Trusting My Friend

Prologue

December 2011 (Winter Break, 3½ years earlier)

Alissa

Walking out of our vacation house in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, I head towards the shops along the water.

"Alissa, wait up!"

I roll my eyes, yet stop in my tracks, turning around to see Landon coming up behind me. Landon is my brother Keith's best friend and came with us on our annual Christmas trip. He slows down as he comes closer and puts his arm around my shoulders.

"Ya know I left for a reason, right? It's called ALONE time for a reason." I draw out the syllables when I say 'alone'. Yet, he doesn't get the hint. He continues walking next to me.

"Sure, whatever. Hey, want to go get some lunch?"

"With you? Why would I do that?" I tease him. While he is Keith's friend, we get along pretty well when he hangs out at our house. Between those two and my best friend, Kayden, I've gotten really good at video games and am really competitive.

We head towards a sandwich shop, he holds the door open as we get there and walk in. I order my sandwich and Landon follows suit, and as we walk along the counter to the cash register, I pull out my wallet.

"Nuh uh. Put it away, Alissa. I'm paying."

"Landon, no. I can pay for my own five dollar sandwich." I refuse to let a man pay for my food, especially when it's not a date. I don't think Landon understands that.

As we reach the register, he leans around me and hands the cashier his credit card. "This is for both our sandwiches."

"Dude! Seriously?" Does he not understand the meaning of no?

"Sorry. I'm a gentleman. I'm going to pay for your food." He smirks.

"Ugh." I sigh in defeat.

We take our sandwiches outside and eat them as we walk along the beach, heading towards the house. As Landon and I get to the property with our house on it, we sit down in front of the water.

"You know, Alissa, I don't think I've ever said this, but you're a pretty awesome person to hang out with. Even though you are three years younger and a little freshman." Even when he tries to be serious, he fails.

We sit on the beach for about an hour until the weather starts cooling and shivers run up and down my arms.

"Come on, let's go inside."

Landon stands up and puts his arm out to help me up. Getting up, we walk back to the house. Once inside, I head towards the living room, more specifically, the couch. Sitting down, I grab the remote and turn on the TV to Netflix and Supernatural. About halfway through, my Dad comes in.

"We're all going out to dinner in about an hour."

"Can I just stay home please?"

"I guess."

"Thanks Dad!"

He leaves the room and I go back to watching my show. Near the end, Landon comes in and sits down next to me, close enough to where there isn't a foot of space between us. Groaning internally, I shift hoping to create a little more space between us.

I need to get away from Landon, he is getting on my nerves. So once the credits of Supernatural roll, I turn off the TV and head to my room. Grabbing my iPad and headphones, I turn Spotify onto my favorite playlist and open the Kindle app.

I must lose track of time because it is almost an hour and a half later when there is a small knock on the door. Pulling off my headphones, I close my iPad, get off my bed, and go to the door. Opening it, I see Landon standing there with two plates in his hands.

"What are you doing here? I thought I was the only one who didn't go to dinner?"

"I decided just to stay to keep you company."

"Landon, can't you take a hint? When I walked away earlier, that meant I didn't want your company."

"Come on, Alissa. I made you dinner. I also have the drinks downstairs. Let's just eat these sandwiches together and then I'll leave you alone." He pleads.

Giving in, I say "fine" and let him in. He hands me the plates and heads back out the door to go get the drinks.

He comes back within two minutes. He hands me one of the cups. "Cream soda for you."

"Thank you." I set in on my bedside stand.

We eat our sandwiches in silence and finish about ten minutes later. I'm feeling a little dizzy and my eyesight is becoming blurry.

"What's going on?" That sounded weird, what was in my soda?

"Just go to sleep Alissa." Landon says, taking the plate and cup from me.

The next thing I know, I'm laying down and Landon is over me.