Lovestruck (EDITING)

43: Black Out

"I thought I'd never get your attention," Landon chuckles as I walk towards him.

He looks perfect. His shiny blonde hair is pushed back effortlessly as he leans backwards against the lockers, his hands resting in the pockets of his jean jacket.

"What are you doing out here?" I ask, glancing back towards the classroom from which everyone can no doubt see us.

"I wanted to come see you, I guess," Landon shrugs, his sly half smile continuing to cover his face and making me weak in the knees.

I should be annoyed at him for pulling me out of class, but I remember what Shana said. Landon stopped me from making a terrible mistake at Dani's party. He was thinking when I wasn't. I should thank him. I allow a cheeky grin to creep onto my lips and Landon's smile grows.

"What?" he questions me, a slight smile still covering his lips despite the confusion in his eyes.

Before I can respond, loud footsteps sound from down the hallway and I panic. I grab hold of Landon's jacket and pull him with me into the janitors closet beside us without hesitation.

"Wh-" Landon starts but I cover his mouth with my hand as the footsteps grow louder and closer.

Landon's breath is hot against the palm of my hand and I struggle to remember why I decided to hide when I notice how close we are. The confined space of the janitors closet has forced our bodies to almost be pressed against each other. I feel myself blush as the footsteps fade and I'm forced to explain myself.

"I- Uh... I didn't have a hall pass," I whisper, my hand slowly lowering from Landon's mouth.

"Me neither," Landon nods his head in agreement and I giggle quietly.

Shana's voice echos in my head as we stand in silence for what feels like minutes, but is probably only a few seconds. I bite down on my lip as Landon glances down expectantly for me to open the door.

"Thank you," I mumble, mentally screaming at myself for literally trapping Landon in a janitor's closet with me and forcing him to talk to me. I know he doesn't want to talk to me.

"What?" Landon's voice is husky and confused and I almost melt into a puddle right here. I almost wish I could.

"For the way you acted at the party... For thinking when I wasn't," I smile gratefully up at him, but I know he deserves more. "I really owe you."

"You don't owe me anything," Landon answers quickly.

I smile at his response, but I'm not satisfied. This guy is so unlike Landon. He's rational and kind and he wants to talk about feelings. I don't know why this new side to him is such a problem for me, but I feel myself missing his cheeky, wild self. I once told myself that he was bad for me, that he was going to hurt me, that I shouldn't get involved. Those aspects of Landon were things that scared me, but maybe fear is exactly what I want.