Chapter 19
Landon
Shay fell asleep before me, but I kept my promise to her and stayed on the phone until I was sleeping too—and I actually did fall asleep. I wasn’t sure if it was the sound of her breathing or the fact that I had a feeling she’d somehow find out if I did hang up on her, but I slept.
I went to sleep with the moon and woke to the sun. I woke up refreshed, which was something I hadn’t done in such a long, long time.
When the doorbell rang that afternoon, I hurried downstairs to answer it, knowing it could only be one person. I swung the door open and there Maria was, sporting her classic Maria smile.
“Afternoon, Landon.” She grinned from ear to ear, walking in with a food dish in her hand. Meatloaf—at least it smelled like meatloaf. She handed it over to me and eyed me up and down. “You look well rested—that’s good. You slept.”
“Yeah, I did.” Thanks to your granddaughter and her magic powers over me. “The place isn’t that messy today, if you want to just hang out and watch television or something.”
“I don’t get paid to watch television, Landon Scott.”
I wasn’t certain she was getting paid at all.
“I won’t tell if you don’t.” I smirked, nudging her in the side. “Plus, I made your favorite cookies—oatmeal raisin with pecans.”
She raised an eyebrow. “You baked for me?”
“Yeah. So what do you say? How about a day off?”
She darted her eyes away from me, and I figured it was to hide her emotions.
Maria was far too proud to ever show her struggles, and I knew this.
So I wasn’t going to push her into opening up to me.
I planned to make her day as comfortable as I could, bringing her a little bit of joy during a crappy season of her life.
“You won’t tell your parents?” she asked, her voice low with concern.
“I won’t. We can hang out in the living room and watch TV. I have the DVDs of Friends.”
“I’ve never seen that show,” she admitted.
What was with Shay’s family and not seeing great entertainment?
“Well, today’s your lucky day. Come on.”
We sat in the living room all day watching episode after episode of Friends. Every now and then Maria would laugh at the show, but most of the time she shook her head and grumbled “?Dios mío!” with annoyance at the characters.
She didn’t even make us eat at the dining room table for dinner. We ate the meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and one too many cookies with ice cream on the coffee table as we watched.
“You’re a lot like that Joey character,” Maria remarked, nodding toward the screen. “A dorky, handsome guy.”
I snickered and raised an eyebrow, giving her a slight nod. “How you doin’?” I quoted.
Of course, Maria didn’t pick up on Joey’s infamous line, and she shrugged her shoulders. “I’m doing fine, but this show is awful.”
That made me laugh even more.
I’d never had a grandmother figure, but I figured this was what it would feel like if I did.
It would be a collection of random moments that added up to big things, big memories.
That was what Maria had been to me over the past several years.
She’d been these small moments that built up into something important to me.
There weren’t many important things in my life, but she was one of them.
Top five at least.
Her granddaughter was climbing her way up that ladder, too.
After the night ended, Maria collected her things and headed to the front door. “Thank you for tonight, Landon. I know you may not know this, but I needed today. I needed a day off.”
“I’m glad I could help.” I brushed my hand through my hair before stuffing my hands into the pockets of my jeans. “Hey, Maria?”
“Yes?”
“How’s your heart today?”
She gave me a small smile and her eyes watered over, and to my surprise, a small tear danced down her cheek. “Still beating.”
I hugged her without asking permission, because Maria wasn’t the type of person who needed a warning that a hug was coming her way. She simply always hugged back.
Later that night, I got a text message from my mom that dug a knife through my still-beating heart.
Mom: Hey, Landon. I’m so sorry, but I just had to sign on for a stylist gig that is taking place the week of your birthday. I won’t be home to celebrate with you, but I promise I’ll make it up to you.
She wouldn’t be home for my birthday.
The hardest day of my life.
I didn’t reply back.
* * *
On Monday, it was apparent that Monica and Reggie were a new pairing, which was odd because I was pretty sure Tracey and he had just ended their fling like, forty-eight hours ago.
A lot could change over a weekend with teenagers.
The hormones moved so fast, and it was hard to keep up with who was loving who each week.
Monica made sure to have herself wrapped all around Reggie, and every chance she got, she’d flash me a wicked smirk that read, Jealous?
Not really, Mon.
Every time I saw her, she looked worse. I wanted to check in on her, wanted to make sure she was eating and at least trying to sleep, but as time moved on, I realized I wasn’t the person she wanted me to be. Therefore, it was probably best to keep my distance.
Still, it rubbed me the wrong way, seeing her with Reggie. It turned out that asshole wasn’t worthy of any girl’s time. Including Monica’s.
When I walked up to meet Greyson by his locker, I was shocked to see he had a slight black eye.
“What the hell happened to you?” I spat out, looking him up and down.
“Got into it over the weekend with Reggie. He was talking shit about my family after my dad was caught hitting on his mom . . . It’s fine.”
“He fucking hit you?” I growled, my anger growing by the moment. Greyson was a damn saint. How could anyone put a finger on that guy?
Just then, Reggie walked past us with his arm wrapped around Monica, and he looked in Greyson’s direction and smirked. “Fucking weak bitch,” he muttered.
My body tensed up, and I puffed out my chest. “What did you just say?” I barked.
“Not you, Landon. Cool your jets,” Reggie said.
The blood in my veins began boiling as anger built up in my body. There were only a handful of things I actually cared about, a handful of people I’d give my life for. It just so happened Reggie had chosen to lay a hand on one of those people, and that wasn’t OK.
I clenched my jaw as I walked toward Reggie.
“What did you say?” I demanded again. I didn’t give him a chance to get another word out.
I shut him up with my fist. Ninety-nine percent of my reasoning for slamming my knuckles into Reggie’s jawline was for Greyson, but that last percentage was, selfishly, for myself.
I’d been wanting to slug that guy from day one.
Reggie stumbled backward like a giant, awkward gorilla. He ran his hand against his lip, wiping blood away.
“You shit.” He growled before charging toward me.
He shoved me against the lockers, then we both went tumbling around like apes on the ground.
He got a few hits in, but then I flipped him over and started hammering my fist into his face.
Black and blue, the same way he’d done to my friend—I was going to hit him until he was black and blue.
A crowd formed around us, and it took a few teachers to pull us off each other.
“Reggie! Landon! Principal’s office. Now!” Mr. Thymes hollered.
We were both dragged away by teachers, and Mr. Thymes looked at me as if he was so disappointed in me for using my fists. But hell, I was sure Romeo had thrown a few punches in his time.
I wiped the corner of my eye, which was stinging.
Reggie had clipped me good with his fist, and blood was dripping down my cheek.
I looked up and saw my favorite pair of brown eyes staring my way.
She looked terrified as she hugged her textbooks to her chest. I wasn’t sure if she was scared by the fight as a whole or by me.
I knew how I could get. I knew how I lost myself in my rage.
I didn’t want her to see that side of me.
I didn’t want her to judge me for my shadows.
But then, I watched her lips. They parted slightly and mouthed, “Are you OK?”
She was concerned about me. Even though I was broken and bruised, even though I looked like an untamed beast, Beauty still saw me and wondered about my well-being.
I nodded once.
Yes, Chick.
I’m OK.
* * *
Principal Keefe was an older man with a Santa Claus beard and a Santa Claus gut.
It had been a while since I’d spent time in his office due to fights.
After Lance passed, I didn’t feel the need to get my aggression out in that way.
Instead, I took it out on myself. Still, Principal Keefe didn’t seem surprised in the slightest by my arrival to his office.
“For a minute, I thought we were past this stage, Mr. Harrison,” he muttered, his voice low and tame.
Yeah, yeah, me too, Principal Keefe.
Reggie sat next to me, his face already changing colors, and at least I had the benefit of watching that happen. He looked uncomfortable.
Good.
He didn’t deserve any kind of comfort whatsoever.
“Just keep your hands to yourselves, boys,” Principal Keefe instructed sternly, but his stare fell solely on me. “I am going to get another ice pack for you, Reggie. Landon?”
“Yes?”
“Don’t move.”
Roger that.
They would keep me in the principal’s office until my dad could get there.
Mom was over in Europe living her best life.
She’d been leaving me daily voice messages, but I didn’t call her back.
I figured she knew she deserved the silent treatment after saying she wouldn’t be home for my birthday.
I did, however, text her to let her know I was alive.
I didn’t want her to worry too much, even though she pissed me off.