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“Try what? Making the movie myself? I wouldn’t even know where to start.” She shook her head, dismissing the idea.
“No,” Leo said. “You directing a movie sounds like a terrible idea. You’d just let everyone do what they want, and nothing would get done. I meant I’m trilingual, so if I was going to make a serial killer that resembled us both, I’d make her trilingual.”
Piper turned to him, eyebrows raised. “What other language do you speak?” With a flurry of one-handed motions, he answered her question. “You know ASL? When did you learn that?”
“High school. I thought it would be cool to silently use behind a camera someday to keep quiet on the set, but still give small directions.”
“You took two language courses in high school?”
“No,” Leo drew out the word. “I took one language course in high school.”
“I’m not following,” Piper screwed up her face in thought. “You mean you took an online class for sign language? And then Spanish class sitting down in an actual classroom?”
“I didn’t take Spanish in high school,” he said, looking slightly uncomfortable. “I already speak Spanish, so that would have been an easy A. I learned American Sign Language instead. I’ll be the interpreter at all of our shows when we finally get to opening night.”
“Are my wires crossed? We were partners in Spanish class, Leo. You corrected me every chance you could. We competed for the top grade in the class.” Piper was starting to think she was going crazy.
“I wasn’t taking the class, Piper.”
“So, what? You were there for fun?”
Leo let out a long sigh before answering. “I was there as a teacher’s aide. I got credit for the class, but I didn’t really need the credit. You were the one who made it a competition and assumed I was in the class.”
“No. You’re lying,” she decided. “We were partnered up like everyone else. And when we weren’t partnered, you still corrected me.”
“I corrected you because I was a TA, Piper. I’m not lying.” His voice was calm, but there was a slight edge to it.
Piper adamantly shook her head. She didn’t know why this new information made her want to break into tears, but knowing that the foundation of how she knew Leo was false felt like the ground was being ripped out from under her. “Then, what, you just pretended to be in the class for most of the year because you wanted to make fun of me? You only corrected me and no one else, Leo.”
“You would turn this around into some sort of character assassination,” Leo snapped. “I had an out that period. Señora Bracamontes requested that I come in as a TA because your grade was slipping after your parents died. She said you needed help, and she didn’t think you wanted to ask for it, so,” he waved his hand in the air in exasperation, and Piper’s face heated, “silly me thought ‘yes, of course, I’ll help her, she’s going through a rough time.’ I didn’t know Señora Bracamontes didn’t tell you I was a TA. Then you assumed I was in the class, got offended when I corrected you, and improved your fucking grade. So, as far as I’m concerned, I did my job and got jack shit out of it other than you calling me an asshole all year.”
“So, let me get this straight,” Piper seethed. “You wanted an award for your one charitable deed? You wanted me to be thrilled that you were there continually calling me and no one else out every time I did something wrong because you were a TA? And, on top of that, you wanted me to magically know that you were there to help and be grateful for it even though I didn’t ask for help and I also didn’t want anyone’s fucking pity? Calling me Perfect Piper was just part of the deal, huh?”
“You couldn’t take a single correction from me because it screwed up your perfect persona. I didn’t even come up with that nickname, Piper. Your ex-boyfriend did. I was just the one who said it to your face and the only one who cared to help you, even when you made it your personal goal to be hostile. I know I’m not the best teacher in the world, but you were nice to every single person but me. Why?”
“Because,” she whispered. “Do you get how humiliating it is to be the only one you focused your attention on? There were so many people in that class, and the majority of them were worse at Spanish than I was, but you singled me out. I was so tired of everyone looking at me like there was something wrong with me, so I made sure they had no flaws to look at. Then you showed up one day and started calling out my flaws like it was your job. Like you were my goddamn director. And I didn’t know that you were literally there to direct me.” Silent tears were sliding down her face now, and she swiped at them angrily.
“Hey.” Leo’s voice lost all its anger, falling into a soft plea. One hand on the wheel, his other hand reached up to her face, his eyes flicking between her and the freeway. The warmth of his palm made Piper’s lashes flutter as Leo swept a thumb under her eye. It felt good despite the betrayal. He was right—he was the one person who shot her straight about how he felt, which made this news feel even worse. “I should have told you I was a TA. It was childish and petty. I’m sorry.” His hand fell away from her face.
“I know that you telling me I was doing something wrong isn’t a good enough reason to be a bitch,” Piper murmured and let out a choked laugh. “You just… you really know how to get on my nerves.”
“The feeling is mutual.”
“It worked, though, huh? I aced that class.” Piper cackled and watched as Leo’s mouth turned into a half-smile.
“I like to think I aced it, too.” He glanced over at her, eyes dancing with humor. “We were neck and neck for that highest grade, but ultimately I won because, well, I speak fluent Spanish.”
“Smartass.” She rolled her eyes with another laugh, smacking his arm.
“For what it’s worth,” Leo’s tone grew serious, “I never would have judged you for needing help. I actually judged you for acting like you didn’t.”
“I did try to get help once.” Piper sighed. “Not in Spanish, obviously.”
“What happened?”
“My uncle kinda forced all of us kids into therapy. It was a good idea in theory, I just didn’t have the heart to tell him or my aunt that my therapist wasn’t a good fit. It was hard enough being seen as anything but perfect without adding more of a burden to their load. So I just kept enduring it. I felt like another thing to check off my therapist’s list, so I made sure I fit into the box she wanted me in. Said all the right things until she believed me and thought I was improving. It’s not her fault that she couldn’t read my mind, but,” Piper shrugged, “we never built up enough of a rapport for me to tell her the truth.”
“And what’s the truth?” Leo asked.
