Chapter 20 Missing

Lenny's POV

Something is missing. Something feels.... missing. Lost...

I take shakey steps down the stairs. He won't answer my texts and I actually called him. But he won't answer anything. It's been a week. Eric says I should go to his house. But I can't bring myself to.

Because I'm afraid.... that he won't be there when I do.

I made coffee and sipped it slowly. I could barely hold myself up. I heard the doorbell. My eyes widen and I dropped the mug running to the door.

"Van!" I yelled smiling brightly but frowned instantly.

"Sorry bud." Eric said smiling sadly.

"Oh... it's fine." I said letting him in.

"You know you should go visit him." he said.

"I don't have the right to." I said looking down and he stared at me. "I hurt Van.... all the time." I said playing with my fingers.

Van might seem strong. Like he can handle anything, but in truth he's glass. Not the same glass as me. He's one of those pretty really clear glasses. The kind where they easily break. My glass is a shallow plain glass. That can break, that looks like it can break so easily. But maybe it can't. Maybe the glass that looks so pretty and clear, the one that doesn't look like it could break is the one who breaks easily.

"We all hurt each other." Eric said and I looked up. "Love does hurt. But pain is worth it in the end." he said smiling.

"You sound like your in love." I said and he laughed.

"I was once, maybe I still am. But Sammie needs me right now and so do you. So my love life can be put on hold." he said.

"What love life?" I asked blinking.

"Exactly." he laughed and pushed me out the door.

"Hey!" I yelled rubbing my arms blushing. "I'm still in my jammies." I said pouting and he rolled his eyes smiling throwing me a jacket.

"Now go!" he yelled then shut my door.

I pouted and knocked on my door.

"Len's not home!" I heard Eric yell.

"This is Len!" I yelled.

"The Len I know would be here with Van or good news." he sung back and I huffed stomping away to head to my car.

****

I stood in front of the door. I took a deep breath about to knock the door when it flung open. I looked deep into those green eyes of his.

"Le-Len?" Van said looking surprised I looked down and saw he had a luggage.

"Where are you going?" I asked softly.

"The cruise." he said looking down. "I'm-" he started to say but I took the luggage from him.

"Let's go." he said and he blinked.

"Huh?" he asked reaching for the luggage but I put it out his reach.

"I said let's go, I'm going with you." I said and he shook his head.

"You don't need to go. You didn't even want to go." he said reaching for the luggage again.

"Maybe I did and said no for another reason." I said sitting on the luggage.

"And what reason is that?" he asked looking at me.

I love you

"Because of your.... you know." I said looking down.

"Well now I want to go alone." he said and I bit my lip.

"I'm sorry." I said and stood up immediately then hugged him tight. "I shouldn't have said what I said that night." I said hugging tighter.

"Len." he said and I pulled away slowly looking in his eyes.

You... didn't hug back.

"Nobody really wants to be alone, do they?" I asked gulping and he sighed softly then hugged me.

"I don't want to be alone.... I thought getting use to it would make me less afraid." he whispered and I rubbed his back laughing.

"It doesn't. You can try to get use to it all you want but doesn't mean your not afraid." I said and I felt his fingers in my hair.

"Maybe, little smarty bug." he said smiling and I grinned blushing.

Lenny bug, now little smarty bug.

"It's more wise than smart." I said crossing my arms and he smiled.

"Then you're a wise old owl." he said and I huffed. "So, are you still planning on going to the cruise with me?" he asked getting his luggage.

"Yes." I said and he stared at me grinning.

"And why is that?" he asked taking a step forward.

"Because." I said taking a step forward also.

"Because what?" he asked taking another step forward.

Because I love you

"As a friend of course." I laughed awkwardly and he blinked.

"What?" he asked and I blushed.

Damn said the last part out loud.

"Because I can and want to. Any objections?" I asked and he shook his head no smiling.

What was missing was a puzzle piece. That puzzle piece I threw away saying I didn't need it. That the puzzle would be fine without it. But the puzzle needs all of its pieces. The puzzle isn't even finished. So it's best to keep all the pieces.

"Good." I said smiling and took his arm. "Let's go." I said but he tugged his arm back.

"I lied, I wasn't going on the cruise this early.... I was going to go to your house." he mumbled and I rolled my eyes smiling.

"My home is always welcome to you." I said and he smiled.

But every happy story doesn't always have a happy ending. But that makes no sense, when everything seems good.