever, and I never wanted it to end.

Just at that moment, we heard the metal doors of the school swing open and then quickly slam shut. We turned our heads and saw Lyander approaching us, one hand clenched around the strap of his bag and the other plunged deep into his pants pocket. He showed a little smile, but he couldn't fool me. There was anger in his eyes.

"Uh...ready?" I asked, testing him. He looked as though he were going to explode. He didn't say anything but nodded his head, the fake smile still spread across his lips. Then he started off for the car, Kallina trailing his steps slowly. I wonder if she had noticed something was off with him as well? Maybe.

Then I headed over to the car myself, feeling a death glare burning into the back of my head. I turned my head slightly. Castiel was still standing there. He hadn't moved an inch. His arms were crossed and his stance was sinister. I just kept walking.

Once at the car, I unlocked all of the doors and we all got inside. Lysander got into the back and Kallina occupied the seat beside me. Of course, I didn't mind the arrangement whatsoever. I started up the engine and off we went.

The car ride was awkward and silent. No one had said a word since we left the school's grounds. I glanced sideways at Kallina and she looked uncomfortable, staring down at her hands in her lap. She looked as though she were thinking of something to break the silence with but simply couldn't find the words.

Since she didn't live very far, we were in front of her house within minutes. She grabbed her bag as I pulled up next to the sidewalk and then she turned toward me.

"Thanks, Leigh," she said softly with a small smile, knowing that the air in the car wasn't going to permit any actual cheer in her voice. "It was really nice of you."

I looked into her eyes and put my hand on hers. "Anytime at all."

There was another silence, but this one was different as she and I locked gazes. This one was more peaceful and longing. I knew that I didn't want her to go, and now it seemed as though she didn't want to either. She didn't express it in words, only her smile.

She then opened her mouth as though she were going to say something, but at that moment the passenger side door had been thrown open and she was being pulled out by Lysander. Somehow he had escaped my mind and the backseat altogether and was now walking Kallina to the front door of her home. My eyes narrowed at the back of his head as he took her arm and led her up the steps. He looked like he was saying something to her, but even if I had rolled down the windows they would have been too far away for me to eavesdrop. I was growing more and more curious, but there was nothing I could do.

I continued to stare at them as they stood on the top step together. They seemed to stand there forever and I was becoming antsy. Why were they taking so long? What was he saying to her? Just then Lysander began to grin as Kallina chuckled and smiled at him. That smile. The smile she always gave me. Why was she now giving it to him? I could feel my heart begin to sink down into my stomach. That's when I received the next blow. Lysander had reached out and wrapped Kallina in a tight embrace. You could tell that she was surprised, but nevertheless she hugged back, her face tinted with blush. I suddenly felt ill and turned away from the two. I closed my eyes and let my head fall forward onto the steering wheel, and jumped when I had accidentally triggered the horn.

I shot up and looked back over toward the two on the step. They were both looking back at me, Kallina with confusion and Lysander with contempt. Kallina then turned back to him and said something as she unlocked the front door. She finished what she was saying and then disappeared, the door closing behind her. Lysander then turned and began to make his way back toward the car.

Within a few seconds he had taken the seat beside me. He buckled his seatbelt and stared out the windshield blankly at the road ahead of us. I could feel the air in the car become thick again as another awkward silence formed, but that didn't stop me from starting up the engine once again.

As I was driving my thoughts began to wander and I saw it all over again. Kallina and my brother, hugging in broad daylight on her front porch. My mind had taken a picture of it and had hung it up in a big golden frame, right in front of my eyes. It was painful to look at, but I had no choice. Why did my own mind insist on tormenting me like this?

I then thought about my brother. His actions, specifically. He had been the one to hug her. He had been the one who had pulled her in close and had enjoyed the warmth she could provide. He did it. She wasn't the one to initiate the affair. But why? Why did he do it? He wasn't the sort of person who would do something like that. The more I pondered it, the more nervous and paranoid I became. I had grown more and more curious until I couldn't take it any longer. I swallowed as I tried to find some words.

"I'm surprised," I said aloud at last. "I've never seen you hug a girl before."

Lysander slowly moved his eyes in my direction, resting them on the side of my head as I continued driving.

"So?" he inquired. "She's my friend. We can hug if we want to."

"Really? It seemed as though she was surprised herself by your act." I kept my eyes on the road as I replied.

He turned and was now completely facing me, his eyes narrowed.

"What are you trying to say, Leigh?!" he snapped at me, his face pink with mild anger.

I kept staring ahead. "Nothing really. It's just..."

Lysander glared as he awaited my words. I felt uncomfortable under his watchful eyes and shifted slightly in my seat.

"It's just that you sort of seem...into Kallina a bit... I was just wondering if-"

"No," Lysander said flatly. "She's just a really close friend."

He turned away and looked out the window. His face was now red, but I don't think that anger was the cause. He sighed.

"She has a boyfriend anyway...that gardener kid who visited your shop."

I remembered seeing that boy, and also believed that he was with Kallina, until the other day that is. Then I discovered the truth.

"Oh...is that so..." I didn't know whether or not to tell him. "That's too bad." What would he do if he knew the truth? "So you...don't have any feelings for her?"

"Don't be ridiculous," he said softly, still looking out the window.

Hmm...I wonder.

Lysander's POV:

We arrived back at our house shortly after dropping off Kallina. The car ride had been rather aggravating. Leigh had suspected me of liking Kallina in the 'more than a friend' sort of way, but that was just crazy. Wasn't it? I can't fall in love with another guy's girlfriend, after all. I knew deep down that that would only lead to heartache. So, I guess I should just ignore all of those emotions from now on. I'm sure I can still be her friend even if she's with...err...Jade. I just have to fight back the strange sensations I get whenever she is near. It'll be easy, right? I certainly hope so...

I walked into the house and dropped my bag onto the couch. I sat down, leaning back and looking at the ceiling, my hands folded in front of me. I thought about everything Leigh had said in the car. I had never seen him so suspicious. Why did he care so much anyway? What did it matter even if I did like Kallina?

Leigh was now walking through the door, having spent another minute parking the car just right. I looked at him as he entered the kitchen, heading for the fridge like he always did.

If he could easily suspect me of having feelings for Kallina, then I had every right to suspect him as well, didn't I? I got up off of the couch and swiftly made my way into the kitchen. Leigh was drinking from a water bottle and had his back to me. I wasn't going to wait for him to finish. Now was my chance.

"Do you like Kallina?" I asked bluntly, placing a hand on the back of one of the kitchen chairs.

I watched as Leigh spun around in surprise at the question, the frills on his clothes bouncing. He seemed to have been so shocked that he choked on the water he had been drinking, and had to bend over, coughing up a storm.

"What?!" he exclaimed when he could finally breathe again. "Where did that come from?!"

"Just answer the question, Leigh."

He began to turn red and put one of his hands over his face as though it could conceal his obvious embarrassment. He kept his water bottle in hand and walked past me out into the living room, trying to avoid the question. I wasn't going to let him get away without giving a response and followed him. He started for the stairs but I ran ahead of him and blocked his path. He turned away again, but I quickly placed my hands onto his shoulders and tried to hold him in place. He tried to get away again, but I pushed him down onto the couch and held him there, repeating the question to him.

"DO YOU LIKE KALLINA?"

After finding his efforts fruitless, he sighed and leaned his head back.

"What does it matter?" he asked.

"I just want to know."

"She's just a friend of mine, just like you said."

"But do you have any actual feelings for her?"

He sighed again and looked me directly in the eye, his face unreadable now.

"What is it exactly that you want to know, Lysander?"

I stared back at him for a few moments before answering.

"Are you in love with Kallina, Leigh?"

He leaned back even further and closed his eyes. I couldn't tell whether he was thinking or if he was trying to avoid the question again, but the answer came. He opened his eyes and once again looked into mine.

"Yes."

He let out a breath and closed his eyes again.

"I think I've always been in love with her...since the moment I first saw her..." He was speaking so softly, I could barely hear him. He opened his eyes yet again and glanced over at me. "What's wrong?"

I hadn't realized it until then, but I guess I had been holding my breath and now my face looked purple. I gasped, taking in as much air as I possibly could, still in shock.

But why was I shocked? I shouldn't be. Wasn't I anticipating the answer when I had asked him?

"Nothing," I responded to him. "So...you're really...in love with her?"

He tilted his head back again and I could see a smile begin to form on his face.

"Yeah. I'm really in love with her."

"But she has a boyfriend!"

Once I said this, Leigh started to drink from his water bottle and avoided eye contact with me. Wasn't he listening to me? There was no way he could ever be with her!

But then he stopped drinking and faced me.

"It doesn't matter if she has a boyfriend or not..."

I was completely baffled by all of this and just sat there, staring and in a daze.

"I'm going to try to make her fall for me."

Author's Note:

Sorry this chapter is a day late...but nevertheless I hope you liked it. This is where the drama is really going to begin, so be prepared for some crazy stuff, whether it be sad or happy, funny or awkward, you just never know. Please review, and I'll write again later! :P

-Blueberry Blossoms