A Visit, Chapter Thirty Two

Law was looking at the phone skeptically. Should he call? Maybe she would know where she was. Anyway, what did he have to lose with just one phone call? Oh, I don't know man. Maybe lose the woman you love! Law ran his hand over his face, irritated.

He messed up. Pretty badly. Why did she react the way she did? He only wanted to confess his feelings. He finally decided to tell her.. And she fled, running away. She clearly told him he made her suffer. She didn't want to see him anymore. She told him not to go near her again. Law didn't know what to do. He didn't say anything, she took it the wrong way. He was about to tell her, she ran away. What was he supposed to do? Tie her up so he would be sure she would escape one more time? No way would she sit quietly, instead of running to the police…

Law sighed, desperate. How did a woman (a young one in this case) put his life (and feelings) upside down? Right now, he wanted to find her and take her in his arms. Even if it was impossible now. Cerys will be his death…

Suddenly, the phone, still in his hand and which he completely forgot about, started ringing. He jumped and swore. He was beginning to be as nervous as Cerys…

"Hello?"

"Ah, Law?"

Law froze. It was Cerys' mother.

"Sorry I didn't call before! We changed country to go to Guatemala, and with the jet lag and my job, we didn't have a lot of time for ourselves. So, everything's well?"

No.

"Yes, don't worry ma'am."

"Oh, Law, how many times do I have to tell you not to call me ma'am? You're almost part of our family!"

Not if you hear about what happened…

"Anyway, is my little girl good? She doesn't bother you too much, I hope?"

Law felt bad. Not only did he lost Cerys, but he was also lying to her mother. When she was always good to him. She always gave him a warm welcome, treating him like her own son. At this exact moment, he felt extremely ashamed.

"No, everything's fine. She's at a friend's house today."

"I see…" She sounded sad. "Oh well, I'll call later to talk with her. Have a nice day, my dear!"

She hung up. Law didn't move for a few seconds, the phone still on his ear. Culpability ate him up, all the way to his soul. He couldn't let things unfold the way it was heading now. He would regret it his entire life. That's why he put down the phone and went towards the entrance. Better to go there himself than call.

xXxXxXxXxXx

With a noise that strangely resembled a squeaking cat, I stretched, my arms way up in the air. A good night sleep, there's nothing better than that!

"Sleep well?"

I turned to see the green man beside me, his hair in all directions, and his mouth wide open to let out a yawn. Still a morning person, I see.

"Like a baby! It's been.. well, an eternity, since I slept this good," I said, a smile on my lips.

I was really happy I came here last night. Zoro not only managed to make me think of something else, but it was also a pleasure to see his little family again, which I loved dearly. Kôshirô, who was as gentle as I remembered, and Kuina, with a overwhelming energy, which was hard to follow sometime. We spent all evening talking, laughing, fighting. I know, not your typical night with an ex, but we were kind of strange anyway. However, before all that, we still had to clear the misunderstanding with Kuina. After she saw us together, she assumed we were a couple again. It was not true at all, of course, but it almost made me sad to tell her, since she looked so happy for us. I knew things could never go back to the way they were before, especially since we each liked someone else.

"Good," he replied with a sleepy grin.

I returned it and slowly walked towards the kitchen, Zoro not too far behind me.

"So, what do you want to do today?"

I sat at the table while he went through the kitchen cabinets, searching for something to eat.

"I don't want to intrude more than I should, so I'll leave before noon."

Zoro turned my way, a box of chocolate chips cookies in his hands. Seriously, cookies in the morning?

"Cerys, you know you don't bother me."

I shook my head.

"I know, but I can't stay here till the end of times."

He nodded, sat down in front of me and opened the box. My stomach started to gurgle. Alright, you win, you unhealthy breakfast. I took a cookie.

"Can I borrow your phone?"

He nodded once more, crumbs of cookies falling on the table. I got up and walked to the house phone. I took a deep breath before pressing the buttons and putting the device to my ear. After a couple of seconds, the person on the other line picked up.

"Yes, hello?"

A monstruous cacophony happened in the background.

"Hello Leïla? It's Cerys."

I heard a child yell, then it was my sister's turn. She had screamed directly in my ear. My eardrum started ringing.

"Oh, hey lil' sis! How are you?"

I took a few moments to answer, searching for the right words.

"Good, I guess. Say, can I stay over at your house tonight? And tomorrow night? And the night after that?"

I could hear the smile in her voice.

"How many nights do you want to stay, exactly?"

"I don't really know, to be honest."

This time, she sounded worried.

"Cerys, are you alright? Did something happen?"

"I… I'll tell you later."

I heard a doorbell resonate in her house.

"Alright…" she said, sceptical. "Listen, I'll have to hang up, someone's at the door. But you can come when you want to!"

"Thanks. I'll come by in an hour."

She gave me a short goodbye and ended our conversation. I put down the phone while sighing.

xXxXxXxXxXx

Slowed down by a little boy running around and his younger sister trying to keep up, Leïla finally arrived in front of the entrance door. She opened it and revealed Law. She wouldn't know why, but it didn't really came as a surprise to her. Maybe because of her sister's request and almost each time she was sad, it was the biology teacher's fault.

"Hey," he said in a monotone voice. "Can we talk?"

She agreed and let him in without a word. As he took off his coat, she turned to her children.

"William, bring your sister to the living room and play there, alright?"

The boy nodded and took Lizzy's little hand to drag her along. Leïla went towards the kitchen, knowing Law was following close behind. She entered the room and offered him a coffee. He refused politely and sat down at the table. She did the same.

"So, what brings you here?" asked dark-haired woman.

Law put his hands in front of him and stared at them for a while before looking her in the eyes.

"Did Cerys come here recently?"

Leïla raised an eyebrow. So she had been right, something was really happening between the two of them.

"No."

Law opened his mouth to talk, but stayed quiet instead. He seemed utterly lost in his thoughts. The young woman sighed.

"What's happening?" she gently asked.

It was Law's turn to sigh. He really didn't want to talk about it. However, if he didn't, why did he come here in the first place? There was a chance Cerys wouldn't be here, but at a friend's place instead. He could've just called instead to confirm, but he didn't.

"We… kind of had a fight, Cerys and I."

"That, I already figured it out."

Law ran a hand through his hair.

"She doesn't want to see me anymore."

Leïla raised an eyebrow.

"Why?"

Law let out a noise that strangely resembled a grunt. He didn't like talking about his problems like that. However, he did need an ally, so…

"Because I didn't told her I love her."

Leïla blinked once, twice. Well, the least she could say, was that she didn't expect that answer, especially from Law.

"And is that the case? That you love her?"

Law stayed quiet, but the mother knew the answer without him telling her.

"So why didn't you tell her?" she asked, curious.

"I don't want her to suffer."

Leïla was sceptical. In front of her intense glare, Law gave in.

"I think our relationship will only end in a disaster, alright? She's still a minor, and I'm her teacher. I know all that, and even so, I couldn't stop the way I acted with her, giving her hope for a future where we could be together. The adult in me yelled to keep away, but the man in me said to hug her hard and never let go. That's why I brought her to the ice rink yesterday, to finally tell her everything, but…"

She wants to hate me again. At that thought, Law's heart clenched. For the first time in his life, he was horribly scared to lose the only woman he had ever loved. Not because of an outside factor, like Doflamingo or another potential lover, but because of his own self. It was his own fault if she was getting distant, and he bitterly regretted it.

Leïla let her chin rest on her hand and observed her friend. It was the first time in her life she saw him like that. He sincerely looked troubled. It saddened her to see him this way, and at the same time, she was almost happy. This meant he deeply cared about her sister. She hid a smile.

"I don't know what to do anymore.." he said in an almost pitiful voice.

Leïla sympathized. "I think you should wait a bit, so Cerys can calm down. After that, you'll come back to talk to her and confess everything."

"I'll come back…?"

Leïla offered him a benevolent smile.

"She called me earlier to ask if she could sleep here for a few days. I will do everything in my power to calm her down and convince her not to give up on you, and I'll call you to inform you when she'll be ready to talk."

Law nodded, then turned his head and spoke quietly, as if he didn't want her to hear.

"Did she tell you where she was?"

Leïla shook her head. "No. But if I recognised the phone number correctly, she called from Zoro's place."

Law frowned. Was he.. pouting? Leïla burst out laughing.

"Are you jealous?"

"No!"

His hasty and aggressive response said it all. The young woman's laughed echoed in the house. Irritated, Law got up and walked out the room. Amused, the black-haired followed so she could properly say goodbye.

xXxXxXxXxXx

"Are you sure? You can stay if you want."

I grinned up at my friend and shook my head. "Thanks, but I don't want to bother you more."

The green gave me discouraged stare and I smiled, innocent like a baby otter. He rolled his eyes. I put on my coat and my boots before facing him once again.

"You gonna be alright?"

I nodded and gave him a hug, which he returned.

"Thanks for everything. You don't know how much it means to me."

He patted my back and took a step back. I smiled one last time before getting out and walking towards the sideway. I could see my breath come out of my mouth. My nose froze instantly. I looked at the scenery and was about to get my camera out of my bag, but remembered I had neither. I sighed sadly while walking slowly. Now that I thought about it, I didn't have anything on me except my clothes. Everything was at Law's. Did it mean I had to go back to get my other clothes, cellphone, laptop, and, most importantly, my camera? …I really didn't want to put a single foot in there… I'll ask Leïla if she wants to go instead.

For fifteen minutes, I wandered around, not bothered to go fast. I would've liked if time could just stop, freeze like ice, just like my heart. And maybe finally, I would stop suffering. It would be nice. Unrealistic, but nice.

I finally arrived at my destination: my sister's house. I noticed Marco's car being absent. Did he work as soon as one day after New Year? I climbed the little balcony and rang at the door. A couple of seconds later, the door opened and revealed Leïla. She smiled without saying a word, like she knew everything that was going on, and let me enter. As I was taking off my winter clothes, she observed me for a while. Her stare gave me unpleasant shivers.

"What..?" I ended up asking.

She started to laugh and left me alone and confused.