Chapter 2: Kayla

"So, Kayla," Abby said to me on our way to school. "How are things going with Derek?"

I shrugged, trying to seem nonchalant. "Oh, some guy just got in the way yesterday. But things will be better today, I'm sure of it."

"That's the way to think!" Sarah smiled at me.

As soon as we got to the school's gate, the worst thing possible happened. There, waiting right in front of us, was Jeremy.

"Good morning, Kayla!" He grinned when we came to the gate. "I hope you have a nice day at school!"

"Is he your boyfriend, Kayla?" Sarah asked, causing me to facepalm.

"Oh, he's cute," Abby said. "I would ditch Derek for this guy if I were you."

"You sure don't take no for an answer, do you?" I growled at Jeremy. "C'mon!" I grabbed his wrist and dragged him away from Abby and Sarah, where he couldn't do any more damage than he'd already done.

When we were a good distance away from everybody else, I immediately slapped him in the face. "What is wrong with you?" I screamed. "What are Sarah and Abby supposed to think? Now there will be all sorts of rumors flying around school!"

"R-rumors?" He asked, rubbing his cheek. "Rumors about what?"

I was trying really hard not to get any angrier. "There is some boy waiting for me every day before and after school," I whispered, my voice tense. "What do you think?"

"Oh, I see!" He smiled knowingly. "You like that Derek boy, and you don't want me to get in the way of it!"

I balled my hands into fists at my sides. "You sure are blunt, huh?" I said with clenched teeth.

"Oh, I know!" He brightened, visibly happy to share his idea. "Why don't you go ask him out? I'll go with you! It'll be fun!"

I punched him in the jaw. "I can ask him out on my own, you idiot!"

"Ouch..." He groaned as he landed on the concrete. I was getting better at this.

"I swear," I sighed. "If you're here to grant me a wish, then why do you keep interfering?"

"Well," he said as he started to get up. "Do you want Derek to fall in love with you, then? Is that your wish?"

I must admit, I was startled at the question. I suddenly looked down at my shoes and fiddled with my hair ribbon. "N-no..." I whispered after a long silence. "It's cruel to manipulate people's feelings like that." And before he could respond, I walked away and off to class.

"So who was that boy there this morning?" Abby asked me with a smirk.

I groaned. "Just a friend. Some guy I know."

"What's his name?" Sarah asked.

"Why don't you ask him now?" Abby chuckled, pointing at something in the distance.

Oh. My. Gosh.

There, waiting at the gate, was Jeremy. Again.

"Didja have a nice day at school, Kayla?" He smiled as we approached the gate.

I met his goofy grin with a lethal scowl and responded by swiftly sweeping my foot across the ground, knocking his feet out from under him. I mentally congratulated myself on that one.

"H-hello to you, too," he groaned as he got up from the ground.

"Go home, Jeremy!" I snarled.

"Wow, Kayla," Abby commented. "You've got quite the little stalker, don't you?"

"Listen," Sarah said to him. "Kayla already likes somebody else. So if Derek saw you two together, he might-"

"What about me?" A voice from behind interrupted her. We all turned, and saw none other than Derek. Right behind us. I could've just died.

"Oh, it's Kayla's boyfriend," he smiled. "I'm sorry, I don't think I know your name yet," he said to Jeremy.

"Oh, n-no!" I stepped between them and subconsciously fiddled with my hair ribbon. "H-he's not my b-boyfriend..."

He shrugged. "All right, then," he said before walking off, leaving the four of us just standing there with our mouths hanging open, none of us quite sure what to say.

"I wonder if he understood or not..." I sighed as I slumped down on the park bench. Not even watching the sunset, something that I normally loved, could cheer me up anymore.

"Things will work out," Jeremy smiled as the sun turned the clouds pink. "Given the right opportunity, I'm sure that Derek will like you just as much as you like him."

I sat up straight and stared at him with slight amusement. "Y'know," I said to him with a hint of a smile. "I don't get you at all."

"Huh?" It looked as if I had caught him off-guard.

"I mean," I looked out at the ducks swimming on the pond in front of us, leaving small ripples in the water behind them. "You're helping me get together with another guy. You don't feel, I don't know, jealous? Or left behind, or something?"

He looked shocked at that remark. "Uh..." his jaw dropped a bit before he caught himself. "No, I'm not really into that kind of thing..."

There were a few seconds of awkward silence before I broke it by chuckling a bit. "That's one thing about you I don't mind, at least."

"What?"

"Even if you're annoying at times," I continued with a smile. "You're so innocent and sweet. I really like that about you."

I wasn't lying there. I really did like that about him.

And I still do.