Chapter Six: Bacon

I turned around to see a livid Leo, his eyebrows arched and his fists curled up to his sides. Jules was numb in her spot as a perplexed expression crossed her face.

She looked at me, I saw the anger in her eyes. "She will face consequences" , she spat out.

"You won't even touch her", he stated arms crossed over his chest. By now everyone in the cafeteria were staring at us, enjoying the little drama unfold.

Jules tried to let out an nonchalant laugh but her nervousness was clear. "Oh come on Leo! This girl?" she gestured her hand towards me. "You can do so much better", she sneered.

I wish the floor cracked up and swallowed me in. This is the second time in a week I was at the center of attention and I hated that. I stood up deciding to ignore all of them and get the hell out of this place. I started darting towards the exit but Leo grabbed my arms, stopping me mid track.

"Wait". It sounded more like a command.

Not willing to create anymore ruckus, I complied. "You don't need to worry about me Williams. Just stay the hell away from my girl", with that he ushered me out of the cafeteria leaving a glowering Jules behind. Her minions decided to approach her immediately after our retreat.

Hand in hand he dragged me to the corridors. I couldn't ignore the familiar buzz of electricity running through my arms and it was frustrating. After looking around to see the hallways empty I immediately jerked my hand off from his grip.

"What was all that about?" I whisper-shouted.

"Geez princess the least you can do is say thank you", he said curving his lips in a genuine smile.

I arched an eyebrow at him, uncrossing my arms from my chest. "You don't have any right to interrupt in my business. I-", before I could finish my sentence Leo grabbed my arms and pulled me towards him into an embrace, placing his head in the crook of my neck.

"Calm down" he cooed patting my back. I tried to back away but his grip was strong on me. "Relax princess I didn't want to hug you either. I just saw Jules passing by" .

I tried to stay calm despite my underlying urge to hit Leo. From my peripheral vision, I can make out Jules standing in front of the locker opposite us, her arms crossed over her chest and worst of all she was seething with anger. Getting enough of the show she sauntered away.

Leo immediately let go of me. "What are you insinuating?" I asked.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"The hug and pretending to defend me. I didn't ask for it".

"Oh princess I didn't ask you to kiss me either", he laughed airily.

"Leo I am serious. You don't need to stand up for me. I can handle my own mess".

"What mess?"

"You don't need to know".

He huffed out a sigh getting the indication that I wasn't about to make him my personal diary. "You know I have ears too. I have heard things- how Jules bullies you all the time. No one deserves this. So I was just trying to help", I can sense the concern laced in his voice. I hated it. If only he knew.

"I don't need your pity! Just stay the hell away from me Arsen", I said through gritted teeth, with that I turned on my heels and darted off to my next class before he even had the chance to say something.

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

Trigonometry is going to be the death of me. I tore yet another scribbled page from my notebook and tossed it into the trash. The crumpled paper landed close to the trashcan joining the mess of other crumpled paper lying nearby. Usually I am good at math but today I just can't put my mind into it, at all. Maybe I should switch to another subject or it would be best if I take a break. Abruptly I grab the copy of Eleanor and Park from my bag.

I have finished this book before but it's so beautifully written that I can't stop rereading it. I was almost getting into the book until my phone started ringing, the caller ID indicated it was my mom calling.

"Hi mom!" I answer the call in a cheery voice, keeping the book on the table and getting up from my study table.

"Emerson! Baby I miss you so much. How's school?"

"I miss you too", I answer sincerely. "School is the usual- nothing new except for tons of homework", I sighed. I refrain my mom from telling about all the drama happening in my school.

"Oh LOL. I am pretty sure my baby can handle that since she's so smart".

"Moomm.."

"What?"

"I told you not to use LOL in your verbal sentences, people only use them in their texts".

"Oh sorry darling... Not even LMFAO?"

"No mom", I mentally facepalmed myself.

"Okay LO- I mean haha I will keep that in mind".

"Good. So how's LA? "

"It's great here except I am always crammed up with work all the time. On the brighter side I think I spotted one of the Kardashians".

"Oh really? I guess that's great. So when are you coming back?" I asked eagerly. Yeah I miss my mom, a lot and it's high time she comes back soon.

"You know how much I would love to come home and be with you all time but the Miller project is important for the company. As soon as I wrap things up I will be catching the next flight to Florida. I promise".

My mother is usually away for the rest of the week but she never failed to spend time with me during the weekends. But this time for the enormous workload my mother ended up staying at Chicago for a month.

"Why baby? Is everything okay at the house? " She asked after my prolonged pause.

"Yeah mom everything's fine", I lied. We have literally ran out of food and I am living on takeouts now. Worst of all the hinges of the back door lock seems broken and it needs to get fixed but I don't know who to call to fix this. But mostly I don't trust a stranger inside my house while I am alone. So I placed one of the sofas there just for extra precaution.

"Good to know. Honey you know I am always worried about you.. "

"Stop worrying mom I am a big girl, I can take care of myself", I ease myself and decide to lie down on my bed, plopping my head up with a pillow. "So mom what was the important thing you wanted to talk to me about?" I ask her referring to the previous text she sent me.

"Yes honey I almost forgot.. one of my friend's son, I think he studies at your school got into some kind of trouble with the law and he needs a place to stay for a few days so I offered to help her, in that way that poor kid gets a place to stay and I won't have to worry about leaving you alone".

"What? And you didn't even consider asking my permission?"

"No I thought it would be fun for you since he's around your age and studies at the same school".

"And you are totally cool with me living alone with a guy who was in jail? " I scoffed. Ladies and gentleman this is my mom.

"Oh come on Emerson we both know how much of a good girl you are. I trust you. And besides he wasn't in jail".

"Why can't he live in his own house?"

"His dad kicked him out after the incident".

Ouch. I guess I should let him stay here..

I sighed giving up, "Okay when is he gonna be here?"

"Uhh.. in about.. no right now"

"What? And you decided to tell me this now?"

"I forgot okay? I was too busy with my work!"

"Ohh mom.."

The doorbell echoed throughout the house interrupting my conversation with my mom.

"Mom I think he's here. I am gonna hang up now".

"Okay honey take care".

"Yeah you too. Bye mom!" with that I hung up.

I sauntered down the stairs and reached for the main door, I wonder who could that be..

"YOU?!"

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Dedicated to Vanessa for being an awesome fan of this story!

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