Chapter 28 - Can't You See?
Leah POV
"Elliot..." I sigh, knowing feelings had developed for him. But those same exact feelings had developed for Julius as well, and those feelings were stronger for Julius. "Elliot lis-"
I couldn't say anymore as two guns pointed at each other. These two guns contradicted each other as one was silver while the other was gold. One belongs to Julius while the other belonged to Elliot. "Elliot. You aren't supposed to be here. Nor do I want you near Leah." Julius narrowed his eyes to slits as he pulled me into his embrace, out of harms way. "You're risking too much to come here." He sneered, shwoing obvious hatred for the ginger haired hare.
"Ah, but you act as if I'm just going to let you take Leah away from me." Elliot's face was distorted in pain, making my heart break. "But you can't fool me. I know the real reason why-" Elliot didn't finish his sentence as Julius shot him, barely skimming his neck. The bullet only made a small nick in his neck that made him grimace and shut up, but surely not back down. I wonder how Elliot would've reacted if this wasn't Julius but someone else.
"Shut up. You don't know what you're talking about." Julius snapped. Neither of the gun had been dropped. Julius was obviously p*ssed, but Elliot was smiling widly, a manic smile, but one nonetheless. He was probably glad he found Julius' weak spot. But what was he going to say? I glance at Julius, he seemed nervous, sketchy, as he gritted his teeth while trying to keep his mouth clamped shut. What was he hiding? Now I have to find out.
I stood inbetween the two men, hands on their chest, yeah, they were that close. They lowered their guns so as not to hurt me. "Guys stop it! Please don't fight." I whispered. "I don't want to see either of you hurt." I glanced at both of them. But looked hurt that I stopped the fight, especially when the fight started because of me, but reluctantly stopped.
"I'll stop fighting for now on one condition." For now? "You come back to Hatter Mansion with me. One time period- minimal." He pleaded, staring straight at me. He lifted his hand and cupped my face, rubbing it lovingly. Right then and there I knew his love was sincere, that it wasn't just me the outsider that he fell in love with. It was the real me. And that hurt, my heart felt torn as I looked at neither of the men.
Julius swatted his hand off my cheek. "Why should I let her go with you? Who knows what you'll do to her there? What you'll say to her?" His gaze grew suspicious as he spun me back into his arms. "I won't let you take her away from me. Not again. Not ever again." Julius hissed. One hand was on my back while the other was on the back of my head, burying it into his chest as if then I'll be safe.
"And what right do you have to keep her here? She's an outsider and can freely go anywhere she wants. And if she wants to come with me? Will you stop her? I'll just talk to her- nothing more. 'Cause I don't do anything to ladies that they don't like." Elliot growled. What did he want to talk about that he couldn't say here? Why did he want me to go all the way to the mansion when a time period could be five minutes in my world or even up to a whole day!
Julius bent down and kissed me, trying to infuriate Elliot, by leaning in and pressing his lips aginst my ear. "Don't believe him, not matter what. But I trust you, I know you won't do anything." Julius kissed my ear before leaning back to his full height. His face erased of all emotion as he stares at Elliot. His arms were crossed and his lips were somewhere inbetween a pout and a grimace.
I walked towards Elliot. "Lets go to the mansion." I murmured. His gaze was full of suspicion and betrayal, but lightened as I accepted his offer. I glance over my shoulder. "I'll be back. One time period- promise." I give Julius a soft smile before following Elliot in a silent walk back to the mansion. It wasn't an awkward silence, it was worse, it was an angry silence. I could feel the tension and anger rolling off of Elliot, and I have a feeling it's my fault.
I started to think about my time with Elliot... did I ever give the impression I loved him? I only ever showed him the affection of a friend, that I cared about his wellbeing. That was it, right? Did he ever once think that I was -oh god- flirting with him? I blushed madly at the thought, I really hope that wasn't it. I guess I could've without knowing, because as I think right now, I've only ever treated- and thought- of him as a friend.
"You hate me now." I accused, breaking the angry silence between Elliot and I. We continued our walk to the mansion, the season started to slowly change as the temperature lightly raised and the trees started to regain their leaves. I glanced at Elliot but he wasn't looking at me, he was sneering at the trees, lost in thought. I wonder, did he even hear me?
"No, I don't hate you!" I guess he did hear me. "Did you not listen to me? I love you. That's the opposite of hate, last I checked. I'm just p*ssed that, for one, you don't return my feelings. Two, your feelings are for Julius, of all the d*mn people you chose him. The one person I hate." He grumbled childishly, pouting cutely.
"You hate everyone." I mumbled, earning me an angry glare from Elliot. "What? You do. Julius, Ace, Gowland, the twins, Peter. Not that I like any of them like I like Julius. But you hate all of them- don't you?" I sighed, telling Elliot what he should already know. I know I was being a complete b*tch to him, but today wasn't going exactly as I planned it. We paused at the gate to the mansion and I leaned against the gate, crossing my arms across my chest, not done talking to Elliot. "I think the only person you really like is Blood." Ooh, shouldn't have gone there.
Elliot punched the wall beside the gate, only inches from my face, making me flinch only slightly. "You freaking b*tch. I care for more than just one person, but Blood has done a lot for me. He bailed me out of jail, which Julius threw me in, I owe him a lot." He snarled. I think I p*ssed him off more. His face was just inches from mine, his hot breath against my face. "Audrey, Rikki, Boris, Alice. All I consider friends. Whether it's mutual is another story." He narrowed his beautiful violet eyes, so much so I started to debate if they were narrowed or closed.
Alice? Who's Alice? And I don't even know if he's being honest or not. I just pursed my lips, unsure of how to reply to that. His eyes were open again and were staring at me, getting lost in the pools of violet, I hardly noticed when Elliot's hand skimmed my face. He started to rub his hand lovingly against my face, he leaned in so our lips were just barely touching and I inhaled quickly. I had mixed feelings for both Elliot and Julius.
He pulled away, as if he could hear my heart racing a million beats per second. "Come on, we still need to talk. But it'd be best if it was inside the mansion." He took my wrist and pulled me along into the mansion. I still wasn't sure why he wanted me here, I wondered what he couldn't say infront of Julius and he had to say in private. Did I even want to know, did I even care to know?
We entered a very red and orange room, one I recognized well as Elliot's room. Elliot took both of my hands and sat me on the red couch, sitting next to each other and facing each other. "So what is it that you needed to say in privated? Away from Julius?" I sighed, slipping my hands out of his. I leaned against the arm of the couch, trying to put some distance between us, while Elliot was trying to remove that space between us.
"He's lying to you, Leah! He's using you. Since you're so much like her. Well, the three of you are, but you even look like her! Sort of. I think you remind him of her too much, and he doesn't see the real you but her." He tried to explain but he completley lost me. I had no clue what he was even trying to say anymore and who was 'her'? Makes me wonder... does he truly believe Julius really doesn't care about me? That he's just using me?
"Elliot? You know you just made zero sense right? You just confused me even more. Now start from the beginning, and who's 'her'?" I huffed, trying to be angry, though there was a tint of jealousy I barely heard in my own voice. I raised my elbow up onto the back of the couch, resting my head in my palm, knowing it was story time and it'll be a long one. I gave Elliot an encouraging smile as he hesitated and blushed pink.
"Uh, right! Sorry, maybe I should start from the beginning." Elliot rubbed the back of his head thoughtfully. "Her name was Alice, Alice Lidell. She was a foreigner, like yourself, and was brought here against her will by Peter who also forced her to drink the medicine." He paused for a second while thinking on how to continue. "She too stayed at Clover Tower, and continued to play the game their. Julius fell in love with her, well, we all did, but he fell pretty hard. B-But then.." He swallowed harshly, eyes watering from the memories.
My hand twitched in the want to comfort him, but I knew that that was bad encouragement. "Elliot. What happened to her? You need to tell me." I whispered, wanting him to finish his story. Though what happened to Alice was awful, especially since she was forced by Peter, I don't really see what this had to do with me other than the fact that we stayed at the same territory and we came from the same world. "And tell me what this has to do with me." He really wasn't making any sense.
Elliot looked at me with shock and confusion. "What's not to understand? Julius fell madly in love with Alice, the she was taken away. Julius got all cranky and depressed again, he met you, reminded him of Alice. Your views on life, personality, apperance. You two are a lot a like- to Julius. He's just using you to fill Alice's hole. He doesn't see the real you." He whispered, trying to go easy on me.
My blood started to boil with anger, though I wasn't sure if Elliot was telling the truth or not, I knew I shouldn't lash out on him. "No! I don't belive you! If what you said was true- I'd be a freaking clone of this Alice girl! But I'm not! I'm my own person I tell you!" I growled, my fists balling up in my anger. I felt my cheeks flush with anger- it's not true! It's not true!
Elliot looked taken aback by my sudden outburst. "No, no! I don't think that Leah. Just Julius, not me. You two are completley different, I can see that. But just because I can, doesn't mean that lovestruck depressed idiot can." He murmured softly. He cupped my face as his hands and leaned in, but his voice was soft, so subtle, that I could've heard wrong. But I think he said 'so where does your loyalty lie now?'. Then his lips pressed up against mine as he layed across me.
I wrapped my arms around his neck and laced my hands through his orange locks. My head rested on the arm of the couch as the both of us were sprawled out across it. I felt his hands on my back, trying to draw me closer- expel any space between us at all. I couldn't help but think how wrong this is. To proclaim that I love Julius, then go kiss Elliot, and be kissing a mafioso no less. But it still felt so right. What has become of me? Why do I feel this way? Where does my loyalty lie?
I unlaced my fingers and pulled away, this was hard as there was little space on the couch with both of us lying down. Elliot looked at me with a pained and shocked expression. "L-Leah? What's wrong?" He had sat up and off of me, also letting me sit up, trying to hide the fact that he was hurt while I was trying to hide the fact that I enjoyed that kiss. Both of our faces were tinted pink, from embarrasment or excitment from the kiss I don't know. Maybe both? I was unsure of how I felt as Elliot stared at me with a crushed look.
"I-I told Julius-" My eyes watered as I realized I betrayed Julius' trust.
"Who gives a d*mn? Leah, can't you see he's just using you for his own selfish needs? He's a b*stard and he doesn't deserve you d*mmit!" Elliot growled, locking his hands with mine. "You can do so much better Leah. You shouldn't- you can't- stay with him! He'll only end up hurting you." He whispered, nuzzling his head into my hair.
"Elliot." I whisper, thinking of something. I felt bad for betraying Julius, so, maybe I could help him. Some way I could help him, if what Elliot says if true, what could do for Julius? "You never finished Elliot." I pushed Elliot off of me to look him dead in the eye. "Whatever happened to Alice?"
