Colin's posts

"Well, then just keep this in the back of your mind." Leo replied.

"For now... here." he said as he finishing putting the casing back on the headphones.

"Here." he said.

"They should work perfectly now." he told her.

"Made some improvements on them, too."

Leo just sighed again.

"You never need to pay me." he told her.

"I keep telling you this, but you never seem to listen to me." he said.

"So it's fine. Really." he assured her.

"Believe me, it's okay."

Leo just shook his head when he heard that.

"I wish I could help." he said.

"But for all intents and purposes, I'm powerless here." he told her.

"And I hate it." he muttered.

"I really wish I could do more for you."

Leo just sighed once more, and nodded.

"All right." he replied.

"Thank you." he said.

"I'm almost done with this, by the way." he then told her.

"Was quite the mess in there." he commented.

"Was almost unsalvageable, but I think I can make this better than before."

"Maybe your brother planned it that way." Leo responded.

"He's deviously brilliant." he went on.

"For all you know, the guy's nothing more than a convenient and unknowing scapegoat." he continued. "He saw you meeting him as an opportunity to damage you some more, and stop your getting close to someone." he said further.

"But we don't know for sure." he said further.

"That was just speculation. Coincidences DO happen, even ones with such unfortunate timing." he sighed.

"But I can't say anything for certain. I'm sorry, Desiree." he apologized.

Leo just sighed in response.

And then smiled.

"Very well." he said.

"Just... Desiree, I know you have every right to be suspicious of new people, but you can't live your life like that." he told her.

"Only by letting your guard down did you meet Vincent. And Kalin. And Rene. And me." he reminded her.

"All I'm saying is that I think this guy might deserve a chance." he said.

"Unless he's actually done something to make you suspect that he's colluding with your family, of course." he added.

"I mean, for what it's worth, you DO seem to know him better than me."

Leo just shook his head.

"That's the thing." he said.

"You don't know. And neither do I." he told her.

"But I suppose that's what 'faith' is all about." he went on.

"All you can do is look back on the previous experiences you've had with him, and make a judgement call based on that." he told her further, as he continued to work on the electronics before him.

"But personally?" he then said.

"He really doesn't seem like the sort that would get along with your brother and mother." he told her.

"Seems to 'pretty' for them to like him, and vice-versa." he chuckled.

Leo continued his work on the headphones, and sighed.

"Well, how did you meet him?" he asked.

"Through Kalin." Desiree responded.

"Well... I'd say that alone can attest to his character." Leo told her.

"But... remember how you'd always say to me that God puts people to the test, and will test their faith and such?" he asked her. "And remember how you always told me that God always gives you the tools and resources you need to get through these tests?" he asked further.

"Well... maybe Jaden is one of those resources, so to speak." he suggested.

"Maybe God brought him into your life to help you deal with your family, once and for all."

"..........." Leo was silent as Desiree said all this, and pursed his lips some.

"What about Kalin and Rene?" he asked.

"Can't THEY help?" he asked her.

"Or... what about the guy that answered the door?" he then asked her further.

"He seems nice enough."

Jaden watched Desiree go over and embrace Leo.

"...." he was silent, sighed, and then decided to leave them alone do they could speak more privately.

Leo, meanwhile, stopped working on the headphones, and gently placed his hands atop hers.

"Hey." he said, making sure she saw his mouth.

"I do what I can for you." he told her.

"And yeah... it looks like it HAS been rough for you." he then commented.

The newcomer, who looked to be a year or so younger than Desiree, looked over towards the headphones.

"Geez.." he muttered.

"Mind if I use that larger table?" he asked Jaden.

"Yeah, sure." Jaden replied.

Leo then grabbed the headphones and took them to said table, opening up his special tool box, and then got to work.

"...." Jaden was silent as he saw this, before looking over at Desiree.

"......all right." Jaden replied.

About 3 minutes later, there was a knock on the door.

"It's Leo!" Jaden heard the person call in.

"Hey." he said to Desiree, making sure she saw him.

"Seems your friend's here." he commented.

"I'll go let him in." he told her, getting up and making his way to the door.

"Makes sense." Jaden replied.

"You want something to drink?" he asked.

"I have that bottled water from when we first met." he said.

"Also have some juice and pop and stuff." he went on.

"Or... anything?" he asked further.

"Something to eat?" he inquired.

"I can order anything in that you might want."

"Woah, wait, what!?" Jaden exclaimed.

"You're deaf!?" he asked.

"And... that headset helps you HEAR?" he asked further.

He then paused for a moment, and pondered that information.

"Huh." he said.

"That.... makes a whole lotta sense." he admitted.

"Hence why you said anyone that tried to pawn your headset wouldn't get much for it, really." he commented.