Chapter One
- In Which Warren Has Not Yet Learnt To Keep His Mouth Zipped -

Warren Peace loved his best friend to a fault. Despite this, there were times that he wanted to shake some common sense into her.

This was one of those times.

"I can't believe he left me for her. Her! I mean, what does he see in her? She's so... boring."

This was not the first time that Warren had heard Layla make these comments about her long-time colleague, Gwen. It had become a game they played. A sort of competition over who would win the affections of a selected target. Warren thought it was ridiculous. Layla had lost this latest round. Usually, Warren would tell her that she deserved anything she got for playing with fire, but something was different this time. Men had generally walked in and out of Layla's life in the blink of an eye, and Warren expected Will Stronghold to do the same, but he had walked in and never walked back out.

What Warren wanted to tell her was, 'You're better than him. You don't need anyone, and if you did it wouldn't be Will Stronghold.' Instead, he knocked back another shot of fireball. He'd never told her how he felt. He had been friends with Layla for a long time, and the thought of losing the one constant in his life; the person who had been there for him through every success, every failure, every break-up, made him feel that admitting his feelings would be playing with matches.

"I have to get him back, Warren . I'd do anything."

"I thought boyfriends didn't matter to you. That's what you say, right?"

Warren knew Layla didn't count him in that, because fortunately or not, depending on how you see it, Layla didn't look at him that way. It had never worried Warren before, because she'd always made it her business to get out of any relationship, or fling, before she fell in love. He'd never seriously contemplated letting her know how he felt. The bartender put more shots in front of them. Warren downed his two, and watched Layla follow suit.

"Will's different," she told him.

"How?"

"I think I'm in love."

Warren felt all the air leave his lungs. She may as well have just punched him. Out of all the things he expected to hear from her, he'd never thought it would be that.

"You have to help me, Warren."

He couldn't believe it. He'd always hoped that if she ever felt that way about anyone, it would be about him. He'd never considered that Layla could fall for that meathead.

"What can I do?" She was wallowing now.

Her gaze was pleading as she looked at him, and the her in her voice unsettled him. There was nothing he wouldn't do for her, but when it came to winning boyfriends back, he didn't have much practical experience, not to mention the fact that of all options, Will had been the worst by far. In was on the tip of his tongue to tell her, but the look on her face kept him quiet. He was reeling. He needed a moment, but from the way she was looking at him, he didn't have one. He wracked his brain for something to say.

"I don't know, Layla, in the movies they use jealousy to win someone back."

"Jealousy?"

"Yeah, you know, that horrible green feeling you get when you want something that someone else has," he said, trying for a joke. Layla didn't smile.

"I know what jealousy is, Warren. How would I make Will jealous?"

"Pretend to be with someone else. Show him you've moved on, and don't want him anymore."

"Does that ever actually work?"

"I don't know. I've never had to try it. Works in the movies though."

Layla looked at him thoughtfully. "Will never liked you."

"I know."

She raised her eyebrows. "He thought you were in love with me."

Warren swallowed.

"It didn't matter how many times I told him you weren't," she continued.

Warren choked and hoped he'd played it off as a cough.

"He never believed me. He hated it whenever I spent time with you."

"So he was insecure."

"He was jealous."

She was looking at him now, her eyes brightening a little; a small smile threatening the corners of her mouth. Suddenly, Warren had a very clear idea of where this was going.

"Oh no," he told her.

"Oh yes," Layla decided. "It's perfect. He'll hate it if he thinks we're together."

"It's crazy," he told her desperately.

"It's genius."

"Someone else would be a better choice."

Anyone else would be a better choice. He couldn't do it. He couldn't 'pretend' to be in love with her. What if he faked it too well? What if she realized the truth, and then what if it ruined everything?

"It wouldn't work with anyone else," she told him. "He wouldn't believe it."

"Forget it. Jealousy's stupid."

"Come on, Warren."

"No. I'm not joining in on this stupid game you've got going with Gwen."

"I love him, Warren."

Warren could do nothing but look at her. She really did.

"You know I'd do it for you," she said to him.

And she would. She would do it for him. She'd done crazier things for him, and she never asked for anything in return. Until now. How could he refuse? This had kind of been his idea; his stupid fucking idea. If he said no, she would ask why. And he wouldn't have a good enough excuse. He had nothing. His eyes strayed to the empty shot glasses in front of him. They had had a lot to drink. Maybe she'd forget all of this in the morning. Maybe, if they drank enough, she wouldn't remember any of this conversation.

He ordered more shots. "Okay," he said to her, hoping the alcohol would work a miracle. "Fine."

Hours later, Warren helped Layla up the stairs to her apartment as best he could. It wasn't easy, but they struggled up one step at a time, all the while Warren cursed the lifts for being out of order. He'd stopped drinking an hour and a half ago, while Layla had kept drinking right up until they left the bar. Now he was feeling no end of guilt for shamelessly letting his best friend drink so much.

"Keys?" he asked her, when they'd finally reached their destination.

"Pocket," she mumbled.

Warren numbly reached into her jean pocket and fumbled around blindly trying to grab them. It was a testament to just how drunk she was that she didn't give him one of her flirty comments. She just stared straight into the closed apartment door. He finally fished them out, unlocked the door, and they stumbled through with her arm around him. When they reached her unmade bed, Layla threw herself backward, pulling Warren down with her.

His breath was knocked out of him in a puff when he landed on top of her. Her eyelids, which had been drooping from fatigue and the effects of alcohol, fluttered open. He pushed against the sinking mattress, trying to get up, but her arms were dead weight around his neck, pulling him against her. Her eyes locked with his as he moved against her, making his breath catch for just a second. He was suddenly all too aware of how close they were.

"Layla."

She released him, and he rolled to the other side of the bed.

"You're tired," she mumbled. "Just stay."

Warren was about to say no, but lack of sleep, and all those shots were catching up with him. He didn't feel like having to make his way back downstairs and catch a cab back to his place, especially when he was already in a perfectly good bed. Still, he should go. He was just about to tell Layla he was leaving when he realized she was already asleep. He got out of the bed and pulled the embroidered green covers up and over her shoulders.

Layla stirred slightly. "Will," she mumbled, eyes still closed.

His cue to leave, Warren thought; his heart feeling thoroughly extinguished. With any luck Layla would forget about Will, and if she didn't, hopefully she would at least forget Warren's stupid idea from earlier on. Closing her front door behind him, Warren thought he would have to wait 'til tomorrow to find out if he was lucky or not.

Layla closed her eyes against the sun beaming through the window. She felt like a wilting, forgotten houseplant. She closed her eyes and last night came back to her in flashes. She and Warren had spent the better part of the evening downing fireball. This was Warren's fault, she decided. Sure, she'd been the one to suggest they go the bar, but the fireball had definitely been Warren's idea. He'd gone shot for shot with her for a while there, but then he'd been sensible enough to stop. She hadn't. Now, she had a blinding headache, and no desire to go to work.

Layla got up, headed straight for her bathroom cabinet and fumbled for a Tylenol bottle. She had to go to work today. If she didn't, Gwen would get the edge on the highly prized Reforestation campaign they'd both been vying for, and she could not give that smug performatist another win. Introducing Will to Gwen at their work dinner a month ago had been a mistake. She swallowed the tablets with a mouthful of water from the tap.

She had a never ending calendar of work functions. Aspen Conservancy was one of those annoying non-profit companies that liked all their employees to 'bond' on a regular basis. Monthly dinners were mandatory, as was a yearly working vacation at any one of the organisation's new environmental project successes. Layla would have left the company ages ago if they didn't do so much for causes she actually cared about.

At least they were allowed to take partners on the week long working vacation. She'd asked Will to go with her while they were still together, but now he was going with Gwen. Layla grimaced. She and Gwen had been hired on the same day, and Aspen had always pushed them to compete over everything, a competitiveness which spilled over into their dating lives. At first it had been fun and light-hearted, but now it was an all out war. Sam Spedman, or "Speed" as they had come to call him, had gone to Gwen. Lash Jacobs had gone to Layla, and the tiebreaker, Will, had chosen Layla first, but now Gwen.

She never let boyfriends matter to her much, but there was something about Will that had changed her mind. She still wanted him. She missed him. That had to be love, didn't it? She'd never been in love before, but this must be what love felt like. It figured that the first person Layla would ever fall for would leave her, just her luck. Layla usually accepted her chronically terrible fortune, but she couldn't accept this. She would win Will back. Warren would help her with that.

Warren. He was the greatest friend anyone could ever ask for. He was always there for her. They had something special; something that meant more to her than anything else ever had. He knew her better than anyone. He knew about her all-consuming houseplant habit which made her cramped apartment feel more like a garden centre than a home. He only gagged a little when he saw her array of moldy mugs littering the plant-free surfaces. He called her out on these habits but still accepted her completely. She knew she was lucky to have him in her life. She smiled as she stepped into the underwhelming pressure of her shower, thinking of the moment they'd become friends.

Warren had been making less-than-kind comments to Zach Braun about his glow-in-the-dark sneakers. Layla had seen him around, and knew all about his tough-guy act. She also knew that Zach was having a particularly rough year and definitely couldn't take this kind of public humiliation.

Layla strode between the two without a thought. "That's a lot of confidence from someone who steals his mom's hair dye, buddy," she had said to Warren. A great first introduction.

Warren's casual demeanour quickly heated as fury flashed behind his eyes, and Layla's resolve faltered. She hadn't considered that she might be adding fuel to the fire. When their eyes met, though, Warren softened just a bit.

"What do you care?"

"You're a jerk."

"Who cares?"

"Didn't your parents teach you any manners?"

"Well, my dad's in prison, so he isn't really teaching me much."

Layla swallowed her shock at this casual revelation but recovered quickly. "My dad's not around either, but I don't use it as an excuse to ruin other peoples' day."

"I wasn't hurting him." Warren said. "Just passing the time."

"If you've got nothing better to do, maybe you could help me hand these out?" Warren had looked down at her hands and noticed she'd been holding a stack of fliers for the school's Environment club.

Warren stared at her. Had she not just heard him speaking to Zack? What made her think for one second he would embarrass himself by getting involved in extracurriculars?

"Yeah, I don't think so."

"Maybe you can get lost then," she said, taking him by surprise.

He walked away, kicking a trashcan on the way out. He wasn't going to let some overenthusiastic girl ruin his reputation; first interfering in his business, then suggesting he help her with some pointless scheme. As if anyone in this school gave a shit about the environment anyway.

In the coming weeks, however, Layla and Warren came to a sort of understanding. When Warren saw Sam Spedman trying to trip Layla in the cafeteria, he had kicked Sam's ass, telling himself it was for the hell of it. When Penny Lent spread a rumour about Layla cheating on her biology test, because she'd taken Penny's spot at the top of the class, Warren had put a firecracker in Penny's locker, and told himself it was for his own amusement. And when he'd found Luca Donavan trying to feel Layla up after school one day, despite her evident disgust, he'd given the guy a bloody nose simply because he felt like it. Warren had been suspended for that one.

After a while, just keeping an eye on Layla had transitioned into sitting with her at lunch, which transitioned into hanging out after school. At some point, they stopped denying enjoying each other's company. The next thing he knew he was heading to Layla's place every night he wasn't working at his uncle's restaurant, and soon he and Layla were inseparable.

Back in the present, Layla smiled. The friendship they had was solid. Dependable. They were always there for each other. If making Will jealous would help her get him back, she knew that Warren would be willing to help her try. The easiest way to do that would be to bring Warren along on her work trip in a couple of week's time. The company was expecting her to bring someone anyway. She'd go see Warren on his lunch break. She couldn't wait to see his reaction when she told him what she had in mind.

Warren was eating his lunch in the small yard behind the restaurant when Layla turned up.

"What are you doing here?" he asked her, pulling up a nearby milk-crate and gesturing for her to sit.

"I was in the neighbourhood. Thought I'd drop by."

"Layla, you're never just 'in the neighbourhood', you work on the other side of town," Warren replied, one eyebrow raised.

"Maj said you guys have been quiet lately."

"Yeah, I guess Maj would say say that. She's just pissed we haven't been able to give her cousin many shifts."

Warren and his friend Magenta Cavey owned a tiny fusion restaurant in Maxville's city centre. They had just hired Maj's cousin, because they were expecting business to pick up with the yearly influx of college kids when school-time came back around, but it hadn't happened yet.

"Well, you should tell him he's about to be really busy."

"Why?" Warren asked her warily.

"I want you to come to the Great Barrier Reef with me in a couple of weeks."

"Is this for your yearly work thing?"

"Yep! Five days, six nights in Australia. Sun, white sand beaches, sunsets-"

"And work dinners, bonding exercises, and Steve and Josie Stronghold, the great environmental power couple." Warren could barely mask his sarcasm.

"So life's a mix of good and bad," she shrugged.

The Strongholds were over the top, and far too aggressive with their charitable endeavours, in Warren's opinion. He also disapproved of the way they'd set Layla and Gwen against each other while preaching about work-place harmony. Over the years he'd attended quite a few of Layla's work events with her, but she'd never asked him to join her for the annual holiday. It was normally a 'partners only' kind of thing.

"It's the perfect place to make Will jealous."

Warren's heart sank. She'd remembered. He should have realized the second she asked him to go. For a moment, he'd though she wanted him to go with her for the pleasure of his company, but instead she wanted to use him to make Will jealous. He couldn't even be angry with her since she was just taking his dumb advice. When he'd agreed to help last night, however, he'd imagined them going on a pretend date once or twice, not spending a whole week trying to make her perfect ex-boyfriend jealous.

"I can't just leave for a week. Maj would let this place burn down without me."

At that moment, Maj joined Layla and Warren in the grimy courtyard.

"Larry can take over your shifts for that week," Maj told him. "If you want to go on holiday, now is the perfect time. You know things will pick up when semester starts."

"You discussed this with Magenta?" Warren asked her, starting to feel trapped.

"Layla mentioned it on the way in," Maj said, throwing an empty yogurt pot into the trashcan without turning to watch it reach its target.

Seeing as the two of them had already figured it out, he had no excuse. Layla was frowning at him now, as if not understanding why he wasn't over the moon about the idea of just jetting to Australia for a week.

"You don't want to come?" she asked him, wilting to a degree only Warren would notice.

"You should go, Warren," Maj told him. "Larry and I can hold the fort here."

Maj was looking at him meaningfully. She probably thought she was doing Warren a favour, since she knew all too well how Warren felt about Layla. Little did Maj know, however, that her taking him on this trip was all for someone else's benefit. Both Layla and Maj looked at him expectantly, waiting for his answer. He figured he had no way out of this.

"Warren?" Layla queried, seeing him completely quiet.

"I can't wait," he told her, forcing half a smile. That was the extent of enthusiasm she was going to get.

She looked adequately relieved and leant her weight against his side, shoulder to shoulder. The last of Warren's resolve smouldered to ash.

"Two weeks from now. You, me, an expensive, dying coral reef in the southern hemisphere. What could be better?"

Maj rolled her eyes. "Very corny. And yet, somehow, very perfect for you guys."

When Maj drifted back through the creaking screen door of the restaurant, Layla started talking about how great their holiday was going to be.

He had to stop doing this, Warren thought; he was embarrassing himself. She just didn't feel that way about him. He'd waited years for her to realize she didn't want to keep all the men in her life at such a distance; that she didn't want to walk out the moment she felt something for someone she was seeing. Some part of Warren, subconscious or not, had just assumed that when Layla realised this, it would be because she and him had finally given it a shot. Now that she was finally opening up, though, it was for Will. It was Will who had turned her whole world upside down. It was Will who she'd fallen for, for some reason that Warren couldn't figure out.

Warren wanted Layla in his life, but the truth was finally sinking in. No matter what he had assumed, he and Layla would never be more than friends. He had to stop waiting for her like some loser. She was never going to look at him the way he wanted her to, and if he wanted to keep their friendship, it was time to move on. It was time to get over his best friend.