I wake up to the sound of silence, which is typical for a Sunday morning. I brush through my tangles of hair with my hand and end up throwing it into a ponytail. I find my family sitting in the living room. Leo's there too. I see that they're watching a movie I've only seen portions of. I know it's one of those teenage thriller movies.

"Oh Dana, I'm so glad you could come! Come in!" A brunette on the show ushers in a short blonde (Dana).

"Can't you hear by the sound of her voice that she's going to kill you?" Mallory exclaims, shaking her head.

"Thanks again, Andrea, for inviting me to your pool party. I didn't think anyone noticed me at school," Dana says.

Andrea responds with a smile that anyone but Dana can see is fake.

"Of course we notice you," Andrea says. "You really...stick out to us."

"Who says that?! She's going to kill you! Get out of there while you still can! Have your own pool party where people aren't going to murder you!" I scream.

We watch as the two girls walk into the pool area, where there are teenagers everywhere. A few moments later, it's gone dark at the pool.

I latch onto Leo's arm. "It's happening..."

"What's happening?" he asks.

"I don't know..." I groan. "But it's happening..."

"Um...guys? Hello?" Dana calls softly. She's in the pool, all alone now. "Where did everybody go?" We watch in suspense as a shadow comes up from behind Dana...and then it cuts to a commercial.

Everyone groans.

There's a knock at the door.

"Hey there; it's your favorite Cali dude, here for Recluse Day!" Noah's voice calls from behind the door. Mom gets up to let him in.

I really don't want Leo to leave. "We kind of already have a full house," I say to Noah. "Sorry..."

"I'm sure you can fit one more person," Noah insists. "Please, Lex? I haven't been to a Recluse Day in years!" Before I can do any further objecting, Leo stands.

"You can take my spot. I should probably be heading home," he offers.

"Leo..." I plead. "Don't go..."

"It's okay, Lexi." His hazel eyes sink into mine as he tries to reassure me. "I've been to all the Recluse Days since I've met you. Noah hasn't been to one in years." Just by hearing the way he says Noah's name, you can tell he's uncomfortable.

"But Leo..."

He sighs and crouches down so that he's right in front of me. He searches my eyes and then smiles a little. It looks forced. He does it to reassure me, but I feel like the truth would be better than false reassurance.

His voice gets quiet so that only I can hear. "I'll stop by later tonight, okay?" His closeness makes me freeze and all I can do is nod.

I watch as Leo swiftly moves out the window. Noah smiles and takes a seat next to me.

"So...what did I miss?" But I can't focus on Noah or Recluse Day right now. I'm focused on Leo and how long it's going to take before I truly realize how much I love him.

"Look, I'm really sorry about all of that." I stare at my hands. "You didn't have to leave, you know."

"You're making a huge deal about it, Lexi," Leo says, crossing his arms. "I'm not upset. He wanted to join, and he got to. No harm done."

"How am I making a huge deal about it?" I defend, crossing my arms and narrowing my eyes. "I'm not the one who got up and left!" Leo's sigh gives away firm evidence that I'm getting on his nerves.

"Lexi, seriously. It's not a big deal."

I'm flushed with embarrassment that I'm whining. I look at the ground.

"Lexi..." Leo's voice voice has softened. "You remember what I said about how I would tell you if I felt replaced by Noah? Well I'm not feeling that right now. I want you to spend time with Noah. Let him come to Recluse Day."

"Does that mean you won't be coming on Sundays anymore?" My voice is quiet.

He averts his eyes. "I should probably get going."

"Leo..."

"Lexi, I've been busy with Tatsuo's training and everything. I don't know if-"

"So you don't want to come over anymore."

"No, no, that's not it-"

"You don't want to have to tell me that so you're making up an excuse. I get it."

The room grows silent. I know I'm being brat but I can't seem to stop myself.

"I want you to know that's not the reason I left today," Leo says, standing up.

"What was it then?"

"I...I don't know, Lexi."

"Typical." The minute that single word flies out of my mouth, I wish I could take it back. I wish I could take everything back.

Leo stares at me with an expression I can't read. He opens his mouth, but then closes it again. After a few moments, he sets his jaw and turns away.

"Goodnight." Before I can reply, he has gone.

I'm left with regret flushing over me heavily.

"Oh yeah..." I mumble, reaching for the pumpkin pie in the fridge. "You are exactly what I want." I pull out four plates, one for me and each of my siblings and Mom.

I'm struggling with the four plates, when I feel the burden of two of them lifted from me. I look up and see Leo.

"I haven't seen you in a while," I comment, trying to act normal. I haven't seen him since our argument.

"I thought I might stop by. Plus, I missed you," he says, smiling. Another dart of guilt goes through my heart, remembering how rude I was to him the other day.

"I missed you too, Leo." And I mean it.

"Hey Leo," Benj greets. "Wanna join our Twilight Zone marathon?"

"Don't mind if I do," Leo says, turning to me. "Think you could fix me up some pie too?" He follows me into the kitchen.

"So..." he begins, leaning on the counter. He taps his hands on the counter energetically. "How many days until you get out of school?"

"Well someone's excited," I say, laughing. I hand him his plate of pie, piled with cool whip.

"Thank you, m'am," he says, grinning.

I laugh. "You're such a dork." He grins at me again, with a mouthful of pie. "You're acting like Mikey!"

"Good."

"Good," I choke on a laugh.

When he and I sit down in front of the coffee table, he hands me my slice of pie.

"How'd you know that one was mine?" I ask, but don't hesitate to dig in. My slight spice of the pumpkin pie melts on my tongue.

"Overdose on cool whip, much?" he says. I look over at him; amusement dances in his eyes. I mean for it to be just a glance but I can't take my eyes off of him.

"Someone please remind me why we have pumpkin pie in the fridge when it's almost June," Rose says.

"Who cares?" Benj asks with a mouth full of pie. "Let's just savor the moment. Stop insulting the pie, Rosie."

"I'm not insulting the pie!"

"You're questioning its authority," I correct, waving my fork at her. "You need to clean up your act."

Leo snickers and Rose kicks him.

"Everyone, hush," Mom orders. "It's starting." Silence fills the room, with the occasional "Whoa" or "WHAT". That's kind of what the Twilight Zone does to you.

After a few episodes, I check the time and see it's almost three.

"We should probably get to work," I say, standing up and stretching. I look to Leo. "Are you gonna join us today?"

"I don't think so," he says, looking slightly guilty. "I kind of promised April I'd help her set up her shop. She got a new shipment last night."

We say our goodbyes, and the blue-clad turtle leaves through the window.

I watch him as he leaves, and feel an arm slung around my shoulder.

"Lexi's in loooooooooovvvveeeee," Benj sings from the other side of the room.

I look over and see it's Rose who has put her arm around me.

She smiles. "I'm happy for you."

And in that moment, I feel like she's the older sister. Because I may be older physically and two years more experienced with life than she is, but she's more experienced with love. She's the eldest when it comes to romance. And I'm okay with that. Because I know I'd be a pretty lousy sister if it was based on how good I was at relationships.

"Lexi! Get out of your room! You've been in there all day!" Rose calls from outside my door.

"No," I complain, rolling over and placing my open book over my face. "My life isn't fair." I hear the sound of the door opening, but my book remains over my face.

"Book troubles?" Leo's voice sounds amused.

"You did this to her!" Rose calls from the hall. "Thanks a lot, Leo!"

He laughs and then looks over at me. "Which one was it this time?"

"Divergent," I complain, removing the book from my face. "He's too stubborn to admit he loves her! Even after all that's happened!"

"Oh Lexi..." he begins, but he doesn't bother explaining to me it's only a book. "How many pages left?"

I take a deep breath. "I don't know...eight chapters or so. There are two more books after this though."

"Then keep reading," he says. "I'll be here if any more traumas happen."

I look up at him and smile. "You're so sweet, Leo." My eyes scan the pages of my book once more. I get lost in the world of Divergent again.

I don't know how long I'm reading for. But I'm lying on my bed, switching positions every once in a while. Leo is stroking my hair absentmindedly as I focus on my book. Finally, I've reached the end of the book. I gently close it and stare at the ceiling for a moment.

"Cliffhanger?"

"You have no idea..." I say under my breath. I turn and smile at him. "Thanks for staying with me. I guess I'll socialize now."

"That's a good idea."

As soon as I walk out of my room, I'm swept off the ground and thrown over someone's shoulder.

"Lexi!" Mikey exclaims. I turn as much as I can and find it's the orange-clad turtle who has picked me up. Mikey's face has a huge smile on it. I'm so close to him that I can see his freckles sprayed all across his nose. I laugh.

"Why can't I go anywhere without someone kidnapping me?" I complain. "Put me down!" But he doesn't put me down. He carries me out into the living room. "Mikey!" He simply laughs. "Michelangelo! Put me down!" I'm laughing.

He places me onto the couch. Noah throws an arm around me.

I shake my head. "Can you people go two minutes without touching me?"

Noah pulls away and smiles. Things had almost gone straight back to normal after Noah kissed me over a week ago. The only thing different is that I find him flirting with me every now and then. And now, I don't have a reason to deny April's suspicions that he likes me.

As for Leo and I, we're almost as close as ever. But I'm unsure about how he feels about me.

"So Lexi," Noah begins. "Now that you've finally emerged from your room, would you care to go on a walk with me?"

I bite my lip and don't look at him. If I look at him, I'll have to say yes. And if I look at Leo, I'll both feel bad and Leo will tell me "It's alright, go with him." So I don't look at either of them. Instead, I walk to the television.

"I choose Doctor Who," I say, sitting on the couch. Nobody opposes. When we turn on BBC, the episode "The Empty Child" is on. We all sit there watching. A little bit of small talk here and there and a bit of joking. But I feel Leo's absence hit me like a shock. He's still in the room; why do I feel like he's missing? I look over to where he was.

He's gone. I bite my lip and glance towards the window. It's just beginning to get dark. I feel my forehead crease in confusion. Where would he have gone? I take out my cell phone and pull up my last text conversation with him.

Me: What, is Doctor Who too boring for you?

Leo: Sorry...I just had to get out for a while. I need to think about a few things, okay? I promise, Doctor Who is anything BUT boring. I'll be back soon.

Me: Okay, I'll see you soon.

I'm about to put my phone away, but I send one more text.

Me: Be safe, please.

A few more episodes pass and I notice Leo has managed to slip back into the room. I glance over and smile. He looks up and smiles a soft smile from across the room. I blush and look down, embarrassed. Had he thought it was weird that I'd noticed him gone?

Seeing it's getting late, Mom proclaims the party over, since we have school in the morning. I find myself over by Leo, sliding my arms around him in a hug.

"I hope you got to think everything through," I whisper. "Whatever you needed to think about."

I feel him sigh and nod. "I did," he whispers back. We pull away, but are still close. I can see the little specks of dark brown in his hazel eyes. His lips twitch a little bit into a smile, and I smile back gently.

"Well," Noah says, putting a hand on Leo's shoulder. "Looks like I should get going too." I inwardly sigh. Leave it to Noah to break the moment.

I give Noah a hug. "It was good seeing you, Noah." I turn back to Leo, but he's gone. As are the rest of the turtles. When Noah leaves, I cross my arms and shift my gaze from the window, to the door, from the door to the window.

I sigh and retreat to my room. What am I doing? I don't like Noah like that and I do love Leo. Why can't I just say it out loud to him? Why can't I tell him?

I glance towards my bookshelf and smile. I pull out the second book of the Divergent series: Insurgent.

Sometimes, getting away from reality is good for the brain. Sometimes it's healthy.