Perfectly Mismatched

Chapter Eleven - The Text Messages

LAYLA'S POV 

It was the night of the last day of school after Layla's cheer practice. 

Layla was laying in bed, texting Kelsey asking what she should do about Jake. Kelsey seriously believed that Jake liked her, the rumors had been non-stop for almost six months now. Jake never denied it, but nobody could actually tell if it was actually happening. Kelsey pushed Layla and told her she needed to text him and get this all cleared up. She knew Layla's summer trip, she was going to Spain for two and a half weeks, would be spent wondering about Jake if she didn't get her answer. Finally, Layla broke down and texted him, hoping he wouldn't respond.

Layla: Hey, can I ask you something?

Jake: Sure. How was practice?

Layla: It was fun. We learned a basketball and a football cheer that are new for the upcoming seasons.

Jake: Oooh cool. I'm glad you made varsity.

Layla: Aww thanks. It'll be fun to cheer for you next year.

Jake: Thanks

Layla: So anyway...I wanted to ask you something and I need you to be honest with me. I've heard from a few people that you like me, is that true? I like you, but I don't know what you're thinking. I just wanted to clear things up, because I'm honestly so confused.

Layla waited nervously for Jake's reply. A few minutes later, her phone buzzed, Jake's name showed up on the screen. Text message. She was afraid to read it. She texted Kelsey frantically, freaking out about what to do. Kelsey forced her to read it, nervously, she unlocked her phone and looked at what he'd said.

Jake: Yes I like you too. You're a great friend and a really nice person. It was really cool when you had my back when Jade was being a douche. But yeah you're an awesome friend of course I like you. What makes you think I don't?

Layla couldn't believe it. She could tell that Jake wasn't understanding what she meant. She wasn't sure how things went over the top of his head, or got lost in his brain but certain things did. 

Layla: I'll always have your back, no matter what. I know we're friends, you're one of the best friends I could've ever asked for. However, I didn't mean like that...maybe I'm wrong, but sometimes it seems like you want to be more than friends. I'm just trying to sort out the mixed signals.

Jake: Oooh I'm sorry if I'm sending mixed signals but I like where we are as friends. And I'll always have your back too.

Layla: It's fine, it happens. I was just trying to figure things out. I have people asking me everyday, if we're dating so...I thought I would get to the bottom of this. I like knowing I'll always have you for a friend.

Jake: Thanks and I'm happy that I'll always have an awesome friend too.

That's where Layla left the conversation. 

She didn't want to say anything else...she didn't have anything else to say. She didn't know how she felt about being friend-zoned but she realized that as long as Jake was by her side, she was okay. She didn't need him as a boyfriend, she just needed him in general. She knew Jake was telling the truth, he was always straight forward about things. Who knows, maybe some day in the future they'll be more than friends. Layla ended the night, by writing one thing in her diary, a way of getting closure with Jake without leaving him.

Dear Jake-

I often wonder, do you ever lay in your room, thinking of me? Do you ever sit there, books surrounding you, supposedly studying, looking at our old texts? Do you ever write me a text, then delete it before sending it? Are you pretending to forget things I've told you about myself, because you're afraid I'll think it's creepy? Do you ever want to talk to me, but you don't know what to say? Is there anything you've been dying to tell me, but you haven't got the courage? Do you think of that time I wore your sweatshirt all day? Do you ever wish I would text you first? Are there songs that remind you of me? Do you wish you had written something more meaningful in my yearbook? Do you ever wonder how we became friends, or do you already know? Do you ask yourself these same questions about me? If you do, I have the answers. Yes, I lay in my room wishing I had an excuse to text you. Every time my mind wanders, it comes to you. Yes I have, I figured if you wanted to talk to me, you would. I honestly remember just about everything you've ever told me about yourself. All the time, you always seem too busy for me. Yes, I think I'm falling in love with you. I think of it almost every day, wishing I could wear your sweatshirt all the time. I always want you to text me, even if you have nothing to say, at least you were thinking of me. Just about any love song reminds me of you. No, what you wrote means the world to me. I wish I could remember, it's been bugging me for a while. I just want you to think of me, the same way I think of you, but more importantly, I want you to be happy, with or without me.

Love,

Layla