Not Just Friends

Chapter 6

Tom's POV

   "Who's baking brownies and can I lick the spoon?" I yell from my room.

I grab a sweater and put it on quickly before rushing down the stairs. When I arrive in the kitchen I stop right in my tracks. Layla is standing next to the mixer, humming to herself. She's not wearing the towel anymore but damn those jeans are incredible. And that v-neck. Wow.

   "Hey" I say carefully. I hope she isn't mad at me.

   "You can lick the spoon if you actually do something to help, for once."

I smile. Usually, I'm the one to start the flirting. She seems so confident. I love it.

   "I help!"

   "In the kitchen?" she laughs.

I gaze into her eyes. She looks so happy, which only makes me happy. I had been so worried that she would freak out; I guess I have to thank Haz for talking sense into her.

   "Fine, what do you want me to do?"

I walk over to her. We're standing so close. Again.

   "How about you crack the eggs, they're on the counter."

I separate myself from her, which is harder than it should be.

   "Hey Layla?"

   "Yup?"

   "Could you come over here?"

   "Do you not know how to crack eggs?" she smirks.

   "I would rather have your expertise."

She laughs as she walks over. She starts cracking the eggs and I move closer to her so that my chest touches her shoulder. She turns around and our eyes meet.

   "How about some music?" she blushes and rushes over to her phone.

   "Good idea."

   "Any preferences?"

   "Harry Styles?"

   "Sure."

Only Angel starts playing and Layla mouths the words.

   "You know you can just sing right?" I laugh.

   "Thanks but I'm good."

   "Oh come on Layla what's so bad about singing?"

   "Do you want to sing?"

She has a point.

   "I don't know the song."

   "Sure you don't."

I laugh.

   "Are you done with the eggs yet?"

Right. I forgot about those.

   "Almost."

   "Cool, could you get two chocolate bars from those shelves over there once you're done?"

   "Sure."

Why does she seem so confident? Usually she's the nervous one, but now. Now I'm the one freaking out.

I walk to the shelf and grab the chocolate.

   "The open ones?" I ask.

   "Yeah thanks."

   "Want to see me juggle?"

Idiot. Last time I juggled was in Year 10 and me being this tense is not going to help.

   "Tom, you're just going to drop and break the chocolate."

   "It would make you laugh though."

   "Go on then, juggle away", she says while rolling her eyes.

I start juggling and at first everything is fine until I lose focus and glance at Layla. She has a broad smile and is laughing at me. She's put her hair up into a bun and damn she looks good. One loose strand hangs by her eye. Soon enough I forget the chocolate. Until I hear the bang of the chocolate falling that is.

   "Shit. Sorry Layla."

   "Urgh, I did tell you. Can you help me clean up?"

   "Oh yeah, of course, no problem. Pass me that rag?"

She walks over, passes me the cloth, crouches down and starts helping me clean. I stop cleaning for a second and look up at Lay. That top brings out her eyes. Damn it Tom, focus. Our eyes meet and I move the hair strand so that her face isn't hidden by it. Wow.  She looks incredible. No better than that. I slowly move my head nearer to hers. I can feel her breath on my face. Chills run down my spine. Shit, what am I doing? I've waited so long for this. Three years. I lean in to kiss her but she moves away with a flustered look on her face.
   "So um have you um heard about Haz and that girl he met?" I say trying and failing at diffusing the tension.
   "Oh yeah, he told me about her."
There's an awkward silence as she finishes mixing the batter.
   "Hey Tom? Um I'm done with the batter so I don't need your help anymore. So you don't have to stay. If you don't want to of course. I mean you can stay too. Anything's fine really."
She's rambling. It's adorable.