I heard Deanna sigh in irritation as she made her way to the light. When she flicked it on, I was surprised to see Leila standing over AJ and me. She had mascara stained tears flowing down her face. She had apparently been listening to us and that triggered her emotional outburst. Her eyes shifted back and forth crazily between AJ and I, then, without warning, she let out another blood curdling scream that seemed to fill the whole house. Her hands were raised up to her head and gripping her fiery red hair as she ran up the stairs, slamming the door behind her. Trevor looked around at all of our faces, searching for some explanation for Leila’s breakdown. No one said a word. He rubbed his eyes and then ran up the stairs after her.
A minute later Mr. Holmes was in the basement with a bewildered look on his face. “What the heck was that all about? Someone had better be hurt.”
“No, Dad. Leila’s just psycho,” Karl explained.
“I don’t know why you all keep inviting that wacko here anyway. She’s not right in the head.”
“No one invited her. She just comes along with Trevor,” Karl stated.
“Well, she can’t come here anymore. I can’t control whether you all hang out with her otherwise. That’s your business, but don’t bring her back here,” He rattled off, his southern accent heavier than before.
He returned to his room mumbling incoherently and the rest of us sat around. One by one everyone drifted back to sleep except for AJ and me. We laid there in each other’s arms, but said nothing. I don’t know how much time passed, but it felt like hours before I finally dozed off in his arms.
The next morning, I couldn’t help but to wonder what AJ made of Leila last night. I could tell that something was on his mind, but I wasn’t sure exactly what it was. When I made it home I considered calling him, but decided against it. He probably needed his space to work through whatever he was dealing with. I plopped down on the couch and turned on the TV to keep my mind off it.
Somehow my thoughts drifted to Antonio’s return to school tomorrow. The last time I’d talked to him, I’d hurt him yet again. He must hate me by now. I sighed and slouched down into the couch and put my feet up on the coffee table. I hadn’t totally fallen out of love with Antonio, but he and AJ were the difference between what I wanted……and what I needed. While Antonio was absolutely wonderful, I found myself unable to live without AJ from almost the first day I noticed him. It was as though we were supposed to run into each other in the hall that day.
I wasn’t even sure what it was fair for me to expect from Antonio. I desired his friendship, but it seemed like that was an impossible thing to hope for. Friends don’t do the things to one another that I’ve done to him. As much as I wanted to be in his good graces, I didn’t believe it would ever be so. I sighed at this realization that I’d lost a great friend and could do nothing to gain his trust again.
I left Karl’s and came home at around 11 a.m. Time passed in slow motion that day. I’d cleaned my room and bathroom, watched TV, put away my clean clothes, read a little, and it was still only 3:00. Feeling like a little fresh air would do me some good, I headed outside to sit on the porch. I thought about AJ again and decided to go ahead and call him this time. He didn’t answer. Things were a little awkward between us after Leila’s outburst. Was he avoiding me? My question was quickly answered when my phone began to ring. “Hey.”
“Sorry I missed your call. I got to it right when you were hanging up,” he apologized.
“It’s cool. Just checking on you. You seemed like something was wrong earlier.”
He waited a moment before answering. “I was just thinking.”
I watched traffic pass as I waited for him to continue. “About?”
There was another long pause. “I know last night was strange – even for Leila. I wanted to make sure you’re not having second thoughts or anything?” He blurted.
I laughed a little to myself. “Are you crazy? Because of Leila? She’s gonna have to come harder than that to push me away.” My mind was set at ease to know that this was all that was bothering him.
His laugh was still tense, but I could tell that I’d reassured him some.
“AJ, I love you and I’m not going anywhere. Trust me.”
“Good,” he breathed. “Because I’d have to stalk you and that’s not a good look for me,” he joked.
Chapter Ten