The Book Shop

Just A Kiss

Piper and I don't get our girls' day until a month later. Between the crazy amounts of tests, my work schedule and Pipe's needy boyfriend we had barely enough time to text, let alone hang out. Stan spent a ton of the time with me, gearing up for history tests that our teacher loved to throw at us. Plus, we were in the same SAT prep class so we ranted about that taking up all our time, together. He filled me in on his relationship and it was finally going well. I laughed as he told me about his stumbling in their last date as we walked to his car from our prep class.
"The waitress came over, tits out and everything and was like hard core flirting with me. I got so flustered and guilty I just looked at her and stuttered "I-I don't like those" and I gestured to her boobs. She turned bright red and Jer died of laughter. After like an hour of laughing, he told her we were on a date. She was so embarrassed." Stan got pink at the end of telling his story and had a dreamy look.
"Do you think you love him?" He paused and visibly tensed.
"I think it's too soon to tell. We've only been dating for like three months."
"That's pretty long for a high school relationship."
"I-I don't know."
"Okay. I was just wondering, that's all." He released a breath.
"I know Lala. I think- I think it's time to tell my parents though."
"Really!?!"
"Yeah, things are getting serious with Jeremy and I want them to meet him. I think they will love him, but not as my boyfriend. I just wish they would accept me. I know they have a clue, I'm not subtly gay. Jeremy needs to see that I'm serious about him too, so, like, if he meets my parents he can see where I come from and learn more about me and I can let him in even more."
"That sounds awesome Stan. I am so proud of you. You are quite the boyfriend now eh?" We both laugh as he reaches my driveway.
"Yeah. I'm not sure when I'll be able to do it, but I'll call you for help when I do obviously."
"Obviously." I smile at him and he smirks.
"So, how's that badboy of yours?"
"I do not have a badboy. And I have no idea I haven't seen him in a month."
"Oh really?"
"Yeah."
"Even after your drunk night? I thought he would at least call and thank you for the dirty little kiss you gave him that night." He smirked and then laughed at my horrified face.
"It was a peck! And i was drunk!" I punch his arm and he cackles.
"You've got the hots for him! Admit it!"
"Never!" I laugh and he does too. We sit in my driveway for five minutes just cracking up, until I see a figure standing on my front steps glaring at us.
"What the hell is he doing here?"
"Who?"
"Adam." Stan gasped dramatically.
"Oh-my-god! It's loverboy!!"
"Stan I will kill you."
"Oh, man he is glaring. Wow, I'm actually a threat. Hah, isn't that ironic?"
"Oh, my god, he is not jealous."
"He totally is."
"Okay, bye Gibson."
"See ya Lala."
I exit the car and approach my apparent stalker. He switches his gaze from me to Stan's car with an unreadable expression. His hair is a ruffled mess and his eyes are dark. In his hands, are white daisies that look almost crumpled.
"Hey stranger." He says tersely.
"Adam, what's up?"
"Who was that guy?"
"My friend Stan?"
"Oh, yeah. What were you guys talking about?"
"Nothing." I lie and in my mind I think you, you idiot.
"Uh huh, and what's going on between the two of you?" I laugh and shake my head.
"Nothing. Why are you here? Are those for me?" I gaze at the flowers and smile at him while he shuffles uncomfortably, gripping my flowers tighter.
"Uh, yeah. Um-here. I just- um wanted to know if you'd go out with me on Friday." I freeze holding my cute little flowers.
"Why? Are you going to get me drunk again?"
"Ha, no." He rolls his eyes. I step closer to him slowly.
"Where would we go?" He smirks at me, taking that as my answer.
"It would be a surprise."
"Oh, really." I tilt my head at him and get even closer. I have no idea of what I'm doing or why I'm doing it. I don't want to date him; I don't trust him. But, I can't help being curious, or feeling the race of my heart when I'm merely an inch from him. Our noses could touch due to any sudden movement. I could clearly see the different shades of blue in his eyes. He leaned in and closed the space between us, but we were immediately interrupted.
"Layla, honey, I know you're not out there kissing some strange boy I don't know." My mother hollered and I rolled my eyes.
"Text me back." Adam says as he leaves, walking backwards to look at me.
"Okay," i smile and head inside my house. Ugh, Stan is always right.
*********************
Guilt was all i felt that next friday. I had planned my date with Adam right after he left, then on wednesday night Piper called me and demanded our girls night to be on, you guessed it, friday. Nervous, and unsure of what to do, i told her I could. So, at lunch on Friday I sat between Piper and her step brother. The tension was almost unbearable. Stan couldn't help smirking the entire time and I could hear the mocking laughter inside his head. Jeremy sat beside him and for a moment I smiled at the adorable couple. It was sad they couldn't touch or appear, in any way, like a normal couple during school hours because of Stan's fear. I felt bad for Jeremy, since I know it must be hard to hide his feelings. Insecurity must riddle him. He must doubt the relationship if it can't go public. No one should be treated like a secret. Nothing feels right when it can't be openly acknowledged.
With this revelation in mind I turned to my best friend.
"Pipes, I know you're going to be pissed at this but I can't do girls night because I have a date with Adam." Everything was silent for a second. Adam smirked while Piper's eyes widened in horror.
"I can't believe you picked him over me! We're best friends."
"Pay up little sis."
"What?" Adam and Piper looked at me in realization. For a moment guilt flickered in Piper's eyes but it was quickly replaced by anger and she stormed off to her boyfriends lunch table. Looking over at Adam, I'm met with regretful blue eyes. The glare I gave him could have killed.
"She knew this entire time and you two were betting on who I would hang out with?"
"Uh,"
"Don't even bother lying." Adam tries to stop me but I run off to the library. After ten minutes I hear someone stomping over to the fiction section. Bean boots face me and without looking up I know Stan is holding a pack of Reese's and a diet coke. His brown eyes look at me with worry as his sits next to me.
"They didn't mean to hurt you."
"I know."
"Are you still going to go out with him?"
"I don't think so. That way neither of them win, and I won't have to explain everything to my mom." He nods silently and hands me my snack.
"So have you told your parents yet or brought Jer over?"
"Um, no."
"Oh."
"It's scary and I know they won't take it well."
"Don't they know? Like can't they tell to some degree?"
"Nope. They still think you're my girlfriend."
"Ha. Who doesn't?"
"Piper."
"Oh, right I-"
"You told her."
"I had to. I-I just-"
"I know. She told me everything."
"Do you hate me?"
"Of course not. She's your best friend. And, people should know."
"I'm glad you think that." He rolled his eyes and huffed.
"So, when are you going to go out with Adam?"
"I don't know. Maybe I'll see if I can make him squirm." Stan laughed and was harshly shushed by a librarian.
"You little meanie."
"Serves him right." Stan smiled at me and we headed to class. As we walked my heart stopped. I saw Dara in the middle of the hallway, kissing Adam. Stan gripped my arm tightly and went over to them. He shoved Adam harshly and started yelling at him, waving his arms around. Dara looked over and winked at me, puckering her lips. I glared and ran to class before Adam could talk to me.
***************
"So, no girls day?"
"No."
"But you're not mad at me."
"No."
"Are you sure you don't want me to come over."
"Yeah. Stan's here. Jeremy is bringing over Half Baked and we're going to watch Insidious. I'll be fine."
"Okay."
"So, I'll talk to you later."
"Hey-Layla. I'm really sorry about my idiot stepbro. He's a total moron."
"I know."
"Okay. Well-can we hangout soon?"
"Tomorrow?"
"I-yes, of course."
"Okay, see you then."
"Kay, bye." We hang up and I nuzzle myself into my snuggie. Stan jumps on the couch and drapes his arm around me. After a few minutes Jer comes over and we watch the movie. At some point I manage to fall asleep, only to be waken up by harsh whispers.
"What are you guys doing with her?" Adam asks.
"We're her friends." Jeremy answers defensively.
"Oh. You guys do sleepovers?"
"Sometimes." Stan replies.
"Well, can you tell her I was here."
"Yeah. How's your face."
"Fine. The punch was a little unnecessary."
"You kissed Dara, when you said you wanted to date Lala." Jeremy justified.
"Yeah that was shitty, but Dara initiated it and it's not like we're in a relationship yet."
"So, you'd be fine if she kissed me." Stan rebutted and I hear a growl.
"Did you guys kiss!"
"Maybe. It doesn't matter since you guys aren't in a relationship, right?"
"I see your point."
"So, you're going to apologize when you see her next."
"Yeah. I'll see you guys around."
"Bye Adam."
"What a Badboy." Stan mutters and Jeremy laughs.
"You called it."
"I know everything."
"Yeah, okay."
"Is that sass?"
"You bet your ass." They giggle and begin sex jokes. I try to fall back asleep, but fail. Groaning, I get up and move to my room. The lovebirds don't even notice.