BETA: TheSupernova

Chapter 2: Jealousy

Two days before the homecoming dance, not only was Will dateless, but to top it off, he had just found out Layla was going with Warren. He followed closely behind Layla as they walked down the hallway towards the cafeteria.

"Warren? Really? You can't go to the dance with him!" Will said furiously, garnering the attention of the passersby. He lowered his voice. "He doesn't even like me—us—wait, when did he start liking you?"

Layla turned around to face him, almost causing Will to crash into her. "Apparently he does like me. You? Well, you'd have to ask him now, wouldn't you?"

"I… you…" Will was at a loss for words. "Damnit. I mean, I thought…"

She raised an eyebrow. Will sighed. He had no idea where he was going with that. They walked silently the rest of the way, until Layla spotted Warren up ahead.

"Oh, look, its Warren!" She waved at him, before running towards him and exchanging a small hug in greeting. As Warren and Layla walked towards the lunch line, Warren looked back and grinned at him. Will just glared right back.

Will gritted his teeth when he saw Warren lean down to whisper something into Layla's ear, making her giggle in return.

This was outright betrayal, that's what it was. Layla and Warren suddenly cozying up together without mentioning anything to Will? If they were going to the dance together, did that mean they had been hanging out behind Will's back without him?

So. Not. Fair.

On the afternoon of the dance, Will was hanging out with Layla on the roof on his house.

"Are you mad at me?" Layla asked him. "You've been ignoring my calls since yesterday. I had to come over just too get you to talk to me."

Yes, Will was upset with her. She was going to the dance with Warren. All of yesterday, Warren had been smirking at him with that damn, handsome face of his with an expression that said: I'm not going to dance with you, but with Layla. Warren was baiting him, he just knew it.

Unbeknownst to Will, he had accidently said that last bit out loud because Layla had a shocked look on her face which was beginning to erupt into a fit of laughter.

"Fine, fine, laugh all you want," Will said despairingly. "But I'm glad you found a date for the dance, at least."

Will was happy she had a date, though her choice of date was questionable.

"Are you jealous because I didn't ask you to the dance, or are you jealous because Warren asked me instead of you?"

"I—" Will sighed, bowing his head. He couldn't look her in the eyes. Will looked down at his hands instead.

"You never stop talking about him. You're too aware of him," Layla placed a hand on Will's shoulder, catching his attention.

"Wake up, Will. You're smarter than this. Don't make me spell it out for you." Layla tapped Will's hand, and waited until he looked her in the eyes. "If you could ask anyone to the homecoming dance, who would it be?"

Truth was, Will did know whom he wanted to go with but he had been too afraid to acknowledge it. Images of Warren flashed through his mind, the wet dreams he had been having about Warren that he kept secret.

"I want to say, 'I don't know'," Will admitted, "but we both know it's a lie, huh? You're going to make me say it, aren't you?"

Layla smiled gently. "Yes it is and yeah, I am. So tell me, Will, what is it you want?"