|Chapter 4|

After talking with Leah for a few hours, I eventually went home. It was a pain to get Kova to leave because Mrs. Clearwater, Sue (as she wants me to call her), has been feeding her and cuddling her to blissful death. It seems that at this point, Kova might love her more than me. And just as Kova loves Seth and Sue, she loves Leah too.

I laid in bed, staring up at the ceiling, as I thought about earlier when mine and Leah's eyes locked. Was it because I haven't seen her in four years? Was it just me? Did she feel it too? I rolled over and stuffed my face into my pillow and groaned. Oh who am I kidding? Of course it was just me! There's no way that Leah feels the same way that I do. Right? Right.

I mean, we're childhood friends. Childhood friends never wind up together, it's just another one of those unspoken and unwritten rules of the universe. And there's absolutely no way that Leah likes me like that. She like guys. Guys like Sam, when he wasn't a douchebag who dated her cousin.

Why do I have to be like this? Why can't my stupid feelings do what they're told? Why can't my stupid heart stop beating so fast when I think about her? Oh how I hate the butterflies in my stomach.

Turning over in my spot for some air, I started to think about what Leah told me before I left.

"I can't tell you right now, Rain, but I promise that you'll find out soon."

"Um, okay? What the hell does that mean?"

She smiled, "Just trust me, okay?"

"Fine. But remember, I'm not a big fan of surprises."

"I know. I'll see you later."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah."

What did she mean by that, 'I can't tell you know, but you'll find out later'? What kind of secret bullshit is that? Oh my god. Is she pregnant? Does she have a kid that I don't know about? No, she can't have. There would have been toys and baby books and all that, unless she gave the kid up.

Oh who am I kidding? She doesn't have a kid. She's eighteen and we made a promise to each that we would tell each other if we ever lost our virginity. If it's one thing we're both serious about, it's our promises. I'll just have to wait to find out what she means by what she said. It can't be too serious.

▂▃▅▇█▓▒░۩۞۩ [R]۩۞۩░▒▓█▇▅▃▂

"Mom, I'm heading over to Leah's. I'll be back later." I hooked Kova's leash onto her harness and slipped on my shoes.

"Okay, be safe. I want you home before eleven. Anything later, no more Leah for a week. Understood?" My mom looked up at me from the tv.

"Understood. Love you, mom."

"Love you too."

I ran out of the house with my trusty feline beside me. On the way to Leah's, I got a few weird stares, but I didn't mind. I mean, come on. There's a random girl running down the street with a cat on a leash. What isn't weird about that?

"I'm back!" I kicked of my shoes let Kova run over to Sue, "I gotta be home by eleven, but other than that, I'm your favorite daughter for the day."

Sue laughed, "Just like old times, huh? Well, Leah and Seth aren't here right now, they'll be back later, but..."

"But?"

"I was thinking about starting on my garden and since you have a green thumb, would you mind helping?"

"Is that even a question? Last I remember, all of the tomatoes that you planted ended up dying. So to honor those innocent tomatoes, of course I will help."

We went out back and as we were planting seeds, Kova ran around and eventually ended up settling down after catching a few large worms and a mouse. Sue and I talked about a lot of things while we gardened. It was a lot of catch up talk, until she asked me a question that I didn't exactly know how to answer.

Sitting back on her heels, Sue turned to me and asked, "So, Rhiannon, is there anybody who has caught your eye?"

Yeah, you're daughter, "Uh, no, not really. But I mean, I just got back and the only places that I have been beside my house is here and the beach" I scratched my head, "Why do you ask?"

"Oh, no reason. I'm just curious. And although I know that that's a lie, I'm not going to push it." Sue got up and wiped her hands on her pants, "I'm going to go make some lunch. Why don't you finish up out here and then come get cleaned up, okay?"

"O-Okay."

Sue went inside and Kova followed. That traitorous bastard. Does Sue know that I like Leah? Nooo. That's just ridiculous! Oh god, what if she knows? If Sue knew, she would say something, right? But what if she doesn't? Oh fuck.

"Boo."

I screamed, "Shit! What the hell is wrong with you Leah? You could have given me a heart attack!"

Leah was laughing so hard, she was clutching her stomach, "That was awesome! You jumped so high. I just said boo. That was all."

"Oh shut up." I slapped her arm, "You're an ass."

"I'm your ass, though"

Cue gay panic and morbid horde of butterflies. "Since you're my ass, get to work. Just cover up the holes once they have seeds in them."

"You got it, captain."

I so hope that Leah cannot hear my heart pounding. With how close she is to me, I can feel the warmth radiating off of her. Be still, my beating heart, or I will cut you out with this tiny shovel.