So I grab his hand and jump. “It’s a shame you tell Jena Becker how you feel before you bother telling the aforementioned girlfriend.”
Landen turns, his expression open and hopeful. “What I told Jena was wishful thinking. What I’m asking you now is if you’re interested in the position. The pay sucks but the benefits are decent.”
“Hmm.” I bite my lip before taking another drink of my syrupy sweet punch. And then I inhale deeply to gather all of my courage. “I think I’m going to need further explanation of thesebenefitsyou speak of.”
Landen flinches with shock and I stare him straight in the eye, still hoping to convey my thoughts telepathically.I’m ready.
“This was fun but I’d like to discuss my benefits package privately,” I tell him. Truthfully, I can feel the angry glares of Jena and her friends as they huddle nearby. And I want the kiss he owes me from earlier, but not in front of anyone. It’s ours and I’m not sharing.
Wedance for over an hour, and it takes all the self-control I have not to throw her over my shoulder and sprint to my truck when Layla says she’s ready to go.
As it is, I’m walking pretty damn brisk-like and practically dragging her behind me. She’s giggling so I think she’s okay with it.
The double metal doors are all that stand between me and heaven. That is until Cam, DW, and Brent Becker cut us off.
“What the fuck did you say to my sister?” the very angry center for the Hope Springs varsity football team demands.Aw hell.
“I told her I wasn’t interested and that I have girlfriend, obviously.” I nod back toward Layla, who’s damn near cowering behind me. I will not fight in front of this girl.I will not fight in front of this girl.It becomes my mantra and I cling to it as I focus on controlling my breathing. But Brent’s all bowed up and I can tell Cam and DW know what’s coming. They came to try and stop him but neither one will do much more than try.
“Listen, I don’t want my sister dating the faggot-ass kicker. But if she likes you, you’d be lucky for her to give you the time of day.”
I. Will. Not. Fight. In. Front. Of. This. Girl.
My fists clench and I take a deep breath. “You’re right, but lucky for you, the faggot-ass kicker is taken.”
Brent’s jaw ticks a few times and I know he’s itching to punch me.Feeling’s mutual, buddy.But Cam and DW pull him back, and he whirls around and punches the metal doors instead. The impact rattles my bones and I’m thankful that it wasn’t my face that took the brunt of the blow. Not that I haven’t taken much worse.
I don’t know if there is a glitch in the space-time continuum or what the hell happens but time literally slows. A gust of outside air flies in as Brent storms out, and I turn to tell Layla we’ll go out a different way so dude doesn’t get the impression I’m following him, looking for a fight. But she isn’t behind me. Or rather, she isn’tstandingbehind me.
“Layla?” I scream, dropping hard to my knees. She’s on her back on the floor, tremors rocking her body, turning into full-on convulsions. And I’m fucking helpless and panicking. Her eyes roll back in her head and I grab her to me.
“Call a goddamn ambulance, 911, or what the fuck ever,” I scream at DW and Cam but I don’t wait to see who pulls out their cell phone first. Something warm and wet leaks onto the floor around her. I want to cuss the universe but I know that won’t help her. I’ve never seen anything like this in my life. Never been so scared. Even when my dad wrestled me down and kicked and hit me until I blacked out. And I was only ten then. Up until now it was the worst thing that had ever happened to me. It’s not even a close second to this.
“Shh,” I whisper in her ear, trying to drown out the sound of Cam calling it in. “It’s okay, baby. You’re okay, Layla.”Because you have be. I need you to be, dammit.“I’m here. You’re safe. It’s okay. I got you,” I keep murmuring over and over in her ear until finally she goes still.
We’re surrounded by teachers and chaperones and students, and I know now this is what they were talking about with the Freaky Flaherty shit. And I want to burn the motherfucking gym down Carrie style knowing this has happened before and they made fun of her for it. If I weren’t here, who would be holding her? Or would she just be a spectacle for them to gawk at?
The Colonel’s voice answers me.If you weren’t here, this wouldn’t be happening at all.
Iwake up in a gown I don’t have any recollection of putting on under a thin blanket and the nauseating glow of fluorescents. Great.
The back of my head hurts like someone took a hammer to it, so I ease off the pillow. Aunt Kate stands and crosses the room, looking tired and ten years older than she is.
“No,” is all I say when I see Landen dozing in a chair next to me.
“You’re okay, Layla. It was a bad one, but you’re fine.”
“It’s okay, baby. You’re okay, Layla. I’m here. You’re safe. It’s okay. I got you,”I hear in my head even though Aunt Kate isn’t talking.
“Oh my God,” I groan, burying my face in my hands. It happened again, in front of everyone just like freshman year. Even worse, it happened in front ofhim.Tears burn in my eyes but I choke them back. Shame shoves my head down and I wish Landen wasn’t here so I could cry in peace.
“You’re awake,” he says groggily. The clock across from me is blurry but judging from the placement of the hands, I’m pretty sure it’s a little after midnight. I’m hooked up to an IV but I know from previous experience it’s just to keep me hydrated. A heart monitor is clamped on my finger and the machine beeps steadily. Guess it’s not programmed to recognize when a heart is breaking.
“I didn’t want you to know,” I whisper, and Aunt Kate nods and gives me a weak smile as she backs out of the room.
“Layla,” Landen says, standing and coming closer. “I already knew. Alexis Whatsherface told me my first week here.”
His words are supposed to comfort me. I can tell by his expression, but they ruin everything. Well, they ruin whatever was left after my spectacularly humiliating meltdown.