There are going to be three updates for this book today for the three weeks I was gone.

💙😭

✶⊶⊷⊶⊷❍⊶⊷⊶⊷✶

He looked at her the way all women

want to be looked at by a man.

✶⊶⊷⊶⊷❍⊶⊷⊶⊷✶

-Chapter 36 Part 2 - I'm just in complete denial-

It was hard to fall asleep now that I was laying in my soft, warm bed. It was so strange. At the bleachers, my mind wanted to shut off. But now that I'm in the safety of my bedroom, it doesn't want to anymore.

Maybe my body couldn't relax because the whole car ride home, my eyes were stranded on Leo.

The ride home was silent. Leo didn't utter a single word, making the silence more uncomfortable than it should be.

He didn't have to say a word for me to know that he was pissed off with his twin brother. The frown that adorned his features never disappeared throughout the whole car ride home.

I made a mental note to never dare piss off Leo. Not even as a joke or a dare.

When he's furious, he turns to someone unrecognizable. It's like a switch flips inside his head and any compassion or kindness that he displays on his face just evaporates into thin air.

I wondered what he was thinking so hard about when he got out of the vehicle.

Probably a way to kill Kevin and bury his body somewhere in a deserted area. I don't blame him for thinking that way.

I gradually sat up, giving up on dozing off to sleep.

A silent groan left my lips when my eyes landed on my grey bag that was hanging by its grey strap on the doorknob.

Just looking at how filled my bookbag seemed from here made me want to drop out of high school and never look back.

Why do teachers give so much homework?

Do they enjoy messing with their students' heads?

Are they so bored with their life? That they need extra things to do when they get home so they won't think about their problems?

A sigh leaves my lips as I stand up from my mattress and make myself to where the grey bag hung from. When it was in my hold, and I felt the weight that it had, it made another frustrated sigh leave my lips.

I dragged myself towards my soft mattress again. Placing my backpack on it and unzipping it wide open. As the lazy teen that I have become, I dumped the whole thing on my bed.

Just looking at the homework was giving me a headache. Don't get me wrong, I love school. But when you are as stupid as a rock, it's hard to keep up with the others.

In class today, I felt incompetent. No matter how hard I tried to understand the teachers, it just wouldn't get through my head. It goes into one ear and leaves the other.

The feeling of shame took over my body as I didn't dare raise my hand to ask for help. I don't want anyone to laugh at me for not understanding something that was being explained to me so well.

Plus, everyone in class seemed like they comprehended what the teacher was teaching in class today, except for me, who was pretending to understand to not seem like a fool.

Flipping my binder open to see the math homework. And all I wanted to do was shut it back up when I didn't seem to understand anything that was written on the white page. It was like these numbers were written in code... as if these numbers were placed in pacific patterns to convey an important message that I couldn't quite catch with just one look.

Would the teachers be mad at me if I took all the homework blanks tomorrow? The possibility of the answer being a no was next to nothing.

Would Leo help me?

Why am I even asking? He always assists me with everything. Homework wouldn't be a problem for him.

As fast as my smile appeared on my face, it disappeared when I remembered what happened last night.

He wouldn't try to do anything to me when we're alone. He was sober right now. I tried to convince myself by repeating those words over and over again in my head... But it failed miserably.

Plus, he wasn't in a good mood right now. I'll take my chance when he calms down. If he ever calms down from that.

A knock on the door startled me.

Who could it be?

"Come in." I quickly shoved my homework in my bag, already giving up on all of them. There was no point in stressing myself out.

My focus goes back to the door. There stood Leo, eyeing my grey bag. His dark eyes seemed to shine more than usual. Then his dark eyes settled on me, again.

"Finished with homework?" He asked, entering the bedroom as he closed the door behind him gently... My mind and body become alert when he does that.

"Ummm. No." I let out calmly. What was the point of lying to him? My gaze drops when I can't hold his questionable stare.

"Could -Could you maybe... Like umm, help me with my homework. "Man, I hate how I always seem to make everything so complicated for myself.

"Which one do you need help with, Emma?" The bed sinks when it takes his weight as he sits down.

"Hmmm... Please don't laugh at me, okay... Leo." I let out as I lowered my gaze, again. Should I even tell him? He would surely think I'm an airhead.

"Come on, spit it out. Which one? "

"All of them..." I peered through my dark eyelashes up at him. I was expecting at least a joke. But nothing... All he did was stare.

Was it that bad? Of course, it was. I avoid his eyes and I start playing with my sleeves, trying not to tear up in front of him for feeling so dumb right now.

It was my mother's fault that I am so behind in all my subjects. I was more at home than at school when I lived with her. If it wasn't for the beating that I received that stopped me from attending, It was really the discouragement of her cold, harsh words that dimmed my spirit. And on top of that, the bullying from other classmates.

Okay, I'll help you. But first, come downstairs to eat what I made you. " When he lets out those words, my eyes quickly snap to the clock. Surprisingly, it was 7 p.m.

Wow... time goes flying when your mind is filled with problems.

A chuckle emitted from Leo as he got up from the mattress, already heading to the door. I followed him like a lost puppy.

I felt relieved that he didn't seem so pissed off anymore. The serious, angry Leo was nowhere to be seen.

Leo has made it his mission to feed me whenever he sees me going for a long period of time without eating any food.

Thanks to him, I'm now at a healthy weight. My doctor and therapist were very happy that I was looking healthier by the day.

That's what I liked about Leo. He was caring, always looking after me even if he didn't have to. I almost feel bad for thinking that he's just like his brother.

So evil, deceiving, manipulative, and heartless.

When we made it down the flight of stairs and inside the dining room, a smile flourished on my face as a sweet aroma filled the air.

It would never cease to surprise me that Leo knows how to cook. Oddly enough, he cooked better than his mother, and if she ever heard those words come out of my mouth, I don't want to imagine the storm that comes after that.

Another chuckle emitted from Leo, as he sat down. He eyes me, waiting for me to take my first bite when I sit down.

I don't know why, but he always does that. He's always waiting to see my reaction whenever he cooks something new.

When I took my first bite of the appetizing food that was in front of me, a smile took over my face, as my tastebuds enjoyed the seasonings and explosive flavors that left me wanting more.

Leo mimicked my smile back when he saw how I reacted. The velvety taste made me take another bite.

We quietly eat our food. All that could be heard was the ticking of the clock, our utensils clicking the plates, and the car that usually passes by this time of day.

Maybe he's not so bad... or maybe I'm just in complete denial. That can't handle facing the hard truth? That... Maybe the one I was creating a safe haven with just doesn't exist.

✶⊶⊷⊶⊷❍⊶⊷⊶⊷✶

Please ignore any bad grammar, for now, I'll fix that in the future.

🌟I would appreciate your vote a ton. 🌟

🌜THANK YOU FOR READING.🌛

Please leave a comment, I would love to know what you guys think of this chapter. It would keep me more motivated and make me laugh a little.