The Reason by Hoobastank

David is getting closer with Lea.

At least, that is what he thinks. Apparently it's not the same on Lea's side of the boat.

Lea is confused with David's shenanigans. But she has no one to blame but herself. She did promise him that she will help him and that she will be a friend to him. Now she is reaping the consequences of such a promise.

She is trying not to mind it though. It's just that...it has been a long time since she had a 'stable' friendship.

David does not know about Lea's predicament, and it is the same for Lea in terms with David.

But they do always end up talking about something, anything that would be brought up in their conversations. And there is no denying that both of them liked talking to each other a lot. The problem here is that none of them knows that.

Lea's dad is still at the hospital where he receives the 24/7 care he needs to recuperate. It pains Lea to know and see that she is not the one taking care of him. With her mother home for just two days (and today being her last day with her) and school, spending a lot of time with her father is tricky. Thankfully, David has been indirectly helping her get by.

Right after Sir Adrien dismissed the last class for the day, David collected all his belongings and walked to the front row of the room to Lea's seat.

"Hey," he calls out softly at Lea, "do you have any plans for dinner later?"

Lea stops in the middle of fixing her art supplies to look around the now empty classroom and points a finger to herself. "Are you talking to me?"

Davids lets out a soft laugh and gestures to the empty classroom."I guess I am talking to you."

Lea suppresses an eyeroll and continues to collect her things. "I might just take-out again..." She answers, "or maybe my mom might whip something up fast because she has a flight to catch tonight.

"I hope I'm not intruding by asking this, but won't you eat with your mom before she leaves for work again?"

Lea stops what she was doing and glares at David. "Mom does not have the time nowadays. I think that's self-explainable ever since you found out about dad."

"Sorry," David immediately apologizes. "It takes time for me to connect details."

"Yeah, I've noticed that," Lea mutters under her breath and slings her bag over her shoulder. "Anyway," Lea starts to walk to the exit, "I'll get going. Bye-"

"W-Wait!" David stammers and goes to where Lea is standing. "How about you have dinner in my place tonight?"

"Are...are you serious?"

Davids nods. "Yes, I am. And you shouldn't worry about anything. I'm sure my family won't mind."

"But, I do," Lea interjects. "I mind. You've done a lot for me, David, and I thank you for that. This dinner that you are inviting me to is a bit too much alrea-"

"Lea," David interrupts, "it's just dinner, and when was the last time you've eaten dinner with someone other than yourself?" He raises an eyebrow to prove his point. Lea cannot believe that he is winning this argument.

David notices her sudden silence and reluctance. "I think I'm proving a point here," he utters while walking nearer to Lea until he is standing right in front of her. "And that I'm winning," he continues, smirking right at her.

Lea jabs her finger onto his chest. "Just once," she says. "I'll let you win this time." Hopefully I won't regret this, she thought.

David's smirk turns into a wide grin. "Deal."

------------

"So, my brother's name is Ben," David tells Lea as they walk up the front porch steps of David's family house.

"Short for Benjamin?"

"Yes," he answers.

"That's a lovely name," mutters Lea under her breath.

"I agree," David suddenly says and his response surprises Lea. "Benjamin sound better than David, right?"

"Your name is lovely too, David. Aren't all names lovely?"

David lets out a light laugh as he rings the doorbell of his house. "Nice save, Lea." He moves back and waits for the door to open which leads Lea to scrunch her eyebrows in confusion.

"Isn't this your house?" She asks.

"Yep," David simply answers whilst rocking back and forth on the balls of his feet.

"And you are ringing the doorbell to your own house?"

David looks at her with a smile, "You'll see," he simply says. The door to his house opens, and the one behind it is a guy who also has the same color of David's hair and same shape of face but with a semi-flat nose and freckles on his cheek. "Ben!"

"Ben" places a hand on his right ear and covers it for awhile whilst wincing before letting go and stares at Lea without uttering a word.

"Oops, sorry," David apologizes. "I got too excited to see you. This is Lea," he says, holding Lea's arm as he notices Ben staring at her. "She is my friend and classmate. Lea, this is Ben, my brother."

"Hi Ben," Lea greets him as she holds out a hand for him to shake. Ben continues to stare at her then looks down, almost in shame or shyness then suddenly closes the front door with a slam.

"Woah," Lea utters in shock with the sudden action.

"Dammit," David swears under his breath. "Ben!" He calls out, "Please open the door, Ben!"

"Is your brother okay?" Lea asks.

"He gets anxious around new people...even around friendly faces."

Lea understands; it's one of the conditions that Ben has.

David opens his bag and brings out a keychain with a lot of keys on it. He goes through the keys until he finds the one he is looking for and inserts it into the keyhole of the door.

"I thought you did not have your keys with you. That's why you waited for your brother to open the door-"

"We do that in order to condition him into being less anxious towards new people like the mailman or even who just walk by on the sidewalk," David cuts her off. Finally the door is unlocked and David pushes the door open. "You don't have to worry too much though. Just give him some time."

David lets Lea enter the house first and Lea examines the quaint and tranquil interior design the house adheres to. It is not one of those modern houses that people see nowadays, it's more of the traditional style made famous 20 years ago.

"Your house feels...homey," Lea could not stop herself from saying as she looks around and notices the paintings of different landscapes on every wall, but no family pictures.

"It gets too much, to be honest." David gets Lea's bag from her shoulder and places it on the sofa.

"Why?"

"For me, I lost my sense of home in this house."

Lea frowns with David's answer and decides to not add or comment on it. "I see," she utters and takes a seat on the sofa. David takes a seat beside her and the both of them stay quiet for some time - not really knowing what to talk about with one another.

"So Lea," David starts, "what do you do aside from school? Got any hobbies or..."

"I work at the public library," Lea says. This causes David to raise his eyebrows in surprise.

"You do? What do you do there?"

"Well, I cover the books there, I also create their control and account numbers for inventory and such. You seem surprised with my work."

"I actually wanted to work in the library," David tells her truthfully.

Lea scoffs. "You? Wanting to work at the library?"

David gasps in fake offense, "You think that I'm not the type to read and even enjoy books?"

"Honestly, nope! I only thought you loved memes and 9gag more than anything."

"Well, sorry to burst your bubble, but we, 9gaggers, are one of the best group of readers in the world. That is why we are so witty!"

Lea lets out a soft laugh, "Okay, okay. I'll believe you - unless I really see proof. Remind me to take you to work one day and help me out."

"So..." David says, prolonging the word, "we'll still be hanging out after this?"

"Yeah," Lea answers. "Why?"

"At school you said that you will only do this with me for one time."

"I meant 'dinner', David," Lea clarifies. "Helping me out in the library is not dinner."

David breaks off into a smile. "I'm going to remember those words that came from your mouth."

Lea smiles back at him just as the front door opens and in walks a man and a woman with tired-looking faces. The man is carrying a briefcase with him while the woman, a shoulder bag.

"Mom, dad," David stands to greet his parents. Lea stands too but stays in her place, deciding if whether or not she should go to greet them too. But...she's too shy, and they might think that she is David's girlfriend!

How horrible and awkward would that be! She thought.

"I brought my friend over," David looks at Lea and extends a hand to her. Lea takes it and is pulled by David to go closer to him. "this is Le-"

"The maids prepared dinner already, right?" David's dad, Dr. Arnold Chapman, says and walks right past David and Lea. His wife, Dr. Paula Chapman, follows her husband and answers, "Of course dinner is ready. I had my secretary call the maids to prepare the food two hours ago."

"Then let's eat," Dr. Arnold says and enters the dining room with his wife, leaving both David and Lea alone in the living room.

Lea notices that David let out a long and heavy sigh and mutters under his breath, "Every single time." Lea decides not to comment and wait for him to say anything directed to her. So is she really part of the dinner? Or...?

"Come," David looks at her with a smile on his face, opposite to the look of disappointment he was trying to hide from Lea awhile ago, "let's have dinner."

Ah, so she really is having dinner with them.

Lea stops David from walking by holding his arm. "You okay?" She asks as David looks at her hand on him. He pulls his arm away from her hold and smiles reassuringly.

"Why? Who said I wasn't? Now, come on. Let's have some dinner." David wraps an arm around Lea's shoulders and leads the way to the dining area. They both enter another open room and Lea is mesmerized with the high ceiling adorned with an asymmetrical yet aesthetic design of the lights hanging from it. In front of them is a glass table with different dishes on it and Lea has never had anything this aromatic in a long time.

"I told the maids to prepare another set for a visitor who will sit beside me," David whispers to her ear. "Follow me."

They both walk to the dining table and the three other people who are at it do not notice the two at all. David pulls back the seat for Lea and she thanks him quietly while taking on a seat on it. David pulls out his own and sits on it too.

"David, who is the visitor?" His mom suddenly asks as she glances between David and Lea warily. David almost jumps out of his seat in shock, he did not expect his mother to even say anything about Lea's presence.

"O-Oh!" He stutters and pulls off a wide smile. "This is Lea. She is my classmate in school."

"Good evening," Lea nicely greets the parents. "I hope you would not mind me-"

"Are you another girlfriend of David?" His mom interrupts Lea which leaves the young girl to stammer with her words.

"G-Girlfriend?"

"I think you're the fifth girl David has brought home to dinner," David's dad suddenly chimes in while typing on his phone.

"Arnold!"
"Dad!"

Both David and his mom scold him at the same time. Lea's eyes widen in surprise with the information and she could feel her heart drop. Fifth?

"Dad, I never-"

"Wow, David," Ben's voice looms over David's, "You're suddenly the talk of the table. It's been months since mom and dad even wanted to talk about what's going on in your life," he finishes in a monotonous voice.

"And what are you trying to imply with that, Ben?" David asks in a harsh voice as he glares at Ben.

"Boys," Their mother warns them but that does not stop the brothers from continuing.

"Woah, don't be too mad," Ben continues, "What I'm just saying is that maybe you should bring that girl with you here all the time to make mom and dad notice and talk to you-"

David slams his hands on the table which causes everyone's attention on him and Ben to stay silent. "Her name is Lea," he sneers before standing abruptly. "I'm sorry. I feel too full to eat for tonight." With that, Lea quietly watches him leave the dining room until they all could hear the slamming of the front door.

"Ben," their mother starts, "those were not nice things to say."

"But didn't you say that I should always say the truth at all times?"

"I-I know, but," their mom lets out a sigh, "Just eat your food, Ben. Please."

The family continues to eat their food despite a having a person missing at the table. Lea should go to David instead of staying here. She needs to go to him.

"Excuse me, but I would have to go ahead," She utters as she also stands.

"Won't you finish dinner with us, Lea?" Their mom asks.

"I actually had dinner before coming here, Mrs. Chapman. I appreciate the dinner." Lea finishes and walks out of the dining room to find David who is hopefully outside the house. Lea reaches the front door and opens it for her to go outside.

It's dark outside, with the street lamps as the source of light on the streets with the only exception of the moon.

Lea sees David sitting on a swinging bench connected to two trees on their front lawn. She goes near him and quietly takes a seat beside him.

David notices Lea's presence beside him and he heaves a sigh. "I'm sorry..."

Lea pulls her legs up for them to also rest on the bench. "That seemed eventful," she comments.

"Not a good time to say that, Lea." David abruptly stands and walks forward, not wanting to face Lea.

Lea's heart drops and she feels guilt starting to creep through her. That was insensitive of her to say that, and she knows that. But why did she still say it!

David does not turn to look at her and all the more does she start to panic. She must do something fast. With her friendship with David, she can't just jeopardize what they both have formed.

She knows that she should not say anything since her words might come out sarcastic to David. Then it all comes at once - she knows what she can do. She looks at David again and sharply intakes a breath. This better work, she thought.

David should not feel mad. It's not the first time that he was treated that way by his parents and brother. But maybe what added more hurt was the fact that Lea was there to witness it all. David does not want that. Whatever happens to him at home should stay at home and never meddle with anyone else he knows.

David lets out another heavy sigh until his breath hitches in his throat as he feels someone snake their arms around him from the back. His hands fly to hold the hands resting on his stomach. "L-Lea?" He stammers.

"Yeah?" She acknowledges with her quiet voice behind him as she rests her head on his back.

And for the first time after what happened, David smiles and chuckles. "You, Lea, are the most unpredictable person I have ever met."

"Is that a bad thing?" Lea quietly asks.

David turns to face her without disconnecting her arms around him,. "It's the best thing in times like this," he answers truthfully before wrapping his arms around Lea.

The both pull away a bit for them to face each other. Smiles on their faces and a hint of red on Lea's cheeks...but David does not know that and Lea hopes that it stays that way.

"If you want..." Lea starts which sparks David's attention, "we could start having dinner at my house. Although we have to be the ones to prepare the food and then clean up everything after."

David lets out a hearty laugh and pulls Lea closer to him. "What's the catch?"

"We'll keep each other company," she answers with a shrug. "Will that be enough?"

"I'll like that," David whispers.