Three weeks later and Daxton was my boyfriend. He held my hand and kissed my cheek but something about the relationship felt fake. It was as if I were just a toy he could drag around by the hand. A cute doll but nothing more. Then it happened. The day he lost his chance. It was a Saturday night and he had dragged me to a party I really didn't want to go to like always. To be honest the parties sucked. I didn't know anyone and I was uncomfortable around most of the people. Daxton would take off for periods of time and I sat around on some barren couch to wait.

That particular night I had gotten tired of drunk guys hitting on me and drunk girls trying to dance with me. It made me feel awkward and disgusting. I walked up the stairs to try and reach some escape. I needed to find Daxton and get out of there whether he was with me or not. After trying a few rooms in a fruitless search for the bathroom where he said he was going I finally found him in an en suite with Sherri.

"We're done" I announced before slamming the door behind me and leaving the house. I could hear him yelling after me as I walked down the street with my coat wrapped around me. It was mid February and I caught my boyfriend cheating on me. I laughed bitterly in my head and continued to walk. I was never good enough for anybody.

"Shortie!" I heard a familiar voice yell. I spun to see Landon running down the street. He had a grin on his face as he tackled me into a snow bank. My laughter rang out down the deserted street as I struggled to free myself from under his crushing weight.

"Hey Landon. Is there a reason you're trying to kill me?" I asked. He grinned sheepishly before getting up and pulling me to my feet.

"Sorry Eb. So any reason you're alone?"

"Daxton cheated on me. I caught him with Sherri."

"Are you okay?" he asked worriedly. "Do I need to beat him up? I will for you."

He turned and began storming towards the random house where music was coming from. I grabbed Landon's arm and pulled him back. It was useless as he was incredibly strong. He easily pulled me behind him but stopped when I kicked him in the shin. He began laughing at my small frame hanging onto his. It is easy to imagine it was a pretty comical sight.

"I'm fine Lan. I am honestly not bothered by it." This realization kind of shocked me. I had never told him much about my life though so there was never an emotional attachment. I thought there was but he never really knew me.

"Are you sure?" His eyes were soft as he looked at me.

"Positive. I need to show you something."

"What is it?" he asked.

"Something that may change our friendship."

"Do I get access to that oh so private world of yours?" he teased as I pulled him down the street. I shivered slightly at the cold, biting wind and placed my hands deeper in my pockets. Landon noticed and took off his gloves and hat before sliding them on me. With a grin I lead him further down the street and through a few more neighbourhoods.

"That is my mother," I said while pointing at a drunken woman sitting outside my old house. Her graying hair was slick with oil and her clothes were rumpled. She no doubt reeked of alcohol and cigarettes. Landon, instead of judging me, took my hand and hit me in the head with it.

"Why you hitting yourself?" he asked playfully as he repeatedly used my hand to smack me.

"What the heck?" I asked while struggling to control my own hand. "Don't you have anything to say? Aren't you going to run away screaming?"

"One, you shouldn't hit yourself," he said with a smirk. He smiled at my scowl and released my hand. "Two, you are not Shrek and three, you're my friend no matter who your mom is. Idiot."

"Why are you calling me an idiot?" I exclaimed as he and I began walking to the apartment. He stayed on the couch a few nights a week but I often found him sleeping in the beanbag chair in my room. I knew my nightmares had come back but I didn't know he would be worried enough to sleep on an uncomfortable chair.

"You should have known I don't care about that. All I care about is you."

I blushed and nudged him with my shoulder. He meant it as a friend but it made me feel nice inside. I yelped as he shoved me into a snow bank and took off running. The little brat was trying to get me to race him. After scrambling out of the snow I bolted after him. He was laughing loudly as we ran up the apartment stairs. He was yelling about my cheating as I shoved him into the elevator and pressed all the buttons before taking off to beat him to the apartment.

"Why are you out of breath?" Iliana asked right before Landon stormed through the door with a face glistening with sweat. She looked between us. We were both panting and sweaty. "Do I want to know what you were doing?"

I fell on the couch and threw a pillow at Iliana who easily ducked. Landon chuckled before taking off towards the bathroom. Iliana sat beside me as I pulled off the outdoor clothing and folded it neatly. She frowned as I rubbed my hand down my face. She knes me well enough to know something had happened.

"What did Daxton do?" Iliana asked immediately. I grinned at her. She was like my own personal mind reader and I loved her for that.

"One word. Sherri."

"That jerk cheated on you?"

"Yeah. It's strange but I'm not really upset. He didn't really know me. There was only a barely there attachment. I mean come on I even said he would have one chance and one chance only. If I really cared I wouldn't have done that would I?"

"If you really care about someone you overlook their small mistakes."

"I'm free," I said with a chuckle while closing my eyes. "I took Landon to see my mother."

"You did? What did he say?"

"He hit me with my own hand," I replied while smiling at her. She laughed along with me as the thought of Landon hitting me with my own hand entered her mind.

"Sorry to interrupt but do I have enough estrogen to join this fest?" Landon asked as he entered the room. He was in a dress with a scarf wrapped around his neck and big sunglasses covering his eyes. His feet were once again crammed into heels.

I burst into laughter with Iliana as he sat down between us and whipped off the sunglasses. He tried to cross his left leg over his right in the dress that was far too small for him. He laughed along with us and we waited while Iliana grabbed chocolate ice cream from the store down the road.

"I swear I like girls," Landon told me.

"Could've fooled me," I replied jokingly.

"Tell me something about you."

"I like to dance to relieve stress."

"Are you any good?" he asked curiously. His eyes lit up when he realized I was opening up to him a little. It was more than I had opened up with Daxton but I wouldn't tell Landon that. I knew I could trust him though.

"Pretty good. I don't want to do that for the rest of my life though."

"What do you want to do?"

"I was thinking about becoming a cop."

"Really? That's hot."

"You're a pervert."

"And a truly amazing friend," he continued for me. I laughed at him.

"Don't forget modest," I reminded him.

"Of course I'm modest. Modesty keeps my everlasting charm in my body."

I chuckled and made him go get changed. He kept a bag of clothes at the apartment because he stayed here so often. As soon as Iliana got back the three of us grabbed spoons and sat on the couch eating while watching The Conjuring. I was laughing while Iliana screamed and Landon laughed along with me. I got up halfway through and got a bag of mini marshmallows. Landon and I tossed them to each other as Iliana continued screaming. She was definitely going to have nightmares.

"Take my bed tonight," I insisted shortly after one in the morning. Landon was staying the night again but he was refusing to.

"Nope. I'm fine on the couch."

"Landon please take the bed."

"Nope. I'm not kicking you out of your own bed."

"I will make you listen to Miley Cryus and One Direction," I threatened. He groaned in pain and trudged off to my room. Around the apartment their music was the ultimate threat.

"I hate you!" he yelled as he climbed into bed. I made sure the doors were locked again before curling up on the couch and covering myself with a blanket. 

I fell asleep with happy thoughts in my mind but woke up again later as I was being placed in my own bed. Landon tucked me under the sheets before leaving to go sleep on the couch. I rolled my eyes and smiled slightly. He was a great friend.

"Rise and shine beautiful!" Iliana screeched in my ear the next morning.

"It's Sunday," I groaned while burying my face deep into the pillow. Hands were yanking at my sheets and another set grabbed my ankles. I gripped onto the headboard as hands begin to pull me.

"Get up. We're going to have fun today!" Landon exclaimed as he gave up on my ankles and began lifting me by my waist while Ilian was trying to pry my fingers away from the headboard.

"Why must you torture me?" I groaned as I was finally lifted away from my haven and set on my feet. "I hate you all."

I trudged to my closet and pulled out a black fringe skirt and a tank that read wild one. After grabbing the Spiderman underwear set Landon had bought me as a joke I went to go shower and get dressed. The warm water hit my back as I scrubbed down my hair before shaving my legs. Once I was done I left the safety of the warm shower and got dressed. After drying my hair I curled it and went to the kitchen to grab some food. Landon wolf whistled at me as I stretched to get my bowl. I flipped him off and poured some cereal.

"So what are we doing today?" I asked Landon with a mouthful of cereal.

"Chew then speak," he replied. I showed him my chewed up food before swallowing and waiting for an answer.

"We're going to take you to the festival. Can you dance in that?" Iliana asked.

"Feb Fest?" I asked excitedly. Every year our town had Feb Fest. It was just a giant fair with a lot of rides, games and performances. There would be many small stalls selling food and crafts.

"Yes," Landon confirmed. I squealed happily and ran to get shoes on. Iliana laughed as the three of us raced to Iliana's car. I tripped Landon in the parking lot and easily beat the other two to the car. My hand was quickly removed from the handle as Landon lifted me up and threw me in the backseat. I grumbled in annoyance as I pulled my seatbelt across and buckled it.

Feb Fest was incredibly busy. Iliana was hanging onto my arm with her purse dangling at her side. Landon walked behind us while whistling. We went to the main stage first where we easily got a front seat for the performance. A group of seven dancers came on doing a routine to Dance For You by Beyoncé. I watched their movements and easily picked up the routine in my head. It was amazing.

"We now ask for Ebony Black to join us on stage," the DJ said as they were in the middle of the routine. Landon shoved me to the stage and I got on to begin dancing. I danced with the group for the rest of the song. It was so much fun and the sound of applause was music to my ears. Another song came on and I began to dance. The group picked up my movements and we danced for a couple more minutes before I hopped off the stage and returned to my friends.

"You guys arranged that didn't you?" I questioned while we walked to the ferris wheel. Landon shrugged and looked awhile while Iliana nodded and gave me a hug.

"Two to a cart," the ride worker said. I looked between Landon and Iliana but she was looking at a cute boy behind her. Landon chuckled and followed me onto the ride.

"I really dislike height," Landon confessed as we started going higher.

"Then why did you get on?" I asked as we slowly escalated. 

"The last of my intelligent brain cells died."

"I could've told you that awhile ago."

We stopped at the top and I slowly rocked the seat. Landon yelped, a very feminine sound, and clung to the bar. His eyes were shut tight and I stopped rocking it. His glare was icy and it promised revenge when he finally got the courage to open his eyes again. With a smirk I looked over the side of ride and down at the people walking around below. That was when I spotted my parents and my blood went cold. They were headed this way. My body froze in place and I couldn't look away.

"Ebony? What is it?" Landon asked. He moved closer to me and I felt his hands on my shoulders. He turned me towards him and looked at me. I blinked slightly and met his eyes.

"My parents are in line," I whispered. I shivered and whther it was from my lack of coat or fear of my mother I did not know. All I knew was as soon as this ride stopped they would see me.

"Put this on," Landon said while taking off his jacket and handing me the shirt he had been wearing. He zipped his coat back over his undershirt and helped me into the grey long sleeve. He pulled an elastic band from his pocket and tied my hair up for me. After grabbing a black pen from his coat he drew me a fake mustache and beard. I scowled as he laughed. As soon as we could get off we made a run for it.

"You!" my mother slurred drunkenly as we ran past her. She screamed wordlessly in agitation as he and I kept running.

We stopped running once we were back at the car. My hands were on my knees and my breathing was heavy. She had seen me. My body started shaking. I feared her. She could track me down. She could hurt me again. With that though I crouched to the ground and began hyperventilating. My hands clenched and unclenched as I struggled to calm down. When a hand touched my back I began moving away quickly with fear in my eyes. Landon didn't look hurt. Instead he was understanding. He sat down in the dirt and waited for me to calm down by myself.

"Want to leave now?" he asked. "I messaged Iliana and she has a ride home with another friend."

"Please," I whispered as I got shakily to my feet and walked to the passenger's side. Once we were in I handed Landon the spare key and he drove us out of there.

Once we got home there was a girl with hair as dark as mine sitting outside the door. I recognized her as my aunt. She was my aunt on my father's side and I knew she wouldn't tell my mother where I was so I let her inside. She hugged me and helped me to my room quickly. My father had no doubt called her and given her my address.

"You're finally free," Aunt Yvette whispered while giving my cheek a kiss. "I only came to say hello so I must be going now. Drop by sometime okay?"

"Bye Auntie," I said as she left my room. I looked at the time and realized I had work to get to.

After washing my face, getting dressed in my uniform and doing my hair and makeup I left quickly. It was only a ten minute walk down the street so I reached the restaurant quickly and went to time in. It was going to be a long day.

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A/N: Over to the side is her outfit that she wore to the fair. How did you guys like this chapter. Team Landon or Team Daxton? Did you expect Daxton to cheat on her? Do you still think she will end up with him? 

If anybody is interested I also have a new story, Afraid to Break. Cassandra James is under witness protection in a lovely little town she describes as Hope's Asshole.