A Friend in Need
1335 Words
Leo
He had no where to go, so he had driven to the only place he could think of.
Leo looked out over the dark Atlantic Ocean from Montauk Point. The cold ocean breeze blew into his face, ruffling his unruly hair.
He had climbed the 137 iron steps that led to the top of the Lighthouse. As he peered over the railing, he wondered why he had to endure this.
Why does it have to be so unnatural, so complex? Why can’t I have a normal relationship with my mum? Everyone else does! Why have I become a monster like this? A dark sadness welled up inside him as he remembered those days when he was growing up in East Hampton.
His father would be away for months, expanding the Lombardi empire around the globe. Leo had hoped his mother would fill the void. Why couldn’t she give them time? And Gabby was only a child!
Thoughts of Gabriella, his sister, haunted him. She would hang on to mum’s legs, crying and begging for her to stay. She must have been around ten! Give or take a year.
He would stand in the living room watching helplessly as Gabby threw the same tantrum every time Sophia went away.
It would break his heart. Sophia would pry Gabby’s little hand open and get herself out of her clutch. She would roughly hand her over to Ma Yaya and hastily sneak out of the house. He wanted to help, he wanted to soothe his baby sister. He wanted her to stop crying.
Gabby’s crying would reach a crescendo and she would throw her arms and legs hysterically to free herself from Ma. Sometimes she succeeded and ran out of the house, running behind Sophia. Tears streamed down her face as their mother drove away.
Leo learned to be the man of the house at thirteen. He learnt how to distract Gabby, to take her mind off their mother’s frequent departures.
Sometimes it would be a Yoyo, sometimes a Rubix cube, sometimes fixing the hair on her My Little Ponies or even fashioning dresses for her Barbies. He found new ways to divert Gabby’s attention.
Ten minutes and she would be completely engrossed in anything I would cook up. He smiled. She would become my baby princess!
Leo took out his Blackberry and dialled. He heard the slow ringing of the home phone at the other end. He waited and waited until the ring went into a busy tone. There was no answer. He was getting desperate. C’mon pickup, pickup! I am sorry for being a d*ck. Answer the phone. Goddamit!
The third time he called, a familiar voice answered. “The Johnsons, how can I help?”
Leo did not know how to respond. He hung up as a cold flush went through his body.
He had not heard Ollie’s voice in over six months. Robert had flashes as the thoughts of their last encounter streamed into his head.
*** Flashback ***
It was their 1st- year completion party at MIT Sloan. They were at the MJ O'Connor's Irish Pub in Boston, getting smashed.
Leo had bought the first few rounds for his buddies. It was one of the most popular local pubs on the Boston Waterfront. It was his favourite watering hole.
He loved chatting with the pretty bartender, Gina, whenever he would drop in for a drink. She was a hottie! With a rack like that, she should have been at the Hooters! She dressed like a country girl on weekends. Her huge ass filling out her denim cutoffs, her smooth butt cheeks visible from under the frayed fabric.
The way she would jiggle her bottom, he thought amusedly. It was a very refreshing sight, every time Leo looked over the bar counter as Gina filled a pint glass of his favourite Guinness from the tap.
“Bobba”, Leo turned around at the familiar childish voice as his best friend from school, Ollie, walked in. “I wouldn’t have missed your 1st- year party for anything!”
The bugger must have driven all the way from Long Island. Leo had mentioned the party to him the same afternoon.
Oliver Palmer Johnson and Leonardo went to the Stony Brook School, one of the premier private schools on Long Island. They were best buddies all the way since seventh grade.
Ollie’s parents were a Puritan family who owned farmlands for many generations in East Hampton. In the past few centuries, their family had sold much of their land and his parents were now in white-collared jobs in New York. The Johnsons sent their only son to an expensive Christian school so that he could escape the life of the American middle class and follow the American dream. They wished Ollie would restore their family's former glory.
Leo was overjoyed to see Ollie. He looked like a cuddly bear with his short, plump frame loosely covered with a highland check Madras, which he had paired with a simple pair of light cotton trousers.
Sun of a gun! Let's rock the party!!
He introduced Ollie to his MIT buddies.
They were all dressed immaculately that evening, wearing expensive suits and glamorous gowns for the party.
As the evening progressed and everyone got more drunk, couples started flocking to the dance floor, grooving sexily to the music. Leo shifted uncomfortably on his barstool and glanced at the charmingly beautiful Eleanor Davis. He was a terrible dancer and just prayed that this would end before there was an embarrassment.
He ordered another round of drinks for everyone amidst cheers and catcalls. His chest pumped up, as his popularity remained high, and he didn't have to hit the dance floor. Eleanor, too, continued to chat with him, standing next to him, sensually leaning over the bar counter with her hands and the mounds resting on the counter.
Leo loved the way she tilted her head to look at him, and a single wisp of her golden locks swung in front of her face.
She was smart and sexy, a beauty with brains! She was definitely going to be top of the class.
Right now, she was wearing the most delectable and tantalising silver brocade gown.
It shined invitingly against her milky white skin. The tip of the 'V' of her backless gown ran all the way down, exposing the bulge at the top of her butt.
Was that a hint of her butt crack? His roving eyes sent his thoughts into a frenzy, and he desperately wanted to see more of her body.
She can’t be wearing any panties! He loosened his black tie with the rising heat as he fantasized about his college crush.
He had seen his share of evening dresses to know that Eleanor could not sport any style of knickers underneath hers.
Holy f*ck! She has gone commando tonight!
He worried about the dancing mania all around him, with couples rocking the dance floor. Eleanor was right next to him, warming up to him. He fretted about his moves like a clumsy teenager, anxious about going wrong with his crush.
So he and Ollie had kept the light-hearted conversation going with her.
It was an open secret in his class, that Leo had the hots for Eleanor! None of his MIT buddies dared to ask her for a dance.
The alcohol was slowly eroding his inhibitions, and he reached out to touch that enticing, exposed part of Eleanor’s back, where the converging waistline of her gown met her ass.
“Can I have the privilege of a dance with the lady?” Ollie's voice felt as if a bucket of ice- cold water was emptied over Leo's head.
He narrowed his eyes as Ollie stood in front of Eleanor with his hands outstretched.
His ears heated up. Was it a feeling of embarrassment or of betrayal? He would think about that later.
He channelled it into the only feeling he was comfortable with. Anger!!
*****
- Writer
