*Lukes POV*
I can't believe she said yes, she's mine. She's actually mine. I can't stop smiling as I'm kissing her when she breaks the kiss she smiles her beautiful smile but it falters a bit.
"Landon, you okay?" I question. She seems out of it, I wave my hand in front of her face when she doesn't respond and seem to snap her out of the daze she was in.
"What?"
"You zoned out, are you okay?" I ask again.
"Oh yeah I'm great, amazing actually. But I just remembered I have work I need to finish before tomorrow so I need to get going." She grabs her bags from shopping and comes over to kiss my cheek. "I'll see you later."
"Do you want me to give you a ride?" I ask even though she's already at the doorway.
"No it's fine! See ya!" She smiles and waves before shutting the door behind her.
Okay?
*Landon's POV*
By the time I get home it's nine, Halley is in the living room watching tv while I change into some shorts and a hoodie and sports bra before setting up my laptop on the kitchen table and opening Microsoft word. I open the file titled 'Article for Barbra' and when I open it, it is blank.
"What are you doing?" Halley calls from the couch.
"Barbra wants the damn article tomorrow morning." I sigh. How am I gonna do this?
"What? You're still gonna do it? I thought you and Luke were doing good."
"We are, he actually asked me out today but I-"
"He what?!" She cuts in.
"Oh, I didn't tell you? Luke asked me to be his girlfriend." I say with a big smile.
"Oh my god! I'm so happy for you! I-wait... And you're still writing this article?" She gives me a disapproving look.
"Halley..." I start but she rolls her eyes. "It's gonna be innocent I swear, I already feel like crap for it but I have to."
"Just promise me this wasn't all for the article." She begs.
"I told him about Lacey." I say quickly with my eyes glued to my blank article. The air was silent, too silent. I sneak a peek over to her to see her eyes wide and mouth dropped open.
"You what?" She asks.
"When he showed up I just couldn't take hiding it anymore. And he told me how it wasn't our fault. It never was, Halley. We tried helping her but some people can't be helped..." I trail off.
"W-wow. I guess you're serious about him then." She breathes.
I smile to myself, "yeah... I guess I am."
"Okay, fine. Write the article. But I'm reading it before you give it to Barbra." I bite back a smile.
If I write this the right way I could tell the truth but still protect the boys. Also this could be just the beginning for me and my writing. I jump up and go to hug Halley she grips me back tightly, "I love you Halley."
"I love me too, Landon." She jokes. I laugh with an eye roll before returning back to my computer with ideas suddenly flowing through me.
The article comes naturally, after editing and re reading about 50 millions to make sure nothing can be taken the wrong way I save it and see its already 12 am. Halley went to sleep long ago so I call it a night and decide I'll have her read it tomorrow.
I lay in bed staring at the ceiling thinking off well, everything. Especially Luke.
I never thought it was possible to be this happy, I didn't have a bad life but it wasn't perfect either. The only one I really could depend on was my grandma and Halley. They were my rocks and now I have Luke. A smile crept onto my lips at this thought, who knew not good could've came from this trip to L.A.
I'm so glad I got out of that damn town.
****
"So?" I ask Halley when she takes her eyes off of the article I printed for her.
"It's great, i actually didn't even know you could write like this Landon. You're an amazing writer."
"You're just saying that," I laugh taking the article from her hands and putting in a folder then in t bag grabbing my phone and keys.
"No, Landon seriously, you're great. You shouldn't be wasting your time at that stupid magazine." I look down at my hands, well that kinda hurt. "No I just mean, you could write a book or even work for vogue! Something bigger and better." I smile,
"Thanks Hal, but I gotta go." I say and call out a bye before I step out of the door.
Once I step out of the front door of the apartment complex I'm bombarded with paparazzi.
"Landon! Landon! Where are you going?"
"Landon how are you and Luke?!"
"Landon what happened with Lacey?! Who is she?!" That caught my attention.
"What?" I question the man.
"Who is she?"
"How do you even know about her?" I was beginning to get angry.
"It's all over twitter, is she your competition with Luke?"
With that I shake my head and put on my sunglasses walking down the street, they follow for a bit but I loose them by swerving in and out of groups of people.
Finally I'm at the building that could be the beginning of my future in journalism. I take a deep breath looking around to make sure no paparazzi followed me.
Walking inside I tell the receptionist I'm here to see Barbra, with a nod she directs me to the fourth floor like last time. When the elevators door open Barbra is standing at the receptionists desk she turns and smiles brightly, "Oh Landon dear! You made it!"
I smile politely back, "Follow me." She says before making her way to her office. She lets me in and sits at her desk, I take a seat where I did last time. She types a few things before giving me her attention. "So what does my star writer have for our cover page article." She smiles.
Cover page? This gives Luke a bigger chance of seeing it... My heart begins pounding with anxiety.
"Cover page? I mean this is my first article what if it's not that good?" I try to change her mind while taking the folder out of my bag but she just takes the folder from my hands shaking her head.
"That's what editing is for silly!"
She looks over the paper for moment before she says, "This is boring."
Ouch.
"I-uh"
"Let's add some thing to spark our readers." She smiles but it didn't look genuine. It looked evil almost. She stands to walk to he printer scanning my article; "You want to change my article?" I question.
"Just a few revisions." She shrugs sitting at her computer and began typing. "Let's say... Luke is possessive and overly cocky."
"But that's not true at all!" I argue but she ignores me.
"Ashton and Michael are reckless and are possibly using drugs.. also The girl Calum has been seen with is just a groupie."
Oh hell no, suddenly my anger takes over and I stand from my chair slamming my hands on her desk making her jump.
"None of that is true Barbra! And that girl is my best friend and I'll have you know she isn't anything close to a groupie!"
"Okay, I'm not unreasonable, we don't have to say anything about Calum's new fling."
"And the rest?" I prompt her.
"Stays obviously."
What?
"What if I refuse to let you print that?"
"Oh, Landon, it will be printed regardless. Whether you agree and work for us or don't and get fired." She smirks. "So what's it gonna be?"
This is so wrong.