Project: Love Games

Chapter Twenty Three

I was near a point of quitting my job because I was getting frustrated with working during the school week and going to school for 8 hours five days out the week too. More people have quit, and we're spread thin, the schedule itself would not feel so packed together for me if I didn't have so much to do with schoolwork and not being accustomed to working almost every day a week; lately one day off isn't enough.

It was Friday after school and Madison and I still weren't speaking to one another. I felt the tension whenever we were near each other, it came from the both of us; I was still annoyed with how she approached me. I knew that I had to apologize because I couldn't hold it against her for too long, it took me a few days to admit that she wants me to be my best self and as of late I haven't. It bothers me that she feels that I'm so pessimistic that she can't come to me and tell me what's going on in her life. I don't want to be a toxic friend in anyone's life.

When I walk out the school, I see a huge commotion going on. I stand on the tip of my toes to try and see what's going on. Why is there always drama at this school? I hear Landon and Justin's voice and I immediately push through the crowd to see what he's into now.

As I'm pushing through the crowd, I realize that I'm starting to worry about him more often. When I walk in the center, I see an angry Justin and Landon trying to calm him down as he yells at a guy—I recognized him. His name was Kameron, and he was known as the president of the theater club.

"Why are you so angry? You know it's against the rules to do outside fundraising for school programs." Kameron shouts angrily at Justin.

"That's not true." He barks loudly as he takes a step forward.

"It is and you know it. Why do you care anyway you aren't even on the debate team you're on the football team?"

"I'm not tryin to hea' allat right nah man, you messin' with my friend's opportunities." He says as Landon holds him back. A thick accent slips from his lips in rage.

He sticks his middle fingers up at him before he talks. "We all want opportunities to go to a great college." Him saying that set Landon off. He pushes Kameron to the ground and Justin steps up.

I drop my bags and almost like a reflex I grab his arm to try and calm him down, but he immediately jerks away from me not bothering to look my way. I fall right on my butt wincing from the impact. My hands get cold feeling the ice on my hands from bracing my fall. He's a lot stronger than I thought.

A few people gasp seeing me fall and I'm cringing on the inside at all the eyes on me. I try to keep a blank look on my face to hide how bad the fall felt. Justin didn't even bother to turn around he's still at Kameron's throat with anger as Isaiah and two more of their friends run into the circle to hold him back.

Landon turns around and as he locks eyes with me his entire face changes to worrisome. "Alexandria I'm so sorry I didn't know it was you I thought you were some guy and—" He leans down to try and help me up, but I swat his hand away pushing myself up.

Stepping in the middle with ease as if everyone moved without her telling them to, is Madison with her puff coat on. She has her curly hair in a ponytail so I could tell she was about to go to practice. Her big brown eyes have fury and I'm taken aback at how upset she looks.

"Justin!" Is all she says. He turns with a shocked look on his face.

"Re.lax." She says sternly. He thumbs his nose as he eyes Kameron one last time before walking away.

"You know you can't afford to get into fights period!" She fusses before walking away.

My mouth drops as I put two and two together. What the hell? Landon grabs my hand again and I put my hand up signaling for him not to bother. I grab my things and quickly go to my car.

All during my shift at the restaurant I ignored his texts he sent me apologizing and went about my day as if nothing happened. Of course, someone posted the altercation on Twitter, and I was annoyed as hell about it. My fall was now a meme and that had me more pissed at Landon. I couldn't be too pissed about the attention though; I walked my ass right into that thinking I held enough weight in his life to calm him down—How did I think I could make him snap out of his anger like—how Madison had done Justin?

Normally I'd see Benny on a Friday night shift, but not this time. He nor Jasmine came into work, and I didn't bother to text them and ask why; I knew they'd hear about what happened or see and I did not want to talk about it with them. I close the restaurant with Ms. Alicia and three other workers whom I'd only see once in a blue moon on my shifts because they'd work mornings during the week. I say goodbye to everyone and as I'm about to walk out I see Landon walk in and I immediately freeze. "Hey Landon, is everything okay?" Ms. Alicia asks almost in a panic.

"Yeah Ma, I'm just here to pick up some homework from Alexandria." He'd rarely say my full name and whenever he did, I knew he was in a serious mood.

I lightly bump past him, and I hear his feet patter behind me as I walk to the back-parking lot. I didn't want to hear anything he said, I understand that it was an accident, but I think what's driving my anger the most is how embarrassed I feel as well as the continuous stinging feeling on the back of my leg. Sure, the feeling would be gone by the morning but damn, was my pride hurt.

After unlocking my door, I hop in the front seat slamming my door right after. After I throw my stuff in the passenger side, I stick my key in from my car being auto-started twenty minutes before.

"I just want to talk." He begs but I blankly look at him talk through the window.

Looking into his eyes, they read worry. I know that he hadn't meant to hurt me at all, I know he isn't like that, but I wasn't in the mood to talk. Still, I roll my window down

"You. Embarrassed. Me." Is all I can muster up because also had a lot to work out when it came to Landon anyhow, so I don't let him respond, and I drive off.