Scandalous (Slow Updates)

Twelve

Song: Midnight Memories- One Direction

"Want to see what kind of trouble we can get into?"

"Oh god, we're going to die, aren't we?"

I rolled my eyes. "It's a Tuesday. I know how to restrain myself."

Landon scoffed. "You absolutely do not."

"Come on, champ!" I pouted, crossing my arms over my chest. "It's spring break. I've been stuck in this house all day."

Landon stared at me for a second, his eyes squinted, before he looked away from me and sighed. I smirked, pumping my fist in victory. Landon stood and stretched, and I zipped to my room, slipping on my converses before running out the front door. Landon followed behind me, and the two of us walked through my neighborhood, heading for the town. Once we reached the town, we stopped for lunch at Denny's, and then after lunch, we grabbed ice cream at Dairy Queen.

"So, what's the plan?" Landon questioned, licking his ice cream cone, and I shrugged, wiping my mouth with a napkin.

"Not sure yet. It's almost dark out, so there isn't much we can do," I glanced out the window of Dairy Queen, watching the cars moving slowly on the streets of town. Across the road, a couple kids stood outside of the theater, laughing and goofing off. As I watched them, I felt nostalgic. I had been so caught up in my lifestyle and problems with mom that I had completely forgotten what it was like to have a childhood. I had been so focused on growing up to escape my problems that I forgot about the real problems I would have to face once I became an adult. Watching those kids made me realize how much I had taken my childhood for granted. A lot of people did that, though. We were so determined to grow up that we forgot to slow down and enjoy our childhood before it slipped out of our grasp.

"Any ideas yet?" I looked at Landon again to see he had finished his ice cream and was watching me. I finished off my ice cream before licking my lips, glancing around the parlor. Suddenly, an idea came to me, and I smirked and grabbed Landon's arm. "Woah, tiger. Where are we going?"

I glanced back at him. "You'll see."

I led Landon on the walk back to my house. Mom was away for her campaign, which meant I had the house all to myself. That, of course, also meant I didn't have to listen to her degrade me or complain about how I wasn't the daughter she had hoped she had. Oh well. I couldn't make everyone happy. Not even myself.

By the time we reached my house, Landon was staring at me quizzically. "The trouble you wanted to get in... is at your house?"

I chuckled, shaking my head. "Hell no. It's in the backyard."

"Please tell me we're not holding a cult meeting."

"Do I look like that kind of person to you?" I playfully glared, smacking his arm, and he stuck his tongue out at me. "Just trust me. I promise you won't regret it."

"The last time I trusted you, I ended up with a tattoo on my body."

I shrugged. "You loved it."

Leading him out to the background, I made him sit at the picnic table until it was completely dark. Once it was dark, I motioned for Landon to follow me. I grabbed hold of the privacy fence between our house and the neighbor's, beginning to climb. Once I was at the top, I glanced back at Landon to see him looking at me incredulously.

"We're trespassing!? Kara, I expected trouble, not a jail sentence!"

"Relax, would you?" I replied, smirking at him. "They love me. We're just taking advantage of their pool."

"No, Kara. We can't."

"Just trust me, Landon. Please?" I begged, pouting at him, and he grumbled before finally grabbing hold of the fence and making his way up. Once he started climbing, I hopped over to the other side, and once he was with me, I walked to their pool chairs and sat my phone and shoes on it. Landon did the same, and then he stripped off his shirt and pants. I threw off my t-shirt and pants before diving into the pool. Once I surfaced, I faced Landon and smirked. He hesitated before jumping in, and once he surfaced, we swam around in silence.

"See? That wasn't so bad!" I teased, and Landon glared at me, splashing water in my face. My jaw dropped, and then I glared back at him. "Oh, it's so on."

Landon and I splashed each other back and forth, slowly inching closer to each other, until we were face to face, and the world around us disappeared. Landon's short breaths hit my face, his scent flooding my nose, as his eyes flickered between my eyes and lips.

"Hi." I whispered, moving slightly closer, my stomach knotting like it did the night of spin the bottle. I wasn't sure what that feeling was then, but for some reason, I enjoyed it. At the same time, it had frightened me. I had been so damaged by my past that I was afraid to welcome new feelings-- new people.

"Hey, pretty girl," The corner of his mouth quirked up, and I found myself holding my breath. Why was I feeling so nervous? This was Landon, not Aleck. Landon and I were only friends. Nothing more.

But then, we were both leaning in, moving closer, and as time slowed around us, I realized there was something different about Landon, something I enjoyed. He didn't see me as Kara the bad girl who drank too much and partied enough to be as alive as New York City. He treated me like the old Kara, the one I hadn't been in years. She was much gentler, quieter, and... good. She had her life together. She was happy. With Landon, I realized, I could be the old me, the one I didn't realize I had been longing for.

Our lips innocently brushed against each others, and I swore he was going to kiss me. We were so close, but then--

"Freeze! Put your hands where I can see them!"

***

"Well, this is a nice change of scenery."

"It's a prison cell."

Landon glared. "I was being sarcastic."

Silence settled between us, until Landon huffed, leaning against the concrete wall of the cell. I glanced over at him, but he wouldn't meet my eyes.

"I thought you said your neighbors liked you?" He questioned, and I chuckled, leaning against the wall as well.

"They used to like me. I'm not really sure what changed their minds," I tapped my chin. "It might've been that one time when I accidentally stomped on all their flowers during one of my drunken nights of trying to sneak into my house..."

"Fantastic. And now we're in jail because you couldn't keep a good relationship with your neighbors to the point where they wouldn't arrest you for swimming in their pool." 

I rolled my eyes, crossing my arms over my chest. "Anyway... It would kill them to make these things more comfier. I mean, seriously? Metal beds? Do I look like stone?"

"I would hope you wouldn't be in here enough for the need to make it comfy..." Landon mumbled, looking away from me, and I rolled my eyes again. I knew he was upset. Good guys like him didn't belong in jail cells with girls like me. But I had to admit, it was nice not being alone in there for once.

"Hey, hot stuff!" I hollered through the cell door, and he walked up, his arms crossed over his chest. I shot him a grin, and he sighed. "Do you have like, a pillow or something? I'm pretty damn tired, and this metal bench isn't gonna cut it."

Hot stuff chuckled, shaking his head. "You won't have to worry about it too much longer, Kara. Someone's coming to bail you out."

I tilted my head to the side. "Oh, yeah? Who?"

He smirked. "Your mother."

Just. My. Luck.

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Hi loves,

I am so sorry for not posting this sooner!! I meant to post it two days again but I've been so busy lately with my new job :( I'll try my best to keep updating and writing new stuff. Please be patient with me, I love writing these books, but I love sharing them with y'all even more.

Let me know what you think so far? How are y'all feeling about Kara and Landon's relationship?

Please vote, comment, and spread the word. Thank you for reading!

Much love always,

-Abby