Once beaten, twice shy

FIFTY-THREE

LEONE

I couldn’t help the smile on my face as I walked to the hall. I was beyond happy with the way my love life was moving. Though, I and Lynn had decided that we would not make love at home. This part would be hard to keep, but I was hoping that it would get easier and everything would fall into place. There was one thing for sure, I couldn’t wait for life to set its motion and we wouldn’t have to play the game of hide and seek anymore.

I sighed as I looked around the deserted hallway. This was the best place to have this type of discussion because no-one would notice that there was something wrong. With that, I dialled the doctor’s number.

“Hello, this is doctor Evans on the line. What can I do for you?” The familiar voice rang out.

I took a deep breath. “It’s Leone Russo,” I said at once.

“Oh, Leone! I have been expecting your call since you left. I almost thought that you may have abandoned Mrs Russo here,” he said calmly.

I frowned. “Do not even say that as a joke, doctor. I can never think of anything happening to…” I trailed off. It was not wise to inform them that she was my mother now, or they would close off. “I wanted to know how she is.”

There was a slight brush, and then a loud screech. I didn’t remember the hospital being so violent earlier, but I guess that people do change, and that was the case at the moment. I sighed in frustration at the whole thing.

“Your mother is still the same. She misses you,” he said calmly.

My frown deepened as I pushed my hand through my hair. “How do you mean? Before I left, she couldn’t even remember who I was,” I said stiffly.

A low hum from the doctor. “That much is true. But, there are also moments when she said that you were the one who claimed to be her son. It was quite emotional. You should have been here, Mr Russo,” he said calmly.

Was Doctor Evans trying to figure out the truth and lying through his teeth while at it. Maybe, I had made a mistake and that hospital was not the best place to take mother too, but at the time, I had run out of limited options.

“Mr Russo,” Doctor Evans pulled me back.

I sighed. “Well, if that happens, tell her I would try to make out time to come to her,” I said firmly.

“I would do that.”

I swallowed. “Please, take care of her. I need her to be more coherent. It’s been so many years and I think she should have been healed by now.”

The doctor laughed softly. “It’s not a fever that can just go when you treat it. This is a mental issue, and she is pretty traumatised looking for a child that is not there. It takes time for these things to heal,” he said calmly.

I closed my eyes. “Of course. I would call again when I can.”

“Ok, Mr Russo,” he said calmly.

The line went dead, and I tried hard not to think of morbid thoughts, but it was so difficult to do that with everything that was presently happening. I felt like I was being submerged inside the water, and I couldn’t see the front of me. It was the worst experience ever.

A hand brushed my back slightly, and I blinked in shock. Did Lynn come over to my side of the school? Even if she did, it was someone else. Her hands were sliding down my butt. I wasted no time to distance myself from the lady, and stared right at Bianca.

“What do you think you’re doing?” I snapped at the tall ginger girl, that was all shades of classless.

She smiled lazily at me, and stepped forward to inch back, but I was not fast enough. Her hands touched my abs. I used my free hands to stop her from doing more damage to me. It was so annoying when people overstep their boundaries.

She pouted softly. “Are you shy?” She queried. I was about to respond, but she beat me to it. “Ok, we can take it elsewhere, away from this frigid school. I’m sure you can’t wait to undress me, and then hold hands in front of a Netflix originals. It would be… so hot,” she said for effect.

I pulled further away from her, this time giving her a healthy distance. “Look, I have no idea why you’re behaving this way, but you’ve definitely got the wrong one. I have no idea when I led you on or acted like I remotely liked you. Damn, we haven’t said more than two words to each other since we got to this school, so what gave you the right to do this?”

Bianca glared at me. “Why are you so angry? Since, you got to this school, you haven’t been with any woman. It’s only natural your buddies would be worried about you, and ask me for help. I’m not a cheap slut, but I wanted to give you a chance because you looked matured, and someone who would know what he was doing in the bedroom.”

I glared at her in rage. How dare she talk to me this way?

Before I could give her the piece of my mind, she walked off from me. I was beyond livid at this point, and walked out of the hall, to the field. The guys leaned against a beat-up truck, laughing their head out at me. I had no idea what to feel, but this wasn’t making me feel better, instead I was so annoyed.

“You shouldn’t have done that,” I snapped.

They only laughed at me the more. “What the fuck is your problem, huh? Do you understand that you almost ruined me just because you wanted to set me up? I’m old enough to figure out the type of woman I want to spend my time with.” I snapped. They guffawed. “What the fuck is funny?” I snapped in rage.

There was a cold rage inside of me that was difficult to pull down, and all I wanted to do was to scream. If I stayed back I had no idea what I would do to them, so I left. Father always said I had a bad temper, and I guess that was true. I couldn’t afford to be rusticated because of those fools.

***

LYNETTE

“Lynn, I would like you to teach me the five pencil techniques of drawing a fish. I’m not so good at it, and I worry what would happen if I’m not able to deliver in the next class,” Harriet whined beside me.

I sighed as I put my paintings by the side, with the other tools. “I would see what I can do, Harriet,” I said calmly.

I could tell she was smiling even without looking at her. That was her way whenever she got her way. I wasn’t sure I would be able o squeeze in teaching her, but since she was the only one here who was at least friendly to me, I didn’t think that it was much of a bother.

“Ok, we will discuss this later. My twin is texting me repeatedly that he needs to go home. I swear, he is such a baby,” she complained.

I used a band to tie the last tool. “You like it anyway. See ya.”

She grinned, and ran off to the exit. I sighed in frustration. This was something I thought I would enjoy, but the course made you sweat it out. I had to learn the most complicated techniques that was not so fun. A couple of people had dropped since the class officially started, but I was still here, so I guess there is that.

Suddenly, I felt a hand sneak around my waist, and hold me tight. I elbowed the bastard without looking. It was none other than Gregory.

“Don’t try that again,” I snapped.

He grinned at me as he itched the back of hair. I looked at his canvass and baggy clothes in anger. How could this type of person even try to hold me at all? The guts of this bastard was pretty astounding and annoying too, and I wanted to choke the grin out of his damn face.

“Oh, come on!” He said with a laugh. “I know that this was what you wanted so bad. You want me to date you, and make you feel special. I see the way you look at me when we sketching, and I bet that all your paintings are all about me.”

I huffed in rage, and proceeded to take the tools up, only for his hand to stop me. I didn’t think twice as I slapped him across the cheek. A few people had turned towards us, and I mentally sighed. “I hope you’re not deaf. If you come around me again, I would teach you a lesson,” I snapped at her.