I was happy inside out for this staying over after all this time. Normally girls do that but here I was standing in front of Leo's house tapping my foot in anticipation.

He told me and Gwen about this earlier today in school when we both were standing by our lockers. I didn't think a lot and agreed cause I myself too wanted this.

The frigid air of November made me shiver as these three layer of clothing wasn't enough. My breathe released in puff and I hugged my body tighter. I knocked again with 'Leo open the door.'

What the hell was he doing!!

It was freezing..

The white beauty covering the whole street was enhancing its beauty under moonlight shimmer. November was hitting deeply somehow I felt good but a spot for fear was constant in my heart.

I was about to knock again but fast footsteps echoed from the other side of this door and the next second Leo opened it with his breathing hard.

"Hey! Sorry muffin, I was-

I rushed passed him inside and the sparks of warmth made me sigh in relax. He closed the door behind me as I stepped out of my new sneakers which I bought yesterday.

And I loved them.

"I was in bathroom, emergency you know I had-" I cut him off by hugging tightly which he returned warmly. No matter how friendly I was, there was no needed for the extra information of what he did inside.

Beside my eyes were dropping out of my socket by his Mansion's eye-catching interior. These colossal walls baked with Marengo fumes of Grey, kissing the perfect beige ceiling.

Evans were wealthy as to speak about his parents who both were CEOs of their textiles. Not knowing more about their business more like I never asked, it was all complicated.

If we turned to our left from this beautiful lobby, dazzling raindrop long chandelier was hanging from top, sparkling under the golden flames of fire glowing in the heart of the house.

Hearth.

No doubt Evans were wealthy not by money but by heart too. They were lovely people.

The living rooms ambiance was so cozy with lights off. No one was here maybe I was first. Gwen would be here any second now.

She called me earlier saying she'd meet me here.

I took off my coat and hung it on the rag before made myself comfortable on his velvet moss chesterfield sofas.

The door bell rang as Leo turned back and opened the door for who I knew was Gwen but before I could jump and hug her, I halted in my steps as I couldn't believe my eyes on the person who just came out of the kitchen.

When did he come? Or was he in here all this time?

How come I didn't notice his bike or car?

Leo didn't know about Ethan and my encounters and everything, but he was aware of our break up. Though I somehow was okay with Nate not coming today. I couldn't comprehend how these two would fit in one room without making any mess.

He said he had something important but what's more shocking was that Leo invited Ethan and didn't inform me. Not that I had any problem with it.

We didn't talk since Monday in arena. Though he apologize and we had classes, we never talked but we did practice together.

Damn this awkwardness was making me anxious.

I hugged Gwen tight before glanced over to him who walk passed me to the hearth and held one fireplace poker before squared down and adjusted the wood.

His honey skin was glowing under the cast of scorching fire. The sleeves of his dark spruce t-shirt was pulled back to his elbow showing his strong arms, right one covered in black matte ink on his forearm including his knuckles.

The deepest part of his life was carved on his skin. A chevron one just beside a heart entangled in another which was actually about his commitment to me. Our relationship. Our infinite Love with an evil eye tat and some small ones.

His piercing was adorned by small silver hoop round earring in his left ear. His eyes caught mine ogling him and I snapped my head to Gwen, embarrassed like a lion caught a deer.

Damn my heart!

Gwen and I shared some little talks about my forehead wound and her dinner with Leo's family. Her facial expression and body language was telling itself how amazing it went.

Oh princess just confess already.

I looked from up to down her and damn she was definitely a beauty queen.

Her black leather jeans with coffee crop top and furry white coat and of course her brown UGG boots unlike me who was in black full sleeve shirt paired with washed jeans.

On top of all I didn't notice I wore the same coat Ethan gave me on the night of storm and told me to keep it.

Did he notice?

But I felt good wearing it.

We all sat down on the geometrical pattern velvet rug with pizza placed on the square cocktail wooden table. I noticed a beautiful family picture of Leo standing beside his mom, a hand on her shoulder with his dad on the other side with his fifteen year old sister, Lydia- a huge smile tucked their lips.

Lydia wasn't his blood sister. His parents were foster parents to her. But they never once made her feel like she wasn't one of them.

She went to her friends for a staying over as Leo told me.

Gwen and Leo sat opposite of the fireplace while I had to sat 90° from Gwen and Ethan on my right who was close to the fireplace.

But the warmth radiating from his skin was much warmer than his burning fire.

"You didn't tell me you called Ethan too," Gwen said in a hushed voice but the silence around us didn't help and we all heard it. Leo's parents weren't home. They both were business people so business dinners were normal.

As the sudden thought of parents crossed my mind I took out my phone but only to get a sad empty screen stared back at me. No calls or messages were from dad. I just hope he was taking care of himself.

"Everything okay?" My head swift to my right as in a low and deep voice Ethan asked me this out of nowhere.

"Yeah," I answered as in he didn't further ask and just nodding his head.

"Yeah we met in school and I invited him thought that's how we all could be together again. It's been a while guys," Leo's obvious voice somehow didn't tense the atmosphere especially me.

So I smiled at him in approve and he winked. As if he knew I wanted to be with him. Neither Gwen had any problem with it so it was all fine.

"Okay Let's play Never have I ever, please it's been so long," Gwen wished as she took a bite from her pepperoni pizza slice.

This was my comfort zone actually look like. These countable people but my more than or to die for people I had were all together sitting beside each other.

Just like past times.

We all agreed to play and Leo brought an empty bottle of wine from his kitchen. We weren't drinking tonight, a sober game with soft drinks.

"So you all know the rules, one of us will ask a question, if you have done that thing, you have to drink If not then don't," We all nodded as I glanced at Ethan. His black leather jacket placed on the headrest of the sofa was my favorite thing since forever.

Somehow what was making my heart flouncing was that one we were sitting very close that our shoulders were touching. Second; we shared a couple of glances which I was sure held so much good in them.

"I'll start- Never have I ever laughed so hard and peed my pants as an adult," Leo's question made me ew first before we all took a sip and that made me choked actually.

Lmao.

"My turn never have I ever cut someone's hair while that person was sleeping," Gwen questioned and before we knew Leo took a sip and didn't notice Gwen's scowl towards him.

"YOU CROCODILE I KNEW IT WAS YOU!!!, when I was seven you cut my hair, didn't you?" Leo's eyes widened at Gwen's unexpected question.

"Oh no It wasn't even that much. I m-mean when, what- how are you talking about," His stuttering made me laugh out loud and a soft chuckle beside me left Ethan's mouth.

He didn't even know what he was saying. Thankfully they didn't fight to another level as Leo apologized and soon it was my turn to ask a question.

Not that I had specific question but there something pinched me inside and a click happened in my head.

"Never have I ever fell out of Love," I blinked slowly looked in Ethan's dilating pupil. The silence was comforting under the crackling of flares from hearth.

I waited and we stared blinked in felicity but the fact that none of us took a sip gave me dancing butterflies in my stomach. His lips curved upwards very slightly and a smile finally made it's way on his beautiful face.

The fire kept on flaring enormously in the middle of hearth glaring back at me while pleasuring us with warmth. These golden scorching flames if sparked inside one's heart either lead you out from the darkness or set fire and transmute it into ashes.

We continued to play for a while and ate some pizza. None of us brought up beth or last year's incident. We did care but maybe we all wanted this small time for ourselves. Without anything in mind.

We all get tired and fell asleep without even knowing, our back resting against the sofa's. Blankets were all over us.

°°°°°°

A click of door being unlocked woke us all up in the middle of the night as I squinted my eyes to see two figures entering inside. Leo's parents in comfy jackets entered the living room.

Gwen pulled her head back from Leo's shoulder and I noticed I had the same situation with Ethan.

I fell asleep on his shoulder?

"You came early mom?" Asore voice came out of Leo's throat.

His mom Patricia Evans was brunette as well as his father David Evans. Young skin with just some wrinkles around their eyes. Tall figures, slender bodies, formally dressed.

"Oh dear we had to, we didn't even finish our dinner-" She stopped mid way as her green eyes fell on me.

"Oh Aria what are you doing here?" Her voice wasn't harsh but full of worry. My eyebrows furrowed in perplexity.

What?

"Um Hey aunt Patricia, I thought Me told you about us staying over-" She cut me off.

"No Aria, I know that but shouldn't you be at hospital now?" She questioned as she took a step closer to me.

I looked over to my friends but they had same confusion as me which proved they had no idea like me.

I stood up at the mention of hospital. Why should I be at hospital this time? A lot of weird questions were mingling in my mind.

"What are you saying?" Ethan softly and respectfully asked her. At this point we all were standing. Ethan was by my side. Just his presence was enough for me to breathe.

"You guys don't know?" She inquired. Ethan big soft hand brushed against mine before he intertwined our fingers securely.

"Know what mom?" Eerie feelings spread in me.

"Arizona Chemical Co-operation had an explosion fifteen minutes ago. According to media some workers are dead while most of them are injured-- Don't your father work there sweetie?"

And my heart stopped right there.

Explosion?

The first thing that mind processed was the word Dad. It's been more than a week I last saw him. We only talked on cellphone which was yesterday morning. That moment I inwardly thank Ethan that he held my hand or I'd have collapsed by this horrible news.

Tears filled my eyes as I tried to sunk in what she said. My eyes roamed from Leo to Gwen but I didn't look up to Ethan.

My subconscious knew if I stared in his deep dark eyes I'd fine sympathy which I'd hate. I might see hopelessness which would break me. I'd see flames with tears which would burn me. He'd make me feel all these.

These things would make me believe in reality.

I somehow broke our hold and rushed passed Leo's parents and to out of the main door. I could hear the shouting and calling of my name but It was all inaudible.

My life was one long episode of another day, another misery in which I'd never find myself, cause by the time it'd happen, I'd be long lost.

The things were knocking me down in life, forcing me to make a choice between giving in and remaining on the ground but I was a stubborn one wasn't giving up so my ugly fate decided this.

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