Welcome to Hayleywood

Chapter Seventeen: So Obvious

               “Ah, the sun is hurting my eyes!” Jess complains as she slips on her Ray Bans and flips through the latest issue of The Scene.

                “I know, it’s bright out,” I agree as I pick up my issue of Alternative Press with The Maine on the cover.

                I finally found the time to hang out with Jess at the beach. It’s been awhile since we’ve actually sat down and talked together, so I hoped she wouldn’t be too mad at me. So far, she hadn’t seemed that mad.

                “So,” Jess takes a sip of her Snapple, “how’s it going with you and your hot neighbor?”

                “Ha, very funny, Jess,” I was hoping she wouldn’t bring the subject of me and Cameron up.

                “Well, something’s definitely up. I mean, considering we’ve barely had the time to hang out. Of course, I guess that’s my fault too since I have all the Sixteen stuff going on.”

                “No, I mean, things are good, I guess,” I turn the page of the magazine.

                Jess’s eyebrows go up instantly. “Good, huh? I can easily tell you like him, Ms. Hayley Roberts. Or should I say Mrs. Green?”

                I give her a playful punch on the shoulder.

                “Oww! Not nice,” Jess rubbed the spot on her arm where I’d punched her. “Look, all I’m sayin’ is, it’s okay to tell me what’s been going on. I mean, come on, I’m your best friend, for Pete’s sake. If anything, you should let me in.”

                Oh, man. I am dead. I don’t know if I should tell Jess. Then again, why am I so afraid to tell her?? It’s not like we had sex or anything. I take a deep breath and start. “Well,”

                “So have you gone out with him or what?” Jess cuts me off, clearly eager to get the real deets.

                “You didn’t even let me finish!” I whine.

                “Ah-ha! So you did go out!” she waggles her index finger at me. “I can totally see it-you have that look on your face. Ooooh, Hayley’s in loooooove,” she gushes.

                “Could you keep it down a little? People are starting to stare,” I whisper, hoping she gets the hint.

                “Geez, sorry, but I know for a fact that you like him,” Jess taunts me.

                I throw my magazine down in the sand. “You know what, maybe I do like him. And is there anything wrong with that? No, there isn’t.”

                “Whoa, whoa,” Jess’s eyes widened. “Calm down, I didn’t say it was a bad thing. In fact, I think it’s a great thing,” she offers a comforting smile.

                I’ll be honest. I’m really glad that Jess is being understanding, but does she really think Cameron and I are a package???

                “So what’s with The Scene party you’ve been planning?” Jess asks.

                “Oh, I’m not really planning it. Cameron just asked me to help him pick out the music for it. He thinks I have good taste in music,” I shrug.