Leo barely blocked that throw in time. The brown ball smacked his hands and rolled onto the lawn his teammates had transformed into a temporary football field. A member of the opposing team—identified by their shirtless bodies as opposed to his team member—grabbed the ball from right under his nose and ran for a touchdown.

As he crossed into the other half of the field, he was tackled by three of Leo's team members, one of whom stole the ball and made the touchdown. His team roared at their victory. Leo couldn't share their joy. Nothing was going right in his life. Even his football, the one thing he could rely on, was off.

First, it was Davina avoiding them and after, those stupid rumors that he and Kendall were in a relationship. Even his teammates, the people he thought knew him best, believed the bull about him and Kendall being childhood sweethearts who are trying to rekindle their love.

What a load of nonsense.

A water bottle slammed into his chest. He picked it up and looked at the thrower. Adam gestured with his head towards the door leading into the recreational building. “Get out of here. Go fishing or something. I heard there's a lake somewhere near the back of the resort.”

Leo considered the idea and then shook his head at its ridiculousness. What did he know about fishing? “I'll pass. I'll just take a nap or something.”

“If you meet up with Kendall, tell her–”

Without turning around to look at the idiot behind him, he replied, “Find her yourself, asshole.”

“Hey, what did I–”

“That's enough, Cody,” Adam said. “He’s had a long few days. Let him be.”

Ignoring them, Leo turned into the recreational building.

The recreational building was just a fancy name for the huge lounge of a one story building. It was an open space with couches, televisions, book shelves, vending machines and barely anything else. He walked into the building and, finding nothing and no one of interest, walked right out through the back door, contemplating where to go. He looked to his left and in the far distance…was that…

His mouth moved before he could think. “Davina,” he yelled. She stopped for a second and kept walking. He ran after her and yelled her name again. She stopped completely the second time, her body hunched over. He ran in front of her, stopping himself from hugging her outrightly. “Davina, I'm sorry."

She was silent for a long while. “Go away,” she finally said. “Just go away now. You're going to leave again. Just go.”

Leo took a step closer to her. “Davina, I'm really sorry. I shouldn't have risked our relationship for some childhood friend I don't–”

Suddenly, all the snacks in her hand landed on his body. “I said, go away!” she yelled with a shaky voice.

She was crying. Leo had never seen her cry, not even when she sprained her ankle or had a sensory overstimulation but he had caused her to. The thought drove the knife in his heart deeper and twisted it.

He pulled her into his arms and held her against him tightly as she sobbed, tears springing to his own eyes at her raw display of pain. She hit her chest and shoulders repeatedly. He remained in the position, enduring the pain. “Go away. I don't want to see you.”

“Davina, I'll apologize a million times if you need me to. I'm so sorry. I'll do anything.”

Suddenly, she threw her arms around his neck, pulling him even closer to her. “I missed you,” she cried, her croaky voice muffled in his shirt. “I missed you so much. I wish I could hate you but I can't.”

He pulled back a fraction to rest his forehead against hers. “Davina, I missed you too. The past two weeks were hell.”

She sniffed with her eyes closed. “But you were with Kendall all this while?”

“I’m not with Kendall voluntarily.”

“What about yesterday? You guys were seen–”

“We got lost in the woods when we were gathering firewood for our group's fire. We just waited until someone came to get us.” Leo sighed, hating the pile of misunderstandings that had grown in each moment they were away from each other. “The truth is our mothers are high school friends so my mom entrusted her into my care. Being around her took up so much of my time that I didn't see what I was doing wrong for a while.” He carresed her face gently, pushing back stray hairs. “My priority is going to be you from now on.”

She peeked up at him through her eyelashes and then, nuzzled her face into his body. “I don't like her being around you. I don't want to share you with anyone.”

Leo's heart skipped a beat. Was she saying what he thought she was? He bit his lip to prevent himself from grinning. “You won't have to share me with anyone. I'm all yours.”

She looked at him with big, watery eyes. “But Kendall thinks you're dating,” she wailed, a new batch of tears pouring from her eyes. “How can I win against her?”

“You already won. I have no shred of romantic feelings for her,” Leo said.

Before Davina could respond, he threw all caution to the wind and leaned down slowly to kiss her, giving her enough time to stop him. When she didn't, he pressed his lips against hers, trying to convey all his unspoken emotions. She was still for a moment and then began to respond, matching his slow pace. As opposed to more passionate kisses he had shared in the past, he was more of a novice with sweet kisses like those.

When they pulled away, Davina touched her lips, a small smile tugging at them. “Why…Why did you–”

“You're the only one I want to do this with. You're all I think about, Davina. I'll do anything just to have the opportunity to start over with you,” he whispered in the small space between them, wiping her tears away. “I'll do everything in my power to never make you cry again.”

She thought over his suggestion and gave him a small smile that had all his worries melting away.“Starting over would be far too bothersome. Let's continue where we stopped.”

“You mean that?” he asked excitedly. She nodded and he lifted her up and spinned both of them around. Placing her down, he kissed her forehead. “You won't regret it. I promise.” They stayed silent for a few minutes, staring at each other. “What do you want to do now?”

Davina blinked repeatedly, staring at his forehead. “I don't know. I haven't left my room since we arrived.”

Leo's eyes widened and he looked at the huge resort around them. “Seriously?” She nodded. “Then, we have lots to do. Let's get changed first,” he said, tugging her in the direction of the rooms. “What's your room number?”

“102,” she replied.

He grinned. “I'm 110. I'm just down the hall.” Soon, they arrived at their dorm building. When they got to their hallway, they stopped short. Their three friends stood in front of Davina's room, giving Leo the harshest glares he'd ever received in his life.

Jaiyana stalked to Leo's side and pulled Davina behind her before she could react. “You stay away from her,” Jaiyana warned.

“No,” Davina protested, trying to sidestep Jaiyana.

Jaiyana looked behind her confused at her best friendship reaction. As if seeing something in Davina's eyes, Jaiyana nodded and pulled Davina into the room and shut the door.

“Have you fixed your bug problem?” Val asked as soon as the girls were out of sight.

Leo winced. Although he had told Kendall off for encouraging those rumors, he was certain that she would keep clinging to him. “I'm…working on it.”

Damian walked to him and gripped the collar of his white T-shirt, giving him a murderous glare. “If you're leading her on, I will chop your limbs and feed them to my Rottweiler.”

Leo raised his hands in defence instinctively. “I promise I'm not. Davina means too much to me to do something like that.”

“Have you explicitly told Kendall that you two are not in a relationship in any way?” Val asked. Leo nodded furiously. Val stared at him silent for a while and then clicked his tongue. He nodded at Damian and Damian let Leo go and returned to his position behind the door.

A long twenty minutes later, the door cracked open and the girls came out with Davina tugging nervously at the hems of her new outfit. Granted the only thing she had changed was the hoodie and wore trousers instead of baggy shorts, Leo thought she looked like a million bucks.

Jaiyana stared at her best friend for a minute and then sighed, letting go of her hand. She promptly fixed a glare on me. “You two get back at ten pm. Any minute later and I'll put your head on a stake. Got that?”

Val and Damian turned to Jaiyana with confused expressions. She pulled them to her side and they had an impromptu meeting. During that time, Davina snuck to his side and held his hand. When they separated, Val and Damian glanced at him with wary expressions. “You're on thin ice, Leo,” Damian said. His gaze shifted to Davina and softened. “Have fun. If he hurts you, tell us.”

Davina beamed. “He won't but I'll keep that in mind.”

Jaiyana gagged. “Just go before I change my mind.”

Leo grinned and ran away from the three, pulling Davina behind him. “Where are we going?” Davina asked, excitement clear in her voice.

“You don't need to know. Just follow my lead.”

She pursed her lips in thought for a moment and then nodded, a beautiful smile taking over her face. “I suppose I don't need to be in control all the time,” she muttered.

Leo spun her into his arms and kissed her forehead. “I'll take care of you.”

I promise.