Part Nine
(Eight Weeks Later)
Simon stopped in front of Leah's door. This was where he was told she lived. He hesitated before he knocked. What if she didn't answer, what if someone else did? And what happens if she still couldn't forgive him? Simon didn't know if he could take much more. He was hurting from Jesus' crucifixion and he didn't have any drugs in his system, since he was desperately trying to get clean. If Leah wouldn't forgive him, his heart would break. Simon took a deep breath, gathered his courage and knocked on her door. He waited a few minutes, then when no one answered, turned to walk away.
"Can I help you-" Leah's voice dissolved in throat when she saw the back of Simon's head. She almost fainted.
"Simon?" she whispered, shocked. Simon turned around and nodded.
"Yeah, it's me."
"Oh my God!" Leah cried. She suddenly felt incredibly embarrassed. She was barely covered by a towel, since she had jumped out of the shower to get the door.
"Leah, I've seen you more naked then that," Simon said, grinning. Leah turned redder and shifted on her feet.
"What are you doing here?" she demanded.
"I wanted to see you," Simon told her, stepping closer.
Leah shook her head and tears sprang to her eyes. "No!" she cried. "Getting over you was the hardest thing I've ever had to do, and I won't let you hurt me again, Simon!" Leah backed into her doorway, and went to shut the door, but Simon blocked her.
"Leah, please.." he said.
'Simon, please leave. Please, don't make me beg." Leah looked up into his eyes and he felt himself melt when he saw those beautiful green eyes. "Leah, I missed you so much," Simon told her.
"Don't," Leah sobbed, tears sliding down her cheeks. She tried to shut the door again, but Simon was stronger and pushed his way into her apartment.
"Simon, please! Just go!" Leah turned away from him, sobbing loudly.
Simon grabbed her wrist and pulled her against his body. "Not until you tell me why," he murmured. Chills went down Leah's spine when she thought about how close they were, and from the feel of Simon's warm breath on her bare skin.
"You hurt me Simon," she whispered, their faces dangerously close. "You're a drug addict, and you're dangerous. Too dangerous to love."
"I'm clean, Leah." Simon jerked her closer, so their lips just about touched. "I did that for you! And you're the one who broke up with me. You're the one who stopped loving me!" Simon's voice caught in his throat.
"I didn't stop loving you! I was mad at you!" Leah cried. "I never stopped loving you. I-" Leah was cut off when Simon's lips covered hers. She pulled away and shook her head.
"Simon, don't do this to me," she pleaded, breathing hard. Leah wanted him so badly, watching him stand there, gazing at her. She wanted to press him against the wall, kiss him passionately, and feel his strong arms around her. She loved him, no matter what she told herself.
"Leah, I love you, I want you. Please!" Simon reached for her again. Leah backed away and shook her head.
"Simon, go!" she choked. She gestured to the door.
"Fine," he muttered, slamming the door behind him.
Leah lay awake, staring at her bedroom ceiling. She couldn't stop thinking about Simon. He was back, after three long years, and she had missed him so much. Even after everything that had happened. She had loved him when he left, and she loved him now.
"I give up," she sighed to herself. She rolled over beside the bed table and picked up the phone.
Simon, after visiting with his family, which had grown in the last three years, sank down into his bed. His eyes felt heavy. He was exhausted after such a long trip and the incident with Leah that afternoon. Simon was just drifting to sleep when his phone startled him awake.
"Hello," he mumbled, his voice rough with sleep.
"Simon, it's me." The familiar voice on the other line caused Simon's muscles to tense.
"Leah, are you alright? It's so late." Simon rubbed his eyes.
"I know, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you. I-I need to talk to you."
"I'll be right there."
Leah sat on her living room couch, waiting for Simon to arrive. She had quickly pulled on a pair of jeans and a pink t-shirt and ran a brush through her blond hair. She ran to the door when she heard Simon knock.
"Hi," she said, her voice quiet and embarrassed. She looked Simon up and down. She had to admit, he looked great. Same hair, same gorgeous smile, but he was taller and more fit, and he looked fantastic in his jeans and white undershirt, his tanned and muscular arms contrasting against the light material.
"What did you wanna talk about?" he asked. Leah stepped out of her apartment, and shut the door.
"Let's take a walk," she said.
"What did you do while you were gone?" Leah asked, as she walked beside Simon by the river. The largest part of the river ran through town and a bridge was built, so people could jog, rollerblade or walk despite the large body of water. Leah and Simon walked slowly downtown. Occasionally hands or legs brushed together and Leah would look away quickly.
"I joined the zealots, fought against Rome, and met someone."
Leah tried to act casual. "Oh, interesting."
Simon smiled gently. "I meant a close friend, someone who changed my life."
"Who?" Leah asked.
"Jesus Christ."
Realization hit Leah. "You were one of the twelve disciples!"
Simon nodded. "That's right."
"So that's what this is," Leah said. She reached out and touched the cross tattoo on Simon's bicep. "And let me guess, you were the one who caused the riot when Jesus entered the city."
Simon laughed and blushed. "Yeah, you guessed right."
They continued to walk, Simon studying Leah under the light of the street lamps. "I'm sorry about earlier, Simon," Leah said. She looked up at Simon and smiled softly. "You took me by surprise."
"It's alright," Simon told her. "I did catch you off guard. I just needed to see you so badly." Leah sighed and took Simon's hand. She kept walking until they were at the middle of the bridge, then Leah stopped and leaned against the metal railing. Simon stood in front of her, and leaned in. Leah wrapped her arms around him and they stood there, embracing. Simon's arms felt so good, so warm, and so safe. Leah wanted to freeze time, wanted him to hold her forever.
"It feels so good to put my arms around you," Simon whispered, rubbing her back gently. "I think I just found the piece of my soul that was missing." Leah agreed. Their bodies fit perfectly together, like matching pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. Leah placed her hands on Simon's neck and tilted his head so their lips met. He kissed her passionately, holding her closer and letting his hands explore the curves of her body. When their lips broke apart, Leah was gasping for breath.
"Simon, I love you so much!" she cried, emotion filling her voice. He pulled her close again and kissed her hungrily. Leah's heart was beating so fast, she was afraid it would break her chest open. She pulled away from him again and looked into his eyes.
"Make love to me Simon," she pleaded, as he kissed her neck. He nodded and took her hand.
Moonlight stretched across the floor, as Simon lay awake beside Leah. She slept peacefully, her breathing slow and deep. Simon held her as she dreamt, occasionally smiling when she smiled happily in her sleep. He kissed her bare shoulder and thanked God that he got her back. He had waited so long to see her again, to touch her again. Simon felt as though he would die if she ever left him. As he held her, her warm body against his, he wondered if he could ever love someone else.
Leah stirred beside him and turned over. "You're still awake?" she whispered, her eyes still closed and her voice hoarse from sleep.
Simon nodded. "Yeah." Leah smiled and leaned up to kiss him. She propped herself with her elbow, and stroked the side of Simon's face.
"Can't sleep?" she asked.
Simon laughed softly. "I should be able to sleep, since you wore me out, but you looked so beautiful and peaceful while you slept. Like an angel."
"You're my angel," she told him.
"I love you," Simon whispered. He kissed her forehead softly. "Go back to sleep." Leah let him pull her close, and she felt herself become so warm and comfortable that she fell asleep again almost instantly. She hoped for the rest of her life Simon would be there when she fell asleep and when she woke up.
Simon stopped in front of Leah's door. This was where he was told she lived. He hesitated before he knocked. What if she didn't answer, what if someone else did? And what happens if she still couldn't forgive him? Simon didn't know if he could take much more. He was hurting from Jesus' crucifixion and he didn't have any drugs in his system, since he was desperately trying to get clean. If Leah wouldn't forgive him, his heart would break. Simon took a deep breath, gathered his courage and knocked on her door. He waited a few minutes, then when no one answered, turned to walk away.
"Can I help you-" Leah's voice dissolved in throat when she saw the back of Simon's head. She almost fainted.
"Simon?" she whispered, shocked. Simon turned around and nodded.
"Yeah, it's me."
"Oh my God!" Leah cried. She suddenly felt incredibly embarrassed. She was barely covered by a towel, since she had jumped out of the shower to get the door.
"Leah, I've seen you more naked then that," Simon said, grinning. Leah turned redder and shifted on her feet.
"What are you doing here?" she demanded.
"I wanted to see you," Simon told her, stepping closer.
Leah shook her head and tears sprang to her eyes. "No!" she cried. "Getting over you was the hardest thing I've ever had to do, and I won't let you hurt me again, Simon!" Leah backed into her doorway, and went to shut the door, but Simon blocked her.
"Leah, please.." he said.
'Simon, please leave. Please, don't make me beg." Leah looked up into his eyes and he felt himself melt when he saw those beautiful green eyes. "Leah, I missed you so much," Simon told her.
"Don't," Leah sobbed, tears sliding down her cheeks. She tried to shut the door again, but Simon was stronger and pushed his way into her apartment.
"Simon, please! Just go!" Leah turned away from him, sobbing loudly.
Simon grabbed her wrist and pulled her against his body. "Not until you tell me why," he murmured. Chills went down Leah's spine when she thought about how close they were, and from the feel of Simon's warm breath on her bare skin.
"You hurt me Simon," she whispered, their faces dangerously close. "You're a drug addict, and you're dangerous. Too dangerous to love."
"I'm clean, Leah." Simon jerked her closer, so their lips just about touched. "I did that for you! And you're the one who broke up with me. You're the one who stopped loving me!" Simon's voice caught in his throat.
"I didn't stop loving you! I was mad at you!" Leah cried. "I never stopped loving you. I-" Leah was cut off when Simon's lips covered hers. She pulled away and shook her head.
"Simon, don't do this to me," she pleaded, breathing hard. Leah wanted him so badly, watching him stand there, gazing at her. She wanted to press him against the wall, kiss him passionately, and feel his strong arms around her. She loved him, no matter what she told herself.
"Leah, I love you, I want you. Please!" Simon reached for her again. Leah backed away and shook her head.
"Simon, go!" she choked. She gestured to the door.
"Fine," he muttered, slamming the door behind him.
Leah lay awake, staring at her bedroom ceiling. She couldn't stop thinking about Simon. He was back, after three long years, and she had missed him so much. Even after everything that had happened. She had loved him when he left, and she loved him now.
"I give up," she sighed to herself. She rolled over beside the bed table and picked up the phone.
Simon, after visiting with his family, which had grown in the last three years, sank down into his bed. His eyes felt heavy. He was exhausted after such a long trip and the incident with Leah that afternoon. Simon was just drifting to sleep when his phone startled him awake.
"Hello," he mumbled, his voice rough with sleep.
"Simon, it's me." The familiar voice on the other line caused Simon's muscles to tense.
"Leah, are you alright? It's so late." Simon rubbed his eyes.
"I know, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you. I-I need to talk to you."
"I'll be right there."
Leah sat on her living room couch, waiting for Simon to arrive. She had quickly pulled on a pair of jeans and a pink t-shirt and ran a brush through her blond hair. She ran to the door when she heard Simon knock.
"Hi," she said, her voice quiet and embarrassed. She looked Simon up and down. She had to admit, he looked great. Same hair, same gorgeous smile, but he was taller and more fit, and he looked fantastic in his jeans and white undershirt, his tanned and muscular arms contrasting against the light material.
"What did you wanna talk about?" he asked. Leah stepped out of her apartment, and shut the door.
"Let's take a walk," she said.
"What did you do while you were gone?" Leah asked, as she walked beside Simon by the river. The largest part of the river ran through town and a bridge was built, so people could jog, rollerblade or walk despite the large body of water. Leah and Simon walked slowly downtown. Occasionally hands or legs brushed together and Leah would look away quickly.
"I joined the zealots, fought against Rome, and met someone."
Leah tried to act casual. "Oh, interesting."
Simon smiled gently. "I meant a close friend, someone who changed my life."
"Who?" Leah asked.
"Jesus Christ."
Realization hit Leah. "You were one of the twelve disciples!"
Simon nodded. "That's right."
"So that's what this is," Leah said. She reached out and touched the cross tattoo on Simon's bicep. "And let me guess, you were the one who caused the riot when Jesus entered the city."
Simon laughed and blushed. "Yeah, you guessed right."
They continued to walk, Simon studying Leah under the light of the street lamps. "I'm sorry about earlier, Simon," Leah said. She looked up at Simon and smiled softly. "You took me by surprise."
"It's alright," Simon told her. "I did catch you off guard. I just needed to see you so badly." Leah sighed and took Simon's hand. She kept walking until they were at the middle of the bridge, then Leah stopped and leaned against the metal railing. Simon stood in front of her, and leaned in. Leah wrapped her arms around him and they stood there, embracing. Simon's arms felt so good, so warm, and so safe. Leah wanted to freeze time, wanted him to hold her forever.
"It feels so good to put my arms around you," Simon whispered, rubbing her back gently. "I think I just found the piece of my soul that was missing." Leah agreed. Their bodies fit perfectly together, like matching pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. Leah placed her hands on Simon's neck and tilted his head so their lips met. He kissed her passionately, holding her closer and letting his hands explore the curves of her body. When their lips broke apart, Leah was gasping for breath.
"Simon, I love you so much!" she cried, emotion filling her voice. He pulled her close again and kissed her hungrily. Leah's heart was beating so fast, she was afraid it would break her chest open. She pulled away from him again and looked into his eyes.
"Make love to me Simon," she pleaded, as he kissed her neck. He nodded and took her hand.
Moonlight stretched across the floor, as Simon lay awake beside Leah. She slept peacefully, her breathing slow and deep. Simon held her as she dreamt, occasionally smiling when she smiled happily in her sleep. He kissed her bare shoulder and thanked God that he got her back. He had waited so long to see her again, to touch her again. Simon felt as though he would die if she ever left him. As he held her, her warm body against his, he wondered if he could ever love someone else.
Leah stirred beside him and turned over. "You're still awake?" she whispered, her eyes still closed and her voice hoarse from sleep.
Simon nodded. "Yeah." Leah smiled and leaned up to kiss him. She propped herself with her elbow, and stroked the side of Simon's face.
"Can't sleep?" she asked.
Simon laughed softly. "I should be able to sleep, since you wore me out, but you looked so beautiful and peaceful while you slept. Like an angel."
"You're my angel," she told him.
"I love you," Simon whispered. He kissed her forehead softly. "Go back to sleep." Leah let him pull her close, and she felt herself become so warm and comfortable that she fell asleep again almost instantly. She hoped for the rest of her life Simon would be there when she fell asleep and when she woke up.