Just A Little Insane

Crush

"Are you implying that I like Lincoln?" I ask almost angry. Layla looks a little stunned. "Why are you mad? I'm sorry that it's true. He's a really chill guy. It's impossible to be awkward around him and that's really the only time I've heard that anyone felt uncomfortable around him," She says. I shake my head. "Well I don't so don't get any ideas," I say. "Whoa. Settle down. No reason to be rude," Layla says. There's a short pause. "Are you sure-" she starts before I cut her off. "No!" I almost yell. Wes comes down stairs. "Honey, will you tell Zoe here how it was when we first met?" Layla asks Wes. He chuckles and says, "Sure. I bet Zoe could use a good laugh." I just nod my head.

"Okay, so in our senior year, one of our friends, Melinda, introduced me to Layla." He motions to her and she smiles. "And we hated each other, and, Mel, that's what we call Melinda for short, decided, for whatever reason, to leave us alone in a room together. We must have fought for an hour before we decided just to not speak to each other and wait for Mel to get back. But, after just a minute of sitting there, we just burst out laughing. I still don't know what was so funny, but we couldn't help it. Later that day, we had a date set up, and who knew it would work out?" He says. "Mel did. That's why she put us in that room together," Layla adds. "Well that was a nice story but what does that have to do with our situation?" I ask. "What situation?" Wes asks. "Well it's not much of a situation," I say correcting myself. "Zoe likes Lincoln, but very much so denies it. I had you tell her that story because she got angry at me, and I know for fact that if someone get angry at you for claiming that they have a crush on someone, they definitely like them," Layla says. "No I don't. I promise," I say the anger swelling inside me quickly. I try to smolder it knowing that what Layla says is true. But even if I am angry, I know I don't like Lincoln I don't know where this anger is coming from.

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"Even if I do like Lincoln, it wouldn't matter if he doesn't like me," I say. Layla still thinks I like Lincoln. We argued until late last night and continue to argue today. I usually don't like arguments, but since me and Layla are good friends, we know how to keep things from getting heated.

"I think he likes you though," Layla says. "Okay, listen, you can't just like someone after talking to them for five minutes," I counter. "Are you saying this for you or Lincoln, because some people do love in love in five minutes. Have you seen Frozen?" She says. "Yes. Three times too many. Also, did you see what happened that girl? She almost got herself and her sister killed," I argue. "Fair point. But still, Anna still fell in love didn't she?" Layla says turning to look at me. "Yes but, my previous statement still stands," I say, frustrated. "Well, Anna didn't know Hans, and she knew nothing about him really, but I know and trust Lincoln," She says. "But I don't know him," I say tired of this conversation. "So you don't trust my judgement?" Layla asks me sounding a little offended. "No I do but-" I quickly realize I don't have a contest for this. After a moment of silence over my defeat. "Listen, we're adults. I don't understand why it matters to you if you like anyone anymore. Why you can't tell your best friend?" She asks sadly. "What is the real reason you won't admit to it?" I pause for a moment, trying to hold back tears. "I'm scared. I'm afraid that once I get close to someone, I will have to tell them what everyone thinks of me. That I went to prison for two years. I don't want anyone I care about to think of me as a murderer," I say, and as I say it aloud, I finally admit it to myself. "So this has both to do with liking Lincoln?" Layla asks. There are tears in her eyes too. I don't really understand why, but I don't want to think to hard about it right now, so I just assume that she's crying for me.

In response to Layla's question, I nod my head and lay my head on her shoulder and she runs her hand over my hair.

"You know what. I have a great idea to get our minds off of this," She says after a minute. "What?" I ask, picking my head up. "We go shopping!" She says throwing her hands up. I laugh and nod my head in agreement.

We started by just buying me some new clothes. Layla insists that we buy anything and everything thing. I just agree to it all. It's been awhile since I've done this and it's slot more fun than I remembered it.

Then we go and buy accessories, like jewelry, hats, shoes, sunglasses.

Finally, Layla forces me to get my haircut. I really don't want to spend anymore of her money, but my hair is the "top priority of this trip" is what she said.

When we get to the hairdressers, I grudgingly take a seat in one of the special chairs and a lady walks up and asks, "Are you miss Handle?" I nod my head and say yes. "Well then, it's your turn," she says. "Come this way." She shows me to one of those chairs were you sit while they wash your hair. "My name is Trisha, and I will be doing your hair. Take a seat here and we will get started," she says kindly. I do as she says and sit in the chair. Trisha turns the water on and it feels so warm. Then she makes sure all my hair is wet before putting soap in it. As she massages the soap in my hair, I realize how nice it is to be treated like a normal human again. I could get use to this.