A/N: Sorry its taken me so long to update. School for me has been kind of hectic with the semester ending. Anyways my reads on this story have been going up constantly. I'm amazed. Thank you all so much. Here is the new chapter.
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Sunday morning I dressed in a pair of leggings and a long tank top. After tying on a pair of white sneakers I grabbed Landon's keys and a banana before going to his car and driving to the dance studio. My phone vibrated as I entered the building. I threw out the now empty banana peel and checked my phone. Landon had sent me a text, wishing me luck on my first day. I grinned and replied before going to the staff room. Eliza sat at a table with others around her.
"Hello Ebony. Your studio will be studio one. Your first class is on their way in."
I nodded and made my way out of the room and down the hall to studio one. Girls and boys around my age were sitting on the ground stretching. I didn't recognize any of them which meant that they went to another school in the area.
"I'm Ebony," I said while dropping my bags. "Since this is a hip hop class we will begin with some simple steps. Join in when you feel comfortable."
I plugged my phone into the sound system and hit play. Once the music began playing I began dancing. At first only one boy caught onto my moves but soon the rest joined in and I spent the rest of class working on their technique. All of my other five classes continued in the same way and by the end of the day I was ready to go home.
It took me nearly twenty minutes to get back to the apartment with the traffic. My body was sore as I dragged myself through the front door. My bags dropped to the ground as I saw Landon sitting on the couch and drinking a chocolate breakfast shake.
"What are you doing here?" I exclaimed as I walked over to him. He rolled his eyes at me, put down his drink and held open his arms. I hugged him quickly and yelped in surprise when he hauled me into his lap.
"I wanted to know how your first day went," he replied. He winced at the pain and rubbed at his throat.
"It hurts less if you don't speak," I said saucily. He rolled his eyes again and nudged me. "I'm so sore and tired but it was so much fun. Thank you for getting me the job."
He smiled at me and released me so I could get up. Once I was standing he stretched out on the couch and turned on the television. I smiled to myself and went to shower. Once I was showered and sweat free I got dressed. I had on a denim button up over a white camisole and grey plaid skinny jeans. My wet hair was tied into a bun on top of my head.
"I'm going to make some dinner. Want any?" I asked while walking to the kitchen. I opened the fridge and pulled out the ground beef I had left in there to thaw. Landon shook his head and went back to watching cartoons. Once I had the beef sizzling in a pan I got out tomato sauce and two slices of bread.
While I waited for it to cook I finished some of the homework that sat untouched in my room. Landon came in with my sandwich and placed it on my desk. I hadn't even realized so much time had passed.
"Thanks," I said while he fell onto my bed and pulled out a book. He nodded in reply and began reading. We spent the next few hours in silence as I finished homework and he slept away the night. By the time I went to bed he was snoring and taking up at least half of the bed. I curled in beside him and he woke up right away.
"Are you home?" Iliana asked as she barged into my room. Her eyes lit up when she saw Landon with me. "Am I interrupting?"
"I was going to go to sleep so yes you are interrupting."
Iliana laughed before leaving the room. Landon wrapped an arm around me before grinning at my Minnie Mouse pajamas. He pressed his lips to my forehead and held them there for a few moments.
"Did you make the bed?" I asked him. He nodded and let go of me before pulling the blanket over us. I grinned and rolled so my back was to him before falling asleep.
"We're going to be late!" Iliana yelled the next morning. I was dressed and ready to go to school while she was still running around in pajamas. Landon rolled his eyes at me and curled up into a tighter ball on the couch with cartoons on the screen again.
"Get your butt dressed then so we can go!" I yelled while adjusting my black skirt. Landon was staring at me so I pulled a funny face and went back to tugging at my skirt.
"You look beautiful. Stop tugging," he said. I could barely hear him over the noise from the T.V. but I saw the wince that followed his words. His throat would still be really sore.
"Thanks," I replied. "Do you want me to get your school work?"
"I'll get it for him," Daxton said as he entered the apartment like he owned the place.
"Great," I replied while grabbing my bag. Daxton was giving me a ride to school while Iliana was going on her own. She had a few clubs after school to do and she had to go see her family.
"You look nice. What's the occasion?" Daxton teased as we got into his car.
"Funny. Maybe I just want to wear a skirt, did you think of that?"
"Since when?" He drove down the streets quickly. "I think you're just trying to impress Landon."
I blushed and looked out the window as we pulled into the school parking lot. Daxton nudged me with his shoulder before we both got out and walked into school together. A few people said hello to Daxton as we walked down the hall to English.
"So what are you two going to do when he leaves town for college?" Daxton asked as we took notes from a lecture.
"I'm not sure. I don't really want to think about that."
"Graduation is coming up really fast Eb. Maybe you should think about it."
"Why do you care?" I snapped. The topic was bothering me a lot. I didn't know what we were going to do about it. I wanted to try and stay with him but I wasn't sure if it would be possible. My good mood disappeared as I realized I would have to talk to him about this.
"We all know the best friend picks up the broken pieces."
"You're not my best friend."
"Iliana is and I am his. Talk to him," he urged. I nodded in agreement and went back to taking notes.
After school Daxton had dropped me and Landon's homework off at the house. Landon grinned when he saw me before frowning at my expression. With a small half smile I sat on the couch beside him and pulled back when he reached for me.
"We need to talk," I said seriously. Instantly I knew it was the wrong wording when his frown became deeper and the worry line between his eyebrows appeared. I sighed and placed his work on the table before pulling my legs to my chest.
"What is it?" he asked, his voice still quiet from the strep.
"What is going to happen to us once you move away for school?"
"I won't be that far away. Only a town over. We can still talk all the time and I'll be back here as often as I can. I'll be around as long as you want me here Eb."
"Landon do you really think it will work? I mean honestly we only have a few months left. It's already April. You graduate at the end of June and leave in the middle of August."
"We will make it work. Don't give up just because you're scared."
"It's not just about being scared Landon. It's about commitment."
"I've been committed to you for awhile Ebony. What would make you think I would ditch that just because I'm not living in the same town?" He was getting angry and his voice was scratchy with his sore throat.
"Commitment scare me Landon. It freaks me out and I don't know if you'll still want to be with me months from now when you're surrounded by a bunch of girls your age."
"If I don't want them now then I won't want them a few years from now!" he yelled. For once I didn't flinch. I felt angry and I felt like yelling back at him. It was an odd feeling. I had been terrified of yelling and anger for years but now I could stand in front of him and get angry.
"How can you know that?"
"Don't you trust me?" he asked, his voice was quieter this time. His words were laced with the pain it took to speak.
"You promise we are going to try?" I sighed and watched him as he looked at me. He reached for my hands and pulled them to him before kissing the scars on my wrists.
"I promise. I'll come up every other weekend and I'll be home for all major holidays."
"I'll beat you up if you don't," I replied with a small smile. I tugged at my skirt right before he pulled me into his lap and leaned back into the couch. His arms wrapped around me like a cage as he held me to him and kissed my cheek.
"So does Taylor like Daxton?" he asked right before the door opened and Daxton walked in.
"Mom sent me by to check up on you," Daxton announced with a smile before sitting beside us. "Looks like I should have been here earlier."
I blushed and flipped him off before getting off Landon's lap and walking into the kitchen. I could hear the rumble of their voices while I got out a frying pan and a package of thawed chicken breast. After rolling up my sleeves and washing my hands I began chopping the raw chicken. After frying it up I set out tortillas, salsa and cheese before making a wrap and sitting on the counter to eat it.
"Dinner!" I yelled to the boys in between bites. The front door opened and closed as Iliana entered the apartment and joined me before the two garbage disposals got to the food. Landon ignored the wraps and grabbed a breakfast shake from the fridge before coming to stand beside my knees. Iliana and Daxton sat at the table as the door opened again and Taylor came in. She slammed the door behind her and locked it.
"Your mother was waiting outside. I came in the back way but you need to hide now!" Taylor exclaimed, out of breath from running up the back stair well.
Landon cursed before he and Daxton raced to close curtains and cover the peephole. Iliana grabbed the food before pulling me along behind her to my bedroom. I sat on my bed and plugged my earphones in before waiting for Taylor and Iliana to leave my room. They left and left my dinner on my nightstand before Landon entered and closed the door before locking it behind him. He took his contacts out and put them away before sliding on his glasses and sitting beside me.
The bed dipped as he moved closer to me and just watched. I stared back at him, him and his gorgeous looks and amazing personality leaning against my headboard and willingly being with me. With that in mind I moved until I was leaning beside him before putting my hand in his. He didn't say a word, instead he just offered me his comfort and I knew that's what I would need in the time to come.