Right There || Dylan O'Brien

chapter nine; midnight worries

Tomorrow Dylan would pick her up from school. Hayley still didn't know about him. And if she didn't know, she wouldn't let her step into that car. She could beg on her knees for her, but it wasn't happening.

That was  why she was dialing her number right now.

Late in the evening was possibly the best time to call her about it. She would flip, yell and scream when she was awake. But when she was tired, just like Clara, nothing really mattered. And if it did, she couldn't talk so loud because her parents and brother were asleep.

"Clara, why are you calling me?" Hayley was talking quietly, yawning at the end. "Tell me you're alright."

"I'm fine, I just need to tell you something."

"Yeah?"

Clara sighed, trying to calm herself before telling her. "I'm seeing this guy. His name is Dylan, I've met him when I went to IKEA with Sandra. I guess it just went from there-..."

"Are you dating?"

"No, we haven't," her mouth dropped open in shock, playing with the sheets of her bed. "We haven't really gone on a date yet. He's picking me up from school."

"Tell me about him. What's he like?"

"He's sweet and funny," she paused, smiling. "He actually wanted to take me ice skating with all of his friends. I texted him today I couldn't come because I was afraid. He kind of changed the plans. He's taking me to meet them, and he said 'we'll see what happens from there'.  He's also very handsome."

"That is so sweet. Do you like him?"

"Yes, I like him."

"But what about Jesse?"

She let out a sigh. How was she going to explain it? "I think I stopped crushing on him. Yesterday he was walking me to my house-..."

"He walked you to your house? Did he say why?"

"He said he wanted to and had time to do so."

There was a silent on the other end of the line and Clara questioned herself what was going through her friend's head. "However, what happened when he was walking you home?"

"We talked, laughed. Then we had to cross the road and took my arm for safety, I guess. That's what Dylan said, he was waiting for me at my house. It didn't feel right, I didn't like it. The touch."

"You're right. I don't think you're crushing on him, but he is into you."

"No, he isn't," she went to sit up straight, shaking her head in confusion. "How can he like me? He's never really shown any interested in me. He hasn't complimented me-..."

"Maybe he didn't say how beautiful you are, but he did ask you if he could see your paintings. He did take glances at you in the cafeteria, he did want to walk you to your house. He seems interested and not in a friendly way."

"You're being stupid."

"You're being stupider."

"I'm not doing this again," Clara cut of their childish argument, running a hand through her messy hair. "I just wanted to tell you about Dylan. He's an actor by the way, I don't know if you know him."

"He is famous!?" she quickly seemed to put her hand on her mouth, in shock and because she had possibly awaken everyone in the house. "What's his last name?"

"O'Brien."

"Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh, I know him!" she squealed, but still tried to keep herself quiet. "I know him from the movie we went to. 'The Internship'. I've also seen 'The First Time' movie, do you know he's also in Teen Wolf? It's not that I really care. Harry Styles is my baby. Do you think he could set me up with him?"

"I actually recognized him from Tumblr. And no, I don't think he can set you up," she yawned, about to end the conversation. She only had to know one thing. "And ehm, Ley?"

"Hmm?"

"Are you mad at me because I didn't tell you earlier?"

"Oh Lara, don't worry about it. I want you to be happy, that's all." She stopped talking, but that was until she asked, "you are happy, aren't you?"

"I think so."

"Of course, you are," she heard her friend smile, she knew it was because she was happy for her. It was something she had been waiting for to happen with her friend. She knew it was going to come eventually. If it wasn't with Jesse, there would be someone else. But it also was because she wanted to make her feel unsure about it. "I understand. Falling in love is scary, but he's a good guy and you're smart."

"I mean, I guess so," Clara sighed, shrugging her shoulders. She didn't know what to say. All she wanted was to prepare her friend for tomorrow. "However, I hope everything's going to be fine tomorrow. It has to be, it'll make him happy.

"Yes and remember, smile. Someone could be falling in love with your smile."

There was another silent, both were tired and wanted to sleep. But they didn't want to say goodbye just yet; Clara didn't want to be alone and Hayley didn't want to leave her alone.

"Is that from Teen Wolf? I've seen the gif."

"Go to sleep, Clara. I'll wait for you to fall asleep."

She giggled, she went to lay down on her stomach and closed her eyes. It lasted a few minutes for her to fall asleep, hearing the last thing coming from the other end of the line, from her best friend.

"Sleep tight, Lara."

 ----

It seemed like the went faster than usual. That could not only possibly be because they were going to meet up with his friends, but also because she was nervous to see him again, especially after what happened yesterday night.

Hayley was standing by the school entrance when the bell rang. She said she wanted to be there for her and promise her everything was going to be alright. She even wanted to talk to Dylan if that was her friend needed.

"Come on," the brunette linked her arm with hers and started leading her to the black car that was standing on the side of the road. "I know everything will be fine because you are one of the sweetest people I know. Clara, you are funny and incredibly well at being a friend. I know you are afraid, but I'm sure they will like you."

"Ley, please," she frowned as she stopped walking, automatically stopping her. "Thank you for saying this all, but I don't think anything is going to help. Dylan asked me to meet them, I told him yes and well, tomorrow I would probably meet the rest of his friends. I know I have to do this; meet new people, get to know them. I'm 20 for goodness' sake. I have to do something else than be around the same people all the time."

She kept quiet, nodding her head while rubbing her back with her hand.

"But it's easier said than done."

"Yes," Hayley mumbled, watching her friend fight with her own thoughts. She didn't know how to help her in this; it was her own decision whether she would step into that car or not. She couldn't be there with her to meet them, if she could she totally would. "But listen, I know you can do it. I'll always be right there for you if you need me. Dylan will be there too and you know it. He hasn't gone to your house for nothing when you texted him you couldn't come."

"Okay."

"Okay, what?"

"I'll call you tonight," she gave her friend a smile, hugging her before walking away. "And I'll make sure you to tell you everything."