Secret Letters

Secret Letters Part 12

12.

"so, did you want to go?" Landon said to me as we sat at Rider Cafe, waiting for our order. "I don't know. A concert? You didn't even tell me what kind of concert." I said. Landon smiled. "just trust me okay?" he said. "okay. But why so many activities all of a sudden?" I said. Past couple days he took me out every night. We went to the movies and he dragged me to events his family hosted. "I" he paused. "I just want you to stop feeling miserable." he said. "I'm not miserable." I furrowed my eyebrows. "yea you are Jayla. I'm not blind and I'm not stupid." he sighed. "look. I know you still want him. I seriously don't know what you're still doing here. Where you should be is back in California." he said looking down at the table. "why are you saying this now?" I said. It kind of stung. "you don't want me here?" I said. He let out an exasperated sigh. "Of course I want you here. Geez. I'm just saying that if you're not happy here, then there's no point staying here." he said. "it's not that easy Landon. I can't just be jumping schools." I said. He rubbed his forehead. "there's other ways" he said exasperated. "if you want me gone so badly I'll leave. But not back to California." I said. Landon looked at me. "no Jayla." he paused. "I just, its hard for me." he said. "look if seeing me unhappy is hard for you, I'll try to be more cheerful" I said. "it's not that. Well, that's part of it." he said. "well what then." I watched him as he nervously twiddled his thumbs. "look, I still have feelings for you. I know it's not mutual and I'll get over it." he said. He seemed so normal when we hung out. But it was all acting. He was hurting as much as I was and I caused him the pain. "I'm so sorry" I said. "don't be. We can't control feelings. I understand that. But you shouldn't be unhappy forever. I try not to." he half smiled. He was such a great guy. It was stupid of me to pass him up. "thank you Landon, but I'm not going back." I said. I just couldn't transfer again. My parents wouldn't allow it. "I see." he said. He didn't finish because the waitress came with our orders. Her name tag read Rai. "here we go. Enjoy your meal" she smiled and bounced away. Landon watched after her. "I see." I said. Landon looked at me. "see what?" he said and began to cut into his omelet. "oh nothing." Landon shrugged. I thought about what Landon said. I really did like Landon. He was so sweet and nice. I loved hanging out with him. I felt horrible. "hey, just forget what I said. I'll be fine. Just eat." he said, giving me a smile. He was good at pretending. I sighed and ate.

"so about the concert tomorrow night, you're coming right?" Landon said. We were still at Rider Cafe. "sure. What time again?" I said. "7" he said. "alright." I half smiled. "I'll pick you up outside of the dorms." he smiled. I just nodded. "hey I'll pay for breakfast. You go wait in the car okay." I said. "oh no no no. I'll pay." he said. "you paid last time. My turn." I said. "nope." he stood. "Landon, just go. I'll pay. I'm serious. Go wait in the car. I don't want you pulling a fast one on me again." I said and stood as well. He scowled and walked towards the exit.

I walked over to the register, where our waitress was standing. She had blonde hair and yellow green eyes. She smiled as I approached her. She was about to greet me when another waitress came up to her and began talking to her. The other girl had strawberry blonde hair and dark brown eyes. They giggled and then the other waitress left.

"hi, how was everything?" the waitress, Rai, said as I handed her our bill. "it was great. Thank you." I said. "great. Alright so you're total will be 20.29" she smiled. I gave her my debit card and said "hey, do you like concerts?" she looked at me confused. "sure yea, who doesn't." we waited as the receipts printed. "well I have tickets for a concert tomorrow and I can't go. I was suppose to go with my friend who I was sitting with earlier. And no one else can go with him. So would you go? I know this is so much to ask and that you probably think this is weird-" she cut me off. "I'd love to go. Who turns down a free concert? Not me. What kind of concert anyway?" she said. "I'm not sure but knowing Landon, it's a good one. Just be at the university's quad by 7pm. Landon will pick you up. And if he asks, tell him I had something important to do and I sent you to go for me." I said. "alright." she said and handed me the card. "I don't know why you're blowing him off but your loss. He looks like a nice guy." she said. " yea it is and yea he is. Thanks again." I said. "no, thank you." she smiled. We said our goodbyes and I headed toward the door. "hey" I turned and looked at a boy siting behind a booth filled with tourist attraction activities. The boy had shaggy hair that looked like he didn't comb and the thickest glasses. He smiled. "hi." I responded and left.