Chapter 18: Pesto

"Do you think it's going to work?" I asked doubtful about his plan.

"Yup it had been scientifically proven that locking people up in a room resolves all their indifferences", he said matter of factly.

"Really?"

"No I just made that up", he said jokingly. "But trust me princess it's gonna work", he said.

"Okay if it doesn't you are treating me to pizzas for a whole month", hey I needed to get something good out of this if my friends didn't stop fighting.

"Deal! And if I win we get to go on a date".

"What?" I asked. Did I hear that right? He wants to go on a date with me. With me? I felt the butterflies in the stomach going all frenzy.

"You heard what I said princess. Do you agree or not?" He was smirking, I couldn't quite interpret what going on in his mind from his face.

"Hmm okay", I mumbled, looking down.

"Get ready for the date princess because I am gonna win this bet".

..............

"Call him and make sure you sound convincing", I whispered while Leo had his cell phone pressed to his ear.

"Hey George. What's up man? It's Leo...... Yeah... Listen Emma here is kinda sick and.... I don't know what to do. Can you come over? Like right now?....... Yeah. No I have it under control.... I guess... okay man I will see you in 10 minutes", with that he hung up, giving me a triumph smile. He looked adorable with his hair lazily brushed to the sides and he was wearing his blue t shirt made his eyes look even more brighter.

"So we are done calling both of them, we just have to wait for them", I said getting up on the counter, digging my spoon in the ice cream bucket that Leo and I were sharing.

"Princess you can't have ice cream", he took the bucket away from me.

"Why?" I asked displeased. No one stops me from having my ice cream. Specially cookie dough and fudge brownie flavoured.

"Cause I told your friends that you have diarrhoea. And its not healthy to eat high lactose foods during diarrhoea".

"You piece of shit!" I cursed.

"Yeah your regular runs to the bathroom must remind you of that", he said empathically.

I elbowed him in the rib cage but of course he wasn't affected as he was a beast compared to me. "We can save all these hitting for the bedroom", he said giving his signature cocky smirk.

The bell rang, "Shit they are here!"

I rushed to the room to see if the pillows were placed underneath the blanket or not, to give off an impression that I was sleeping wrapped under the blanket. I heard Leo open the main door so I hid in my mother's room. I jet the door slightly ajar to listen to what was happening outside.

"Where is Em?" Hailey asked, shit she sounded really worried.

"Inside the room. Sleeping. I am not sure what to do with her. She doesn't even want to go to the hospital", Leo replied. Oh he was good. He sounded almost convincing.

"Let's go and see her", next I heard the sounds of people coming upstairs.

"Oh god she looks miserable", George said sounding despondant.

I was trying my best to keep in my laughter. "Get out princess it's time!"Leo signalled me from outside.

I got out to see both my best friends in my room. They were shocked to see me,"Em how are you-".

"Sorry I have to do this", with that I locked my bedroom door leaving the two of them locked inside my room.

Leo and I high fived each other. "YES! Now we just have to wait for them to talk".

Inside Hailey and George sounded furious, I was glad the door was closed, I didn't want to see their menacing expressions.

"What the fuck are you guys up to?" George yelled from inside.

"Sorry guys. We won't open this door until you guys resolve your indifferences", I said.

"Em cut the crap and open this door right now!" Hailey barked.

"Sorry kids that's not gonna happen", Leo said.

They were still shouting at us relentlessly,"Let's get out of here or else they won't stop", I nodded following him downstairs.

"They better be done soon. I need to get out in an hour", he said looking at the clock.

"Where are you gonna go?"

"To work", he replied curtly as he washed the dishes. I often have a hard time making him do the dishes but surprisingly today he didn't protest at all.

"I know you don't have work today. Josh and Derek has their shifts only", Leo has been disappearing off to places way too much these days.

"Okay... I guess I have to tell you now. I have another job and it pays well", he said looking at me.

"What job?"

"I am a stripper duh. I am very popular with the girls because", he pointed to himself,"Girls just can't resist this. They call me the thunder dazzle", he smirked.

I rolled my eyes as he guffawed at his own joke," Okay I work at a mechanic garage", he finally admitted.

"For what?"

"Uhh.. I am saving up for college. That's all. I am planning to take a year gap though", he shrugged nonchalantly.

Leo was a year senior than me, that means he would be graduating this year. I kind of get why he got himself another job since they don't accept any pay from Carlo' s pizzeria as they are doing it as a community service work.

Still I wasn't convinced. There was something off about him, he looked kind of distracted these days. Though he puts up a great act in front of everyone but inside I knew something was hurting him and I needed to know that soon.

After he was done with the dishes we decided to check up on Hailey and George.

"Okay do you hear someone crying?" Worried I asked as I climbed up the stairs.

"Is it-", we rushed to my bedroom door. Placing our ear against the door, we eavesdropped on their conversation.

"I am sorry. I didn't realize you would do such a thing for me", Hailey sobbed.

"No I just wanted you to be happy. I knew Sebastian and I are in love but at the end of the day we wanted you to be happy. He never realized you would end up falling for him".

"Why didn't you tell me that before? That... That you and Sebastian had a thing. I would have backed off easily", Hailey said.

"Firstly he didn't want to tell anyone he is gay as he wasn't ready yet. Besides we hooked up after you guys became lab partners. I realized what I did was wrong since you had a crush on him. So I decided to get over him- but I tried my best Hailey I just couldn't and I am sorry for that", George replied.

"No it's alright. You should have told me before and I would have backed out easily. After all hoes before bros right? And you and Em are my hoes".

I was touched by their confessions. I was so glad to have best friends like George and Hailey in my life.

"I think it's time we open the door", Leo said quietly smiling at me. His plan worked perfectly.

We opened the door to see George and Hailey exchanging hugs. "Hey I wanna join too!" I wrapped them both in a group hug.

After finishing a bowl of popcorn and a movie, Hailey and George were on their way to home, leaving Leo and I to clean up the mess.

"Hey Leo", I called him.

"Yeah?"

"Thanks".

"Thanks for what?" He asked pretending to act clueless. Jerk.

"Thanks for doing what you did today", I gave him a candid smile.

"No problem. Besides you still have to go on a date with me. I am not letting it go that easily", he went back to cleaning the kitchen leaving me with my thoughts.

The thought of that had my heart beating erratically against my chest, and my palms were sweaty. That was a strange feeling. In fact, all I could think about these days was him. Even if he was in the room opposite mine, he would still be in my thoughts. And every time he would kiss me there was an undeniable feeling of electricity skating down my spine. And the fact that I wouldn't mind kissing him again. In fact I was addicted to this bad boy's kisses. I wasn't... I wasn't falling for Leo Arsen. Right? Or was I?

.................

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