Second Chance Mates

-01- 🌹 What I've Become

^ Picture of Landon

"So many years have come and gone. But every picture without you still feels so wrong. I've been thinking lately... what would you say if you saw me? Would you be proud of what I've become?"
~Michael Schulte, 'The Love You Left Behind'

~~~

*Landon's POV*

| FIVE YEARS LATER |

I wake up gasping for air, sweat drenching the back of my shirt. My body trembles as I try to recover from the horrific nightmare. Salty tears are already running down my face, and I quickly brush them away.

Fuck, I really need to stop drinking before bed.

That event from five years ago still plays in my mind when I go to sleep. The nightmares used to happen every night, but now they only come when I fall asleep drunk. It's a constant reminder of how shitty my life has become.

That, and the headaches of my hangovers spurred on from my depression-induced drinking.

I yank the damp shirt off and throw it somewhere across the room, not really caring where it lands. I roll back over and try to fall back asleep. There's a moment of peacefulness as I sink back into the blankets, and I feel the beginnings of a smile on my lips.

Of course, life is never that easy for me.

My cell phone blares, making my head pound excruciatingly. I groan and roll over, not even bothering to check the caller ID before declining the call.

I flop back down, screwing my eyes closed tightly to block out any unnecessary light. Shit, how much did I drink last night anyway?

The phone blares again, and annoyance floods me as I answer the call with a low growl.

"What?" I snap at whoever dared to interrupt my beauty sleep. Not like it would help, anyways. I'd have bags under my eyes no matter how much sleep I got.

"Excuse the fuck outta you," a voice sharply retorts. "Who pissed in your Cheerios?"

I roll my eyes. "What do you want, Lia?"

"Can't a girl just call to check up on her favorite twin?"

"A girl, perhaps. But not a demon," I grumble as Lia cackles over the line. "Besides, I'm your only twin."

"Which is exactly why it's my responsibility to make sure you get up and get your ass in the shower. We're having lunch with mom and dad today, or did you forget?"

I curse under my breath, sitting up on the bed. "No, of course not. I've been up for hours," I fib.

Yeah... I one-hundred percent forgot.

Whoops.

Lia snorts loudly. "Yeah, sure. I'm sure you didn't stay up late having a pity party. Just like I didn't call Lucca to make sure you come to this lunch instead of taking off like last time."

My jaw drops and I narrow my eyes. "You didn't."

"See you soon," Lia sings cheerfully, hanging up on me before I can curse at her for recruiting my roommate to ambush me. I scramble out of my bed, only to stumble for a second from my hangover as I rush to the door. Sure enough, when I swing the door open I'm greeted by the guilty face of a traitor.

"Lucca," I groan dramatically. "Really? You sided with my sister?"

Lucca flashes me a guilty smile. "I'm sorry, man. Lia was right though, you can't be trusted to get to that lunch by yourself. It's like you hear the term 'family gathering' and head straight for the hills. Plus, Lia's hot. I'm pretty much whipped for her."