It All Started With A Ride

13. Bickering & fake crushes

Before the eighth period, Coach M had unintentionally found Tabitha and me in the equipment room.

Thinking that we were doing something beforehand, he just gave us a weird look and sent us back to class- which, was unfortunate because at that time- I had fallen asleep.

I didn't even care if my parents got a call from the school later saying I skipped again- because, how much worse could being grounded get?

I already have to stay at home all day- which is weird enough because I'm still trying to adjust to Madison's presence in my room.

So it wouldn't exactly matter if I skipped school again, right? Or could this get worse...?

When I walked to my locker to grab my Algebra ll book, Layla was there with Laney- the two of them were talking and Laney was laughing at something Layla said- which made me hopeful.

Because that meant- the two were okay now (better than they were yesterday).

I smiled and hopped over to them, "Hey guys!"

"Hey!" Laney smiled, showcasing her pearly white teeth, "where'd you disappear to this time?"

"Uhm- that's a secret" I answered teasingly.

"It's Maxi the magician- she'll never tell us," Layla said sarcastically.

Laney scrunched up the corners of her nose and slapped Layla on the arm, "Hey- be nice!"

Layla raised her brows, "Like you were to Harmony Macadam?"

That was semi familiar name...

"Oh my gosh!" Laney groaned, I gave the two a confused look, "I didn't know, okay? I thought she was being nice!"

"Who's Harmony Macadam?" I asked.

Laney turned to me and quickly said, "Nobody!"

Layla folded her arms over her chest, "She wasn't nobody yesterday".

"Oh my gosh- Layla- we will talk about that later, okay?" Laney said.

"Yeah, whatever" Layla replied. I just stared at them blankly because- what was happening?

"Oh my gosh- you're impossible" Laney whispered before she turned her attention to me, "don't mind her grumpy mood- she hasn't eaten today".

"Yes, I have!" Layla protested.

Laney gave her a look.

"You know what- I'm going to get chips from the vending machine, Mom" Layla rolled her eyes at Laney.

Laney stuck her tongue out at her, Layla did the same thing to her before saying, "You want anything?"

Laney shook her head, Layla turned to me, "Do you want something?"

I was a little surprised but shook my head, "I'm fine" I answered.

"Okay" Layla nodded- she was about to walk away when Laney grabbed her arm, "you still have my card?" Laney asked.

"Obviously not," Layla said sarcastically with a roll of her blue eyes.

"Okay Mrs. Sarcasm" Laney chuckled and finally let go of Layla's arm.

I continued to look confused- even after Layla had been out of earshot.

That was- weird.

I mean- Layla and Laney have always been friends but they've never been this close- like give each other their cards close- or argue like a married couple.

What happened? Did my being with Tabitha for a few hours really change Layla and Laney's friend status?

Sensing my confusion, Laney began scratching her neck, "Uhm- we sort of got closer in detention so..." she shrugged, "anyways- guess what" she began to smile hard.

I tilted my head in confusion- an act I had most likely picked up from Tabitha, "what?"

"I'm throwing Adam a party for his eighteenth birthday this Friday, you should come," she said while wiggling her eyebrows- why was she wiggling her brows? Because Adam Locke- Laney's cousin, is my fake crush.

I'm used to lying- that's all I do- ever since the age of fourteen- I've been lying to everyone about everything- about my transferring to Summerville, about my first "boyfriend", about my sexuality...

At this point, I'm a better actor than most of the ones in Hollywood- like whenever I see Adam, I can blush on cue- whenever someone says Adam's name, I can blush on cue- and god forbid Adam goes out with someone- I can put on the saddest expression as fast as you can say "Adam".

So, like I usually do, I blushed while looking all devastated, "I wish I could but..." I sighed, "Imm grounded".

"You" Layla's brows raised in disbelief, "got grounded?"

"Yeah," I began to play with my fingers.

"Why?"

"Because I skipped school yesterday".

"Oh yeah- how did that go?" She laughed.

I shrugged, "It was...".

It was pretty nice- but maybe I couldn't say that because Layla didn't seem like she meant what she said- it seemed like she cared if I was with Tabitha.

Or- it felt like it (even if Layla would never directly say that).

Sensing what I was thinking, Laney smiled, "If you want to be friends with Tabitha you know you can, right? Layla'll get over it".

I knew it! I knew Layla cared.

"Why does Layla hate Tabitha so much, anyways?" I asked, hoping that Laney would know since she knew Layla much longer.

Laney sighed, "No idea-"

I silently nodded before the bell filled Laney and my's silence rang, Laney- who also has Algebra ll with me, hopped to my side and linked arms with me, "Well Maxi the Magician" Oh my gosh- what is that- my new nickname? " it's time for you to learn how to sneak out- for Adam" she wiggled her brows while saying Adam- making me put on a very fake blush.

"I can't do that!" I laughed, "Madison exists".

"That's where I come in" Laney grinned.

I gave her a confused look, "what's that supposed to mean?"

"You'll see".
. . .
Oh my gosh. I just got back from this church thing (we went bowling) and tell me why the cutest girl from my school came to talk to me and my dumb ass said, "I know" After she gave me her name- help I'm dying 😭

I sounded like a fucking weirdo!! Omg, I wanna disappear right fucking now-

Anyways- this story is the only thing keeping that embarrassing moment out of my mind right now.

Also, I love Adam (because he's named after two of my favorite male characters).

Before this A/N ends- what are your guesses on who Harmony Macadam is- and why were Laney and Layla arguing about her earlier?
. . .