"Hi!" Landon smiled when Josie pushed open his bedroom door. He set his homework on his nightstand next to the candle.

"What are you up to?" Josie asked, crawling up the bed towards him.

"Just catching up on some homework."

Josie nodded at the stack of books. "You wanted to talk to me?"

"Yeah." Landon picked up her hands and cradled them in his lap. "I just ... I was thinking and -"

Josie smiled at the way Landon tripped over his words, leaning closer. "You lit a candle?"

"Well - I - Yes, that's a candle. And - I mean - it is lit."

"And you're nervous?" Josie raised an eyebrow. Her face was still moving closer to Landon's. "I think I know what you wanted to talk about." She closed the gap between their lips, eyes closing, and slid into his lap.

Penelope thought she was so smug pointing out that she and Landon hadn't had sex. But look at her now - candles lit, boyfriend nervous, kissing him in his lap. Josie sighed. Penelope was wrong. Of course she was wrong. She was always wrong.

She pushed Landon back into the bed and grabbed the bottom of her shirt, dragging it up over her skin, stopping when Landon set his hands on her arms.

"This isn't the talk I wanted to have," he said breathlessly.

"Oh." Josie dropped her arms limply at her side, shirt falling back into place. Penelope was right. Of course she was right. She was always right.

"Not that I don't want to - I mean, I don't - ah! I mean, it's not you. I just - I don't think we're in the right place right now. Either of us. I'd rather wait," Landon tripped over his words. "But I wanted to talk to you about Miss Mystic Falls." He sat up, setting his hands on Josie's back. He didn't want her thinking she had to go anywhere.

"Miss Mystic Falls?" Josie tilted her head at him.

"Yeah. How is it going?"

Josie furrowed her eyebrows. "That's what you needed to have a big talk about?"

"Well, no. But it's ... it's related." Landon sighed. He had to be honest. There was no way to bring it up subtly. "Lizzie said the only reason you entered the competition was for your mom."

Josie looked sideways, avoiding eye contact.

"It's true, isn't it?"

"No, I - I want to win."

"For you?" Landon felt out the technicality.

"Well ..." Josie dropped her eyes. "No. Just ... it's my turn. Lizzie won last year, so now ..."

"You think you have to?"

Josie nodded. She whispered, "Do you think I should drop out?"

Landon tucked her hair behind her ears, cradling her face as he stared into her eyes. "I think that's a decision you have to make for yourself."