Page 118 of Landon & Shay: Part One

“Landon, wait.” She met me at my car. As I was opening the door, she placed her hand on it and shut it before she stepped in front of it.

I grimaced. “Move, Shay.”

“No. Not until you tell me what’s going on. Why are you acting so weird? What happened today?”

“I’d rather not do this. Move.”

“No. Landon, you’re hurting, and I see it. Let me know how I can help.”

“You can’t. I don’t want your help.”

Her eyes watered over, and she placed her hand against my chest. “What did I do wrong?”

What did she do wrong?

She was blaming herself, even though there was nothing she could’ve ever done wrong—

besides falling for a guy like me.

I was watching as it happened, as my coldness began to break her heart. She might’ve been able to read me from day one, but over the past few months, I’d learned how to read her right back. I was hurting her, cutting into her heart and leaving her there to bleed.

I needed to end it now, before we fell even deeper for one another.

“Look, I didn’t want to tell you right away because of all the personal shit you’re going through, but since you’re being so dramatic about it, I’ll tell you now. I won.”

“Won? Won what?”

“The bet.” I gave her an asshole smirk, and my heart died while I did it. “Don’t tell me you actually thought I was falling in love with you? Come on, Chick. This was never real. It was a game—nothing more, nothing less.”

She went to take a step backward from shock but bumped into my car. “What are you talking about?”

“This thing between us, it wasn’t real. It was never real. I was bored, and the bet was a good way to pass some time. But it’s over now, and I don’t want anything to do with you. After this show’s over, we don’t ever have to cross paths again.”

“No,” she whispered, shaking her head. “No. We were real. This is real. I don’t know what happened to you, Landon. I don’t know why you’re talking like this, but I know you. I know your heart and how it beats. I know your truths. Remember? Only truths. No lies.”

My damaged heart was shattering second by second. “It’s all been lies. Nothing was real about this.”

“You...” She shut her eyes. “You showed me your scars, though. You showed me everything.”

“Making Chicks Fall in Love With You 101. Tell them sad crap and make up a sob story. It works every time.”

Her lips parted, and her eyes stayed glassed over, but she didn’t say another word. She tossed her backpack strap higher on her shoulder and walked away.

Later that night, I received a message from her.

Shay:I don’t know what today was about. I don’t know why you shut me out, or why you’re pushing me away, but I just want to let you know that I’m thinking about you. I want you to know that you are good, and worthy, and loved. I won’t stop telling you that, Landon. Even if you push me away, I’ll still keep telling you that this world needs you here. When you’re ready to talk, I’m here.

Fuck, Chick.

It baffled me how someone so good could exist and want me.

I didn’t reply back.

Even though every part of me wanted to tell her I loved her in hopes of hearing she loved me, too.

* * *

She didn’t stop writingme each morning and night. During the school day and rehearsals, she’d still walk up to me and check to make sure I was okay. She’d ask me how my heart was, even though I refused to answer her. She was determined to make me not feel alone, and dammit, it was working. But I couldn’t have her, and she couldn’t have me—not in the way she wanted, at least. She deserved a full type of love, and mine was broken into pieces.

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