Chapter Nine: Life Buoy

"That's a really a bad move on his part," Zoey tsked, carefully applying the clay mask on my face with her fingers, "I hate those public proposal kind of things. You're essentially removing the opportunity for the girl to decide on her own without other people pressuring her."

"Now I have no idea what to do," I groaned, hugging her pillow tighter. As you can guess, I went over to her place. I didn't want to be alone and mom was still at work.

Zoey sighed, finishing up with my skin and closing the container of the mask, "To be honest, I'm stumped as well, Avy."

Sasha has been calling me non-stop and has sent me a series of apologetic texts. Mia only tried to call once and then sent a message asking if I was okay. I did a quick reply to the latter but I was still angry at the former so I ignored all of her attempts of communication.

You know what I realized this whole time? Pat didn't have my number, I never gave it to him. I knew his, simply because I managed to memorize it by heart when we were dating but of course in this present, we never really got close. Again, the main contributor to our relationship back then was the time we spent sitting next to each other during math class.

We heard my phone vibrating on Zoey's beside table and she groaned, craning her neck to check who it was. I thought it would be Sasha again, but to both of our surprise, it wasn't, "It's Leon."

I sat up with my eyes wide, practically diving to where my phone was and instantly answering the call, "Leon!"

For the second time that Pat made me cry, he was there to comfort me.

"Hey, are you busy right now or can I ask you about the math thing?" he questioned.

If I was being completely honest, I would have thought that he was angry at me for basically leaving his best friend after his grand display. I bolted out of there as fast as I could the moment Pat turned his back on me. I was sure Mia would have at least tried to diffuse the situation when I left, but I still had no idea what he thought.

Though there was one thing I was sure of and that was he didn't hate me. I welcomed the distraction with open arms, "Yeah, hold on, I'll get my own notes. I'll call you back."

When I placed down my phone, Zoey was looking at me quizzically, "What's happening?"

Putting the device back on her bedside table, I fixed myself up from when I was laying down on her bed, "I'm going back home, I have to tutor him."

She observed as how I stood up and stretched my arms up, as if the moping around earlier never happened. She tilted her head to the side and tapped her chin in wonder, showing that expression I knew all too well, "How about you wash that face mask in the bathroom first before you leave."

She was scheming something and something told me that I wouldn't like it in the end. However, if there was one thing Zoey was good at, it was knowing exactly what I needed before I did myself. I just wish that Sasha also shared at that instead of pushing me to a guy who I had clearly stated I didn't want to be in a relationship yet.

So I nodded instead of asking her and besides, I really did need to wash my face because it was covered in gray.

I left her room and went to their family bathroom. Even I was surprised when I spotted myself in front of the mirror. I bent down the sink and started washing it off, also using some of Gracie's skincare products right after.

Don't get me wrong though, I was rushing because the faster I get back in there, the less time she had to do whatever she was plotting.

She was sitting innocently on her bed when I came back, "Your skin is glowing!"

I eyed her suspiciously, slowly grabbing my phone and checking around to see if something changed. Nothing, except her creepy smile, which I took as my cue to leave, "I'll see you next time."

After she drove back here, I went inside my house and hastily left my school bag next to the front door before I went to her place. So when I did go back home, I found no other reason to go upstairs in my bedroom anymore. Besides, I actually liked studying in the dining room.

You see, my mom and I rarely see each other on a weekday because she was at her job and I was busy with school. We developed this thing where she would work on the dining table while I sat on the opposite end to study. It was our small moment that we spend with each other. Even if we didn't talk, we just enjoyed each other's company.

It was us against the world, after all.

Of course, that eventually changed along with everything else labeled normal in my life.

I pulled out my phone notebook and started calling Leon, placing the phone on speaker. Bizzare enough, it rang for a bit before saying that the number was busy as of the moment. I raised a brow at this, because it had only been twenty minutes max since the time he called me.

Then somebody rang the doorbell.

Alright, that was definitely freaky. Mom and I never get visitors. Even when we do, we usually know about it before they even arrive here.

I tried to peek through the glass beside the front door and involuntarily gasped when I saw the person I was trying to call standing right there.

Okay, first things first, why was he here?

With my hands shaking as I unlocked the door, I slowly opened it. I was doing it at such a slow pace that his face went from chill to questioning by the time I finally got it completely wide open, "Hello?"

"Hey," he greeted back and I expected him to say something more.

You know, like why the hell are you standing on my porch?

I blinked, then he blinked. I have no idea how long we were just standing there staring at each other, waiting to see who will be the one to break the silence.

Alright, it was my house so I guess I should make the first move, "What are you doing here?"

From the way his questioning expression did not waver at all, I could safely assume that was not the inquiry that he expected.

"Zoey said you wanted me to come over since it will be easier to explain in person?" he answered, his eyebrows knitted together in confusion.

Wait, what?

I knew it! I freaking knew that she had something under her sleeve. I've known her all of my life so when she showed me that conniving face, I already figured it out that she was going to do something.

I hastily stepped out and looked towards Zoey's bedroom window. Her curtains moved and I looked absolutely ridiculous standing there while glaring at a window. She probably took my phone during those few minutes that I was washing off the face mask.

Oh Zoey, you're so dead to me.

I then turned my attention back to Leon. One of his hands was inside his jean pocket and the other clutched onto the notes I made for him. When I squinted my eyes, I noticed the amount of sticky notes on it, a clear indication that he truly worked hard to understand what I wrote there. Even though he did say thank you, the fact that he actually used it said more than words could ever do.

Now how could I turn him away when he made that much effort?

"Come on in," I told him, gesturing to the inside of the house so he would enter. I held back outside as he did and then knowing fully well Zoey was still watching, I sent her a middle finger before following him inside.

We had a mirror by the entryway and when I spotted what I looked like, I almost screamed. My eyes quickly switched to Leon's back, he was still busy with looking around and taking in his surroundings.

I had absolutely no makeup on. Nothing, zero. I looked like I was dead.

Girl, if you had all the time in the world to have a question and answer portion with yourself about what happened today, then why didn't you at least have the decency to make yourself appear alive?

By this point, I was now in a huge mental debate if I should excuse myself to at least put on a layer of lipstick on.

"So should we get started?" I heard him ask and he glanced over his shoulder to me. He was taken aback by my constipated expression, because I was having an internal battle with myself over my appearance, "Are you okay?"

"I look ridiculous," I blurted out, before I could stop myself. Hey, I already held back my scream, you can't expect more from me at this point, "Hold on, I'll touch myself up."

To my surprise, he looked amused. He let out a chuckle, shaking his head, "You already look beau-"

Before he could finish that sentence, he momentarily paused. I stood there with my eyes wide in surprise, because I knew what direction he was heading, but he cleared his throat and tried to retract, "You already look fine."

Was I hearing things?

Again, this whole experience felt like a fever dream so I would not question myself if I was.

"Are you sure?" I asked, my hands lifting up to slap my cheeks in a desperate attempt to bring color to them.

My stupid actions did cut away the tension and placed that amusement back on his features, "Positive. Come on, Barber, we have a test coming up and I'm not planning on failing."

And just like that, he managed to clear the air. The corners of my lips pulled up into a smile and I shot a mock salute, "Yes, sir."

You truly are my life buoy, Leon Colten.

We went to the dining room and used the next hour just trying to get the lessons right. Eventually, we moved on to other topics then finally, we found ourselves tackling other subjects.

And all the while, there was a tiny question in the back of my head bugging me.

When Leon saved me from the window, he mentioned that he knew Pat was going to break up with me. So from there, I assumed that my then ex-boyfriend had told him what he was going to do.

Was it the same for this one? Did Leon know that Pat was going to ask me out?

"And on the year..." he drawled on, reading from our history textbook. He quickly glanced up and stopped his words when he saw me staring blankly at him, one hand gripping onto the pencil I was supposed to use for taking notes, "What's wrong now?"

While I did doubt if I should even say it, I reminded myself that this was Leon we were talking about. He had been nothing but patient with the uncanny way I've been acting around him so I shouldn't really be afraid.

"Did you know?" I dared to ask, releasing the pencil, "Did you know that he was going to do that whole spectacle?"

He sighed, slowly placing down the textbook on the table. He looked frustrated, probably praying this whole time that I wouldn't bring it up, "No, I didn't. If we're being truthful, he has been really distant with me today."

Now that was weird.

When Pat and I were dating, I often joked that the real third wheel was me. Pat and Leon were really close, they call each other brother all the time. That was why even if he glared at me, showed how clearly annoyed he way that I was always clinging to his best friend, I learned how to get used to it because I respected their friendship.

I never complained to Pat, because at the end of the day, I understood the bond that they shared.

So to hear those words from him threw me off.

"What do you think I should do?" I frowned, "All I could think of the whole time he was standing on top of the bleachers was how people would view me if I dared to say no."

"But are you okay?" he immediately questioned. Weirdly enough, every single thought inside my head flew away.

Huh, nobody actually asked that.

Sasha was too busy with her la la land, Mia was angry beyond belief, and I think Zoey thought that she didn't need to ask for her to know the answer.

But after hearing those words, something in me felt lighter. It was like someone took away half of the weight I was carrying. Also, I was inclined to be honest with him, "Not really. Still, I can't just go on ahead and tell him tomorrow that everything was a mistake. I don't want to break his heart like that."

Even though he broke my heart in the future that I came from. This Patrick was just someone who was too passionate for words. Like the mindset I've been trying to keep, I shouldn't hate on these people for the things the future them did.

"Look, Pat's still my best friend so I have a little bias," he explained but his tone was calm and assuring, "Why don't you go on that date? It could be just a one-time thing and if you're uncomfortable, text me and I'll bail you out."

One single date, nothing more. I could even act like a brat the whole time. It was just to satisfy his pride and whatever reputation I had. We could just simply say that we tried, but we weren't compatible in the end.

And I felt so secured knowing that Leon would be there to swoop in the moment I wanted him to.

"Okay," I murmured quietly, agreeing with his suggestion.

Well, I didn't manage to see what was his reaction to that, because we immediately heard the front door open after and my mother yell, "Avery?"

Oh my god, I completely lost track of time.

"I got food on the way home, can you just..." she spoke but the words died in her throat when she saw her single daughter sitting there next to a boy while they were completely alone in the house, "And who's this?"

First Pat, now Leon. I didn't even want to fathom what my mother was thinking at this very moment.

"He's my classmate and we're just studying, mom," I gritted out, not even bothering to look at her.

"I'm Leon, Mrs. Barber," he introduced himself and I had to stop myself from physically cringing.

Here was the thing with Leon, he was very kind but his face did not show it. If you think his resting scowl face was bad, check out his voice. If I didn't know just how wonderful of a person he was, I would think that he was angry twenty-four seven because of his tone when he talked.

And that was the exact case right now.

While I knew he was trying to be polite, he sounded like the last place he wanted to be was here.

"I was having difficulty with one of our lessons, but Avery stepped up and volunteered to teach me," he said, "You have a lovely home, by the way."

Leon, you are such a good soul but you sound like somebody is pointing a gun to your head.

Alright, damage control time, "We can wrap up quickly, mom."

"Why don't you join us for dinner?" she suggested, causing me to finally look her way, "I bought more than enough for the three of us."

"Mom!" I gasped, before turning to Leon, "You really don't have to, if you don't want."

But alas, this guy wasn't the type to just go with my plans easily, "That would be nice, Mrs. Barber. Thank you."

I slapped my hand onto my forehead and simply let out a huge sigh of defeat.

Leon, you better win over my mom because if you think that you can shake me out of your life any time soon then you need to think again. Mom, you better like Leon because I am determined to stay friends with him.

Mom made us set the table and all in all, it was a rather good experience. Leon managed to remain respectful and she eventually got the hint that that was just how he talked.

Halfway through the meal, my eyes went up from my plate and met his. He shot me a small smile, before nodding off to something my mother was saying.

And that was how I knew everything was going to be alright.

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I look like a crazy weird grandma smiling at these two.

Question: Well, not a question but an extension to last one's. Drop your instagram usernames because starting next update, I'm gonna send you guys a sneak peek a day in advance. I decided on instagram because more people said they have that instead of telegram. My instagram is trulyyourstrina, by the way.

So what sneak peeks? It would be like these where I basically send you the first few paragraphs of each chapter a day before I post it here. This is chapter nine by the way, but the concept is there.

Another question, do you guys want me to start posting these again? I used to do them when I was still writing The Blonde Cheerleader. I uploaded these on twitter, but I can start doing them again for TLTC on my twitter and instagram stories if you guys want. My twitter is yourstruIytrina (the letter 'L'/'l' is a capital 'i')

Thank you guys so much for reading! Please don't forget to comment, vote, and follow. See you all next chapter!