Thanks for the reviews, I know it's another Lailin chapter but don't worry some original characters are coming in the next chapter.
Lailin
I've told myself the whole drive up here that there's nothing intimidating about a tiny apartment, but my hands are shaking inside my jeans pockets. I walk up the front steps, accenting each one with a reason why I shouldn't do this. He hurt me. He lied to me. He only came around when it got to be too much for him. When it comes time to knock on the door, I couple each one with a reason why I should. He said he still loved me. He's been my best friend since we were four. He's filled with so much guilt—the last thing he needs is me dissing him, too. He didn't call me because he thought I deserved better than him. I take a deep breath and try to calm my nerves. This decision is not an easy one, but I have to keep telling myself that I'm doing the right thing before it drives me crazy. You're a good person. You're making a good decision. I am still so deep in thought when a dark-haired boy opens the door that it takes me by surprise. "Yes?"
I can't seem to get my voice to work right. "Oh, God," I finally choke out. "You scared me."
His eyebrows draw together. "You rang the doorbell. Were you not expecting anyone to answer?"
"No, I was, I just—never mind. It's not important. I was wondering if—is Hunter here?"
"Depends. Who's asking?"
"Lailin Durham. I'm Whitey's granddaughter—you know him, don't you?"
The boy's whole body stiffens and I can tell Hunter has told him about me. What could he have said to make this guy so cautious? It's not like I did anything to him (well, except break his nose, but that's beside the point). "Hunter's not here. Sorry."
He starts to close the door, but I stick my foot out and stop it. "Look, this is important. I don't know what he's told you about me, but I really need to talk to him. I promise it's not going to hurt him in any way, physically or mentally. Please tell me the truth—is he here?"
The guy sighs. "Yes. But he's not feeling so well and I don't know if—"
"He will," I interrupt. "I promise. Just let me talk to him."
He doesn't say anything, just steps aside and lets me in. "He's upstairs," he calls over his shoulder, closing the door. "Second door on the left."
I nod and run up the stairs. I hear other voices asking the guy who I am, but they are the last thing on my mind. I knock softly on Hunter's door. "Hunter?"
He obviously doesn't recognize my voice, because he utters a soft "Come in". He sounds terrible. The boy said he wasn't feeling well—has he caught some deadly disease or something? I push the door open and step inside. It is dark, so dark that it takes me a minute to get accustomed to the light, and Hunter is lying on a bed in the middle of the room with a cloth over his eyes and a bucket next to the bed. When I ease myself down onto the bed, I can see that he is deathly pale. "Hey. It's me."
"Who—?" He stops mid-sentence, the rag off his eyes. His face hardens. "Oh. Hi, Lailin."
"Yeah, hi. What have you done to yourself? No offense, but you look like sh—you look terrible."
"I went out drinking last night to try and get over what happened with you." There is no shame in his voice, only bitterness. "My alcohol level was pretty high, so I've got the hangover from hell as a consequence. I'll never do that again, that's for sure."
"Well," I say, "we've all been there. Listen, I came to talk to you about something."
"So talk."
I swallow. I don't think I've ever heard his voice this cold before. "I've decided to transfer to Tree Hill High for the upcoming school year." He stiffens in shock beside me but doesn't say a word, obviously expecting more. "And before you ask, yes, I am doing it for you. You don't deserve to hate yourself. But I have conditions."
He coughs and moans. "Such as?"
"First, I still care about you a great deal, and I'm willing to be your friend again, but you have to understand that I can't forgive you for what you did, even taking your reasons into account. So I'm not interested in being your girlfriend. At least, not yet. Second, you have to tell me when something is bothering you, no matter how small. We can't afford for anything like this to happen again."
Hunter pulls himself into a sitting position and looks at me. His face has no color, his eyes are red, but he is still stunning. Beauty knows no limits, I suppose. "Thank you," he whispers. Then his mouth turns up at the corners just like it used to and my heart starts doing flips. "Are there any more conditions?"
I smile back. "You'll have to get back to me on that." I know I should leave—if I don't, I'll spend the whole day flirting and contradicting my own rules. But I can't seem to make my feet move. Instead, my hands ease him back down onto his pillow and tuck his comforter back around him. "Now, you need to sleep. Best thing for a hangover, you know." He closes his eyes, not even starting when my devil lips brush against his forehead—he is already asleep. I sink back against the wall and close my own eyes. You, I think to myself, are a terrible person, Lailin Durham. Absolutely terrible.
He is pretty when he sleeps, though.
Don't forget to review, hope you liked it. At the end of the last chapter I asked if you guys preferred Leyton or Jeyton. Everyone that reviewed said Jeyton, and that's good because I had already started writing a Jeyton chapter. If you have any questions, requests, or frustrations don't be afraid to review or PM us, your reviews inspire Mary and I to write so keep them coming!
-Kenya and Mary Alice
