Always You

Bonus Chapter 1

Part two

"Jas, I need to ask a favour from you but you can't ask any questions." I say, rushing into the sixth form canteen the next morning. Thankfully Jas has a habit of being the first one to arrive everywhere. None of the others are here yet. I slide in next to her on the sofa.

"So, I can't even ask what the favour is?" Jas says, quirking one eyebrow. "And hi, by the way."

"Yeah, hi. All I need from you is that if Dan asks, you confirm that we talked on the phone last night."

"Why would he ask?"

"Ah, I knew you would ask questions."

"I never agreed that I wouldn't." She sing-songs.

"Fine, he may not ask but he called me yesterday and I told him I was expecting a call off you."

A smile starts to form on her face. "And what time was this call?"

With a huff I answer. "Around half ten."

"And you still want to deny that Dan has feelings for you?"

"Okay, you were right but it doesn't change how I feel."

"I still can't believe you're not interested in him."

"Not interested in who?" Amelia asks, as she slides into the sofa across from us.

"Layla has only just realised that Dan has a crush on her." Jas says deadpan.

"You didn't know?" Amelia asks in shock. "Wait, he's who you're not interested in? poor Dan. I thought the two of you would be great together."

"What? In what universe would me and Dan work?" I'm in shock at that announcement.

"Meg is not interested in George either." Jas says to Amelia, completely ignoring my outburst.

"That's a shame, I think he would really help her confidence." Amelia says.

A part of me gets angry at that. Meg is plenty confident; she doesn't need George to help her.

Jas laughs, "You just want someone to double date with you and Alfie."

That causes Amelia to go bright red. Wait, Amelia and Alfie are a thing? When did this happen? "You and Alfie?"

"Bloody hell Layla. You're hopeless." Jas says with a shake of her head.

"That's why you're my best friend. How else am I meant to know what is going on around me?" I say fluttering my eyelashes at Jas. Damn she is observant. Hopefully she hasn't noticed me staring at Meg. I try to behave in school but I've caught myself a few times automatically looking towards her.

With a final head shake and a look that screams 'lord give me strength' Jas turns the conversation back to Amelia.

"There's not much to tell Jas. We've been hanging out more, that's it." Amelia says looking shifty.

"Does hanging out include, making out?" Jas asks causing Amelia to go redder. I crack up laughing with Jas.

Amelia shifts a nervous look to the door, before lowering her voice. We're the only ones in the room thankfully but that might not be for much longer. The others know to meet us here in the mornings. We'd coveted the sixth form canteen and common room for years. The first day of sixth form we all decided to meet here and this became our spot. It's only existed for three years so is a lot fresher and welcoming than the common room. That is an old disused classroom that seems to be part storage room from decades past. So yeah, we prefer the canteen, plus you know, food is right there.