his cousin's best friend ||*. EJ Caswell x OC

one

layla's pov

I was more hurt then I thought I'd be. I was sitting in the cafeteria with Ricky, Big Red, and Ashlyn, all of us watching the monstrosity in front of us.

I knew, of course. Nini and Ashlyn told me as soon as it was official, but it doesn't make it feel any less like someone took my heart and every daydream I ever had in the past three years and threw them into a shredder.

"Dude, are you seeing this," Big Red said to Ricky, who was very clearly staring daggers into EJ's back.

"I'm seeing it, I'm hearing it, I'm hating it."

"How did this happen within a month?" I said. I was trying to keep my cool, because it's not like EJ and I were every going to be a thing and I never told Ashlyn about it, but seeing him with Nini twisted me the wrong way.

"EJ is head over heals for her," Ash said. All three of us turned our heads to her, implying she wasn't helping.

"I mean captain of the Water Polo team. Senior class treasurer. What are the odds the guy she hooks up with at camp goes to East High?"

"Apparently, the odds are 100%," Ricky said, clearly annoyed. He stood up and stomped off, all pissy-like. He always does this. I hit Big Red's arm.

"So, Lay," Ash started, hoping to change the subject no doubt. "Who are you going to audition for?"

About two hours ago, the new drama teacher announced the musical for this semester. High School Musical. Apparently, it's entirely unbelievable that the school the movie was shot in has never put on the show.

"I'm not sure. Maybe Taylor or Kelsi."

"No, you have to go out for Gabriela," Ash insisted.

"Auditioning for Gabriela is setting myself up for disappointment. Plus, I know I could nail Kelsi and add some of my own touches. I've always had a few things I wanted to tweak from the original actress."

"No you haven't."

"No I haven't," I turned back to EJ and Nini. Nini's gonna come up to me later at auditions and I'm gonna have to pretend I haven't been anything but in love with EJ for literal years.

I started stuffing my face with french fries quickly.

"Oh no," Big Red said.

"What?" I'm not sure Ash was paying attention.

"I'm gonna run away before her stress eating gets worse," he said, running off with his tray.

"Lay, it's okay. You don't have to audition for Gabriela if you don't want to."

That's not why I'm stress eating, but I'll let her think that so I don't have to actually express my feelings. Something I learned from my mom.

The bell rang to save me from this horrible train of thoughts. "I have English," I say before I run off. I dumped my tray and made my way to English, not wanting to relive that moment. I practically threw my bag off my shoulder to the floor and sat down.

"Whoa, someone's not too happy," I heard an unfamiliar voice say. I turn to look behind me to see a new girl.

"I don't need your commentary."