Chapter Nine
Layla
Everyone knows.
Well, they know Adam and I are no longer together. As for why. that’s completely muddled.
Some people say he posted naked selfies of me on the Internet. Girls have begun calling me “Easy Lay.” The guys make lewd comments like “nice rack” or “juicy booty.” Some ask if I want to see them after school.
My favorite rumor flying around, though, is Adam got me pregnant.
I’m so embarrassed and disgusted by it all. How could I have dated such a creep?
As I sit in my usual spot at lunch, I notice the stares and the hushed whispers, and it’s almost too much. I’m half-tempted to leave when Rachel plops down in the seat beside me. “So … how are you holding up?”
“I think I’m going to puke. Why do all these people keep talking about me?”
Rachel smiles. “Because they need gossip to fuel their boring lives. It’s what they look forward to. Don’t worry; it will blow over eventually.”
I glance around the room and spot my twin sitting with her one friend, looking out of place but doesn’t seem to mind. I pull out my phone and for some reason I have the urge to be someone else for a change. I shoot a text off to R. And since I also don’t want anyone else up in my current business, I take a stab at typing instead of using my voice app.
Me: Hey. How’s your Monday morning?
R: Hey u. I c we might have started erly in the mornin day is Eh. The usual. Drama queen with no manners acting like every1 owes her the world. Dude on my team can’t handle being told he got demoted to 2nd string. U?
Me: you play football? I wish this day would be over already.
R: Yep. Sry to hear that. Do u like football?
Me: It’s okay. I don’t really care for it when it’s cold.
R: That’s a crime. Looks like we can’t be friends now.
I giggle.
“What so funny? Is it one of those dog videos?” Rach asks.
I pull my phone close to my chest. “Um, no.”
“Oh. Well, are you going to tell me?”
I shake my head as my lips pull at the corners.
She sticks her tongue out. “Fine be that way.”
Me: That’s a shame. I thought we were going to prom together. Way to crush my dreams.
R: Oh dancing and I r a no go babe.
Me: Babe? That sounds a little deep. And u won’t take me to prom?
R: Nope won’t do it. :-)
R: Quick? What’s the last name of the dude u were with?
Shit! What if this R person knows Adam? Knows me? If he puts two and two together he’ll figure out it’s me. Then he’ll probably think I’m sad and pathetic like everyone else in this school. I chew on my lower lip and then I turn to Rachel.
“What’s a sexy last name?”
“Sexy, huh? Are you creating a list of potential name changes in case this whole Adam-the-cheating-douche mess doesn’t blow over?” she waggles her eyebrows and I just laugh.
My reply is taking too long. I know this. He’ll know it’s me. Shit.
“I don’t know. I don’t really find last names sexy. But if I were going to pick a good one to change to it would probably be DiAngelo or McLaugan.”
Me: DiAngelo. Sorry my friend was telling me a story. You know how they get when you half listen.
Hopefully he buys that bag of BS.
R: Sorry what?
R: Kidding. Yeah. I get that. So … I take it you don’t go to Blackhawk. ‘cause I know all those fools and none of them have that last name.
Me: Nope.
Oh shit. Maybe the mysterious R goes to Blackhawk. Hmm. I wonder.
R: If u would have said Kent I would have told u, u weren’t the only 1 he screwed over. Dude probly had a different girl from each HS.
Me: Really? Do guys normally do that. Take on as many girls as they can from different schools?
In my mind, I’m freaking out. Thank God, I didn’t give him Adam’s real last name. Crap, this person knows me if they play football with Adam. Definitely never forking over my real name. From here on, I’ve got to be extremely careful what I say to this mysterious R.
R: Only assholes do that.
Me: Are you one of the good ones?
R: Getting a little personal there aren’t we. We haven’t even held hands yet. I can’t reveal all my secrets so soon. You might be a stalker.
Me: I am not a stalker!
R: That’s what they all say. Right?
I snort. And Rachel glances at me with a raised brow. “What?” I ask.
“You’ve been super into your phone for most of lunch. Seriously, who are you talking to?”
“No one.”
“Um … Okay. Don’t tell your best friend. I see how it is. Hopefully it’s a guy,” she says with a wink.
I’m about to tell her it is when my phone pings.
R: What class r u in now?
Me: Lunch. You?
R: Same. Do u have crappy food too?
Me: Oh yeah.
Adam: Babe I miss you. Please talk to me. I’m sorry.
I scrunch up my nose and growl.
Me: The ahole just texted me.
R: Tell him to F’off and you found something better.
Me (to Adam): I found something better.
Adam: Who?
Me (to R): He’s asking who?
R: Tell him none of his damn business. He lost the privilege as soon as he screwed around on you to know who, what, where, or why when it comes to you.
I repeated the message to Adam because honestly, that was a good response.
Adam: We need to talk after practice.
Me: I’m busy.
Adam: Bullshit!
Me: Leave me alone!
R: What did he say?
Me: He wants to talk to me. I told him no.
R: Good for you.
I don’t say anything for a minute. Then my phone buzzes softly against my palm.
R: Save me?
Me: From?
R: Remember the friend I told u bout?
Me: Vaguely. Yeah.
R: Max drama. He f’d up n knows it. She’s comin 2 our game fri 2 cheer on my bro-code breakin friend. Tryin 2 think of things 2 do 2 get my buddy’s mind off his f’up.
Me: Set him up w some1 else.
R: Yeah. That’s on the list. So is throwing a party. Get him wasted.
Me: Honestly he should probably tell her how he feels. She might like him more than the other guy n has been waiting around 4 him 2 make a move.
R: Girls. Y do u all go 4 the jealous move?
Me: Not all of us do. Most. Not all. Gotta go bell rang.
R: Same here. Have a good rest of the day Faye.
Me: You too R.
As I am walking out of lunch someone bumps into me from behind. I hear, “Sorry about … never mind.” I turn and face Tyler. Ugh! Asshole!
“Walk much, Tyler?” People cannot walk and text at the same time. So sick of these jerks with their phones out not paying attention all the damn time.
“Just mind your own business, Princess.”
I glare at him and smack his phone from his hand, which sends it flying. “What the hell, you crazy bitch?”
“That’s what you get for walking and texting. It’s dangerous to those around you, you insensitive jackass!”
He’s on the ground searching for his phone while most of the student body is filing out of the cafeteria.
“Wow. You need help, Valentine!”
I give him the universal sign for suck it, right as Rachel swoops in and starts dragging me away. “Are you trying for social suicide? That wasn’t cool, Lay. Didn’t he give you a ride the other day when Adam ditched you?”
I take a deep breath and let the shame of my actions wash over me. “I … just … I don’t know what came over me. He brings out the worst in me. You know that.”
“Yeah, well, you need to apologize or go help him find his phone before it gets smashed into a million pieces.”
I turn toward the chaos behind me. Tyler is still searching for his phone, and I spot off to the left by the cafeteria doors which is in the area he isn’t even looking. I groan, pick it up, walk toward him and hand it over. “I’m sorry. I was … out of line. I’m having—”
“I don’t care!” He snatches his phone from me and storms off.
Rachel shakes her head. “Let’s get to class.”
Yep, let’s go to all the classes I dread going to: Algebra, followed by English. So much fun.
I’d love to say my day got better. It didn’t. Not one darn bit. In Algebra, my teacher, Mr. Williams, called me up to the front of class to complete a problem on the board.
To Mr. Williams credit, he did ask me in low voice so only I could hear him if he needed me to read it. Which okay, I did, but I’m tired of people seeing me as a helpless idiot. I was determined to do this by myself. My stubbornness obviously bit me in the butt because instead of writing the correct answer, I ended up showing everyone how stupid I am.
The whole class snickered. Then Mr. Williams ended up reading the problem but the damage was done. This only made the giggles turn into snide remarks.
I was utterly humiliated. Screaming and crying wouldn’t help but I really wanted to do both. I wanted to smack the girl up front who whispered loudly, “No wonder Adam broke it off with her. She’s a complete airhead.”
She and her sophomore friend didn’t make the cheering squad this year, and to say both of them were nasty to me is an understatement. They called me names and told me to dye my hair blond. Usually, I just ignore them. I can’t help it they’re mad at me for not making the team. It wasn’t my decision, but even it was they would have been cut.
They didn’t know the routine. That was obvious. They thought because they were on the freshman squad last year they were shoe-ins. But varsity squad requires tryouts. They fumbled the routine and shrugged it off like it was okay. Coach Mallard doesn’t tolerate fumbling, especially if you had four days to perfect a routine.
It’s funny how fake people can be. Towards the end of last year, they were sweet, smiled at me, and always complimented me. After tryouts this summer, they showed their true colors. Every class I have with them they insult me, laugh at me, and make me so mad I want to rip their hair out.
I somehow rein back my tears and pretend not to hear them. Not one word.
When the bell rings, I rush to my last class of the day, gritting my teeth. The two witches are following me, recapping how stupid I am. They’re making a scene, making me feel so much worse. I try to pick up the pace without making it noticeable that I’m running away when I slam right into my twin.
She hits the ground, and her friend Chase gives me a dirty look. I glance down at my sister. I feel my lower lip wobbling. “Hey. Layla, what’s … ” Juliet starts as she pulls herself up from the ground.
The witches giggle loudly, then reenact my screw up from class.
I squeeze my eyes shut and suddenly I’m pulled down a hall. “Layla, listen to me. Those girls are nothing. Don’t worry about it. Do you hear me?”
“I had to … it was so embarrassing. Everyone saw how … stupid … ” I can’t even get the last bit out because I’m choking on my sobs.
“Layla, you are not stupid! You’re really smart. You just struggle more than others, yes, but you don’t let those challenges rule you. You overcome them, and that makes you brighter and stronger than anyone else I know. Got me?”
I nod as I wipe away a few tears. Then I spot Jared, Tyler, Austin, and Mark coming toward us. I quickly hug my sister then shove off to class. I do not need anyone seeing me cry, especially Tyler.