Chapter 25: Reckless

Lex's POV.

I thought about skipping school that day, but it was going to be worse for me if I stayed back home or tried to do anything outside the school environment because my father would be watching me, and the school was the only safe place I could be away from him and his security guards.

I placed a group call, but only Nick picked up, and he told me he was already in school. Trying to reach London was like trying to hold air in a box; it just wasn't working.

I arrived at school not long after the call, and as I walked into our classroom, I only saw Nick on the long comfy couch.

"I thought you mentioned that Landon was here?"

I needed to do the apology talk immediately because it wasn't really my thing, and if I held on any longer, I could fall out of the mood to apologize to him, making things worse between us, which is going to be a total bad idea.

"Why are you searching for Landon? "Aren't you just arriving at school? Won't you chill out?"

Nick had never given a direct response to anything before, especially not to me.

"Just tell me where he is already, Nick. I really need to apologize to that dude. I shouldn't have spoken to him the way I did yesterday, and I've been trying to reach him this whole time, but he seemed to be intentionally avoiding my calls."

"What, are you both in a secret relationship now that he is ignoring your calls and you're bothered about it?"

"Nick, this isn't a joke, please? I understand that you don't give a care in the world, but just tell me where he is."

He stared at me in silence for a few seconds, and I wondered why he would even hesitate if he knew where Landon was.

"Look, I was strictly instructed by Landon that he does not want to be disturbed because generally we would both know where he would go at the moment—somewhere calm, safe from all the distractions and noises of the school."

"The balcony?"

"You know where it is, but please do not mention that I said anything about it; just make it seem like a coincidence, like you walked into him, okay, please. I do not know how to manage quarrels like you do."

Even though the last part sounded like a joke, I intended to keep his request, and this wasn't supposed to be about him; it was supposed to be about my behaviors towards Landon.

I kept replaying the words in my head, wondering how I was going to look Landon in the face and tell him sorry because this felt like a girlie thing, and I had never really outrightly apologized to Landon or anybody before; it felt like a weird thing to do.

It wasn't just about the conversation we had; it was about the fact that I mentioned a mate, knowing very well that Landon found his mate two years ago but lost her in a tragic accident, which hurts him every single time he's reminded of it.

I walked up the stairs and got on the balcony, and he was standing right there, staring right outside to the school.

"I told Nick not to tell anyone I was here. How did you know?" He asked without turning his gaze to me, and I knew instantly that he was still mad at me.

"I just knew you were going to be here, Landon. I didn't have to ask Nick. And there's something that I know.

He slowly glanced at me before moving his gaze away almost immediately, a kind of look that indicated he wanted to hear what it was that I claimed to know.

"Look, Landon. I know that you are still mad at me for what I said to you on FaceTime yesterday, and I really understand why you are so pissed off at me. I shouldn't have said that or gotten you pissed off in that manner. I am actually here to apologize."

I kept struggling as I tried to arrange the words properly because it wasn't something that I was used to doing, and if not for the fact that Landon was a friend I intended to keep, I wouldn't see myself doing this before anyone.

"Then go ahead and apologize, Lex."

His voice was cold, distant, and brief. A kind that showed that he didn't give a f about my struggle to find the right way to address him, and it made it even more difficult for me.

"Look, Landon. I'm not used to this. You know that I just want to apologize for using the word "mate." I shouldn't have done that. I shouldn't have said anything like that. I was—I can't really tell exactly how I was feeling, but I know that your words were all in my head. I felt like they were tearing me apart. I couldn't just listen, and that was why I acted like that. I am sorry."

I said this and spent about 10 seconds trying to breathe properly as I expected him to say something in reply, but he didn't say a word. He didn't even bother to look at my face, which made me rather uncomfortable.

"Landon, are you going to say something?"

I asked, taking a step closer to him, but this time he turned around completely to face me, and just as he opened his mouth to speak, I heard a loud noise behind me as I turned my gaze in the direction of the stairs.

"Let me go!!"

A familiar voice cried out, and I could tell instantly that it was her.

In a second, Selena appeared right in front of us, pulling Melissa by her hair as she dragged her up the stairs.

Just before I could say a word, Landon rushed past me, raging over to Selena as he pushed her away from Lisa, holding Lisa in his arm.

The way he held her, the way they were both staring into each other's eyes as he tried to save her from falling, I felt like my heart stopped, and I was strangely hurt by the sight of them like that.