If you were waiting for your opportune moment, that was it -- Sixth Year -- January (Break)

I had just had a wonderful New Year's Eve.  I had poured my heart out to Leopold, but he had done nothing but push me away.  He told me the truth about himself at least... beyond that, nothing.  I guess I knew what we would be from here on out.  It was time for me to start moving on... and I never would have expected to get wooed by someone my brother's age -- Rory.  We kissed at midnight last night to bring in the new year.  It was wonderful.  I heard a knock at the door and wondered who it was.  I went downstairs to see Stan leaning against the door frame not letting Leo in.  I stayed back to hear what they were discussing... and I was rather surprised to hear Constantine being protective of me.

I leaned against the doorframe with my arms crossed.  I had opened the door and instantly recognized Leo's tones as he barely opened his mouth to speak.  "Look Leo... there's no reason for you to be here," I said in a bored tone.  There was no reason for him to be bothering my sister.  I knew what happened last night.  Rory and my sister kissed at midnight at the New Year's party.  We all were there; including this lad in front of me.  I was not going to be dealing with him disrespecting my sister.  She told him how she felt and he blew her off.  They were barely still even friends.  I was not going to let him come into the house.  I was sure that Dad would end up yelling at me... but still.

I raised my eyebrows at Constantine.  What on earth was he saying?  I was best mates with his sister.  I could see her if I wanted to.  I needed to talk to her about what I had seen last night.  I had had this entire plan in place... I was going to tell her how I felt and to kiss her at midnight, but then I saw Rory swooping in and doing it in my place.  And Sedona let him.  I needed to talk to her about everything.  "Stan, I'm her best mate.  I'm allowed to see her.  Please, let me in," I said, feeling silly for asking permission from Constantine to see Sedona.

I smiled darkly.  "Oh you're her best mate?  You broke her heart.  And you expect me to just let you walk in and see her?  You barely act like the Leo we grew up with.  I'm not going to let you pass.  And I would say that I was sorry... but I'm really not," I said simply.  I backed up and slammed hte door in his face.  I took a few paces when I sensed my sister standing near me.  "He's probably still out there if you wanted to see him.  I would advise against it, though, Dona.  He's a prick," I said with a shrug.

I did not even have a chance to say anything to defend my case. Constantine slammed the door in my face. I could not believe him. I stared at the big wooden door and stood there, stunned. I had no idea what that was all about. I have never seen Stan so protective before in all my years I have known him. I turned to start to walk away, there was no reason to stand there like an idiot.

I put a hand on Stan's shoulder. "Thanks," I said, heading towards the door. I felt really touched that Constantine would be so protective of me; normally that did not happen. I opened the door and looked at Leopold. "Hey... what's up?" I asked, crossing my arms to help warm me from the chill of the air.

I smiled at her.  Just seeing her made me feel warmer on the inside -- which was hard to do seeing that I was a vampire and such now.  She looked like the cold was already getting to her; I really did not feel it.  "Can I come inside?  It'd be warmer for you," I said softly.  I really did not want to have this conversation while she was freezing cold.

I smiled and moved to the side.  "I guess I didn't realize I was keeping you out in the cold... sorry about that," I said casually.  I had just seen him last night at the party... I had no idea why he was here.  Rory and I kissed at new years, but I wanted to talk to him about that.  I had been drinking -- as we all were... the only time we were technically allowed to do so by our parents -- and I hoped that Rory knew that nothing would be coming of this.  Leo looked a little lost.  "Do you want anything to eat or drink?" I asked, being polite.  I hated how we were just so awkward with each other now... I sighed.  I may as well say it up front to him.  I was tired of us acting like this.  "Okay, look Leo... I know what I said and what I feel, but the more that I think about it, the more I realize that you're right in all of this.  We're best mates... it's silly to complicate things.  Do you think that we can move past this and just be us again?  I miss my friend," I told him, smiling sweetly at him.  I hoped that I could win him over.  Yes, I loved him.  But I loved him enough to let him go.  It was clear that he knew what he wanted and it was not me... which was something I had to learn to live with, but I missed him so much.  I did not want to lose him -- even if it meant that I had to crush my feelings for him.

I saw that my sister was giving Leopold another chance and I sighed, rolling my eyes.  I avoided where Dona and Leo were at all costs and saw a surly Constantine.  I walked up to him and said quietly, "So you think she's stupid, too, huh?" We both had conversations about Leopold and Sedona dating and not dating.  It was a pain, really.  Whenever I went over to the Lupins, Ally thought they should date.  So did Meredith, really.  I guess it was just us guys who thought that this was completely insane.  It was ridiculous their little dance of avoidance -- but then again, Stan had his dance with Daphne.  I was just grateful that I was not in any sort of similar dance like this.

I had heard soft footsteps and knew that it had to be my younger brother coming up behind me.  I nodded, smiling slightly.  "Yeah, she is extremely daft to think that this is going to end well," I said, shaking my head, trying not to laugh at my sister's stupidity.  "I think she just needs to give up on him already... there is no point in giving him any more chances.  Even to stay friends might not be a good idea."  I sat down on the couch and knew that RJ would join me soon.  I had given him that nickname a long time ago, Sedona refused to call him that.  And it all depends on the connotation of the conversation as to if Mum or Dad called him RJ.  He had a second middle name, but I ignored the A.

I chuckled and sat next to Stan.  "You are right on that," I agreed with him.  "But I think that it'd be extremely awkward for everyone if they stopped being mates.  I just think they need to figure out what is best for themselves."  Did I want Sedona to be happy?  Of course, she was my big sister.  But I just did not want her to waste time with Leo if she did nto have to.

That was not what I was expecting.  I had a bad feeling about this, my stomach felt like it was in knots.  "Oh... is this because of Rory?" I asked quietly, hating how I sounded.  It sounded as if I were jealous -- which I kind of was.  That was supposed to have been my kiss, not his.  She was pulling the friend card on me.  I sighed and ran a hand through my short hair.  "I mean, you're probably right... but I'm guessing it's because of that, wasn't it?" I had to know how Sedona could change her mind so easily.

RJ gave Sedona and Leo more hope than I did.  I shook my head.  "I don't know... whatever they decide, they need to do it quickly.  I hate this back and forth crap," I said, stretching out a little bit while still sitting on the couch.  I got an evil grin on my face.  "Wanna go sneak over and see what they're saying?" I asked RJ.

I grinned.  "Of course I do," I assured my brother.  We both stood up in unison -- some people really did think we were twins or something with the way our mannerisms were.  I led the way, Stan barely brushing against me.  I stopped where we could easily hear the conversation between the two of them.  Rory and Sedona had kissed at midnight... and it sounded like Leo was jealous.  It was about time to get soem sort of emotion from Leo than indifference.

I was a little startled that he knew I kissed rory.  I had not known he had been around to notice.  I only aw him at the beginning of the night last night.  I rolled my eyes.  "Yes and no... I mean, no because it's not like I'm dating Rory now or anything.  But yes because I do need to move on.  I'm tired of the game we're playing... we're best mates.  That's it," I said, though it broke my heart.  Then it clicked in my head.  "Wait... you guess I'm right?  Leo, what do you mean?" I asked, wanting clarification.  Did I dare get my hopes up?  Did he jsut need to get jealous to realize what he felt?