Scandalous (Slow Updates)

Four

Song: Danger- BTS

"So, how do I look?" Landon asked, stepping out of his front door and motioning toward his outfit, and when I turned around, my jaw dropped. He had looked damn good. Landon wore a white V-neck, covered by a denim jacket, and a pair of black jeans. His shoes were a brand new pair of converses, and overall, he made the bad boy look sexy. It helped that his hair was naturally tousled.

"You make it work, champ," I grinned, winking at him as we walked down to the gate in front of his house. "I think we could definitely persuade the group to let you join."

"I hope so. I didn't put in all this effort for nothing."

"Hope is good. But don't worry, you have me. I'm an expert at persuasion."

Landon chuckled as we walked down the sidewalk toward school. The walk was silent, but for once, the silence was nice. It was nice just to look around for once and listen to the birds and the way the wind blew through the trees. I had never taken the time to notice the simple things. It had been hard to do that when I lived the kind of life I was always stuck in with the people I kept front and center in my life at the time. 

We reached the school and walked past the entrance toward the court yard. The group was already there, huddled around the tree doing the same stuff they did every morning, but unlike the day before, Dixie was actually there. She didn't look too happy, and she distanced herself from Zack, but she was there, and that was all that mattered. Out of everyone in the group, I knew Dixie would support anything I laid on the table-- even letting a good guy like Landon in.

"It's time, champ. Are you ready?" I asked, and he cleared his throat as he fixed his jacket.

"It's now or never."

We walked up to the group, and at first, they remained doing their thing, but when they caught sight of Landon, all conversation ceased, and Aleck even dropped his lit cigarette.

Thank God Dixie was the only one who paid attention and put out the cigarette. Hell, she even smiled at us.

"Kara, baby," Aleck started, his eyes dragging from me to Landon, 'What in the hell is this goody two shoes doing in our territory?"

Dixie rolled her eyes, while Zack and Drew stood behind Aleck with their arms crossed over their chest, glaring at Landon. Bailey stood off to the side being her ditsy self. Landon shifted uncomfortably, and I glared at Aleck.

"Seriously, Aleck?" I scoffed, and he shrugged. "Landon here has seen the error of his ways."

I shot Landon a look as if to say "I'm-not-for-real, I'm-just-trying-to-persuade-them-easily", and he nodded, winking at me. "He's no longer the good boy. And I think he's worthy of becoming a part of our group," I finished confidently, and Aleck stared at me as if I had just sprouted three heads. The other guys eyed up Landon. For a couple very long, uncomfortable moments, everything was dead silent. I could tell Landon was getting anxious, and I raised my eyebrows at Aleck.

"You expect us to let him in the group?" Zack butted in, glaring at Landon. "He wouldn't last a week with us. He'd get too scared. Nerdy wimps don't last with us."

"You have some nerve," Dixie suddenly joined, shooting Zack a deadly glare. Zack stared at her in shock, and I realized it had been the first time they had talked since... their predicament. "I had to practically hold your hand through your first cigarette, and you still can't handle them. Maybe you should get your head out of your ass and step down from your high pedestal. I have no doubt Landon is a better guy than any of you could ever be."

Zack's face paled, and then he slowly walked toward Dixie, holding out his hand. "I... I really think we need to talk, Dixie."

"Like hell we are," She hissed, swatting his hand away. "If you really wanted to talk, you would have been a man and talked to me three days ago."