A Slave to Love

Chapter 12: Skipping Stones

"Okay, so what was up with you in Drama?" Landon asked once we were out of earshot from Katie and Nate, who didn't seem too upset about being left alone to eat their lunch, though I did get a questioning look from Katie for willingly spending time alone with Landon.

"I wanted to mess with Jill."

"She's going to kick your ass if you keep provoking her, you know that right?"

"The girl who apparently hates doing any physical work at all? I think I've got a pretty good chance of survival."

He caught my arm gently, making me stop and face him as we passed the lake and the other students spread out across the campus grounds, enjoying the last bits of warm weather over lunch.

"Look, about this morning," he said awkwardly, rubbing the back of his head as he dropped his hand from my arm. "I'm sorry. You were right that I was being an annoying dick. And I shouldn't have called you a bitch."

"Thank you. And I'm sorry I was being rude and judgmental. Who was that girl by the way?"

He sighed, rubbing his temples. "Some girl that's been stalking me since the year started; she really wants to go out with me but I'm just not interested at all."

"So tell her no."

"I did, but she hasn't taken the hint," he said, stooping down to pick up a stone.

"Hint? Most people don't. That's why you usually need to say it clearly."

"That's kind of harsh," he commented, raising an eyebrow at me before he tossed the stone. It skipped three times before it landed in the lake and sunk, sending ripples across the surface.

"Maybe, but it's not as harsh as letting her think she has a chance," I replied, picking up my own stone. I tossed it and, true to form with using my bad hand, it sunk with an ungraceful splash.

"Nice toss," he teased.

"Shut up. My throwing arm is broken so I'm allowed. I bet I can beat you at running though."

"Well, when track starts we'll see about that now, won't we?"

"We most definitely will."

He tossed another stone. "Do you really think if I tell her flat out no she'll buzz off?"

"You never tell a girl flat out no! You tell her that you aren't interested or that she should find another guy that'd be better suited for her or something. Be nice about it."

"But you said—" 

"I said to tell her clearly. But you should still do it in a nice way or else she'll be completely crushed. And that would be harsh."

"And what if a guy was really interested in a girl?" he asked, as he picked up a handful of stones. "But the girl didn't feel the same?"

"Are you having girl trouble?"

He chuckled, "No, but a friend of mine is."

"Uh huh," I said skeptically, "So this...friend...of yours is interested in a girl who doesn't return the favor?"

"Yup," he said, tossing a stone. "Would you give him the same advice? To stop liking her?"

I sighed, sitting down on the grass on the edge of the lake. "You can't make yourself stop liking someone, but you have to know when to let go of them."

He threw the rest of his stones, watching them skip, then sat down next to me, "So what you're saying is to do nothing about it?"

I bit my lip, folding my knees in front of me.

"It depends," I said carefully, "If the girl is really worth it...and she likes you, I mean--your friend--but in a friend way then fighting for her wouldn't be a totally bad thing depending how it's done."