Chapter Sixteen

Falling for Him

After a week of friction between Leon and Mitchell, Savannah was fed up.

One afternoon during lunch, she sat the pair down and forced them to build bridges.

It was a lot easier than she thought, but at the same time she didn't know why she was surprised,

Leon and Mitchell were the most forgiving guys she knew.

They put aside their differences and within five minutes they were laughing about ridiculous things and stressing over the upcoming exams like they usually did.

"I have to tell you guys something..." said Leon out of nowhere, changing the subject all of a sudden.

Savannah and Mitchell, looked at each other than back at Leon, neither of which had a clue where this was coming from, nor where it was going.

"I um... booked my flights for my gap year travels last night..." he said rather nervously.

Even though this was something exciting and Leon had been looking forward to it since the beginning of the year, he didn't seem enthusiastic about it at all.

"Lee that's great!" exclaimed Savannah,

"It leaves November 24th..." he finished.

"But that's the day after our graduation..." said Mitchell.

Savannah didn't know how to feel.

She knew this was the last year her and Leon were going to see each other for a long time.

She was aware that her and Leon will be on different paths of life.

She just didn't know it would be so soon.

She had less than three months with her best friend of nearly fourteen years.

She tried to hide her devastation, she didn't want to rain on Leon's parade, after all he'd been looking forward to for over a year.

But she was coming to terms with the fact that graduation night will be the last time she'll see him for a long time.

After being so close to someone for so long, the thought of a life without him was suffocating.

Savannah's heart was racing and she felt as if her chest was closing in.

She could hear herself breathing, she wished someone, anyone would say something, so that she doesn't draw attention to herself with the panic attack she's clearly having.

She didn't know why she was so hysterical, she knew this moment was coming, but hearing Leon saying it out loud, made it real.

"Where are you going?" she asked Leon, a little too excitedly, she hoped it would cover the fact that she was a mess inside.

"Spain for two weeks then I'm planning to meet up with Ethan and his boys in Los Angeles," he said smiling from ear to ear.

Savannah couldn't believe despite everything Ethan had put her through, he still remained loyal to him.

She tried to shake of feelings of resentment towards Leon.

They had three months together, she didn't want to spend it bickering.

The look on Mitchell's face confirmed that he was thinking the same thing she was.

"Just don't have too much fun without us," said Mitchell smiling at Leon.

"So, what are your plans for next year?" Leon asked Savannah while they added fresh bark to the plants during their afterschool environmental club meeting.

Savannah had always known since ninth grade that she wanted to pursue further education after high-school.

She always knew she wanted to be a university student, but never really thought much about anything else.

Savannah had been researching universities recently, and felt strongly drawn to one university in particular.

"I've been looking at universities... there's the environmental science course at Swanston University which sounds-"

"No way!" interrupted Mitchell, he chuckled, "I've heard really good things from my sister who graduated from Swanston last year... it's the only university I've applied to," he finished smiling ear to ear.

He then blushed uncontrollably, Savannah thought that the tropical Spring heat was getting to him.

The prospect of seeing Leon for years at a time was heart-breaking but she found comfort in knowing that she wasn't going to be completely alone in the world.

That she would have Mitchell.

And the prospect of having an idea where her life was headed next year, although it was a foggy one, gave her a reason to smile.

Savannah saw Leon approach them, his formal committee meeting had finished early for the first time in weeks.

The year twelve formal was in less than two weeks, and the hype of planning it was going into full effect.

The school hallways were plastered with posters Leon designed, promoting the event.

Even Savannah was excited.

As Leon walked closer and closer to them Savannah noticed that he was not alone.

He was being closely followed by Heather and Natalie and to Savannah' complete and utter shock, Ethan and Caleb.

"Dad could expel them, but they still have to sit their exams and finish off their extra credit activities here, even though they're not technically students here,"

Mitchell whispered subtly in Savannah ear as she tried to shake off the look of bewilderment of her face.

"Sav... we're rehearsing our dances with our partners in the gym, wont you join me?" said Leon romantically.

Savannah stared at him in confusion before realising that Leon was her supposed boyfriend.

Since he asked her to be his staged girlfriend a few months back, Leon and Savannah rarely had to do anything out of the ordinary except hold hands more often, to convince everybody of their fake relationship.

Savannah felt as if this was the moment she had been dreading where she had to fake intimacy with Leon in front of his friends' scrutinising eyes.

"Right now?" asked Savannah, as naturally as she possible could with every eyes glaring at her.

"Oh you don't have to if you don't want to, I'm sure Leon won't mind practicing with me," 'joked' Natalie.

Although Natalie attempted to sound polite, Savannah could hear the malice in her voice.

"Come on Savannah," said Leon more urgently.

"Yeah sure," said Savannah as she stripped the garden gloves off her hands.

Leon took her hand and held it interlocking his fingers with hers, sending shivers down her spine.

She felt uneasy, she always did when she was around Leon's friends, but always felt comfortable when Leon was around.

Except this time.

For some reason, having Leon's hand lovingly interlocked with hers, made her more nervous.

They walked away leaving Mitchell standing alone holding a sack of bark.

He gave Savannah a sad smile, and resumed gardening.

They entered the gymnasium that was decorated with blue and silver streamers, ribbons and balloons.

It looked extravagant and slightly over-the-top but Savannah loved it.

Slow music played as Leon's friends got into position.

Heather and Ethan were arm in arm slow dancing, her head on his chest, as were Caleb and Natalie and the rest of Leon's committee.

Leon took Savannah's hands and held her close.

He held her to his chest as sparks shot up her spine. They swayed, she could hear his heart in her ear.

She got butterflies in her stomach, she felt like her and Leon were the only people in the world. It was euphoric.

An eerie combination of calm and dread washed over Savannah like a midnight wave.

Savannah closed her eyes taking in the moment, it felt like she was in a trance,

he put his lips to her ear and whispered,

"I'm so sorry, for dragging you into this mess"

but Savannah wasn't.

She liked where this was going, being so close to Leon, if she was being completely honest with herself.

This was all for show and she knew it, but she wished it wasn't.

She didn't know why she was acting like this, she snapped out of it and mentally slapped herself in the face.

She panicked, was she really falling for Leon or was she just craving affection?

Did she crave being loved and touched without knowing it?

Was she mistaking loneliness for love?

She didn't know, but she wanted to live this moment forever. And she hated herself for it.

She controlled her impulses, even though her heart wanted nothing more than to feel Leon's lips on hers.

She listened to her mind and fought off everything her heart was telling her.

Savannah suddenly opened her eyes, by now every eye in the gymnasium was peeking at her.

Leon put his palm to her face and butterflies fluttered in Savannah's stomach.

Part of her wished he would stop but another part wanted him to never let go.

How far was he going to take this?

Too far apparently, his lips came crashing down on Savannah's.

She felt her desire for Leon turn into rage.

There were wolf whistles, and "awe's" being thrown at them by the room full of people she had no desire to associate with.

She understood what she agreed to do for Leon, but she had no idea it would cause this much emotional turmoil.

Leon looked please with himself which only angered Savannah more.

She felt like the main attraction in a circus.

"I have to go," she said quietly.

She sped walked out of the gymnasium, she never needed fresh air more in her life.

She could hear footsteps trailing after her but she didn't turn back.

She heard Leon calling her name, she didn't know why, but she needed to get as far away from him as possible.

He caught up to her and grabbed her by the shoulders, forcing her to face him.

"I'm sorry, I had to do that Sav," he said catching his breath,

"you used me like a prop Lee," she angrily retorted,

"I'm sorry you feel that way, but I thought you knew what you were getting yourself into," he replied.

"So did I, but you're abusing it Lee," she confessed, "you know, I don't ask much from you as a friend... but can you please, for once take my feelings into account?" she asked exhaustedly.

He stared at her, flustered.

"Savannah they were all starting to get the idea that the whole thing is staged"

"You don't get it...Why do you even care what they think of you, Lee?"

"Savannah, it's easy for you not to care what people think, that's why I asked you to be a part of this thing in the first place!"

Savannah's heart sank. Whether he meant or not, it was hard to say, either way, it hurt hearing it come out of his mouth.

Leon apologised and attempted to hug it out but Savannah pushed his chest away, backing him away a few steps.

He winced in pain but she doubted she was strong enough to cause him any physical pain.

"I'm sorry," he repeated for the hundredth time that second.

"I've got to go," said Savannah grabbing her school bag where she left it, "I'll see you Monday," she said as she turned her back on him and walked the opposite way home.

They haven't ever fought like this in a long time.

She had been insulted and scrutinised by people all her life, but Leon's words hurt more than anyone's ever could.

She didn't know if she was over-reacting or if she was truthfully fed up of being scrutinised by Leon's friends without him standing up for her.

What will it take to get him to get his friends to back off?

The only thing she knew was that she was growing romantic feelings towards her best friend, feelings that she tried to bury so deep sprung up on her like death.

She felt hopeless, falling for a forbidden heart and soul and there was nothing she could do about it.

She wished that her and Leon could be on the same page, but this time, it were as if they were reading different books.