"Can you believe my brother?" I laughed at the thought of having a lucky comb.
"Come on he means his best," she nudged me as I walked over to the counter. "Tuna wrap," she said as the guy behind the counter nodded at her.
"Same please," I added as he continued punching in numbers.
"Fifteen even," he said as I paid him and he gave us a number. We walked over to a table near a window and I placed our number on the stand.
"So, how are you and my brother going?" she asked as the waitress came over and gave us drinks. "Um…we didn't order any drinks," Layla said as the guy behind the counter waved to us. "Thanks," she called back. "Anyway, spill it," she nudged me.
"Fine, it took a while but we are slowly going back to our old ways," I laughed. "Dakota seems to be afraid of my brother now," I laughed some more.
"I am really happy for you two," she smiled drinking from her soda.
"Yeah, me too, I got a question what do you think of my brother?" I asked looking at her.
"What do you mean?" she asked as the lady placed our food in front of us and took the number.
"I mean do you like him, do you hate him, are you just friends, will you consider yourself ever to be more then friends, I don't know that kind of stuff?"
"Oh you mean would I ever consider dating him?" she asked as I nodded. I heard the diner door open and I saw James standing in the door frame I knew he shouldn't hear this but at the same time he needed to he smiled at me and began walking towards us.
"I see the way you look at each other," I smiled as he stopped in his tracks.
"Trace, you don't get it," she sighed calmly.
"What do you mean I don't get it, I have watched my brother stare at you wanting to say something for three years now, and you got to know…."
"Tracey, that's it I know he likes me, do you think I'm blind, he is my best friend, do you think I don't see it in his eyes, do you think it doesn't hurt me?" she asked looking frightened, James smiled a little thinking of what she would say next was great. "I'm scared," she sighed almost in tears.
"Oh my God, you're scared of telling him the truth," I sighed under my breath.
"Exactly, he is a really good friend, but when he is with me and only me he acts weird," she said poking at her tuna wrap.
"What do you mean?" I hesitated as James sat in the booth behind us still looking at me.
"I mean what he does is…cute, but kind of a little upsetting for me."
"Lay, what does he do?"
"He acts like we're a couple, I mean he'll grab my hand and wrap his arm around me and believe me I don't mind, but he doesn't do it in a friendly way, he does it in a way that prevents guys to come over to me, or like we have a big sign over us that says boyfriend girlfriend," she said before taking a bite from her wrap. My brother's smile slowly started to fade and he leaned against the booth backrest pondering.
"Come on you got to like him a little, I mean I have seen your face you give him," I said trying not to look at James.
"That's it I don't know if I do, I mean maybe but if he wasn't so self-absorbed then most certainly the answer most likely would be a yes, but you know how your brother is," she said as I took a bite from my wrap shaking my head. "Well, pompous, ignorant, love's himself more than anything, I mean honestly he didn't remember your birthday," she said as I looked confused.
"Lay, my birthday isn't until Sunday," I laughed.
"I know and he bought tickets to some Hockey tournament on that day and when the four of us told him it was your birthday he said and I quote 'You guys, stop messing around with me I know my sister's birthday isn't for another week.' I am not kidding," she said as I looked hurt at James.
"He didn't?"
"He did, I mean how can I date someone who only cares about himself, and I love him believe me I do, but only as a friend. You got to promise me you won't tell him, I mean I don't want to sound mean but I just needed to tell you that, please don't tell him," she pleaded as I sighed. I saw my brother stand and look heart broken at her.
"Lay…" I was speechless.
"That's what you think of me?" he asked sounding as if he was going to punch a wall.
"James," Layla whispered as if all the air escaped her. My brother turned red and the last time I saw him like that he really did punch a wall. "James, wait…"
"No, you told me everything," he said walking toward the door as a waiter passed him he slammed the tray full of empty plates and glasses in the air. As he left the glasses shattered all over the floor.
"How long was he there?" Layla turned to me.
"From the second I asked what your thoughts were."
"And you didn't tell me, I mean I said a few harsh words," she said squinting her eyes at me.
"Layla he needed to know and this was the only way he would," I said as she shook her head.
"I have to make this better," she snapped running for the door. I followed her and apologized to the guy cleaning up the broken glass. I ran out the door and saw James darting across the street as Layla ran toward the intersection.
"James!" she called out as I ran towards her. She crossed the road so I jay walked and cut her off. "Tracey get out of my way," she said trying to go around me.
"Layla, I am doing this to protect you, don't get involved yet, let him calm down," I said trying to calm her down.
"This is all your fault, he needs to talk to someone," she said pushing past me and running toward him she eventually caught up and placed her hand on his jacket and he swung his arm around forcing her hand off him. I ran toward them to hear what was being said.
"Don't touch me," he barked.
"James, just…" Lay started innocently.
"If you never liked me why wouldn't you tell me," he snapped clenching his fist. I knew it was only a matter of time before he started swinging.
"Because I was scared, do you not know what's like to have a feeling of being scared that you don't want to tell your best friend you're not into them?" she barked back trying to make eye contact.
"He needed to know," I whispered to myself thinking of how bad it hurt him.
"I was ready to tell you, but you frightened me," he said growling under his breath.
"And I would have told you we are just friends," she said calmer.
"And that isn't the answer I wanted to hear!" he barked swinging his fist. Layla looked terrified as James slammed his fist on a metal trash can lid bending it like a taco. I became frightened for Layla's safety.
"James, just listen to me…"
"No, Lay, I have given you enough time and I see you don't want to deal anything with me," he said as he began walking. Layla started walking for him but I grabbed her arm.
"Tracey, let me go!"
"No, Layla listen to me, I know my brother more then anyone else, if you talk to him like this you can end up getting hurt," I said calmly.
"That is just the stupidest thing I have ever heard, he would never hurt me," she said with a smile.
"Layla look at this," I said lifting my jean to my knee. "That is from James we were little kids and I told him he was like a jerk or something and he pushed me back and my leg got burned on the brick grill we had in the backyard. And this was from a month ago when I told him to give up on you, he got really angry sat on my on the couch and I was working on my homework before hand and my pencil stabbed my hand," I said showing Layla the lead mark in my palm. Just then my cell went off and I groaned and looked at it to reveal Gustavo's face under his number. "Hello?"
"Get to the recording studio NOW!" he screamed as Layla smiled a little.
"I'm on my way," I groaned as he laughed happily and I hung up. "Just let my brother calm down before you do anything," I said as she nodded and I ran back to Gustavo's. "I'm here!" I said half out of breath.
"Good, I have given your idea for a music video and I think you deserve it," he said as I smiled.
"Music video for Close to You right?" I asked as he shook his head. "But that is the one I gave you ideas for," I said as he pointed to the chair. I sat down and he held up a card that read one word…Drowning. "NO, absolutely not!" I barked.
"Trace, you will do what ever song I want you to do," he barked as I felt my heart sink.
"Why can't we do Close to You, I mean that song is so personal to me and I think a lot of my audience…"
"Tracey, your number one song right now is drowning people want to hear that one constantly," he interrupted me.
"Why should I, that is the most depressing song I have ever written."
"Tracey, you don't understand you give what your fans want," he said as I groaned and walked out of his office. "Be here tomorrow bright and early," he called as I got on the elevator.
I looked at my phone and went to my recent calls and saw the only call I received that day. I gave it a very long thought and still couldn't decide. I finally hit the call button.
"Hello, Hawk records."