limerence | COMPLETED

09

THE NEXT FEW DAYS PASS BY RELATIVELY UNEVENTFULLY FOR EVERYONE. WELL, ALMOST EVERYONE.

There were quite a few hungover students on Friday, much to the teachers' dismay, and although Layla had barely drank anything, even she had felt a little groggy and out of it. Fortunately, the weekend seemed to do the trick because on Monday everyone was back to their usual selves. And then Monday and Tuesday also passed by without anything out of the ordinary happening.

For Layla personally, however, things haven't been so relaxed. Ever since Monday, her homeroom teacher has constantly pestered her about her university application and she's even gone as far as pulling her out of class to speak to her, probably because Layla had made it her personal mission to avoid the woman altogether.

Even today, she stopped Layla just as she'd been heading out of the classroom.

"I want you to come and see me after school," she demanded, leaning against the edge of her desk and trying to put on her most authoritative face. "We really need to talk about this."

"I have work," Layla told her defiantly. "Sorry."

"Tomorrow, then." The woman straightened up, crossing her arms. "I mean it, Layla. You can't keep avoiding me."

"We'll see about that," Layla muttered on her way out the door.

Opening her locker door to collect her English book, Layla frowns when she sees Kai's hoodie still folded neatly inside from the party. He'd left halfway during the party so she didn't have the opportunity to return it to him at the time, and even now she still hasn't figured out when the best time to give it to him would be.

It would be weird if she did it after school but doing it during school sounded like even more of a bad idea. Then there's the issue of giving it to him without people around. God knows what rumours would circulate if people saw her with his hoodie.

The most important issue of all, however, is what she should say. Should she say thank you? Should she apologise for not bringing her own like the idiot she is? Or should she tell him that she has dreams about this boy who looks just like him and ask him to explain to her what the hell she's supposed to do?

Okay, so maybe she won't say that last one.

Undecided, Layla tucks it into her bag and closes her locker door, re-joining Mercy and Savannah as they head to maths.

Time ticks by agonisingly slow during the lesson and even slower again when she forces herself to pay attention to the equations on the board. She sighs for the third time that hour and tiredly stares out the window instead.

A few tables behind her, James and Callum are heatedly debating over whether they should play basketball or football at lunch in poorly hushed tones, and when Callum gets a little too loud as he complains that they're always playing basketball, Mr Richardson finally snaps and tells them to get out.

When the bell eventually rings another hour later, everyone is quick to escape the room.

"I'm starving!" Mercy complains as the three of them slowly trail to English.

"It's only ten AM," Savannah laughs amusedly. "Did you guys do the English essay?"

"I started it," Layla answers, shrugging. "But I don't think I actually got around to finishing it. I'm sure it'll be fine," she quickly adds when Savannah gives her a panicked look. She even adds a reassuring smile for good measure.

They come to a slow stop outside of their English class minutes later, trying to avoid the next hour for as long as they possibly can. Layla leans against the wall, quietly watching the other students passing by, who either don't pay her any attention at all, or do and quickly look the other way again.