13. A trip down the memory lane
2471 Words
"Today, we have to wait a little longer for the student council meeting", Leo says while while Priya and Linn nod.
"If you want, you can wait for us to finish then I can drop you home", Leo says and I think about it. Anyway, I don't have much to do at home. Mom and dad will be late today as they have work and Ace has a sleepover at his friend's house.
"Sure. I will sit in the library and do my homework", I say and his eyes lit up.
"Thank god. I thought I would have to convince you to stay", he says and I chuckle lightly.
"I am not that stubborn", I say and he gives me look.
Fine. Whatever", I grunt and he just laughs while kissing my temple.
"I will be back before you know it. You will have Archer with you anyway", Leo says and Archer nods his head.
"I will come with you to library. Let's go", Archer says and kisses Linn.
We both wave at the three and then make our way to the library.
"So, other than sketching, what all do you do?", he asks me.
"Not much really. I am a voracious reader and I like to write too. So basically, I am a nerd", I say and he laughs.
"With good level of sarcasm and wit, I see", he says and I let out a small laugh.
"You good at science? Please say yes, because this homework is something I really need help with", Archer says as we sit down at a table.
"Oh, sure. I actually happen to love science", saying so I help him out with the homework and then do mine.
It feels like minutes but its been three hours we have been sitting here. Today, when everyone encouraged me to sketch more, I decided that, I would. So, here I am, sketching a few designer dresses that I think would look good on Harriet. I usually design dresses of XL sizes because of my own experience.
Whenever, I go for shopping, not many designer dresses are available in my size. I loath the people who think that, people are fat only because they eat a lot, which is not the case most of the times. People like me and Harriet suffer problems related to thyroid while some women may have gained weight because of PCOD which has become more common in today's generation. If a woman has PCOD, then gaining weight is very easy but loosing weight is ten times more difficult and plus the medicines do not help much either. The bullying does quite a number and may harm the mental stability of that person and this comes from the person who has endured all that. Whenever I look at the designs of my dresses, I remember my days back in California and with that comes the memories of all the s**t that I had to go through.
"A penny for your thoughts?", a voice breaks my reverie and I jump in my seat and turn around to face the culprit, who raises his hands in surrender.
"The hell Leo?!", I exclaim, while putting my hand on my heart, trying to calm down.
"Sorry Hazel. But in my defense, I called your name twice and yet you didn't respond so, I had to", he says while the other three are just looking at us.
"Let's go", he says and I nod my head. I pack my things and get up form the seat. Leo takes my bag in his and takes my hand in his, kissing it.
"I missed you", he whispers and I smile while looking at him.
"Its been only three hours".
"Your point?"
"You are slightly obsessed with me", I say with a smug smile and he laughs.
"Well, that might be true", he says and hugs me to his side.
"You two are really adorable but please tell me you are dropping me off?", Priya says and we both laugh.
"Sure, get in the car", Leo says and she heaves a sigh and smiles at the other two before saying goodbye and getting in Leo's car.
"Bye guys. We will see you tomorrow", Archer says and Linn hugs me and smiles at me before they take off.
"First, we will drop off Priya and then I"ll drop you home, okay?", Leo says and we both nod.
Once Leo starts the car, they immediately start a conversation about the meeting that was held and their opinions about it. I swear, I almost snapped when they both continued talking as if I didn't exist.
"Guys, you know I am right here", I say and they both laugh.
"We are sorry Hazel", Priya says and I roll my eyes.
Leo just shakes his head and turns on the radio and fortunately, one of my favorite songs of Zayn Malik, "A whole new world", starts playing. Leo knows about my low-key obsession with Zayn, so he lets it be and I start to hum along with his alluring voice. Priya, too, seems to like this song as she too starts singing.
"We are here Pri", I tell her as she nods her head and thanks both of us for the ride before getting out of the car and waving at us. Leo starts the car once she is safely inside and we make out way towards my house.
"You told your parents that you will be late right?"
"Obviously Leo. If I hadn't, my phone would have been blowing up with calls and messages", I tell him and he chuckles.
"Your dad is very protective of you, isn't he?"
"Yeah. After what I went through at my old school, the bullying and all, he never lets me out of his sight. He was the one to find me first when I had my panic attack and since then he hasn't been the same man I knew since I was a baby", I say and sigh loudly. I have hurt him in more ways than I can imagine. I just hope, one day he gets over this.
"It is not your fault baby. From what I can think, he blames himself for not being there for you when you needed it which is not true. If only you would have say something earlier", he says and I can see that talking about my past pains him. When I finally opened up to him and told him everything, he just hugged me very tight and told me that everything was going to be just fine and he will always be there to protect me.
"Lets change the topic, yeah?", I said and gave his hand a squeeze. Leo sighed and we talked about anything and everything till we reached my place.
"Who's car is that?", Leo asks and I smile brightly.
"Its my dad's friend's. He his here with his family I guess", and as I step foot outside the car, a figure tackles me in a bone crushing hug. Leo immediately gets out of his car, probably alarmed by the man's actions but I smile widely and hug that person back.
"Hey teddy bear. I missed you so much", Sam says as he crushes me to his chest.
"I missed you too Sam. Its been a while", I say while releasing him from my arms.
"Leo, this my best friend Sam and Sam this is Leo", I introduce them and they shake hands.
"A friend at school?", Sam asks with a raised eyebrow. He was always protective of me just like Ace is.
"We are dating", Leo says and I mentally slap my forehead. Now I will have to answers a hundred and one questions later.
"Oh, is that so. Why don't you come in Leo and have dinner with us?", Sam asks and I start panicking. If he comes in now, Sam and uncle Paul will roast him for answers.
"His parents must be waiting for dinner at home, Sam", I say and glance at Leo, who is looking at Sam with furrowed eyebrows.
"No Hazel its fine. I can join, if you don't mind. Mom and dad are out of town anyway", He says and I smile nervously.
"Great. Come on in you two", with that he turns around and starts walking towards the entrance.
"I am going to apologize i advance for all the questions you are going to face when you enter my house", I say and look at Leo, who takes my hand in his and gently squeezes it.
"I don't mind, at all. Its your family after all", he says and a heave a sigh of relief.
"I knew I liked you for more than just your handsome face", I say while giggling like a love-struck teenager. He laughs loudly and drags me inside of the house where Sam, my dad and uncle are waiting for our arrival.
"Hey Hazel. Sam tells me, Leo will be joining us for dinner tonight?", my dad asks and before I could answer, Leo beats me to it.
"I would love too but only if you don't mind, sir", Leo says and squeezes my hand in assurance.
"Of course not son. Go and wash your hands while your mom and aunt set the table along with Ace and Sam", uncle says and we both nod our heads while making our way towards the bathroom.
"Your uncle seems like a nice man", Leo comments and I cannot help but laugh.
"Oh just you wait till we all are seated. Trust me, your opinions are going to change after the dinner". Leo laughs and we make our way towards the dining room where everyone is seated and waiting for us.
My aunt Laura gets up from her seat and hugs me tightly while I return the hug with just as much love.
"Oh, I missed my daughter so much", she says and I smile at her words. She considers me her daughter and has spoiled me rotten as she doesn't have one of her own.
"I missed you too aunt Laura. How have you been?"
"I have been fantastic honey. And who is this young man?", she asks while gesturing towards Leo who gets up from his chair which is right beside me.
"I am Leo. Its nice to meet you", he says and they shake hands.
"Hey Leo. Long time no see", Ace says and they do that bro hug thingy and settle down in their seats. Mom serves us all and me being me, starts devouring like a cow.
"Slow down bear, food is not going to run anywhere", Sam says and everyone laughs while I just shrug.
"So, Sam tells me you both are dating?", my uncle says and I choke on the food. Leo pats my back gently and passes me a glass of water. I thank him and finally the coughing stops.
"Yes sir", Leo answers and my uncle nods his head, as if he has a number of questions already running in his head.
"Since when?"
"It been a month and a half", Leo says and I smile at the thought of our first date. It seems like only yesterday when he took me to that beautiful clearing.
"Oh I see", he says and while scratching his stubble as if preparing to ask another question.
"Come on Paul, we can talk later. Eat your food now", aunt Laura interjects and my uncle grumbles under his breath making all of laugh. I silently thank her and she nods her head in understanding.
After the quite eventful dinner, we all settle in the living room while talking amongst ourselves. Leo, sits beside me and continues talking to Ace about the football team in our school.
"Leo, do you want to see pictures of Hazel when she was a baby?", my mom suddenly asks making me stare at her in disbelief.
"Of course not Mom. That is not going to happen".
"I would love to Mrs. Campbell", Leo says and I turn to glare at him and he just laughs and shrugs as if he doesn't really care about what I have got to say in this matter.
"Oh nonsense. Call me Carla, honey", with that she along with my aunt go to her room to bring all the albums.
After about an hour or so, my face has turned red like a freaking tomato and everyone is laughing at my expense. Sam continues to pinch my cheeks after every photo and Leo gushes about me looking really cute and beautiful.
"Oh come on you guys, that's enough now", I say and hide my face with the help of my palms and everybody starts laughing again. Ace gets up from his chair and retrieves a album that Leo has yet to see.
"Leo, if you think these are cute, you should definitely see these", Ace says as he hands him that album. I try to grab it before Leo could take it but Ace being the person whose reflexes are pretty fast, he hands it Leo who in turn raises his hand way up where I couldn't reach. These two are just freakishly tall idiots, that I am sure of.
"You look really cute when you embarrass yourself", Leo says as he continues laughing and Sam pinches my cheeks again. I slap his hand away and rub my cheeks.
"You need to stop doing that Sam", I growl at him and he laughs and goes to do that again. I catch his hand midway and hit his chest repeatedly.
"Okay I am sorry. Will stop with your feeble attempts of hurting me? I am soldier bear, you can't hurt me", he says and laughs as I huff out loudly and turn away from him.
"Hazel, I should get going now. I will be here to pick you up tomorrow", Leo says as he gets up from his seat.
"No that's alright Leo, I will drop her and Ace off in the morning", Sam says and Leo nods his head and thanks everyone for dinner and also for showing my childhood pictures which earns him a glare from me.
As we approach his car, Leo turns to me cages me in his arms. As if on instinct, my arms wrap around his neck.
"I had an amazing time with your family today, baby. Thank you for having me", he says and I know that this means more to him than to me. He never really spends time with his own family and he misses the warmth and love that a family can give you.
"It amazes me that you managed to make my family like you in just about three hours. They can be very hard people to crack but you did it so easily and I love that about you", I say as I hug him tightly and he returns it with the same intensity.
"Good night baby, sleep well. Don't miss me too much", he says and kisses me.
"Good night and please drive safe. And once you reach home, just message me, alright?"
"Yes ma'am. Bye love", with that he leaves after kissing my fore head and I cannot be more greatful to have such an amazing human being in my life.
The trip down the memory lane was worth everything.
- Writer
