I'm Nothing Without You Chap 8

Leigh clears his throat. ‘I’m-’

‘What are you both doing there?’ we heard Mom’s calling us from a far cutting Leigh.

We both look at each other. ‘Nothing Mom, we were just talking.’ I shouted back.

‘Ohh... but honey can you talk inside the house? You both might get cold.’

‘Okay Mom.’ I agree immediately. ‘Let’s go inside Leigh.’ We started our pace immediately. Ahead of us, Mom’s waiting for us expectantly. ‘Leigh.’ I called his attention.

‘Hhmm?’

‘I’m not crying, okay?’ he looks at me disapprovingly. ‘Please. Mom’s going to panic if she knew about it.’

He just nods his head without a word.

Later that day we are ask by Mom to buy some groceries at the store. On the way to the store no one of us has mention about Leigh’s memories. In my part, I think it doesn’t matter anymore about knowing his real name. He’ll leave soon.

We arrive at the store and purchase everything we needed. As we go to the cashier we see Leslie, my childhood friend. ‘Hey Les.’ I greeted her.

‘Oh! Hi Avie. Hi Leigh. Doing some shopping?’

‘Yeah.’ Leigh answer.

Leslie smile at me mysteriously. ‘Avie, have you heard the news?’ she asks me as the three of us were heading for the cashier.

‘What news?’

‘Oliver’s engaged and the wedding will be at the end of this month.’ She said simply at me.

I stop and look at her. Leigh is just listening at us. ‘No way!’

‘Way…’ Leslie said smiling at me.

I can’t help my self to giggle. ‘That’s great news Les.’

‘I heard-’ Leslie’s sentence was abruptly interrupted by the breaking news on the TV. It is about the lost rich heir that is suspected to be kidnap. The heir is lost for quite sometime and his family is worried about his safety. His family hasn’t lost any hope in finding him. ‘The Thompson’s is positive that their son is still alive.’

‘Avie, let’s go.’ Leigh said as he holds my wrist and drags me. He is the one holding our items.

I said my goodbye to Leslie and hurriedly moves my feet. Leigh is almost dragging me towards the exit. ‘Hey, Leigh wait. What’s the rush?’ I said to him but it seems like he didn’t heard my words. ‘Leigh my wrist is hurting!’ I told him and forcefully I yank my wrist from his grip. I look at my wrist and then sigh. Oh no I bruise easily, I though.

‘I’m sorry. I’m just preoccupied about something.’

We walk quietly towards the hut. I though about the missing heir that was on the news awhile ago, then I said to myself loudly. ‘The Thompsons are sure rich. Sadly it’s their wealth that puts their son’s life in jeopardy.’ I commented.

I felt him tense behind me. ‘It’s not their son’s fault, you know.’ He said to me in a whisper.

‘Yeah, well I guess so.’

We were at our front door before we notice that the door’s lock. Leigh decides to go to the kitchen’s door to check if the door is also lock. If it is, then we have no choice but to wait for Mom. I’m about to follow him but a girl suddenly arrives and ask me something.

‘Excuse me,’ she gets my attention with a sweet voice. ‘I was told by a man that this is the house of the Henrich. I’m looking for Ms. Avie Henrich is she around?’ ask the girl politely at me.

‘Uhuh… your talking to her know.’ I said smiling at her politeness. As I’ve assess her, she was about my age, only shorter than me by an inch or three, and judging by the way he dresses I bet she is rich. The girl is beautiful and has an angelic face.

Suddenly her angelic face is transform into a wicked monster and all her politeness was gone when she dashes towards me. ‘You bitch!’ she said and pulling my hair out from its roots. ‘What are you thinking seducing my man? You whore.’

I shouted and pull back my hair. I’ve successfully retrieve my hair but I don’t have time to celebrate or do some counter attacks towards her as she is now slapping my face. She is strong and fast for her petite size. She manages to drag me using my hair. I can’t predict what she’ll going to do with me next. All I can do is to move away from her or push her aside. Okay, I got to admit to my self, I’m not good at this.

Just as I prepare to receive another scratch from her, Leigh suddenly appears and shielded me using his back. ‘What’s going on here? Who are you?’ he asks the girl stoically and is now holding both her arms. I just buried my face from his back, feeling all the pain the girl has inflicted on me.

‘That girl,’ she said and throwing me a disgusted look. ‘is seducing my man. I want you to leave him alone. Leave us all alone!’ she shouted. ‘We were about to-’

‘I never seduced anyone.’ I said in a whisper still my face buried from Leigh’s back. ‘Never…’

‘Bitch! You’re a liar.’ She accuses me. ‘He never shows up last night and it’s all thanks to you.’

‘Wait. I’m confused here. Who’s your ‘man’?’

‘Oliver.’ She simply said. ‘And this girl is trying to ruin our relationship.’

The nerve of that guy! Leigh though. ‘Wha-’

‘I’m not trying anything to ruin your relationship. In fact,’ I said and came out from Leigh’s back. ‘I’m so happy that he’s getting married. To tell you the truth, he pisses me off.’ Leigh looks at me shocked is written all over his face. I don’t care what he thinks of me, all I know now is I’m angry. ‘I’ve been trying to avoid him ever since the day we meet and I’m tried of him. Don’t worry, I’m not doing anything stupid to stop your wedding. You know what I’m also celebrating with you. Celebrating that finally my life would be quiet without Oliver’s around.’ I said. ‘You can leave now before anyone could see you. I’m not reporting this if that bugs you.’ I sigh and lean to Leigh and he manages to comfort me by putting one arm around my waist.

As if embarrass by what I just said, she quietly follows my order and walks away. My anger didn’t subside as I remember something. ‘And Ms. Before I forget,’ I calls her attention. She stops walking and turn around to look at me. ‘Can you please tell your man,’ I said to her sarcastically. ‘to leave me alone now that he’s engaged. I really appreciate it.’

‘Ahhh… what a day!’ I said later that afternoon. I’m seating near the shore with my drawing materials on my lap. I look at my bruises and my cuts that Oliver’s fiancée made and then sigh. Mom and Leigh manage to treat my wounds but Mom keeps on nagging me about what happen earlier. I just keep my mouth shut.

‘I’m sorry I’m a bit late.’ He said at me when he notices what I’m sighing for.

I shook my head on Leigh as if I already knew what he’s talking about. I do know it. ‘Of course your not. You’re just in time. Thank you.’ He took a deep breath before he nods at me. I smiled upon seeing the sunset. I wish you could see this baby, I though. I then started opening my sketch book and started to draw.

‘You know how to draw?’

‘A little, it’s my hobby.’ I said and started to do my thing. We were both quiet. Leigh’s looking at the sunset and after a while diverted his gaze on me. I didn’t mind him because I’m busy with my sketch. Moment’s later, I’ve notice that he is now looking at me intently. I raise my gaze at him and there I see a pair of expressive grey eyes looking straight at me. ‘Is something wrong with my face?’ I kid him without smiling.

He just smiles adoringly at me and shakes his head. ‘I’m just thinking of something that’s all.’

I first look at him suspiciously before I continue my work.

‘Avie when I’ll leave here, can you go with me to the city?’ he asks me out of the blue.

‘No.’ I said without looking at him.

‘Avie…’

‘Leigh…’ I said imitating his tone. I chuckle softly as I see he made face at me. ‘I can’t leave Mom here.’

‘Who says we’re leaving Mom here?’

‘Leigh, I’m contented with our life here. I don’t want to go back to the city. I have smell enough urban air and I’ve decided months ago that I’ll never go back to such place. I hate it. The busy streets, noisy people, pollution and everything, I don’t want to leave in that place anymore. I want it here, peaceful, well except for the fact when Oliver’s around, quiet and most of all I’m with nature. And most importantly, Leigh, I can’t trade a simple rural life to an urban one.’

‘What if… I can find you a place such as this in the urban?’

I just chuckle at his absurdity. Who can find a place such as this place in the urban?

‘I’m serious…’ he said in a whisper and barely audible.

I just focus my attention to my sketch. I’m about to finish putting on details to my drawing when Leigh speaks again.

‘Aren’t you interested knowing my real name?’

‘Oh… sure I’ am.’

He first took a deep breath and looks at me straight in the eye. His expression is serious as he starts talking. ‘Avie, I’m… K-Klive Emil… Tho- Thompson.’