Chapter 28
It had been a day and a half since the blow up with Mamá.
They only had three days before she showed again, and Esmie did not want to see her mother back on her brother’s doorstep.
As each hour passed, Esmie felt the knots of uncertainty coil in her stomach.
Leo’s solution the day Mamá showed up didn’t work, yet even if he did find a cure to remove the purple from her face, she still dreaded going home.
This was her first true act of defiance.
The fallout from it might even be worse than being caught by Genetronetics or the Director of the Lab.
Although they hadn’t been able to talk about his question, and admission, Samson attempted to cheer her up, teasing her and insisting her decision was the right one.
But he did little to pacify her growing anxiety.
Thoughts plagued her that it might just be easier to go home and deal with her mother’s wrath which would subside once she was able to control the situation again.
Her mother having control was the goal after all, wasn’t it? What else could go wrong?
The news was no better, with reporters cautioning people about the war on drugs going on in the streets of Andloor.
They insisted people avoid going out at night, especially in downtown Andloor, unless absolutely necessary and to report anyone who they suspected was on a substance.
They never outright stated glass, but the implication was there.
Leo was holding off his boss, Jared, from sending out the drones as best he could, but the pressure was on and growing daily.
After a grueling day of trying to use her powers to hide her face, with no success, Esmie sat down to watch the news and hopefully relax.
Unfortunately, the reporters were listing the latest warnings.
Even the people living in the suburbs were advised to stay indoors once night fell.
The net was tightening on them, and they needed to find a solution fast.
“Here is the most recent batch I know will rid you of the purple nuisance on your face.” Leo burst through the door, triumphantly holding up a plastic container with a beige cream inside. Samson slipped in behind him, closing the door.
“Finally. Mamá is furious enough as it is. She’ll be dragging me back home any day now.” Esmie stood from the couch.
Leo set down his things, then faced Esmie and lifted her chin so he could rub the cream along the area around her eyes. “Close your eyes so I can get your lids and don’t open them until I tell you to.” Esmie obeyed waiting patiently. She could feel the heat of Samson’s gaze as he watched them.
“How long will it take to work?” she asked.
“Within a few minutes,” Leo said. The next few tense minutes, they all sat and waited. Leo and Samson’s eyes strayed from the news to her face every few seconds. She wanted to yell at them to stop because they were making her more nervous. When the time expired, Leo blew out a frustrated sigh.
“It didn’t work?” Esmie huffed. Leo shook his head. “I was hoping you would’ve found a way to get my life back to normal.”
“You have to know I’m trying. I’ve never dealt with anything like this before. It’s all new to me.” Leo frowned, staring at the cream. He pulled out his tablet and entered in some information, then handed the cream over to Samson who sniffed it.
Esmie regretted her remark. Leo was doing everything in his power to help her, while also hiding it from their mother. He could have left her to figure it out on her own, or worse, told Mamá. Everything he did was a huge favor to her. The least she could do was be appreciative of it.
“I know you are and I’m sorry. You have no idea how much I appreciate all you’re doing for me.” Esmie hung her head. Leo glanced up from the tablet, handed it to Samson then pulled her in for a hug.
“I know you’re worried and if I was in your shoes I would be just as frustrated and freaking out even more than you are.
Personally, I think you’ve handled this near-death experience pretty well considering your world has been upended.
Don’t feel bad for venting,” Leo said with his chin resting on her head.
“Wow, that’s the nicest thing I think you’ve ever said to me in the history of our lives,” Esmie joked.
“Whatever. I’m a nice brother. Nicer than most other brothers.
” Leo grabbed Esmie by the shoulders and held her away from him, searching her face for a smile.
She acquiesced despite her disappointment.
Satisfied he released her, grabbing the tablet from Samson.
“Sorry you had to see all that mushy stuff, Samson. Sometimes a big brother has to step in and settle things.” Leo puffed out his chest, falling onto the couch when Esmie pushed his shoulder. They all laughed.
Leo wasn’t wrong. He was a great brother.
Sure, they had their sibling arguments and antics, but they always looked out for each other.
Especially when it came to helping Esmie deal with their mother’s strict rules.
He was a glass-half-full kind of person, always reminding Esmie she didn’t have much longer in their parent’s household, then the rest of her life would be chasing her own dreams.
Which is why, Esmie hid her fears from her brother now.
She didn’t want him to feel any more burdened than he already did.
Being here these past few days, seeing the weight of his work and life in general opened her eyes, to say the least. Leo had his own battles to deal with and Esmie dropping in on him with her problematic life issues was the last thing he needed.
While she didn’t want to go with Mamá, she also didn’t want to keep putting Leo and Samson out either.
They had their own lives to live, and she needed to take responsibility for her own actions. Even if it meant losing her powers.
She knew Leo would be upset, maybe even hurt, initially.
But once he understood why she left, then he would forgive her and move on.
Esmie watched Leo and Samson go over the data on the tablet.
Samson glanced up, feeling her gaze, winked at her then diverted his attention back to Leo’s questions.
Esmie bit her lip. Samson. She didn’t know how he would feel when she left.
He wouldn’t be happy either. His question about trying a relationship together, hung unanswered due to the recent events.
She would have loved to explore more with him, but the consequences of her actions were like a wall between them.
Their feelings would have to be put on pause until she could get herself out of this mess.
Hopefully, her leaving wouldn’t suggest to him otherwise.
“I’m going to go to bed.” Esmie announced, wanting some space.
“It’s early.” Samson noted, frowning.
“I haven’t been sleeping great, and it’s all catching up to me.” Esmie lied. Samson scrutinized her but Leo jumped in with a “have a good night, get some rest” before Samson could say anything else and Esmie took the chance to leave.
Before she could close the door, Samson loomed behind her.
He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.
“Are you okay?” Esmie glanced behind her, hearing Leo in the kitchen, banging around searching for a snack most likely.
She turned to fully face Samson, her neck craning to look up into his chiseled face.
“I’m just really tired. All of this drama is heavy.” Esmie wrapped her arms around herself.
Samson held her chin and caressed her cheek with his thumb.
Esmie forced herself not to lean into his touch.
It would only make leaving harder. “We got side-tracked, but I haven’t changed my mind on what I asked you.
I still want to have a relationship with you, at least once we can navigate this situation with your mother.
If you need me to go ask her and your father, I will. Well, after I talk to Leo first.”
“Navigating Leo will be challenging alone before you even get to my parents,” Esmie stated, trying not to sound hopeful nor committing to his request.
“When the time comes, you will be my girlfriend. I’m serious.
If you’ll have me of course.” Samson’s dark eyes burned into her.
She wanted to kiss him, scream yes, a million times, but her tongue stuck to the top of her mouth.
He placed a finger against her lips. Goodness, he was making it hard not to kiss him.
“You don’t have to answer now. Focus on getting the purple off first, whether with Leo’s help or your powers, then we’ll revisit this after.
” He bent low, brushing his lips at the corner of her mouth, then scooted away right before Leo left the kitchen burdened with a couple bags of chips and a sandwich in his mouth.
Leo asked Samson if he wanted some and they sat back down together. Esmie closed Leo’s bedroom door before she lost the courage to do what she planned. She pushed her back against the frame and texted her mother, informing her Esmie would be coming home and agreeing to her parameters.
Mamá wrote back,
“I’m glad you finally came to your senses. I have already set up appointments with the recruiters you missed at the Downtown Internship Fair. Once you’re cured, you’ll go see them and get your life back in order.”
Setting the phone on the bed, Esmie crawled in, curling up, hoping the heat behind her eyes wouldn’t release.
There was nothing she could do now. She had to go through with it for Leo, Samson, and her parents’ sake.
Although she knew this was the right thing to do, it didn’t stop the crushing weight of impending doom from crashing down on her.
Her life was set in stone, and she couldn’t do anything about it.
Hearing Samson’s expressed feelings only made the pain worse.