The Lascarina Girls

Chapter Fifteen

Quinn lay on her bed; listening to the party outside; the low rumble of conversation, and some 90's song that she was sure Free requested. She smiled to herself and hoped no one had noticed she went missing, but Quinn was sure they were too busy to even care. The crowd outside was still massive, and everyone seemed to be having a wonderful time. Quinn came inside though as she wanted to have that nap she was daydreaming about earlier, but she was wide awake. She stared up at her ceiling and wondered what she was going to do with her summer now that the wedding of the century (as Free called it to piss Clia off) was over.

At least 'The Open Bag' was thriving. She was enjoying taking care of the garden, and seeing the different flowers and vegetables people were growing in their plots. Landon's girls were there two weeks ago and showing off the messy bed of daisies, zinnias and various flowers. It was one of the most beautiful plots in the place. Quinn took a picture of them as they proudly posed in front of it, and Quinn thought of how much she loved spending time with them. They were bright and bubbly and always making sure all of the kids who came to 'The Open Bag' knew where all the toys were, and took care of them while their parents got what they needed.

Quinn closed her eyes. She hoped things wouldn't be weird between her and Landon now. She'd been avoiding him ever since she heard him tell Athena that he wasn't ready to move on. She heard them outside of the guest house the other day. It hurt Quinn to hear it, but she figured it was better this way. Now she knew. She'd already fallen in love with him, but at least nothing had happened that night Frankie died. She thought it might, but he was a perfect gentleman. She still remembered his fingers on her back, and the feel of him holding her against his chest. She felt emotional as she lay in the same bed, but now she was alone. As usual.

Loneliness didn't use to bother her. In fact, she used to relish and enjoy it especially after everything that happened. She used to love the quiet. She wished she could go back to that. This ache was new and raw, and she didn't know what to do with it. Hooking up with Luke would have been an easy solution, but she knew it was wrong. She wasn't sure where to go from here. She no longer wanted to be alone, but she wasn't sure where to start. How did she even get over someone like Landon?

A knock interrupted her self-pity, and she groaned inwardly. She knew it was probably one of her nosy sisters or loud-mouth cousins who kept telling her to 'lighten up.' She wanted to tell them to go back to ignoring her existence, but she was polite for Clia's sake, and because that was who Quinn was now. She couldn't be upset or express herself without the whispers starting again about 'delicate Quinn.'

"What?" Quinn asked; not bothering to get out of bed.

"Um, it's Landon... I was wondering if I could talk to you."

Quinn was surprised as she got up and went to the door.

"Hey," Landon said with a brief smile; he had a plate of cake in his hand. "They just cut the cake. I thought you might want a piece."

"Oh, thanks," she said lamely taking the plate and putting it down on the dresser near the door. "Um, what do you want to talk to me about?"

"Can I come in?" He asked glancing behind him at the noise of people going up and down the hall; the shrill laughter of teenage cousins echoing through the house.

"Oh, of course," she said, and she let him in. She closed the door behind him as he sat down on the bed and looked expectantly at her. "How is the party?"

"Loud," he admitted but with a crooked smile. "Did it get to be too much for you?"

"I've wanted a nap all day," Quinn admitted taking a seat next to him; butterflies in her stomach.