Leona

I felt the warm familiar embrace before I even opened my eyes. I could pinpoint the aroma surrounding me from any crowded room. It swirled around in my dreams, my thoughts, and my desires.

My heavy eyelids fluttered open to see Greyson's sweaty furrowed brow. Multiple male teachers were standing behind him along with the rest of the school trying to peer into the dim hallway to see 'the freak'.

"Everyone, please back up. Give her some room." I heard Ms. Farr say from the end of the corridor. Grey's hand left hand was holding the back of my head off of the floor and his other was on the small of my back, sending shivers down my legs.

"Are you ready to stand? Or do you need me to carry you?" Grey asked me in his soft tone, knowing that after a panic attack it is very hard to walk let alone move. After I didn't answer, I felt my body being lifted from the ground. And a strong muscular arm wrapped around my legs while the other gripped my shoulder.

I could have stayed like this forever, I thought.

"You're okay. I have you." I closed my eyes and allowed myself to drift off with my cheek pressed up against Grey's solid chest.

____

When I awoke, warm leather pressed against my cool skin which ever so slightly moved as my surroundings shook. I looked around to see that I was in a vehicle and quickly sat up and frantically looked around, unaware of where I was headed.

"Hey, it's okay. You're with me." Grey's calm voice soothed my momentary panic. I turned to see him still in his basketball shorts with tousled hair. Sweat still dripped from his temples.

My phone! If he got a hold of my phone he would see the texts from Valeera. I patted my pocket and immediately felt relief as I felt the outline of the rectangular device still in its place.

"I'm taking you home if that's alright." He filled the silent air between us. I realized that I still hadn't said anything to him.

"Uh, yeah." Once I was fully awake, I noticed that we were only a few minutes from my house. He must have known where I lived.

"It's the next left," I stated in a groggy voice that was cringe-worthy.

"Oh, yeah, I know, dumpster girl." I rolled my eyes towards the busy street to my right.

He knew that it was me hiding.

I should have been embarrassed by the fact that he saw me hiding that one day, but I allowed it to roll off of me. Grey turned left and slowly rolled to a halt in front of my dirty white house with the siding that was falling off the front. My eyes fell to my black converse sneakers.

"So, I was told about this double date thing. They were thinking about tomorrow. Should I pick you up at seven?"

"Yeah, that's fine," I mumbled as I reached for the door handle of his expensive SUV, anything to escape this awkward goodbye.

"Are you, alright or do you need me to stay?" He asked me as froze and glanced at my beat up house. He wasn't used to this type of living, and I didn't want my aunt to see him.

"I'm fine. Thank you for... saving me... Again."

"Yeah, well, I can't wait for our date. I know you'll look beautiful, as always." My mouth parted as my breath hitched in my throat. He thought I was beautiful, but I didn't know what to say.

"You too," I said as I fully pulled on the metal bar and hopped out of the car, slamming it behind me. I could hear his laughing halfway down the street as he drove off.

Why was I such a dork when it came to him?

I shuddered at the exchange that had just taken place as I entered my house. Immediately, I was bombarded with questions by my Aunt.

"Where the hell were you? I got a call from the school you passed out or something and then some boy drops you off in that!? What does he want from you?" Her words cut through me like a knife as I watched her red frizzy hair soak up the smoke that was clouding around her. I had grown accustomed to the harsh words when and if she was around.

"I'm sorry you received that call. I'm okay now." I responded in the most diplomatic tone I could muster. She must have not taken a liken to this because the next thing I knew the back of her boney hand smack against my right cheek. The sound cracked throughout the hollowness of our broken makeshift home.

Emotionlessly, I brought my hand up to my cheek and stared at the bottom of the stairs. Heated swarmed the surface of my delicate skin where her hand had come in contact with.

"Damn rotten child! It was your mouth that drove your daddy over the edge. You killed my sister!" She screamed in my face, allowing the smell of alcohol to waft into my nostrils. I closed my eyes, fighting the tears that threatened to fall at the command of her words.

"Don't you dare, bring up my mother," I said as my nails dug into my palms. I turned without seeing her expression. I didn't want to stay around for what was about to happen.

I ran up the stairs and thankfully reached my room before she was able to stumble towards my door. I slammed it shut, turned the lock and slid down to the floor with my back up against the wood just in time before the banging of her fists resonated within the walls of my chest.

I chanted outlines of poetry under my breath to distract me from the chaos.

"The beating fists are drowned out by your heart's rhythm. My swollen tear-filled eyes are wiped by your caring hands. You're the essence of comfort. You're the motion to my frozen world. Wrap me in your arms again, for I'm longing for your embrace." I whispered my improvised poem until the banging ceased.

For the first time in years, I didn't want to be alone.