Chapter Eighteen: Your Flame

Leon's POV

The whistle was a peculiar thing. Most of the time, it brought me back to the first day of junior year, but there were times that it didn't. But if there was one thing that I learned, it was that it will always put me in the exact moment before the snowball falls off the hill. There were instances that it had overlapped with other timelines that I have already been to.

Maybe it could be during summer or perhaps smacked in the middle of the school year.

And one of those cases was right now.

When I fell asleep last night, I just gotten news that Avery was found dead with a bottle of pills in her hands.

Today, I knew it was different.

Mom and dad didn't wish me good luck on the new school year and thus, that was my first clue that I wasn't transported back to the first day of school. I checked my school stuff and judging from the way my notebooks already had writings in them, I knew that I was somewhere in the middle of the school year.

But I found my biggest hint when I looked through my school bag. There, in one of the binders, was a pile of notes – more specifically, math notes. Not only that, it was in Avery's handwriting.

I was in my last time jump.

Now I just have to figure out what day it was and why the whistle brought me to this specific moment.

"Hey, P," I greeted Pat when I saw him by his locker.

He stopped from gathering his books, staring at me with that cold intense look. I was slightly confused at the treatment since it was obvious that between us two, he was the more joyful one.

I glanced over my shoulder to check if he was glaring at something behind me, but there was nothing.

Without another word, he closed his locker and started making his way to first period. I scratched my head in wonder because even during scuffles, he would still talk to me. He only acts like when I've done a huge sin to him.

But now that I think about it, was one other time that he gave me this kind of silent treatment. I already had my suspicions but I decided to hold on until I get one more clue.

And that said clue came during third period. Pat and I were sat at the back of the classroom and he was happily talking to the guy seating in front of him, blissfully content with his plan to ignore me the whole day. While I was senselessly scrolling through my phone, a text went in and that was all the confirmation I needed.

Avery Barber: Did you understand everything from my notes?

This was the day Pat asked Avery out in front of everybody. Right after practice, he climbed the bleachers and loudly asked her to a date.

He found out that Avery gave me the notes yesterday, obviously upsetting him, and so he refused to talk to me the whole day. He thought that he had to quickly make a move because he was afraid that she might be interested in me.

Please Pat, even I knew that was impossible.

So does this mean the magic whistle voodoo was telling me to stop them from going out?

There was a major problem with that – I thought this whole time that one of the keys I needed in order to save her was to make sure she and Pat doesn't break up. I've intently studied the pattern from all the times that I have time traveled and I've concluded three reasons as to why I always ended up failing.

One, the incident during the party. It can happen during different occasions, different nights, different houses, and even different men at times.

Second, she finds out about her father. That never happened during my last travel, but that produced the theory that giving her the other whistle will allow her to retain her memories. Well, at least now I have a hunch how the two whistles worked together.

But I wonder if she still has it on her right now.

Lastly, it was her break up with Pat. That was the reason why I've been so determined to make sure they end up together, that they don't separate, that Pat doesn't meet Zoey.

So why here? Was I supposed to make sure they don't go out?

At this point, I had nothing more to lose. If they were truly meant to be together, then I'll leave it to destiny to find a way to bring them back together.

Leon Colten: I got most of it, but there's one part that I'm a little confused.

I sent it to her, putting the ball in her court to see what she would say.

Avery Barber: I can teach it to you if you want?

Well, Pat wasn't talking to me already so there wasn't much additional damage I could inflict. Besides, I've learned to listen to the whistle because it knew far more than I did. Here I was placing all of my trust on it when I was still unsure of its origins.

As long as it gave me an opportunity to save Avery then I was going to believe in it, because there wasn't much that I can do.

Leon Colten: Meet me in the library during lunch?

If I could somehow convince her not to wait for Pat, to make sure he never gets the opportunity to ask her out in front of everybody, then maybe it would bloom into a better future.

Avery Barber: Okay!

"Why are you smiling at your phone?" I heard Sasha ask her. It was still the same thing she questioned last time.

But just like when I first heard her get interrogated, she easily let out an excuse, "Zoey texted me something funny."

Finally, I lifted my head to look towards her direction. Sasha was staring suspiciously at me but I ignored her, instead focusing on the brunette sitting next to her. I watched as Avery sent me a small subtle smile, making sure that her friend didn't see it.

I shot her a smirk, showing that I indeed saw her. She nodded in satisfaction before facing front once again.

That one text changed everything, I was sure about that.

Since Pat was still blatantly ignoring me, I didn't even bother with telling him that I wasn't going to join them for lunch. I grabbed my bag and the notes Avery made me then headed to the library.

I had no game plan because this was the first time this happened. All I could do was pray to every deity out there this would at least bloom into a better future.

While I was there, I sincerely thought that I got stood up. Fifteen minutes had already passed and there were still no signs of her. We came for the same classroom for Pete's sake.

Then, when my eyes were glued to the library doors, she appeared. Her hair slightly disheveled and her bag was barely hanging on her shoulder – but she was still mesmerizing. She scanned the room in a slight panic but I watched as her expression immediately relaxed when she spotted me.

"Leon," I heard her harsh whisper, plopping onto the seat next to mine, "Sorry, did I make you wait long?"

"No," I shook my head, observing how she unzipped her bag and took out a bunch of food.

Now I was already mentally cursing myself for not even thinking about lunch. Great, now I was going to starve for the rest of the day because of that.

She placed down her bag and slid a sandwich bag and a bottle of juice towards me, "Here you go?"

And I couldn't even find it in me to hide my surprise, "For me?"

She nodded and flashed me that warm smile that I wanted to see again so much, "Yeah, I guessed that you haven't eaten yet so I went ahead and bought you something first."

So that was why she was late.

See? I told you she was a ray of sunshine.

I turned to her, seeing those captivating hazel eyes look at me. Her face portrayed patience, but there was enthusiasm in them. Even with the lowered volume of her voice, she still managed to exude her friendliness in the way she talked, "Now where were you having trouble with?"

Here was one secret that I kept from everybody, especially from my best friend – I've fallen for her.

I love Avery Barber for all the she is and all that she will be. From her beautiful smile that I always seek to protect to her dazzling personality that strived to do her best no matter the adversaries. I know of her flaws, that incessant stubbornness and her refusal to be open about what she felt. But it were things that made Avery the person that I've become fond of.

And every timeline that I traveled to, every past that I put myself in, I found more and more reasons to fall for her.

I will gladly go through hell and back just to save her, just to see a future where she is happy and living life to the fullest. I don't care how many tries I have to go through, I was determined to make her live.

I don't care if she isn't mine.

So please, Avery, please live.

You may be a candle that had the brightest flame, but I was the moth that will fly to you even if I knew that I was bound to get hurt. Just please, keep that fire going.

Even though I was confused of the whistle's plans, it brought me to you when I thought that you were gone for good. I was trying to prepare myself for a reality where I couldn't get too see you anymore, then a note came begging me to save you.

And now, even though I have to ruin my own best friend's tactics to date you, I had to listen to the whistle.

"Don't watch us practice later," I muttered and obviously, that was something she didn't expect. Especially since our topic was supposed to be the math lesson.

Her eyebrows scrunched up in confusion and she asked, "What are you talking about?"

"Don't watch us practice later," I repeated, as if that would make more sense. When her expression didn't change at all, I sighed and started tapping on the table as I tried to think of a reasonable explanation.

As you can see, I wasn't good at these things. There was a reason why I choose to shut up most of the time.

But after what felt like an eternity, mostly because my brain couldn't even think of a pathetic excuse, I heard her speak, "Okay."

"Okay?" I questioned, the disbelief evident in my voice.

"Okay," she repeated, a small laugh at the end.

I'm sorry, Pat.

"But Pat's kind of our ride though, so that means we have to take the bus," she frowned though from the way her eyes shifted mischievously towards me, I knew she teasingly trying to guilt-trip me.

And it worked.

"Wait in the library and I'll drive you girls home," I told her.

I was still amazed by the fact that she actually agreed. More than that, she said yes even though I couldn't provide her a proper explanation.

"Sounds good to me," she shrugged, before slamming her hand onto the notes on the table, "Now about math..."

Oh right, the real reason why we were here.

So the main cause of why she approached me in the restaurant that fated Saturday was because of her whistle. Even back then, I had a hunch since Avery has never talked to me with that much gusto before. But of course, I couldn't be sure so it took me until her literal death to confirm it.

Now as she sat there next to me, droning on about a math lesson that I've already mastered due to the amount of times I've sat through class, I couldn't help feel even the tiniest ounce of excitement.

Apparently, I've done something good enough for her to approach me, for her to actually consider being friend with me.

If I were being honest, when she told me that she wanted to be friends, it took every single willpower in me not to hug her on the spot. That was the first time that something like that happened, out of the all the timelines I've encountered.

I've always been looking after her from afar but to have her so close to me, I had to literally dig my nails into my palms to stop myself from losing self-control.

And on the day that Pat met Zoey in the parking lot, she muttered her thanks and I was a goner.

"Because I feel like you're constantly saving me and I shouldn't have to burden you with my mess. But thank you, you can't imagine just how grateful I am each and every day to have you in life."

Although I knew it was for a different context, those words carried so much weight to me. It felt like those words of appreciation were for the amount of times that I've tried to save her. That even though I failed again and again, she was still thankful.

And so the floodgates opened. I couldn't stop myself from crying in front of her then and there.

Because I was reminded just how hard I've tried, how many times I actually went back and redid every single day in hopes that she'll stay alive.

But most importantly, because I was finally able to talk to her in that way. She had always avoided me, and I know it was mostly my fault, but when she stood there and said thank you, everything felt so right in the world.

It gave me hope.

"Hey are you even listening?" I heard her question, poking me with her pen.

"Yes," I replied quickly, "Every word."

She paused for a moment, apparently loss for words, before bashfully looking down on the paper and murmuring under her breath, "Then at least look at what I'm writing."

Needless to say, Pat was more upset than ever when I walked into the classroom for math class. Avery and I decided to go in at different times just to make sure there wouldn't be more tension and suspicion than there already was.

"Where have you been?" he huffed with his arms crossed.

I sat on the seat next to him with an eye roll, "So now you talk to me."

"Leon..." he drawled out my name, doing the absolute best to hide his annoyance but it was futile, "Where were you?"

"Library," I replied, snappier than how I usually talk to him, "Now will you tell me why you've been giving me the silent treatment the whole day?"

There was something about Pat that made it so easy to read him. Sometimes, you don't even have to exert any effort because he was so painfully honest. He wears his heart on his sleeves, whatever he feels, you can easily see it on his face.

And he didn't like being upset. It was as if he hated feeling negative, the reason why even though I often acted like this, we manage to avoid fighting.

And thus, it was no surprise when he looked so deflated and finally dropped the cold act, "I'm sorry, Leon."

"Next time, when you get angry at me, at least tell me why," I sighed, immediately accepting his apology, "You know I'm clueless half of the time."

Pat was extremely important to me. I would be friendless and a complete loner if he never approached me when we were younger. That was why I decided to back off when he blatantly showed interest in the girl that I liked.

Besides, Avery's personality seemed more suited for a guy like him. She doesn't deserve to be with me, I offered nothing worthy.

"Avery, there you are!" Sasha exclaimed once the said person walked into the classroom, "Switch seats with me."

She blinked at her, quickly glancing towards my way, before letting out a loud whine to her other friend, "Mia!"

I rested my chin the on the palm of the hand and watched on as her two best friends started to argue with one another. She might think that I didn't see the amusement in her eyes, but it was written all over her face.

While I was sad that I had to put a wedge in my best friend's plans, at least I was sure that there was a different future ahead of us.

Hopefully, a future where Avery Barber will live on.

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If you want to re-read past chapters to compare the events that happened back then and now, check out Chapter 8. For the chapter where Leon cried because Avery thanked him, it's Chapter 13

I'm just glad that you liked seeing into his POV and that you know how painfully in love he is with Avery. To be honest, he's so freaking adorable and a complete sweetheart.

But this is the last chapter in his POV because starting next chapter, we're going back to Avery's POV.

Question: Do you think this will end up in a better future?

Thank you so much for reading! Please don't forget to vote, comment, and follow. I love you guys and I'll see you next chapter!

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