Clips

Clip #5: Leyla's House

South POV

Why was I here again?

Right.

To return Leyla's sweater.

I wasn't nervous.

My hands were just sweating because it was... hot... 35-degree weather.

It was a Saturday morning in early March, and Leyla had left her sweater at the park at our last hangout. So, being the gracious person I am, I had come to return it. After work. Which was in the morning.

And I wasn't knocking because....

.... there was a spider on the door.

A big one.

And I don't like spiders.

And I wasn't ringing the doorbell because....

Um....

Because my hands were full.

Yup.

I required two hands to hold her sweater.

Okay.

I could knock.

Just lift my hand, avoid the spider, and-

Meow!

I jumped, nearly dropping her sweater. A little black and white kitten stared up at me, green eyes staring.

I didn't want to be cursed by the small demonic creature, so I reached over and rang the doorbell as fast as possible.

I heard the thump of someone running downstairs, and then the clock of locks being undone. I started shaking a little. What if it was her dad?! That man was terrifying!!

But when the door swung open, it was his Leyla.

And her face was red.

"Holy craaaaa....nberry sauce!" She exclaimed, quickly looking over her shoulder to make sure no one in her family had heard her almost say "Crap".

She looked down and seemed to realize what she was wearing and her eyes got big.

Because she looked a mess.

A really adorable mess.

She was wearing grey pajama pants with lace down the side with a large sweatshirt. Her hair was in a super.... super messy bun.... I was amazed that it was still in a bun, so much hair was falling out of it. And it appeared she has just taken a shower because her hair was dripping all over her sweatshirt.

And she looked totally appalled that I'd seen her like this.

"U-um.... hi.... South...."

I waved, practicing my arm movement, not because my vocal cords just seized up.

"LEYLA! WHO'S AT THE DOOR??"

Her face turned a pleasant shade of pink.

"Uhhhh.... a friend...."

Ouch.

A woman with curly black hair appeared at the door, carrying a small child.

"OH! Leyla you didn't tell me your friend," she winked at Leyla here, "Was coming over!"

"Mommm...." Leyla said, burying her face in her hands.

"I'm Kaytie," Leyla's mom said, reaching a hand through the door to shake my hand.

"South," I replied.

"I know!"

"NO YOU DON'T!" Leyla yelled, face red now.

"She talks about you-"

"NO I DON'T!"

"Alllll the time!"

"NO, I SLEEP ALL THE TIME, NO TIME FOR TALKING."

"She has had a crush on you-"

"NO, I DON'T!!!!"

"Since SIXTH GRADE!"

"NOT A THING! DON'T LISTEN TO HER!"

"She almost asked you to the school dance that year--"

"NOPE!"

"But she didn't and I was disappointed."

"MOTHER! GO IRON THE FRIDGE OR--"

"And every time her friends come over--"

"MOTHER. FINISH THAT SENTENCE AND I'M GOING TO ANGELA'S FOR THE NIGHT."

"Fiiiiiiiine. Nice meeting you, South. I'll leave you two alone," Kaytie said with a wink before waltzing away.

Leyla's face was past the point of red, it was crimson. She stared at the floor.

"Well this has been humiliating," she whispered.

"Don't be embarrassed, Leyla," I said, "If you'd come to my house, my mom probably would have called you beautiful and begged you to date me...."

She smiled a little. Gosh, her smile was beautiful. My mom would have forced us to kiss or something.

Oh, she would definitely force us to kiss.

Yikes.

I'm glad she didn't come to my house.

I held out her sweater. "Here you go."

"Oh! Thank you!"

I nodded.

"No problem."

"AHEM."

I jumped again. I turned around slowly to see a very... very.... tall man.

"Oh... hi there, Dad," Leyla said, her eyes widening.

I squeaked a little. I heard Leyla laugh a little.

"Hi... sir... Mr. Thomson."

"Who are you?"

"South Evanson, sir."

Leyla snickered again.

Mr. Thomson's scowl got deeper at my name.

"Why are you at my house?"

"Um... I was just dropping off Leyla's sweater...."

"And she has it now?"

I nodded.

"Good. Now leave."

I nodded and stepped around him, walking down the driveway.

"Bye, South!" Leyla called.

"Bye, Leyla!"

I've never walked so fast.
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