limerence | COMPLETED

18

DREAD RUNS DOWN LAYLA'S SPINE AS HER FRIENDS FORCE HER INTO ENGLISH AGAINST HER WILL.

It's finally the last day of the school term and that unfortunately means it's time to hear everyone's poems out loud in front of the class. Alone. Who ever thought this was a good idea?

"Layla, I'm not having this conversation with you again," Mercy sighs, forcing her into the room. "As you said, no one is going to care what you read so I don't understand why you're making such a big deal out of this. It's no different than you doing that presentation last time."

"Can't we just skip class then?" she begs as she's shoved into her seat.

"No, if we have to do this, you do too," Savannah argues. "You'll be absolutely fine. Just look at us during your turn."

Mr Abbot chooses that exact moment to enter the room and Mercy and Savannah have to painfully yank her arms to keep her from springing out of her seat in an attempt to run away. Layla scowls unhappily at them.

"I thought you didn't find public speaking scary?" Kai asks when he notices her pale face.

"Apparently reading out a poem is a completely different story," Savannah explains.

"Can you please talk some sense into her?" Mercy pleads.

Kai looks over at Layla with a reassuring smile. While he doesn't actually say anything, she has a feeling that she knows what he's thinking. Don't overthink it.

"I'm with Layla, I think we should skip class," James pipes up helpfully for once, slinging an arm around Kai's shoulders when he joins them.

"You two just need to calm down," Savannah says. "You aren't skipping class for such a stupid reason."

"Right then, kids!" Mr Abbot begins excitedly. James huffs loudly and reluctantly drags himself over to his seat. Kai follows after him, shooting Layla a reassuring smile on his way - you'll be okay. "I'm looking forward to seeing what you guys came up with! Remember this is all just some fun. No need for any of you to get scared."

Much to Layla's and James' relief, they aren't called on to go first. While some other students are forced up against their will, Layla nervously bounces her leg up and down. However, when James' name is finally called, they both jump. Layla can practically feel how nervous he is and it isn't even her go yet. Shit.

Standing up, James drags his feet to the front and pretty much everyone sits in the room with their mouths hanging open while they witness the James Monroe standing in front of them with a look on his face that says: I-want-to-die-in-a-fucking-whole-right-now.

"Er," he starts and a few people have to hide their laughter.

"Can you give us a brief description of what you wrote about?" Abbot asks him and James throws him a subtle murderous glare. "Or...not. You can just, uh, read it." The man smiles nervously and gestures for James to go ahead.

Surprisingly, his poem isn't awful.

"Sun beating down above,

Loud laughter and shouts fill the air,

People running, racing forwards,

We shoot the ball and score."

The class are pleasantly surprised to hear something genuine coming from James and he earns a round of applause that makes him freeze and look up. He regains a little colour in his face when he sees the reaction and a happy smile slips onto his face as he sits back down. Even their teacher nods in appraise.