Chapter 35


    By the time we got back to campus, everyone on the fencing team was still doting on ''little Sky'' who


    won the first meet. Everyone got a little worried when they heard I passed out but they were happy to


    see I was okay now. Before our first ss back, everyone heard about everything that happened during


    our fencing meet. Leo was extra watchful over me. Every breath I took had his attention, and people


    started to notice.


    "Leo, you''re really worried about your kid, aren''t you? I heard what happened at the meet. Are you


    okay, Sky?" Cody asked as he approached our table before ss started.


    "Sky is okay now. That''s all that matters," Leo said vaguely. Cody nced at me with a small smile


    before going back to his seat. After this weekend, people were less inclined to mess with me. I guess


    winning in your sport here earned some merit. After ss, I followed Leo to his swim practice since


    varsity fencing team earned a break from the win. Unfortunately, today''s practice involved the starter


    gun. Before practice even started, Leo was already noticeably anxious as he eyed the gun. I put a


    towel over his dry shoulders for warmth and pulled out my headphones before cing them in his ears.


    I yed calming music from my phone as he looked at me. After taking a few deep breaths, he was a


    little better. I smiled at him gently as his eyes stayed on me.


    "Thanks," he said softly. Leo was okay for a little while until the gun went off. He jumped before running


    to the locker room, the headphones ripping out of his ears. It was so fast, I would''ve missed it if I


    blinked. I followed to find him huddled in a corner, hyperventting. I sighed sympathetically as I took


    his face in my hands gently.


    "Leo, it''s okay. Everything is okay. Look at me. I''m right here," I coaxed him gently before wrapping my


    arms around him. Slowly, but surely, his breathing slowed back to a normal pace. Once I was sure he''d


    calmed down, I pulled away to hold his cheeks gently.


    "Are you ever going to tell me what happened? Maybe talking about it will help relieve some of the


    anxiety. It worries me to see you this upset," I admitted. Only being able to help Leo in this way had


    started eating at me. He was always there to cover and protect me, but the most I could ever do was


    hug him. Leo sighed before taking one of my hands in his.


    "I''ll be alright," he tried to assure me, but it didn''t work. I sighed in defeat as his thumb rubbed over the


    back of my hand.


    "I''ll go ask the coach if I can take you back to the dorms early," I said before standing. After getting the


    swim coach''s permission, Leo changed back into his normal clothes and we went back to our room.


    Leo didn''t even bother to hide how tired he was. He went straight to his bed andid down. I took my


    wrap off and changed into morefortable clothes before I sat on the edge of his bed and moved his


    bangs out of his face gently.


    "Can you tell me?" I asked quietly. Leo hesitated before he pulled me down toy with my back against


    his chest and his arms wrapped around my waist.


    "That break... there was a shooting at a pool I visited often. Some sort of dispute led a man to go crazy


    and start shooting. I only survived by hiding deep in the water, but I was under so long that I almost


    died from drowning instead. The noise of that gun going off over and over again, even from


    underwater... it makes me feel suffocated. When I see the starting gun, I feel like I can''t breath. The


    panic sets in. As a swimmer, I bespletely useless," he exined quietly. I wanted to turn to


    look at his face, but Leo''s arms held me firmly in ce.


    "I''m sorry. I had no idea it was that traumatic," I admitted. He only sighed as his breath tickled the back


    of my neck.


    "I haven''t told anyone but the police about that incident. The guy was foundter in his apartment... he


    killed himself out of guilt," Leo continued. I was quiet for a moment before I turned in his arms. His eyes


    were red and puffy. I ced a hand on his face and rubbed my thumb along his cheek gently.


    "You can''t let the craziness of one man, stop you from pursuing your dreams. You love swim, and


    you''re good at it. If you don''t work through your fear, you''re letting that man win again, even from his


    grave," I said softly. He gave a light smile before he brought his lips to mine in a gentle kiss. Although


    the kiss was quick, I wanted more. I kissed him deeply as my arm went around his neck. His hand


    moved to my hip as his mouth moved with mine. I wanted to take away his fear and pain. I wanted to


    will him into not being afraid anymore. Leo moved to hover over me as our kiss grew heated. I easily


    got lost in the moment as I pulled him closer. His lips left mine to trail down my neck. My back naturally


    arched to meet his kisses as my fingers tangled in his hair. This was going too far and I knew it, but I


    didn''t want to stop. Leo''s fingers touched the skin of my stomach as his kisses began to slow down. He


    sighed as he dropped his head in the crook of my neck.


    "Sky... this is dangerous," he admitted huskily. I was amazed he took control, I surely couldn''t do it. I


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    sighed myself as I ran my fingers through his hair.


    "I wanted to make you feel better," I admitted. Leo sat up and gave me a gentle smile beforeying


    beside me again.


    "Having you here is enough," he said sweetly before cuddling into me. Our legs tangled together as


    Leo wrapped his arms around me and ced a kiss on my head.