Complications of Being a Teenage Triple Threat

19 -Midnight Strolls-

Once we had found our way out of the stuffy building, we walked side by side down the same never-ending sidewalk. My arm would accidentally brush by his a few times and he'd eventually glance at me. Inside that building, every awkward feeling I felt between us had disappeared. I ignored my real feelings for him and tried not to think too hard about it.

"How long have your parents been divorced?" he suddenly asked me.

I coughed a little and cleared my throat, wiping sweat off of my forehead. I thought for a second and almost cursed my self out loud.

"Um, I don't really know actually," I muttered.

I tried to not think about the details between my three parents because they either pissed me off or made me want to cry.

"You don't know?"

"It gets to a certain point when it feels like it's always been that way ya know? Well in my case," I shrugged.

Landon stayed quiet for a few seconds then swung his arm over my shoulder and rested his cheek on top of my head. Chills shot up my back and I stayed still for a few seconds.

"Don't be shy, Alexis Jane," he whispered softly.

I smiled a little bit and loosened up, slowly wrapping my arm around his back and gripping his torso.

"I think the reason I'm so scared is because I know how my family makes me. The smallest thing can just... push me over the edge," he whispered.

"Landon, you can't always go back to what happened between us. We were kids, going through something like that will definitely take a toll on you but it doesn't mean you'll react the same way once your dad remarries," I tried to explain.

Nothing felt right about this. The fact that I, out of all people was the one telling him about emotional stability and that everything would be okay. I knew it would be because it's him. But it felt wrong to speak about experiences I never really had.

"I know but... I don't know," he muttered.

He lifted his head as we walked and I could feel his fingers twirling around in strands of my hair.

"My family means everything in the world to me. And everything we go through is so hard and frustrating but... I figure it out eventually you know? Surround yourself with positive people and you'll get through it," I said.

He laughed softly and let out a long dramatic sigh.

"Yes of course, surround myself with positive people. That's the answer for everything isn't it?" He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear then let his hand fall limply onto my shoulder.

"I didn't believe it either but it works. You must forget that I've gone through the same thing. I'm still going through it. Maybe it doesn't even have to be positive people, just people who make you feel good. If they can make you laugh, and smile, and give you a good time, then that's what you need."

"Is that what Liz, Bailey, and uh... Tessa are for you?" he asked.

I nodded, remembering how I hadn't seen any of them at all at the party. I shook it off, they'd be more than fine. Well, better than me at least.

"I don't have people like that," he whined.

"Oh shut up, you're you. I know you have plenty of friends," I looked up at the side of his face nearly blinded by the sharpness of his jawline.

"Yeah but, not ones that can genuinely make me feel the way you describe. Ugh, life is hard. I need more people like you, Alexis Jane," he whispered against the top of my head.