Into The Darkness ↠ Ryan Clarke

21

𝐁𝐄𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐇𝐈𝐓 𝐎𝐍
i want a love that as deep as it feels it breaths just as free

IT WAS ABOUT two days since Hope and the others showed up at the school, and they're trying to make everything go make to normal. But, everyone was cautious around Malia, and especially around Clarke. They all knew they were good — in Hope's words — but they also know Hope wasn't there for the most part when Triad tried to take over the school.

Hope was currently baking Lizzie a cake, and Malia was suppose to help and learn how to make for her soon to be girlfriend — in Hope's words — but the werecoyote was nowhere to be found.

Hope sighed as she brushed her long auburn hair behind her shoulder and started putting the ingredients into the bowl, getting ready to mix it.

"Hey..." Landon's voice startled her and she turned around quickly, her eyes wide, and her hands out in front of her, ready for any spell to be casted. He let out a small square and put his hands up in surrender. "Sorry... didn't mean to startle you."

Hope relaxed slightly and rubbed her temple, a sigh escaping her lips. "I'm sorry. I just haven't had much sleep since I've been back and the lights have been giving me a headache seeing as I was in almost complete darkness for months." She rolled her shoulders back before smiling kindly at him. "What are you doing here, Landon?"

Landon clapped his hands once as he walked around the kitchen island, towards her. "I heard that Lizzie and Malia ditched you to make a cake. I see the rumor was correct."

She tilted her head, grinning. "So, they're together?"

Landon nodded, his lips pursed. "Yeah. I just saw them outside at the pool, drinking lemonade that Lizzie made, and in their bikinis." He eyed the ingredients that laid out on the table and gestures to them with his eyes. "You need help?"

Hope smiled, happy that Malia and Lizzie we're getting along like she hoped. After all, they were very similar. "I think I can handle a little pie," she told him gently.

Landon shrugged. "I can help. Remember that time I helped you with that cake?"

Hope giggled at the memory. "Oh, yeah, I remember. You dropped an egg on the floor and then slipped on it."

"And then you were possessed by a slug," he added with a chuckle as she threw some flower at him.

"I'd rather not remember that," she told him before shaking her head. "Where's MG and Kaleb."

Landon shrugged. "I think MG is interrogating a new vampire named Sebastian that showed up out of nowhere. And I just saw Kaleb singing while making his way to the showers."

Hope nodded and then furrowed her brows. "There's a new vampire student?"

He nodded. "Yeah. He showed up out of nowhere, flirted with Lizzie, drank from Wade to wake up from his desiccation, and then he tried to attack Kym who is Kaleb's sister." He shrugged as he leaned up against the counter, watching Hope's face with fondness. "It's been a wild last few few months without you."

She nodded sadly. "No monsters, right?"

He nodded. "No monsters have shown up since you... well, you know."

Hope nodded and began picking up the eggs, cracking them, and putting them in the bowl. She then threw the egg shells into the trash and looked back up at Landon with raised brows. "Are you going to help or are you just going to stand there?"

Landon blushes heavily and began helping her with the ingredients. And when she wiped her hand over her forehead, some flower smeared and he paused, just staring at her as she continued to put everything together.

Landon studied her with soft eyes for a moment.

There was a steadiness to her, as if all the storms in the world were a whispering breeze if she was there. She was kind and clever, perhaps that's what drew people to her. It was as if she knew she was born to be a queen of the earth, one who helped others, using her brain to fix whatever needed fixing. There was nothing "princess" about her though, just a fierce independence and a motherliness too... and she was that way from girlhood, confident with the air of a warrior. He loved her.

Hope looked up at Landon and smiled brightly at him. "Do you have something on your mind, Landon?"

He cleared his throat and licked his lips, thinking 'what the hell?' she escaped him once before, he's not going to let it happen again. "I like you, Hope."

She tilted her head with a small smile. "I like you too, Landon. You're a really great friend."

Landon deflated slightly before shaking his head. "No, Hope; I really like you. I've liked you the moment you first walked into the Mystic Grill and ordered the peanut butter blast with whip cream on the bottom." He walked towards her as she was frozen in shock, and grabbed her hands. "I think I might be in love with you."

Just as he said those three words, Clarke happened to be walking by the kitchen, and froze upon seeing Hope inches away from Landon, holding hands. He clenched his jaw and wanted to look away, but something compelled him to keep watching.

"Landon, I—" Hope opened her mouth, not knowing what to say as she shook her head.

"You don't have to say it back, but I want to do this before you decide." He leaned forward and Hope's mind was a stuttering mess, so when e leaned forward to kiss her, she didn't react in time, and their lips connected.

Clarke clenched his jaws in anger before he swiftly turned around and stomped away. One thing on his mind; he was going to kill Landon.

"Landon!" Hope exclaimed and pushed the boy away from her, taking a few steps away from him. She met his eyes, surprise on her features. "I'm sorry, but I don't let me you like that. I will never like you like that. I..." She trailed off before bringing her fingers to her lips, only one boy popping into her mind that she wanted to kiss. "I just — sorry." She shook her head and made a run for it.