limerence | COMPLETED

12

LAYLA ISN'T TOO SURPRISED TO FIND KAI WAITING FOR HER BY HER LOCKER THE NEXT MORNING.

He's wearing a deep navy blue sweatshirt today which compliments his eyes, along with a pair of black ripped jeans. His back rests comfortably against the lockers behind him and he keeps his hands tucked away in his jean pockets.

Students give him intrigued glances as they walk by, and some of them hesitate as though they want to approach him. However, when they notice the way he's standing still and quiet, his eyes focused down the hall, although not actually looking at anything or anyone in particular, they decide they can't quite bring themselves to disturb him, so they simply continue on their way instead.

And, as Layla also pauses a few steps away from him, hesitating to disturb him, she can understand why so many people are gaping at him in awe. Because in a place steeped in winter, he's a lot like the sun.

"Hey," she greets, finally gathering the courage to walk over to him.

At the sound of her voice, he immediately straightens up and turns to face her. "Hey. You came."

Fellow students curiously glance at them on their way past and Layla swallows nervously at the attention. She's not even sure how she found it in her to come in today but knowing she told Kai she would gave her the little push she didn't know she needed.

She nods and awkwardly averts her gaze down the hall. "Somehow."

"Come on, let's go," he encourages, smiling softly.

Falling into step beside him, they start trailing down the hallway and Layla desperately tries her best to ignore the prying eyes that watch them. Only God knows what everyone is thinking; what everyone will say.

It's only as they're walking that Layla notices the way Kai occasionally glances sideways at her every now and then, as though making sure she's still there. It kind of speaks volumes about his character. Just in that single gesture, she feels like she can understand a lot about him as a person.

Layla draws to a sharp halt once they reach the doorway of their homeroom, her heart thumping in her chest. She put off thinking about what she would say to Mercy and Savannah when she saw them but now that she's here, she wishes she at least gave it some thought. How can she even face them after yesterday? What should she say? Maybe she should just go home.

Carefully, she peeks her head around the corner.

The two girls are already sitting in their seats and while Mercy stares vacantly down at her desk with her chin on her hand, Savannah's gaze constantly flickers between Mercy and the window with a worried expression on her face. Layla knows she should feel happy that her friends care enough to worry, but all she can feel is bad.

Bad-bad-bad.

You fucked up again, Layla.

A hand lightly presses into her back, gently guiding her forwards into the room. Kai. She glances up at him in surprise, followed by uncertainty, and he encouragingly nods his head as if to say, go on, before he heads over to where James is sitting alone, looking like a lost puppy without his friends.

"Hey," Layla manages pathetically once she reaches her seat.

Mercy and Savannah startle and swivel in their seats to face her. For a moment, there's a stretch of silence as they all look between one another, but Mercy's steely expression soon crumples.

"I'm so sorry for snapping," she apologises in a rush. "I know you've not been feeling great and I shouldn't force you to go to something you don't feel like going to." Layla passionately shakes her head and averts her gaze down to the floor.