Perfectly Mismatched

Chapter Six - The Sweatshirt

MASON'S POV

Mason kept trying to get Layla back, even though he never really had her. In his mind he was so close to asking her out, or at least considering it. He thought things were going really well between them and she was really warming up to him. He hadn't realized that all this time all she really wanted was for him to stay away from her, or that she just wanted Jake back in her life. All she wanted was to feel Jake's warm hugs and recognize Jake's comforting smell and lean in when his arm was around her. 

Mason wanted to be able to call Layla his, even when Jake was around. 

LAYLA'S POV 

It was the middle of the year, almost. Since they were all sophomores they were required to take the PSATs. They were sitting in the theater while teachers were trying to get everyone organized. Layla was sitting with Kelsey and Jake was sitting in front of Layla. The theater was positively freezing, and Layla hadn't brought a jacket. She turned to Kelsey and said, "Wow, it's really cold in here." 

Then without thinking about it, Jake took off his football sweatshirt, the one with his number and his last name on the back, and gave it to her. She tried to turn it down, and say, "It's okay, you wear it." 

He refused to take it back, so finally she took it and put it on. It was warm, since he'd been wearing it and as soon as she began pulling it over her head she was surrounded by his comforting smell. She cuddled up inside it, until they had to begin testing. 

Throughout the test they got three different breaks. 

During the first break Layla sat talking to Kelsey, Jake however reached his arms up and back and wrapped the around Layla's neck. He pulled her in to a slightly awkward hug. They were both sitting down still and Jake was sitting a row in front of her, at a slightly lower level. 

At the second break Layla whispered, "it's really cold in here." 

Then Jake turned around in his seat and said, "You're the one with the sweatshirt." 

Layla felt bad and asked, "You want it back?" 

Jake shook his head, "No, you keep it, all day." 

Then she whispered, "Thanks" as she wrapped her arms around him. 

During the third break, Jake and Layla talked. It was nothing special, just their usual conversations. They talked about how the football season was ending, and how they were ready to be done with testing since it was a 5 hour test. 

Then after the test they split up for lunch. Layla was still wearing the sweatshirt, and for some reason, everyone was talking about it. 

The rumors began again. 

People kept saying, "I like your sweatshirt" but not in a way that said they actually liked it, more like, 'so when did you two start hooking up?' Layla ignored it as best she could because to her it was just a sweatshirt. She hadn't realized that people had seen them in the theater; she figured everyone was doing their own thing. She got to sixth period after lunch, since they had a weird schedule due to testing. Her sixth period math class was full of football players. She sat at her own table while her friend sat with a bunch of the football players. She was doing her work when she heard her friend Alison say, "Hey Layla, where'd you get that sweatshirt?" 

She turned towards the voice, to realize that Alison was sitting with three of the football players, and they were all looking at her. She hesitantly said, "It's Jake's..." 

Then Greg said, "I told you! I knew it!" 

Carson responded with, "Well duh, it has his name and number on the back." 

Then Greg said, "Ooohhh Jaakkkeeee." 

Layla just gave him a look as if to say, 'stop right there.' The boys teased her a bit more, then they moved on to talking about something a bit more interesting. 

Then after school, Layla went to find Jake so she could give the sweatshirt back. She saw him standing outside with his best friend, Christopher. As they traded the sweatshirt back, Christopher stood watching Layla, but didn't say anything. Layla didn't actually know him, she just knew him as Jake's best friend. Then Jake gave her a quick hug and they headed off in their opposite directions.