Ta Ta for Now! (Stories about Melissa Book #1)

Entry Eight

Entry Eight

Layla is Acting Like a Jerk:

I don't know what Layla's problem is, but she is acting like a total douche. First, she didn't show up at our table for lunch, and as I was leaving, I saw her sitting with the cheerleaders. Then, when I got to photography class, she had switched seats with Jimmy Rogers.

I tried to get her attention, but she would not look my way. Even though I was totally happy to see Brian, and I enjoyed talking with him during class, I could not keep from wondering what the heck was going on with Layla. I was planning to ask her as soon as I could, and then Brian asked to talk to me for a minute after class.

He looked so cute as he pulled me aside, and I noticed Jess look over at us uncertainly as she walked out of the room. Brian took me to a quiet spot in the hallway. He looked a little nervous and started talking really fast.

"I really like you, Missy, and I had a great time on our date," he started. I smiled encouragingly at him and he went on, "So, I really want to be open and honest with you because I want to keep seeing you and I don't want you to think that I am interested in anyone else."

"Okay," I said quietly. I was starting to get an uneasy feeling in my stomach, like I had eaten something bad at lunch. He kind of puffed up his cheeks and then blew his breath out loudly.

"Layla came up to me after Algebra this morning and said she had to talk to me. She said that she really likes me and asked me if I want to go out this weekend. I told her that I liked you and that I thought you guys were friends, but she just shook her head and said that you were all wrong for me. She said that you are fake and can't be trusted and that she was the one who really liked me and that you were only interested in me to hurt her."

I think my eyeballs must have been popping out of my head because they sure felt like they were!

"What?" I asked. I just could not believe what I was hearing. Layla was not only turning on me, but she was making a play for Brian? She knew how I felt about him and was even helping me plan how I was going to make my first move. I just couldn't understand why she would be acting this way, but first I wanted to make sure Brian knew how I really felt about him and to reassure him that I was legit!

"Brian, that is totally not true! I really like you, and I had a great time the other night. I was really hoping that we would get to go on another date. Layla knows how I feel about you, and she has never said anything about feeling the same way. I thought she was my friend, and I don't know why she is acting this way. I hope that you believe me!"

I felt myself getting choked up and was praying that I would not start crying in front of him when he smiled and said, "I am happy to hear that, Missy! I really didn't believe what she was saying, I thought we got along great on Friday night and it didn't seem fake to me. I am sorry to be the one to tell you about this, but I thought you should know what Layla was doing behind your back. I really have to get to my next class, but I will give you a call later!"

He ran his hand down my arm in an affectionate gesture that I have to admit felt really good. He turned and hurried off to class, and I turned the other way in hopes of getting to Lit before the bell rang.

When I got to Lit we had a sub who looked really lost and confused. She said she had to run to the office and that we should continue reading The Odyssey.

When she walked out, I took that opportunity to turn to Layla and say, "What the hell, Layla? Brian told me what you were saying behind my back. Why are you all of a sudden interested in him and asking him out? Are you just so totally jealous that I went out with him that you have to make up random crap to try and ruin it? What did I ever do to you? Why are you suddenly such a mega bitch?"

Layla stood up in the middle of the class and started yelling, "You are so fake ME-LIS-SA... You act like you are so hot, but the truth is that you don't even have any friends. Brian only went out with you because he thought you were easy! Why don't you go hang out in the courtyard with your freak of a best friend and then go home and cry to your loser family. I have better things to do than worry about your opinion of me. Get. A. Life!"

Then she picked up all of her things and moved to an empty seat in the back of the class. I just sat there for a couple seconds, in shock, with the whole class staring at me.

Then I calmly stood up, gathered my things, and walked out of the class. I walked down the hall to the Home Economics room, opened the door, and walked through the classroom to the kitchen area, which is around a corner and hidden. I sat down in the corner of the kitchen, pulled my knees up, and put my head down. I felt sick to my stomach and my heart was aching.

My freshman year was not turning out the way I thought it would at all. It was like I was in an alternate universe and was being treated like I was Megan or something! I am normally the one that everyone loves.

I have never gotten in a fight with anyone.

I have never argued or lost friends.

Yet suddenly, in the span of a week, I had alienated two people that I thought were my friends for life.

I was totally bummed.

I sat there for the whole hour, while my mom taught her class as if I wasn't hiding in the back of the room. I don't know if anyone in the class had noticed me walk in or not, but no one mentioned my being there or made a motion to see what I was doing. I was really grateful for that.

I knew I would get in trouble for skipping class, and my mom was going to be totally peeved that I used her class as a hide out, but I felt so much better when that hour was over. When the bell rang and I heard the students starting to leave, I got up, and prepared to face my mother's wrath. As I heard the footsteps rounding the corner, I looked up, ready to explain, but didn't say anything when I saw it was Jess walking toward me, not my mom.

Jess walked up and stopped about a foot away from me. "Mis, I think I know what is going on. I overheard Layla talking to Brian this morning. She was really talking badly about you. I don't think that you should trust her."

"Oh, I'm sorry, are you talking to me now, because I thought you said you outgrew me over the summer!" I know I sounded childish, but my feelings were raw, and I was too scared to hope that Jess was going to start being my friend again.

"You have every right to be mad at me," she said with sad eyes. "I have been terrible to you, and I feel so bad since you seem to be having such a hard time this year, but I can't get into all of that now. Maybe I can come over on Saturday, and we can talk. I have a lot of explaining to do, but I have to catch my bus. I just wanted to tell you I am sorry about what happened with Layla, and I hope it doesn't affect your chances with Brian."

And with that said, she turned and walked away. I stood there for a minute, just breathing. Then I picked up my stuff and went to go beg my mom for a ride home.

When I got home, I was too depressed to even pick on Megan's horribly embarrassing outfit or fight with Mikey about taking out the trash. I just went through the motions, and now I am going to lie in bed... 

Ta Ta for Now!