Perfectly Mismatched

Chapter Ten - The End of the Year

"Sometimes, two people need to fall apart to realize how much they need to fall back together."

Jake and Layla are people like that. 

A few months had gone by, they still talked but they weren't like it used to be. One day, they just became close as if nothing had ever happened. Subconsciously, they had both realized that they were better off in each other's lives. 

Jake never did end up dating that girl he had mentioned, nobody even knew who it was. 

Layla stopped pushing him away, let him back into her life, and stopped being so flirty with other guys. 

Jake went to JV basketball games so he could sit with Layla before she had to cheer for Varsity. He waited for her practices to be over so he could give her a hug. 

Layla looked for  him in the crowded hallways. She found him at lunch when they didn't go together. 

They'd fallen back in sync, just like no time had past at all. That's what most people envied of their friendship. No matter what they went through, they always found their way back to each other. No matter how long it'd been since they last talked, they acted as if not time had past at all. They seemed truly meant for each other.

"When two people are meant for each other, no time is too long, no distance is too far, and no one can tear them apart."

LAYLA'S POV 

The school year was coming to an end. 

Spring sports were just finishing up. Jake plays tennis and he had his biggest match of the season coming up on the weekend. Layla wanted to go, but also didn't want to go. It was early, 8am at a high school almost an hour drive away. Layla's brother, Taylor played tennis also. He was a senior this year, and decided he wanted to go watch Jake play. He dragged his little sister out of bed at 6:30am on Saturday morning. 

By 7am they were on the road. 

Jake didn't know Taylor or Layla would be there. They watched the match, but didn't stay the whole time. Once Jake was done, Taylor said, "Alright, let's go." 

They went back home where Layla pretty much went straight back to bed. A few weeks later, it was Jake's birthday. Layla knew she had to do something for him, but she didn't know what. She and Jake had a big test they had to take first thing in the morning. The night before, she made him a brownie and cut it into the shape of his football number: 7. She gave it to him the next morning before the test. He said thank you, and hugged her really tight. All her friends were watching, and so were his. 

When she walked back over to her friends they all said things like, "Awhh" or "That was cute". 

The last week of school was spent mainly by goofing off and signing yearbooks. Occasionally teachers would have work for students to do, but mainly they were just trying to get their papers graded. Jake signed Layla's yearbook, but told her she wasn't allowed to read it until school was over on the last day. That meant she had to wait four. More. Days. 

She read what other people had written in her yearbook, mostly memories, but a few friends wrote about her and Jake.

Kelsey wrote: "PS. Good luck with Mr. Oblivious this summer ;)"

Rosie wrote: "Don't worry, nobody will be shocked if you and him start going out, it'd be pretty great if you did."

Layla wondered if Jake had read what other people wrote. She wondered if he knew that they were talking about him. She wondered what he thought of all of it. Most importantly, she wondered what he thought about her. Eventually, the end of the year came, and people said their goodbyes. She watched Taylor graduate, and said goodbye to Kelsey before she went out of town for the whole summer. 

She also, read what Jake wrote in her yearbook.

"Layla,

I'm glad we went from math buddies, to real buddies, to great friends. I'm really glad I met you. You are awesome and I hope you have a wonderful summer. We should hang out, too! Thanks for all the things you've done for me.

-Jake"