Relatable

04

School was pretty much like every other day, except now I expect Dylan to notice me a little more. I don't know how Cameron does it, but he is making everything slowly fall into place with Dylan and I. 

Earlier, while I was grabbing a heavy textbook out of my locker, I dropped the other book I held in my hand and before I knew it, Dylan was kneeling down grabbing it for me. I probably had a stupid smile on my face, but it was worth the three seconds of eye contact we had. Oh, I'm so pathetic.

I watched his back as he walked away, and heard Cameron's voice on the other side of me.
"Couldn't help but notice how friendly Dylan has been to you recently."

I turned around to face him, with a small smile. "I don't know what you're doing but I really appreciate it. I think he might even start a conversation one day," I said hopefully.

Cameron rolled his eyes at this, "You know, it takes just as much effort for you to talk to him as it does for him."

"Yea, if it was that easy for me I would have done it a few years ago," I said, looking back at Dylan.

My eyes wandered towards the girl that was in the way of Dylan and I. She could've been really nice and sweet, but I just had to hate her for having what I desperately wanted. I've come to learn that her name is Nina.

Cameron noticed my lingering gaze on her, and commented, "Don't worry too much about her. If Dylan really starts to like you, he'll stop at nothing to get you to be his."

There was something in his voice that made him sound somewhat irritated. It made me wonder if Dylan and Cameron were even close. 

Suddenly Layla snapped me out of my thoughts. "I just made the cutest little vase in ceramics earlier. Consider it your early birthday present." 

Before I could process what she said, Cameron chimed in, "Ooh, I want. But can mine be like a yellowish gold color with a striking pattern?"

Layla chuckled, "How 'bout a yellow bowl that's chipped on the side?"

"That'll do," replied Cameron. "I'm Cameron by the way. I'm—"

"He's just running late to class," I finished for him. "Which, you should get to by the way if you want a better grade." I didn't want him to tell Layla about Dylan before I could. 

Cameron got the hint, and started backing up. Layla called out, "Nice to meet you!" and he gave her a thumbs up.

I was insecure about the fact that Layla could just talk to anyone and actually be good at it. It made me wish she was the one with the huge crush because she's such a good conversation starter. 

"He seems cool. How'd tutoring go?" she asked me, walking side by side to class.

"Kind of stressful," I said truthfully. "I don't know if I'm cut out to be a tutor anyway."   

"So why exactly are you tutoring him? There really was no one else available to?" She had a good point. 

"Um," I said, looking around the halls trying to find a distraction of some sort. "Well, I'm actually getting something out of it, too."

I had to tell her sometime. 

She dropped her jaw, "Wow. I'm so proud of you! Way to forget about Dylan." She looked really impressed for some reason.

Based on the confused look on my face, she continued, "Wait, you two are hooking up, right?" 

Now it was my turn to be surprised. "What? No! He's just helping me out with Dylan in return for me tutoring him." God, it sounded so embarrassing.