Chapter 2
"Do I know you?"
I was speechless. The person was a girl and she didn't exactly look happy to see me. She was a tall brunette holding a purse on her shoulder and a pair of keys in her hands. She was wearing dark blue jeans and a big frilly coat. I finally found my voice.
"I'm a friend of Christian's."
Oh my gosh! Who is this girl?
"You're a friend of his? Well, I'm his girlfriend, so would you mind telling me what you're really doing here?"
"I believe that's between me and Christian," I shot back, crossing my arms.
And speak of the devil, there he was. Christian walked in and froze. I tilted my head and looked at him.
"Can you take me home please?"
He looked back and forth between me and the girl and then he started laughing.
"Do you have to do this every time," he asked the girl who was still standing near the door.
"I only do it because I love you."
I just stood there watching them. What the freaking heck?!
"Layla, this is Trish, my sister."
Wow. They looked almost nothing alike. She took off her coat and sat down on the couch. She looked back at me, obviously entertained.
"Should I be concerned about this?"
She had turned her attention back to Christian, but I was the one who answered.
"Relax. I'm not sleeping with him. I just spent the night because I was too drunk to go home."
I had to smile. My explanation sounded a lot worse than it actually was. Well, I guess if you think about it, it really was as bad as it sounded. She raised her eyebrow and then looked over at Christian who was laughing right along with me.
"It's true," he finally managed to say. She looked back at me.
"You drink?"
"Not often."
"So nothing happened last night?"
"Don't ask me. I don't even remember when I got here."
Her eyes got wide and she glared at Christian, who was laughing even harder now.
"Nothing happened. She passed out not too long after we got here. Why aren't you at school?"
"Why aren't you?"
"Good point."
By this point, I was tired of standing. I walked into the living room and sat down on the opposite end of the couch from Trish. I leaned my head on my arm and watched them talk. UGH! They were boring me and I was still a little hung-over. Before I knew it, I was asleep and waking up to the sound of Christian calling me. I looked around, blinking everything into focus.
"Do you still want me to take you home?"
I yawned.
"Only if you want to take me home."
"Well, you're free to stay here."
"Thanks."
"If you want to change, I have a t-shirt and an old pair of jeans. They're a bit big though."
"That's fine. Thanks again."
I hugged him, not wanting to get too close. I still had that vomit and alcohol taste in my mouth. I took a quick shower and brushed my teeth. By the time I got out, I could hear him moving around in the kitchen and could smell something cooking. I didn't want to bother him, so I went into his room and found the clothes that he had left me. I was surprised. He owned clothes from American Eagle. It was a plain blue shirt with a little eagle in the corner, and a pair of light blue, ripped jeans. It really wasn't my style, but it was comfortable and clean. With the way that the shirt fit me, it was obvious that he couldn't have worn this recently. The shirt fit to me almost perfectly and I'm much smaller than him. He was almost a foot taller than me and he had a slightly muscular build. The jeans fit the same way. They went a little bit past my feet, but I liked them that way.
My hair was still a little bit damp by the time I went into the kitchen and he smiled when he saw me.
"Hey. Are you feeling better?"
"Actually, yeah I am. How long was I asleep?"
"A few hours. You hungry?"
I really hadn't noticed with everything going on, but I was starving.
"You cook?"
"Are you surprised?"
I walked further into the kitchen and sat on the counter again.
"I'm very surprised."
"Well, my mom taught me a few things."
He made chicken fajitas. We set up our plates, fixed some juice, and sat in the living room in front of the TV. We watched a movie that we had never heard of and just talked for a while. The fajitas were amazing! Okay, this guy was a complete sweetheart, he could cook, and he didn't drink. What's wrong with this picture?
He sat at the end of the couch. I didn't mind being close to him by this point, so I sat beside him and leaned on his chest. He was surprised, but it didn't bother him. He put his arm over my shoulder and I put my head under his chin.
"So, seriously, American Eagle?"
I was still shocked that he had the outfit. He laughed.
"They were a Christmas present from my sister. She bought me tons of different ones. I've never worn them and she still hates me for that. But it's not like I ever asked for them."
I smiled and we both laughed.
"So you have a closet full of these?"
"Pretty much."
"Wow."
The movie was still playing and it was starting to get dark. I was way too comfortable with him and we were both almost asleep when my phone started vibrating, scaring us both. I couldn't see well enough to read the screen, so I just answered it.
"Hello?"
I sounded just as tired as I was.
"Layla. Where are you? I called your house and no one answered."
I was the only one who answered the phone at my house, and I had given them all my home number, but I never showed any of them where I lived. It was too risky.
"Who is this?"
"It's Jack. You don't recognize my voice?"
He was playing, but there was a little bit of nervousness in his voice.
"I do, I'm just tired."
"Well, I was wondering if you wanted to go to dinner?"
This was when Christian took the phone and the fun started.
"She's busy tonight. You're gonna have to reschedule."
He hung up my phone and I was laughing hysterically. Sure, I was going to hear about this tomorrow, but it just surprised me.
"You're an idiot."
"Yea, well he should trust you more."
I thought about this for a second.
"No he shouldn't!"
He thought about it too and then he started laughing. My phone started vibrating again. I think we all know who it was. He called me another three times before sending me a text message.
WHO THE HELL WAS THAT??
WHERE ARE YOU?!
I didn't reply to the messages. He could text me all he wanted; I have unlimited text, so ha. Finally, I turned my phone off and put it in my pocket.
"So I'm guessing we're going to school tomorrow," I asked.
"Do you want to go?"
"Are you kidding, I wouldn't miss this for anything."
That night, we slept on the couch, we hadn't moved. We woke up to get ready. I took my shower first and he gave me another one of his American Eagle outfits. This one was a plain red shirt and the jeans were a little bit darker than the first pair. He even let me borrow a pair of his boxers that he had just bought and I snuck into his sister's room and stole a bra. It was a little bit small on me, but I made it work. It actually added a little bit of cleavage. I sat in the living room while Christian took his shower. I turned on my phone for the first time since the night before. Ha, I had ten text messages from Jack, five from Shawn, six from Drey, and one from Brian. I didn't bother to read the other ones, but Brian's caught my attention.
Hey Beautiful.
sigh He was such a sweetie, but he was completely clueless. He really deserved better. I need to end this. I texted him back.
We need 2 talk. Meet me my locker aftr school?
I closed my phone and heard Christian step out of the bathroom. I turned around and looked down the hall. He was still in his towel and he walked to his room. What was so different about this guy? I think I actually cared about him, and that's saying a lot. I held onto this thought as I forged a note explaining my absence the day before. I had perfected both my mom and dad's signatures and I could do almost any other signature with a bit of practice. It was a talent of mine.
Almost an hour later, he parked in my usual parking space near the front door of the school. I took a deep breath and we walked through the crowded the hallways. Christian slipped his arm over my shoulders and there was Jack standing at my locker. He glared at both of us and his teeth were grinding in his mouth.
"Is this him?"
I ignored his question, crossed my arms, and raised my eyebrow.
"How are Shay and Rochelle?"
His face grew scarily red. If you haven't guessed, Shay and Rochelle are the two girls that he thought that I didn't know about. Within seconds, he grabbed Christian by the front of his shirt and swung him against the lockers. The sound from the lockers caught everyone's attention. Before Jack had the chance to hit him, I rammed him with my side. He stumbled back a few feet and I stepped in front of him.
"Whore," he spat at me.
I was sincerely shocked, but not as shocked as I was by what happened next. He took a step, filling the majority of space between us, and slapped me. I went to the side, but caught my balance on the lockers. Oh no, this son of a nutcracker did not just hit me! This was all that I was thinking, but he was just lucky that Christian got to him before I did. The second after Jack's hand went across my face, Christian had lost it. This time, it was Jack who was slammed against the lockers, and the sound was explosive. I winced at how hard he punched him. Jack was dazed for a second, but he hit Christian in the stomach before he got his second punch in.
He pushed Christian off while he was still out of breath and tackled him to the floor. He started kicking him in the stomach until Christian caught his foot. I couldn't take it anymore. I took a deep breath and charged him full force. He hit the ground hard and I held him down.
After dating Shawn for nearly two years, I had picked up a few things and defense was one of them. Also, as you may remember, I mentioned earlier that the head football coach treated me like a daughter. Well, I didn't get my small, yet slightly muscular figure from just sitting around. Jack didn't know this, and he was just as shocked as all of the people watching. I was surprised to feel someone pulling me off of him. I was on my feet in seconds and I was turned around to se that there was a teacher holding Christian back by his arms. I looked up. I didn't recognize the teacher, but Christian and I were both taken to the principle's office. Aw, crap! He got blood on Christian's shirt. That stain is never going to come out. Maybe it'll blend in.