Trust
He performed several songs before stepping away from the mic—all peaceful, relaxing melodies that filled the café with that irreplaceable atmosphere which made people want to come back again and again.
Savannah was absolutely entranced. To say the very least. Just like she had promised, she ordered something off the menu but ended up forgetting about it, entirely thanks to Leonardo.
She watched unblinkingly as the man carefully made his way off the stage. Savannah stood up and started walking towards him—she had already paid for her coffee so she didn't care if she never came back to the table for it. Leonardo was more important right now.
However, Leo evidently did not appear pleased by the sight of Savannah walking in his direction. He stopped by the entrance to the restrooms.
"Leo, you were in—"
"This needs to stop."
Terse. Those four words wiped the smile clean off Savannah's face. Nervous all of a sudden, she swallowed her breath and lifted a tentative gaze to Leo's cold, merciless eyes. "What do you mean, I just—"
"All of it, Savannah. It just needs to stop." The man released a sigh of exasperation. His tense hand tugged at his hair for a moment, then was shoved carelessly into the pocket of his jeans. "I know I told you that you could come here but I really don't know why you insist on following me everywhere. You know where I live, where I work, which college I go 'cus you go there, too. Next thing I know you could have my social security number in your hands and then what am I supposed to do??"
Savannah couldn't find words to justify herself. She couldn't find words at all, in fact, and found herself rendered utterly speechless and guilt-heavy by Leo's harsh, yet completely reasonable accusations. Her chest clenched and her heart felt punctured.
Finally, after what seemed like ages, the girl stuttered out an apology and turned her back to Leo, making her way quickly out of the café as though her life depended on it.
He didn't want to let it bother him. Leo really didn't need to let it bother him. The last thing he needed right now was something else to weigh on his mind on top of all the other issues he was dealing with.
To his distress, however, it did bother him. Throughout the rest of his work day and on the drive home, though thankfully at that point he was at least able to push it slightly out of his mind's eye. But it still lingered.
He arrived back at his apartment later that evening and went immediately to take a shower. Then he made himself something quick and convenient to eat before collapsing on the couch. For a brief period of time, Leo attempted to study, to go over his notes and prepare himself for the next day's classes, but he soon found it virtually impossible to focus. So he resorted to scrolling mindlessly through social media to pass the time. If he were lucky it would bore him and he'd get tired before too long.
Unfortunately, the opposite happened.
Something caught his attention. A lot of people's attention, apparently. A trending tag.
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#theboywithpurpleblood
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And just like that, Leo experienced that all too familiar, recurring sensation of his heart dropping to his stomach.
He clicked on the tag.
There were quite a few posts by now, the majority of which were obviously made by students from his college.
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So the boy with purple blood is a thing apparently.
I thought it sounded cool at first but reading people's comments has kinda got me creeped out. Like, he's never been to a hospital? What if it's a disease?
He could be putting people in danger. It's freaky...
He was always quiet but now he's just straight-up refusing to talk to people. It's possible he knows more about it and doesn't want other people to know...
Guys whoever is looking at this tag, I found out he used to live in Seattle but moved because people found out about it. Some things happened there and people got really scared of him. It's vague but ngl I'm kinda creeped out. I'm glad I'm not a music major...
I don't go to the same college but I did go to high school with him. His friend touched his blood accidentally and ended up sick for a long time. He seemed okay when he came back to school but people were really suspicious. Manic behavior...it could spread.
I don't know why he doesn't just go to the hospital. Maybe they could give him some kind of shot or medicine for whatever he has but apparently he just won't do it. It's like everyone's saying. It's suspicious...
He's not a freak. Leave him alone. You don't know him. Just leave him alone.
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The one comment. Made by the same person who added on to everyone else's posts with an almost identical comment.
Leo didn't have to ask. He knew it was Savannah.
This girl, for whatever reason, seemed set on sticking up for him. And it absolutely boggled Leo's mind, because he didn't see any possible way Savannah could benefit from it. And perhaps this was one of the primary factors that contributed towards his distrust for the girl.
Leonardo had difficulty trusting people as it is. But people who seemed to have good intentions when there was no room for mutual benefit, they were the ones who truly wore on him. Aka Savannah.
Noah was the only trustworthy person.
Noah, who had known Leo as Leonardo before knowing him as the boy with purple blood. Noah, he could trust without limits. Noah and only Noah.
For his own safety, for the sake of his paranoia, this is what Leo told himself on a daily basis. Because he could never see himself coming to terms with the belief of there being someone else out there like Noah.
Regardless of these thoughts spinning relentlessly through his head, Leo once again suffered the striking guilt and uncertainty that accompanied this girl named Savannah.
He struggled, he fought with himself, to resist letting the thoughts gnaw at him any more.
Tragically, deep down, what Leonardo wanted more than anything was to trust again. So he lost to the urge and blamed it on his conscience.
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Leo.nardo
i might have been a little harsh earlier
i probably could have put my words more delicately, but i didn't, so i'm sorry
you kept your word, you ordered something. alex told me. so i shouldn't be mad.
i just don't understand you
it's human instinct to be on guard when it comes to things we don't understand. i know that quite vividly by now.
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It was but mere moments before Savannah replied.
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Not_the_desert
no, you shouldn't be apologizing
you had every right to say what you did
honestly i'm surprised you haven't filed a restraining order by now haha
i'm sure anyone else would have
you're a saint
i'm just the weird quiet kid who's been creeping you out these past few days. if you ask me i'm the one they should be calling a freak, not you.
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Leo.nardo
no you're not a freak you're just sketchy
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Not_the_desert
haha sketchy
yeah...is there still no way of me convincing you i'm not sketchy and that i just want to be friends?
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Leo.nardo
tell me your social security and credit card number
that way if you turn against me at least i have those
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Not_the_desert
deal!
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If Leonardo had been drinking anything at the time, he would without a doubt have sprayed it all over his phone screen. Instead, his eyes shot open.
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Leo.nardo
you're kidding
please tell me you're not that dumb
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Not_the_desert
what? it seems like a small price to pay to earn someone's trust. or at least, semi-trust...?
besides i don't have a lot of money
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Leo.nardo
yeah but your social security number
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Not_the_desert
i'll send it if you like
should i mail my credit card?
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Leo.nardo
ok you know what actually wtf
you know this is actually just making you seem more suspicious right??
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Not_the_desert
oh crap no rewind pls
I'll never tell you my social security number!!
(● ˃̶͈̀ロ˂̶͈́)੭ꠥ⁾⁾
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Leo.nardo
wtf am i supposed to do with you
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Not_the_desert
be friends?
i'm pushing my luck aren't i
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Leo.nardo
a little
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Not_the_desert
darn
let's start over
hi i'm savannah
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Leo.nardo
who do you work for
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Not_the_desert
starbucks
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Leo.nardo
where were you born
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Not_the_desert
some hospital
also typically i think with introductions both people say their names?
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Leo.nardo
this isn't an introduction this is an interrogation
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Not_the_desert
oh i tend to confuse the words you see
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Leo.nardo
you're weird
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Not_the_desert
it's better than being sketchy!! :D
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Leo.nardo
no you're still sketchy
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Not_the_desert
:O
how to undo
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Leo.nardo
unfollow me to my apartment
un-ask me where i work
un-give me your phone number without me asking
un-willingly offer to give me your ss# and card information??
who tf does that??
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Not_the_desert
me apparently
wait no we started over as of now all you know is that my name is savannah and i was born in some hospital that i don't remember that's it
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Leo.nardo
i'm feeling exhausted stop messaging me
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Not_the_desert
till tomorrow potential friend!!
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He honestly didn't know what to make of it. Either Savannah was an incredibly good actor, or the girl truly was the dumbest person Leonardo had ever met.
He was too tired to contemplate it any more. It had temporarily taken his attention away from the negative spotlight about his condition, but now the attention returned.
Regretful repetition of history.
He quietly set down his phone and lay himself on the couch.
The ceiling fan spun slowly, circulating air but Leo still felt suffocated.
He released a shaky breath.
"I miss Noah..."