Teasing Me as You're Loving Me

Chapter 11. A horrid bus ride

I groan. I hated mornings, I always found myself doing sluggish movements and snapping at everyone who tried to get me through a morning.

I was outside the school parking lot with the other students, waiting for the bus to get to the beach house. I packed a lot of stuff, I mean A LOT, though I had an uneasy feeling, like I had forgot to pack something... but whatever. I usually enjoyed riding vehicles, I liked listening to music while basking in the feeling of moving through all sorts of places. And for some odd reason, it seemed to comfort me.

"Oh Layla, you were never such a joy in the mornings huh?" Jayre mocks and I send him a glare. If looks could kill, he'd already be having some conversations with some other devils down there.

Just as I was about to reply, the bus driver just chose that perfect moment to stop in front of us and open the door to the bus. I mumble some very carefully chosen words under my breath as Jayre smirks. "Don't be so blue, Cover. We still have a long bus ride ahead of us." I huff. What did I do to get punished like this? And wait, did he just use my last name again? He'd been calling me Layla ever since my mother told him to. Never expected him to switch back to calling me by my last name again...

Not that I'm complaining but... whatever.

"A horrid bus ride." I snap before making my way into the bus, and choosing a window seat. I make myself comfortable before getting my headphones out of my very heavy bag which I basically dragged into the bus. I put my headphones on as I blast some lovey dovey music, because, it's always nice to act like you're in love. Plus, love songs just get me in a really dreamy mood. Jayre settles beside me as he gets his phone and starts scrolling. Well now, maybe this won't be too bad if we just keep the waters calm. I think to myself, smiling a bit.

"Oh, I didn't expect you to be this happy to be seating next to me Layla." And there it is, back to jerky Jayre and back to the theory of this being a horrible bus ride.

"Just let me be... Johnson." I debated on wether using his first name but since he irritated me, might as well just call him by his last name... again. I don't get why I always retaliate, usually, I just ignore people who irritate me. I always used to think it was useless, but when it came to Jayre, it's like I couldn't get enough.

What am I thinking.

I stare out the window while humming along to 'delicate' by Taylor Swift, her songs always made me feel like I was in a fever dream. Especially in a car. "Sometimes I wonder, when you're asleep... are you ever dreaming of me?... sometimes when I look into your eyes~" I sang. I went to choir, I sang for events, I performed at parties, my grandparents always asked me to sing for them. I guess you could say I had a decent voice, it could hit high notes pretty good, but I struggled with low notes. I just couldn't do it.

"I pretend you're mine, all the damn time..." I whip my head around to see Jayre staring at me, a blank expression. Did Jayre just sing? Wow. A Taylor Swift song too, didn't think of him as the type to listen to her.

"You know her songs?" I ask, still bewildered. He grins and scoffs.

"Almost everyone knows her songs." he says in a matter of fact voice. Now it was my turn to scoff.

"I know that, it's just... you're..." I trail off, trying to think of a good word.

"I'm what, Layla?" he asks as he raises his eyebrows in a questioning way.

"You."

"What is that supposed to mean?" he asks, his brows furrowing together in confusion.

I shrug, I didn't know what it meant either. It's just what I thought of, and it felt like it was the right answer. Even though it seemed like I knew him well.

Don't you though?

Do I? Well, I think so. I mean, I don't even know anymore, thinking about him was always confusing-

I can't believe we just admitted we actually think about him.

Wait what? Why am I even thinking of this right now! I-

"Layla?" Jayre's voice snaps me back to reality, never have I ever been glad to hear his voice, but I am now, I desperately needed to stop what was going on in my head.

"Hm?" I ask in a voice that seemed too shaky to be mine.

"You didn't answer my question." he huffs.

"I don't plan on answering it." I smile as I crinkle my nose at him, he chuckles lightly as he shakes his head. Weird, the sight of him chuckling because of me is still weird.

I turn my focus back onto the window, we were in like a forest route, trees everywhere, yet it seemed comforting.
I stared at the window for a few minutes when I smelled a familiar scent, my favorite scent, was that gummy bears? I turn my head back at Jayre to see him holding a pack of gummy bears. Now it dawns on me, that's what I forgot to pack! And now as a result of my poor packing, I have to sit here while Jayre eats them. I must've been staring at them too long since I hear him speak again, "Do you want some?" he asks. His voice wasn't teasing, or mocking, it was soft and light.

"It's okay, i'm fine." I say, I wasn't fine, I wanted them so badly! But I had too much pride in my body to accept it. He stares at me for a few beats before reaching into his bag and grabbing  another pack and shoving it into my hand.

I stare at him wide eyed before he smirks and says, "Consider it as one of many coming treats Layla." and winks. Ew. But hey, At least I got some gummy bears.

"Thanks..." I mutter, which causes Jayre's face to twist into a sneer.

"What was that Layla?" he asks with feign innocence.

"I said!" I seethe out before taking a deep breath to calm myself. "Thank you." I say, more gently this time.

"See? Wasn't so hard." he laughs and I cross my arms.

Whatever.