Beside You

"Did she really say that?" she asked.

"Yes, she really did," I confirmed.

"That is messed up!" my best friend Cassidy exclaimed.

"It really is," I agreed.

"I can't believe she said that. I really can't. That's unbelievable," she rambled on and on. I stopped listening because it was just the same thing over and over again like "that's messed up" and "I can't believe that". She didn't seem to notice.

"Kayla, are you ok?" she asked as she realized I wasn't paying attention. "You haven't been paying attention to me."

"I'm fine, it's just that I'm thinking, I guess," I say.

"About?" she pushed.

"Well, I was thinking about that new kid," I say.

"Ooh," she said and smirks.

"Oh my god, Cassidy," I laugh. She does too and I shove her shoulder.

I get up off of my bed that we were both sitting on and walk over to my dresser. I rest my hands on the surface and launch up onto it to sit on top of it. I look down at my feet as they sway in the air because they don't reach the ground. I think about him, about Hayes. I think about his blue eyes, his gorgeous blue eyes. I think of his floppy hair, his dark floppy hair. I think of his lips, his full lips... on mine...

"Kayla, you're thinking about Hayes again!" Cassidy says, waking up from my daydream.

"Sorry, Cass," I say.

"I'm hungry, let's go get some food please," she pleads.

"Alright, let's go," I give in.

"Yay!" she exclaims and throws her hands up in the air.

"Calm down," I tease and laugh.

We walk downstairs into my kitchen. I open my refrigerator and look inside. I only see meats and drinks. I go to the pantry and open it to see that it contains bags and bags of chips. I grab a bag of family sized lays original potato chips and we walk back upstairs to my room.

"You really do like him, don't you?" Cassidy asks.

"Yeah, I can't shake him," I say.

"Kayla," she says.

"Yeah?" I answer.

"I think you might be in love with him," she says.

"What are you talking about, Cass? I am not in love with him!" I insist.

"How long have you liked him?" she asks.

"A few months. I lost track," I say.

"Oh, yeah. You're falling for him," she says.

"No, I'm not. I'm not 'falling for him'," I insist. "I just really like him."

"Yeah, ok," she says. "We should do something!"

"Like?" I ask.

"Like... I don't know. Maybe we could go to the mall or the movies or something," she presents.

"What if we went to the mall with the movie theater?" I suggest.

"Oh my god, yes," she exclaims. "Let's do that!"

"Do you want to get Starbucks first?" I ask.

"You know me so well," she says. I grab my car keys, my phone, my purse, and my jacket. Cassidy does the same and we head out the door.