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22. Showers

Paige's POV

Helpless. I was helpless. I wish he hadn't seen that photo. I should've just left it at his house.

I felt my body give out from under me and I landed on the ground, my back scraping against the knobs of my dresser.

I heard a door open and slam shut and my sobs became uncontrollable as I rested my head on my knees.

After a minute, my eyes became dry, no more tears left to spill.

What the hell? Did I just let him walk out? I was beyond pissed off, at me, at Landon, photo frames. I stood up, dusted myself off, and walked out of my bedroom.

My feet slammed against the marble of the stairs as I stomped down them. Diane was near the bottom of the stairs and she looked up at me, fear laced in her eyes.

"Where's Landon?" I said harshly as I neared her.

She pointed a long finger at the back door. I nodded slightly and walked in that direction. I pushed the door open with my hip and stepped onto the concrete of the patio.

I heard soft grunts coming from the yard and I flipped the lights on. There was Landon, in the middle of the green grass of the lawn doing push-ups.

"What the hell are you doing?" I shouted towards him. He didn't answer, instead he put an arm behind his back and continued his exercise.

I opened the screen door and walked out to stand above him. His shirt was off and he was in the flannel pants from my dads drawer.

"Go away," he spoke in between breaths.

"No." I placed my hands on my hips and waited for him to yell at me again.

"Go," Landon insisted, his grunts becoming harder and quicker.

"No." As soon as the words left my lips, Landon popped up and stood right before me, his nose barley brushing against mine as he looked down at me.

"Yes," his voice was harsh and it was almost frightening, but I was not about to back down.

I started stepping towards him and he stepped backwards.

"Yell at me again. Scream at me, get it off your chest." I spoke gently, my voice smooth and level.

"Leave me alone," Landon said again, his eyebrows down and eyes small.

I stopped stepping towards him and Landon stopped walking backwards. A flicker of confusion in his eyes before it was replaced with his previous anger.

"If you interrupt me again, I will shove you backwards into the pool directly behind you," I whispered. Recognition came across Landon's face and he sucked his cheeks in.

"Maybe I don't know you, we didn't speak for years, but I like to think that I know you. I like to think that you know me. You do know me. Better than anyone," I searched my brain for the strength to continue. Landon's face stayed expressionless.

"Paige, I-" Landon began, but stopped abruptly as I snapped my head back up to face him.

"I was choked out by a drug dealer earlier today because of you, and here I am, might I add. I don't know why you continue to doubt me, but it's pissing me off." I crossed my arms over my chest as I took a deep breath at the end of my rant.

"Why are you here? You don't have to be, you could've left me at the hospital if you wanted to." Landon never met my eyes, his gaze spun around.

"Because I love you! Dammit, Landon!" I shouted towards him, before sighing in defeat and turning away from him.