Valentine blues

"You're gonna do fine." Essie didn't know how many times Leo needed to hear it, but she put a little smokey shadow on his delicate eye-lids. "Remember, a little can be a lot and practice." She looked at her creation, his face which was definitely a face of an angel.

"How can you say that? You, won't even be there." He didn't look happy. He was making it an issue when he came over to Scott's. He'd wanted answers, but she didn't feel like sharing.

"I dunno why you aren't home." There he went again as he tried to put the lippy on himself.

"I told you, I need to be on  my own." She pressed her lips tight.

"But you're not really on your own, are  you?" His serious big eyes wanted to know the truth. After all, they were in Scott's bedroom.

"No. I guess not." This was true. But it felt like she was on her own. Being away from her parents, who evidently did everything right. Even sending her away. She looked around. "But I'm happy."

"Why didn't you tell me about him?" Leo wanted to know.

"God, I really..don't want to get into this, with you." She winced with a bit of a sad face.

"Why not? Why can't you? What's he done to you?" When his hand touched her shoulder, Essie knew it was out of concern.

"Nothing." She smiled. "Scott's..not the problem." She swelled a frown, wondering if she should share the news or not with Leo.

She placed the palm of his hand on her belly. She guessed he couldn't feel anything. She was only feeling slight flutters herself. It would be only a matter of days before she would show.

"And its not his." He said ever so quietly, as if he knew.

"Look, you..can't tell anyone. Please?"

"I won't." He looked so sad to admit.

"Everything. Everything is going to be fine." She teared up before she meant too.

About then, they heard the front door. It was Scott with a dozen red roses.

Scott hadn't expected company when he got home.

"Leo's a friend." Essie told him. "She wanted a few pointers. Seems, she has this modeling gig, coming up."

Leo didn't say much but said a goodbye and was on her way, as if this was their special day.

"I really wanted to make a pot roast." Essie then said.

"Its Valentines day. I ..I thought we could go out." He then said.

"Oh." She went to get something to put the flowers in. "I thought these might have been on sale..or something."

"Essie, have you not noticed all the hearts and balloons at the grocery store?"

"Oh, yeah...but..you know, that's for other people." She was even lipped.

She made him sad when she said it like that.

"Why can't we be those other people?" He then asked, thinking it felt to him they were more than friends.

She almost laughed as if she didn't quite believe it. And that's when he kissed her.