Chapter III: Heartbreak

Claire wasn't mad at Steve when she heard him saying that, she was just surprised. The girl always thought that Steve might prefer man over woman. She smiled and fell asleep. On Leon side, it was a bit tricky. Steve didn't move, He was laying on the floor his back on the wall. Maybe he was wondering around like he previously did with Leon. The blond sat on his bed and shake his head. For him, Steve was very a soft teenager. He started to think that maybe something is missing in his past. Steve wasn't able to control his feeling either. Leon sighs; he didn't want to kiss him for a chance to wake him up. He closed his eyes.

"Leon?" asked Steve.

"Y-yeah?" he said with surprise.

"Do you really love me?"

"I cannot say, you don't even let me touch you, talk with you for knowing you better. You don't leave me the chance to know you."

The blond looked at the red-haired teen, but Steve wasn't looking at him. He wonders why he asked. Maybe something was blocking him, maybe that's why he cannot let his feeling go. That should be this.

"Is something that troubles you? Why are you blocking your feelings?"

As the blond planed, Steve did not answer. When it was almost mid-night, he walked to reach Steve and talked to him.

"Stop thinking about it, you need some rest."

He carried Steve to his bed and while he was turning himself for reaching his own bed, Steve takes his wrist with his hand.

"Don't leave me, sleep with me." he softly asked.

"I will." Leon answered.

The blond was now sure of one thing, Steve was surely left alone when I was young. That will explain why he didn't want Leon to be far away. He hugged him until he falls asleep softly.

When Leon woke up, Steve was gone. He asked the others about it.

"Hey guys, have you see Steve, I need to talk to him."

"Not me, I'm sorry." replied Jill with a worrying face.

"Not me either..." said Rebecca.

"Claire, I hope you see him, because I didn't see him." notice Chris.

"No, I haven't."

Everyone was looking at each other. What in the hell is wrong with this guy? That was the only thing that they were thinking. Leon got out of the little motel and searched for Steve around it. No trace of him, like if he was vanish.

Two weeks after Steve vanish, they moved to another place. This place was calmer and not to easy to see even if they were in uncharted territory. Chris was sharpened his knife all the time. Leon was talking with Claire, Jill was making sandwiches and Rebecca was finishing her soup.

"Diner's ready!" said Jill who was trying to not look so worry as she was.

The evening was calm, no birds, and no screams of crazy citizens and no Steve. Chris was the person who wasn't worrying about him. He said that Steve could take care of himself. But Chris was saying that about everyone, even for Rebecca and Brad Vickers.

When everyone was asleep, Steve came back in silence. He didn't want to wake everyone up. He was moving slowly but with convictions. He knew exactly how to push the door to keep it from making noises. Something has change in Steve. The teenager knew that too. He won't be the same anymore. He gently shakes Leon.

"Darling, wake up."

"What?" said Leon.

"I knew that will wake you up in a hurry." he said with a smile on his lips.

"Where have you been? We were searching for you. I have to tell everyone that you come back."

Steve stopped him. He turns his head in a negative way. He didn't want the others to know.

"I came for you, I want to be yours."

"Why, you seem in a hurry, what's so important?"

"Please." he beg Leon.

The blond cannot resist to that kind of demand. He pushed Steve on his back and began to lick him. Steve was shivering under Leon. They make love all night long. After they did it, Leon kissed Steve on his forehead.

"What happen to your eyes?"

"Nothing." he replied while kissing Leon on his shoulder.

They fell asleep against each other.

Morning comes again and Steve was already gone... again. Leon never tells the others of what happen that night. They continued to search for him, but they found nothing, not even a clue. A month after this event and they began to stop their researches.

Claire pushed the door of the old mansion.

"Stay back everyone, I'm gonna burn that monster!"

"Hey, do you notice he look like Steve?" said Chris.

They all understand what happened. It was Steve. Leon wasn't here, a chance he didn't saw this, Claire was obligate to shoot him. He was with that girl, Ashley. Steve had totally lost the control of his body, maybe his mind too. After the monster was screaming his pain, they all heard his last voice with his last tears with it.

"I... loved... you... Leo...n..."

Rebecca started to cry.

"Why, WHY!"

No one could bring to her the answer. They escaped of this mansion and they meet Leon to the rendezvous point. Leon looked at them.

"Why are you making a such face?" he asked.

"I'm sorry." said Claire, she was looking at the grass.

"Steve, he loved you." replied Jill to Leon's question.

"Why the past tense?" demand the blond.

"The monster that I kill in the mansion... It was Steve."

At this moment, Leon understands why Steve wanted him so fast. Because it'll be his last chance to be loved.

The end