Chapter 15: Unexpected Feelings

Leila's POV

I stared down at my phone in shock, wondering if this was actually true. If she really wanted to meet me right now.

I smiled softly as I continued staring at the call that went through five minutes ago. My mom called, asking to meet me in the park sometime this week. I was so elated, I didn't realize Blake entering the room.

"Leila." He called out but I continued staring at the phone in disbelief. "What you wanna eat? I bought food." He said but I ignored him, wondering to myself if this was really too good to be true. Should I really go meet her? Should I stay here? Is this. . .Is this a trap?

I can't believe that she actually called me. After so many years of feeling alone, she actually wanted to see me. "Brat!"

I snapped my head towards him and scowled. "I thought we were done with that insulting name-calling thing," I said and he rolled his eyes as he approached me. He lowered himself down to my height and levelled his eyes with mine

"Who told you I ever stopped?" He inquired.

"Okay, you egotistical asshole." I spat and he hollered in amusement. I shook my head in disbelief and couldn't help the smile that crept onto my lips.

"Brat knows some big words." He mocked and I flipped him off. Before I could pull my hand back to my side he grabbed my finger and tugged me forward. I gasped as his eyes flickered down to my finger and he chuckled.

"I'm really starting to suspect you don't like that finger of yours." He wondered as he brought it to his mouth. I sucked in a harsh breath as a mischievous smirk crept onto his face and his eyes swivelled towards me.

"I can if you keep flipping me off." He whispered and I gulped before ripping my hand from his and pulling it to my chest. He let out a burst of deep laughter that rumbled through his throat and taunted me as he rose up and pivoted towards the kitchen.

What the hell just happened? Why the hell is my heart hammering so much?

Why was that attractive?

He's taunting me.

"I bought Chinese, come eat with me."

I scrambled off the bed and followed him into the kitchen, still dumbfounded as to what just happened. He motioned towards the chair, "sit down." He said and I frowned as I folded my arms over one another, "say's who?"

"Says me." He said and I lowered myself down onto the stool as he passed me the box. "Thank you," I said and from the corner of my eye, I could see the ghost of a smile on his face as he propped himself onto the table.

"So, anything new?" He asked after a moment of silence. I shook my head and tried biting back the smile. I wanted to scream yes. My mom finally wants to meet me but I couldn't.

It was lodged in my throat.

"No," I hummed.

I didn't trust Blake on the level where I could share my dark past with him. He was my professor and roommate but I wouldn't consider him a friend. That's just weird. Sharing such a dark past with someone I was not all that close too didn't sit right with me

So It's best he doesn't know, at least not right now.

"Not even that boyfriend of yours, Reese?" He asked and I chocked on my food. He prepared himself to hop off the counter to come to my aid but I waved him off frantically as I swallowed the piece of food lodged in my throat.

"U-uhm, no, nothing new with Reese," I mumbled and he nodded his head in understanding, his eyes penetrating through mine. Since when were we so awkward? Well, since when was I so awkward?

"Why are you nervous?" He suddenly asked and I bit down onto my lip as I shook my head absentmindedly, "I don't know Blake, maybe you make me nervous." I gasped when I realized I said that out loud and snapped my head towards him.

He was staring at me, his face blank. I could not read his expression as our eyes interlock. It was as if he were calculating me with his gaze and I squirmed as I flickered my gaze away from him. "Okay," he said as he slipped off the table, "I'm gonna go do some work, eat up."

I don't know why I suddenly felt disappointed. It was like I wanted him to say something more than that. And his response wasn't what I was looking for. Well, what the hell was I looking for anyway? For him to say I make him nervous as well?

Real classy, Leila.

"Okay," I replied as he strutted out of the kitchen and into the room.

I let go of a breath I hadn't realized I was holding and peeked through the little space through the opening that could allow me to see him. I frowned deeply as he grabbed his phone and slumped down onto his bed.

That doesn't look like work.

He pressed his phone against his ear and ran his hands through his hair.

"Hey. . .can we talk?"