He Saved My Life

CHAPTER 1 ---- Joey

I throw my hair into a messy bun and pull on my favorite pair of skinny jeans. I had the legs for them, being as thin as I am. I searched through the bottom of my closet and found a decent shirt. I went downstairs and knocked on the bathroom door.

"I'm getting ready!" my brother yells.

"Come on Ethan, I need to brush my teeth! Quit being such a girl!" I yelled as I banged on the door. My mom was at work, so it wouldn't bother her.

"Hang on, I'm almost done applying my bright red lipstick!" he replied sarcastically.

"Ethan!" I whined. He opened the door wearing dad's old sweatshirt and a filthy pair of grass-stained jeans.

"You're not wearing that to school. It will ruin your social life forever," I said.

"This is how I dress. Problem?" he said. He was a junior this year and very sassy.

"YES. Go change. Now."

"NO."

"Fine, then move so I can finish getting ready."

"Ok, grouchy pants," he said walking into the kitchen. I shut the bathroom door and walked over to the sink. I brushed my teeth and did my usual make-up. Once I had finished, I met up with my brother outside.

"Ready?" I asked. He nodded.We walked the couple of blocks to school and then parted our separate ways. He at least had a few friends, unlike me. I was thankful though, that he was the only one who still loved me like nothing had happened.

"See ya, Layla," he said.

"Bye, Ethan." I sat by myself in the cafeteria, reading through my book for summer reading that I didn't finish.

"Do you mind if I sit here?" someone said. I looked up.

"Umm, sure, go ahead," I said before returning to my book. He just wanted to sit, I didn't need to talk to him.

"What's your name?" he asked.

I looked at him again. He raised his eyebrows. "Well?"

"It's Layla."

"I'm Joey," he said. I smiled and started reading again. He played with his fingers while he sat there. I knew he was staring at me. I could see him in the corner of my eye.

"I'm new here," he stated.

"I can tell," I replied.

"What's that supposed to mean?" he asked.

"You're talking to me," I said.

"I shouldn't be talking to you?" he asked.

"Never mind," I said with a sigh.

"What are you reading?" he asked.

"A book," I said.

"What's it called?" he wondered.

"Why do you care?" I said harshly.

"I really don't. I just want to make conversation," he replied.

"Well, stop. I'm not good at this stuff," I said turning my back to him.

"Layla," he said, "are you okay?"

"Never better!" I responded.

"JOEY!" comes a yell from across the room. I turn around and look. Sophia Johnson.

He shakes his head at her and mouths the word no. She frowns, looking very hurt. I smiled trying not to laugh. She just got rejected for the first time in a while.