Chapter Eleven
Layla
After practice, I drive around for a bit. I should probably get back to the house so I can start homework. God, knows it’s going to take me practically all night to get it done. But I also need to think.
I pull into a parking space and get out of the car. Walking over to the nearest park bench facing the lake, I sigh and take a seat. The sun is low in the sky. It’ll be dark soon.
I take out my phone and stare at the screen. I don’t know why, but I’m curious about how R’s day went.
Me: Hey
R: sup
Me: I was just wondering how your day went?
R: Oh, u’ve been thinkin bout me? It went ok. Practice was a bitch. Almost punched my friend.
Me: Wow. Why?
R: I just don’t like what he’s doin’. I mean he knew our other friend wanted this grl yet he’s being a total shit stain n sayin he likes her now 2. So, he’s making a move.
Me: Ok. Why did you want to hit him tho? Do you like the girl?
I don’t know why but this makes me uncomfortable. I’m not sure I really want him to answer this question.
R: Nope. I think if she’s like her sis well, hell will freeze over be4 I would ever b in2 that.
Me: Whoa. That’s way harsh. Is her sister not pretty or something?
R: She’s gorgeous but she’s also a total bitch.
Me: Oh. That’s not good.
R: Yep. Well, I gotta get this homework done. I’ll talk 2 u l8r.
Me: Okay. Night.
R: Night.
I head back to my car and drive home.
As I enter the house about ten minutes later I notice my mom being all cheery in the kitchen. “Um. Hey.”
“Hi honey. How was practice?”
“It was good. What’s got you in this little mood?”
“Oh,” she leans in and whispers, “a cute boy showed up for your sister. He’s out in the living room. I think she might get her first boyfriend. Isn’t that great?”
I raise a brow then walk into the living room. On the couch are my sister and Mark Whalen. Whoa. What the hell is happening? I snatch my phone and immediately call Rachel, right as Mark says to my sister, “Yeah, sometimes we have to run the same routes like ten times before Coach lets us shower.”
“Oh,” Juliet says, and then she reaches into a bowl on the table and brings some chips to her mouth.
“What up, Girl?” a voice booms, pulling my attention away from my sister and to my phone.
“Rach. You will not believe this. Mark Whalen is sitting on my couch with my sister.”
“No way! Take a pic and send ‘cause I don’t believe you.”
I snap a pic and send.
“Holy crap! I thought you were messing with me. Did he ram his head into the goal post recently?”
“Rachel,” I groan. “That’s my sister.”
“Your very nerdy sister, I might add,” she says. “Is he using her for tutoring or something?”
“I don’t know. My mom was all weirdly happy about it.”
“Of course, isn’t that part of her job. Match making? She’s probably planning out their whole future together.”
“Rach, that’s silly. She …” I am about to say, ‘she would not,’ but my mom was way too chipper when I walked into the house. She didn’t even grill me about where I was.
“I’m right, huh?”
I frown. “Maybe. I gotta get off and tackle this homework.”
She sighs. “Ugh. Yeah, same here.”
“Okay. Talk tomorrow.”
“Yep.”
We hang up, and I head to my room.
The next day, I hurry to my locker and start collecting my books. Right as I shut my locker and turn around, Adam pops into my path.
“We really need to talk.”
“Why?”
He smiles and that dimple dents his one cheek, the same that caused my heart to flutter when we first met. A week ago, I would have been a puddle. Today, it just irritates me.
“Babe, look. Me and you, we’re good together, right? We’re like … peas and carrots.”
“Did you just quote Forrest Gump at me? Seriously, Adam; I can’t do this right now.”
“Because you found someone else?” He drops to his knees and hands me a rose he had been hiding behind his back. “Please.”
“Adam, get up. You’re embarrassing me.”
He looks around at the people staring. Some have literally stopped what they were doing to gawk at us. I can feel my cheeks burning. What is wrong with him? There are plenty of girls to choose from, girls dying to be with him. Why doesn’t he bother one of them? Or all of them?
Adam rises and tries to give me the rose again. I step back. “You need to leave me alone.”
“I love you, babe.”
“No, you don’t. If you loved me, you wouldn’t have cheated on me. If you loved me so much, you would have just respected me enough to wait for me to be ready.”
“Stop being like this. You know you want me, Layla.”
My phone buzzes in my back pocket. Adam keeps trying to close the space between us. My hands are clammy, and I just want him to leave me alone. I take a deep breath, grab my phone, and walk away while texting R back.
Adam follows. “Who are you talking to?”
R: mornin u.
Me: Mornin life saver.
R: Is that so? I don’t think I’ve been called 1 of those b4. I like it Y am I a life saver tho?
Me: Currently being stalked.
R: I don’t EVER say this but boot him in the balls. He’ll leave u alone. Most guys will.
Me: I’m in school.
R: So? He’s making u uncomfortable. He’ll get the point loud n clear.
“Who the hell are you talking to, Layla?” Adam says in a loud enough voice that everyone hears.
I turn around, and as soon as he starts to reach for my phone, I blast him in the junk with my foot. “I told you to leave me alone, you lying, cheating asshat!”
He groans and drops to the floor, curling into a ball. “Lllllaylaaaaa.”
I whip around and spot Tyler coming up the hall, his phone in hand with his buddies surrounding him. Someone shouts, “Man down!”
I glance at my phone and smile as I walk past the group. Tyler, says nothing, which is a first. He always has some wise crack ready to spill from his lips. He glances down at his phone then back up at me.
I roll my eyes and head down the hall to class while texting R.
Me: I really don’t get some ppl.
R: Me either.
Me: :-) What’s your first class?
R: American Lit.
Me: Uck. I hate English.
R: It’s pretty boring.
Me: That’s not why I hate it.
R: I know. It still sucks even without the learning disorder to mess u all up.
Me: My sister doesn’t think so.
R: ur sister sounds just like my friend.
Me: She’s pretty awesome. I gotta put my phone away.
R: K have a good day.
Me: u 2.
I don’t know why but I’m grinning and can’t seem to stop. I slip my phone into my backpack and then pull out my books. Rachel throws an elbow into my side while we wait for our Biology 2 teacher.
“Someone put you in a good mood,” she giggles.
I feel my smile widening and my cheeks flush. “It’s nothing, really.”
“Is it the mystery man?”
I laugh. “Is that what you’re calling him?”
“Yep.”
“Well, in that case, maybe.”
“Why won’t you tell me who it is?”
I shake my head. I can’t tell her initials. I also can’t tell her I don’t know because we agreed to no personal stuff. “I can’t.”
“Really?” she folds her arms and glares at me. “You really aren’t going to tell me?”
“Not yet.” I chew on my lower lip, hoping this will be enough.
She rolls her eyes. “Fine. Keep it to yourself.”
“It’s not … ”
She throws a hand in my face. “Don’t. It’s whatever.” Then she faces the front and ignores me for the rest of class.