You All Along

Chapter 43

SONGS FOR THIS CHAPTER

Spaces (5 Seconds Of Summer)

Amnesia (One Direction)

Illusion (One Direction)

Fall For You (Secondhand Serenade)

Clouds (One Direction)

Let Me Go (Haim)

Layla’s P.O.V

We both returned back to our room with a huge sack of mail and parcels for Christmas. Gina, Dave and Bianca were waiting outside our room, with a bag of their own. Oooh presentssss! “Have you guys been waiting long?” Adam asked as he fiddled with the keys to open the door. “Adam, we live in the same block for Christ’s sake, why do you keep forgetting that?” Gina asked and rolled her eyes. ”Right, sorry,” Adam said. Gina was a friend we met during classes. She had curly, red hair that will always be pulled into a high ponytail. She had a pale complexion and wore black almost every day. Dave was fairly tall, with a muscular frame, but not too much. He had dirty blonde curly hair and was constantly burying his nose in his phone. Bianca, was a year younger than me, she had brown wavy hair, the kind that Bethany Mota has and wore thick framed glasses. Her wardrobe mainly consists of leggings and sweaters which completes her look. We entered the room and Bianca squealed in excitement looking at the perfectly decorated tree and all the gifts underneath it. Gina gaped at the tree and shot me and Adam a smirk when she saw the word ‘ADAYLA’ behind the tree. After taking even more pictures we started to sit in a circle and exchange gifts to open them. I started with the ones that came in through the mail. Akshay had sent me a shiny set of necklace and a pair of earrings, the one that Bollywood actresses’ would wear. Just as I was thinking with which pair of clothes I would wear those, I opened Irene’s gift and inside was a beautiful purple saree which would perfectly match the set of jewelry that Akshay bought. I set it aside, and opened my mother’s gift which was an orange skater dress with an attached diamond belt. Mrs. Chance sent me a pair of converse sneakers that was made out of jeans. Gina had gotten me the floral sweater I wanted so bad when we went shopping the other day. Dave got me, a long sleeved shirt with a picture of Santa Claus on his sleigh. Bianca had gotten me, a pair of Ray Bans and a black sweater that said ‘AWESOME” on it. Lastly after going through all the greeting cards I got from everyone back at home, I reached the last gift that was from Adam. Inside was a cocktail dress that had a tight bodice that wrapped around my body and had shiny sparkles everywhere. I smiled at him thankfully and he nudged me to continue opening the rest of his gifts. He also got me a black skirt that reached up to my knees and a gray tank top that matched surprisingly. I thanked him, and opened the last gift which was an envelope. He put his hand on mine before I could open it and said, “Read this later, okay? In private, please,” he said, and I nodded understandingly.

***

Jeff’s P.O.V

I know that I haven’t got a single chance with Layla ever again. I mean, I cheated on her, doubted her, yelled at her, and ruined her Christmas. I had to payback. I wanted to see if I could get her to forgive me this one time. I know she didn’t mean it when she said, she was with Adam now. I wanted to see if I still have a chance with her. So for that to happen, I wanted to see her, really badly, which explains why I am boarding a flight to Australia on Christmas. I haven’t talked to Elsa since the day we did…that. I told my aunt that I was going to see Layla, ignoring her protests I packed my bag for a one day trip. I mentally prepared myself to face her after doing the biggest mistake of my life and was also preparing myself for the worst…to see her sad and crying on Christmas.

***

14 hours later, the day after Christmas

Jeff’s P.O.V

I mentally prepared myself before stepping on campus to her room. Don’t yell, it’s your fault. Don’t yell, it’s your fault. I kept saying to myself on the way to finding her room. When I finally came to it I hesitated and actually did consider running back to the airport and never talking to her ever again but I decided to do other thing that was on my mind; and I brought my hand up to knock the door.

Adam’s P.O.V

“Hey, hold on. There’s someone at the door. I’ll check okay?” I said and stood up. “No no, it is my duty today to open the doors. You. Hold on,” she said and hastily stood up, messing the monopoly game we were playing. She shot me a pitiful look before heading to the door. I was facing the other side of the door, so I couldn’t see who it was. But seeing Layla freeze was a cue call that I should be the one opening the door. I stood up from the bed and slowly walked toward the door. “Hey, what’s wrong?” I asked, Layla not looking at who was at the door. She was still looking at the person outside and I drop of tear trickled down her cheeks. I followed her gaze to see the person. Oh, I kind of did expect him to come. I pushed Layla a little to the side and placed my arm around her waist. ‘What do you want?” I asked Jeff and he just shrugged. “I need to speak to Layla. Alone,” he said, and Layla spoke up. “There is no way; you’re speaking to me, alone. Whatever you want to say, you tell us both together. You can’t just come in and disturb our relationship begging for forgiveness for something you did, intentionally,” and I pulled her closer to me.  I honestly love it so much when he mentions her and me as us. Jeff sighed and nodded. Towards Layla. “I know you didn’t mean it when you said that. I know you still love me, and that all of this—“he gestured towards Layla and I “—is nothing compared to us, Layla. I know you are sad of what happened but you should understand why I did it. Adam, oh my god. He bullied to the point you almost wanted to take away your own life, and now you’re with him?” he spat and I stiffened. Did I really push her to the point of suicide? I made a mental note, to explain to her the reason I did that to her later. “You’re at our premise, Jeff so you might want to mind what you’re saying because I can get you kicked out this very moment. And oh, you say he bullied me and you’re my savior? But he didn’t cheat on me, and this is my life and I’m matured enough to make my own choices. And my choice is Adam. You can now leave,” she snapped and pulled me closer. “Layla, listen to me. I know you are not together with him. You said that so that I’d leave you alone. I know you will not move on so quickly on me. You love me, for god’s sake. Do you not know that? Layla we spent so many memories together, you can’t possibly forget that can you?” he questioned her and I was losing my patience. “I don’t love you, Jeff. I thought I did, but I did. But I don’t. I’m finally content now, don’t ruin that. Please,” she begged and turned away to wipe the tears that threatened to fall. “Jeff, she might have not meant it when she said that she was with me. But now,” I stopped at Jeff, and turned to Layla. “Layla?” I whispered and she looked up at me. Mesmerized by her beauty and the seriousness of the situation, I did something; I have wanted to do for so long. I kissed her. She jumped at first, but soon wrapped her arms around my neck I wrapped mine around her waist. I could feel Jeff’s eyes burning into us. He should have gotten the hint by now. After a good 20 seconds or so of kissing her deeply, we pulled away. I placed my forehead on hers, and said, “I love you, and I’m so sorry for what I did, okay? I’ll explain later. But I really really love you, okay?” and she nodded. We pulled away to look at Jeff, who was looking at his shoes, awkwardly. Realizing we were looking at him, he looked up at me, then to Layla before saying, “But Layla, you promised you wouldn’t leave,” Layla, let out a sigh and dropped my hand and said, “You promised to love me, but you didn’t,” and shut the door. We waited for a while longer and heard footsteps walking away from the room.

ONE MORE CHAPTER YAY! and I haven't written the epilogue yet but I will by today. So this book will be completed by today and ohmygod I can't believe we are almost done! ILYA! vote, comment, share plEasE! ok bye. lol