Finding Laila: Some Changes are Necessary (11 page)

“Yep—diversion.
They’ll leave me alone if you’re there.”

“What
about the guys?”

“What
about them?”

“Do
they go to your house a lot?”

“We
never really have a plan, except Sunday.”

“What’s
Sunday?”

“Sunday
night, we meet up and hang out for an hour or so. During the week, we may or
may not see each other outside of school—everyone has something,” I cock
my head to the side and widen my eyes, “or
someone
—to
keep them busy.” I laugh and Bailey’s cheeks turn a shade of crimson as she
joins in.

“So
why aren’t you friends with anyone but the guys?”

“You
mean why aren’t any of my friends girls?”

“Yeah.
You gotta admit
,
it’s a little weird.”

“Not
to me. They were the first people I met when I moved here and accepted me when
no one else did. I love the guys. Besides, in my experience, when I’ve tried to
be friends with girls it bites me in the ass.”

“You
mean like Cate?”

“Cate,
Jackie, Meghan, Paisley, Ellie, Carter—want me to keep going?”

“No—I’ve
heard it all,” she mutters.

“So
then why did you accept my invitation, knowing everything that people say about
me—more specifically, me and the guys?”

“Honestly?”

I
nod, prompting her to continue.

“You
know that saying ‘keep your enemies close’?”

“So
you see me as an enemy?” I ask, taken aback by her bluntness.

“When
Joey and I first started talking, I knew that you were close. I thought that
maybe he liked you or something. There was always some story that featured
Laila. But I really started to like him anyway, so I had to ask him.”

“And?”

“Friends,”
she says simply. “He said that you are his best friend and that’s all.”

“It’s
true.”

“I
know. Now. I mean, before it was just his word and I hadn’t talked to you, so I
figured I might as well get to know you and make an opinion of my own.”

“So
what’s your opinion now?”

“I
think you are nothing like people say you are. I’ve seen you this week when
we’ve had lunch—the way you are with the guys. The five of you look after
each other. I mean
,
you guys really are
friends—what friends
should
be.”

“Yeah,
we are. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for those guys.”

“Including
having their girlfriends over to try to get to know them,” she says about our
hangout.

“Pretty
much. Even when I know she doesn’t really like me much,” I grin.

“She
actually thinks you’re pretty cool—and it helps that you’re dating
Haden,” she laughs.

I
return her smile as I think about Haden and the gallery closing tonight.

“Do
you really want to see a movie or would you rather come with me to see the guys
at the gallery?”

“Dressed
like this?” she waves her hands between us.

“Yep,
just like this,” I almost sing.

“All
right, let’s eat and get out of here.”

We pull into the parking lot and I spot
Haden immediately. He looks much more relaxed than he did when the exhibit
opened two weeks ago. He’s talking to Cole, who says something and Haden
laughs, revealing his beautiful smile. When Cole walks away, Haden looks out
the window and for a moment I suspect that he can see me, so of course I feel
like a creeper. He takes a deep breath and shoves his hands into his pockets
like he’s trying to appear relaxed and all I can think is that I want to be
there, next to him.

Every
time I’m with Haden, he makes me feel special—like I’m the only girl for
him.

“Are
we going to stare at your boyfriend all night or are we going inside?” Bailey
asks, snapping me out of my thoughts.

“We
are definitely going inside,” I grin.

As
we make the short walk up to the entrance, Haden spots me and holds the door
open to let us in.

“I
thought it was girl’s night,” Haden asks as he sweeps me into a hug.

“It
is,” I smile. “We wanted to stop by for a few minutes. It’s the last night of
your show and I really wanted to tell you that I’m proud of you—for doing
this.”

“Thanks
for being here,” he whispers into my ear. “How’s it going with Bailey?”

I
step back next to her and she cranes her neck looking around the room for Joey.

“I
don’t see him,” she mutters.

“See
who?” I hear Joey behind us and smile at her.

“Hey,
there you are,” Bailey says as I move to hug the rest of the guys.

“Wow,
ladies, don’t get all dressed up or anything,” Cole teases and I roll my eyes.

“Not
everyone can look as hot as you guys. Y’all look nice,” I comment. Each has on
a dress shirt and slacks or dark jeans—either way, they clean up good.

“So
what are you doing here?” Joey asks us.

“We
wanted to come by for Haden’s last night in the gallery,” Bailey says. “Have
you seen it yet?”

Joey
shakes his head and grabs her hand to see the artwork, leaving the four of us
behind. Bailey and I are really underdressed for tonight, but fortunately we’re
here early, so we can sneak out before the fancy crowd arrives.

“What’s
everyone doing later?” I ask.

Apparently
it is the wrong question, because the guys look at each other as if they’ve
been caught; but before I can get clarification, Cole and Braxton call out to
Joey and follow behind them.

“What
was that all about?” I ask, pointing to our friends who are out of earshot.

“Nothing,”
Haden lies easily.

“Okay.”

“Okay?”

“Yeah,
I mean, you know I’m going to find out anyway—if not from you, then
Joey.”

“You
are brutal.” He reaches out to hold my hand. “You didn’t hear it from me, but
they were planning on going back to
Brax’s
place to
talk with his mom about your party.”

“Haden,”
I groan and lean my forehead against his chest. He kisses the top of my head
and hugs me.

“The
party is barely about you. You were right: it’s an excuse to have a party.
Period. So let ’em plan it, and that night we’ll show up, you’ll look amazing
and smile, and then ten minutes later we’ll leave.”

I
look up into those icy blue eyes with my own pleading. “Promise?”

“Any
excuse to be alone with you.” He smiles.

Our
moment is cut short when Bailey comes over and drags me away from Haden. I turn
back and laugh when I see the confused look on his face.

“How
long have you two been together?” she whispers conspiratorially.

“Two
weeks-
ish
.” I shrug. “Why?”

She
looks over to make sure Haden’s gone, which he is, and then she continues.
“It’s just—I mean, if people ever thought anyone else stood a chance with
him, one look at his artwork and they’d know you two belong together.”

“Yeah,
I was pretty blown away, too,” I agree.

“That
‘Future’ one is amazing,” she gushes, but I can only look at her with
confusion.

“Yeah,
the one of his parents—it’s beautiful, isn’t it?” I ask, recalling the
sad image.

She
shakes her head and pulls my hand to drag me behind her. “Not that one,” she
mutters.

Cole,
Braxton, and Joey are still going through the first wall when she pulls me to
an image I haven’t seen before.

“This
one.”

There
is an eye, on a huge canvas—it takes up the entire surface. In the center
of the pupil is a woman facing a man with so many intricate details, it’s hard
to make them all out. The woman looks like me, maybe slightly older, and the
man looks like Haden. There are parts colored in, though the entire piece is
not, giving it an almost incomplete look.

“This
wasn’t here opening night,” I tell her, mesmerized by everything I’m seeing.

“Did
you see the title?” she asks.

I
look over to the far bottom right at the placard and my heart almost stops. I
feel the blood rush from my head and it’s as if I’m about to pass out.

Future

This
is too much. I love Haden, but it’s too soon.

“Hey,
Bailey, you ready to get out of here?” I ask a little louder than necessary.

“You
okay?”

“Yeah,
let’s leave the guys to their night,” I answer, still distracted by the image.

“‘Kay,
let me say bye to Joey.”

“I’ll
meet you out front,” I call after her.

I’m
not sure where Haden went, but I’m too stunned to worry about it. I make my way
to the exit when Haden calls my name, stopping me in my tracks.

“Hey,
where’re you going?” He walks over to me with his charming grin that doesn’t
erase what I just saw.

“Bailey’s
saying bye to Joey and we’re going to head out. You know, movie night.” I try
to smile convincingly at him.

“Are
you okay?”

“Yeah,
I’m good. Just ready to start the movie,” I over-exaggerate.

Thank God!
I see Bailey rushing over toward us.

“You
ready?” she asks.

“Call
me later,” I tell Haden before turning around to leave.

“Lai?
Can you give me sec?” Haden asks.

I
lift a finger to Bailey, indicating I’ll be right back, and walk over to a
nervous-looking Haden.

“What’s
up?” I try for my usual demeanor, but it’s coming off like I’m a jerk.

“You
saw the newest one, didn’t you?” he asks, but it’s not exactly a question.

“No.
I mean, yeah—I di—it’s beautiful,” I concede.

“Look,
don’t freak out about it, okay.” He runs his hand through his hair.

“I’m
not,” I straighten my posture, hoping it backs up my words.
Because
I am absolutely freaking out.

“Yes
you are, and I want to talk to you about it. Tomorrow? Quarry?”

“Yeah,
okay,” I agree, even though every part of my head tells me to avoid. Just when
I feel that I find my footing, he does something else monumental to throw me
off.

He
wraps his arms around me and I return the embrace and exhale a deep breath.
When we separate, he holds onto my arms so he can look me in the eye as if he
can read my mind.

“I’ll
see you tomorrow.” He kisses me and I walk off to catch up with Bailey, who saw
the entire exchange.

“What
was that all about?”

“Can
we not talk about it? Actually, can we pretend we ate pizza and went straight
to my place to watch the movie?”

She
nods and walks in sync next to me. “Movie it is.” She raises her fist in the air,
agreeing to let the last thirty or so minutes disappear from memory.

* * *

The
movie finishes and we’re both still laughing as we recount our favorite parts.

“What
time are your parents expecting you home?”

“They’re
not,” she shrugs. “They had an event downtown, so I’ll see them tomorrow.”

“If
you want, you can stay the night.”

“Are
you asking me because you feel sorry for me, or because you still need a buffer
from Haden?”

“Buffer,”
I answer easily.

“Good
answer. You didn’t lie. I’ll stay,” she grins.

We
head to my room and she walks to my bookshelves, glancing at the titles. She
seems impressed—and considering it’s four shelves high, three feet wide,
and completely overrun with books, she should be. My books are my prized
possessions and I’ve read most of them at least twice. She grabs my iPad off
the desk and holds it up, asking permission to use it.

“Yeah,
no password, go for it.”

“Do
you ever read on devices?”

“Not
really, I like to actually turn the pages and smell the book.”

“That’s
weird,” she laughs.

“Yeah,
I blame my mom. You should see her shelf, makes mine look pathetic. What about
you?”

“I’m
not a big reader.” She waves me over. “I’m a shopper.”

“So
I guessed,” I tease. “What are you shopping for?”

“Just
looking at some outfits for your party.”

“I
told you, I don’t shop
un
—”

“Unless
it’s online,” she finishes. “So let’s see what we can find.”

She
starts bringing up different dresses, but I reject them before she can fully
turn the device to face me. I don’t mind wearing a dress, but for a birthday
party—more specifically
my
birthday party—dresses will be a no-go, because I want to be comfortable.

“C’mon,
you have to like at least one of these,” she whines.

“Bailey,
I’m not exactly a dress type of girl,” I defend.

“But
it’s your eighteenth, and the guys are throwing you a party—”

“—That
I don’t want,” I interrupt. “The guys know how much I hate parties, they just
want an excuse, and that’s fine, but I don’t plan on sticking around all
night.”

“Why
not? You’re going to bail out on it?”

“People
talk about me all the time. These same people are coming to a party in my
honor—do I really want to be there?” I ask, trying to explain my
reasoning.

“I
guess not. But what if the guys limit the people they invite?”

“You’re
talking about four very different guys who are friends with very different
groups of people. I’m not the most hated person in school, but I’m not the most
liked either—these people aren’t coming for me.”

“Haden
doesn’t talk to anyone but y’all,” she counters. “If you five weren’t friends I
don’t think he would talk to anyone. Being around all of you is the most I’ve
ever heard him speak. I didn’t know he had such a sexy voice.”

I
narrow my eyes at her and she laughs.

“You
know I’m right.”

“Yeah,
whatever,” I answer.

“So
why did you freak out tonight?”

“I
didn’t freak out,” I argue even though I know she’s right.

“Laila,
you were almost catatonic.”

I
level her with a glare, “Now you’re being dramatic.”

“Am
I? Then why did you leave in such a hurry after seeing that painting?”

I
stand up and walk toward my closet only to spin and face her. I can’t find the
right words to explain my thoughts. It was a beautiful image, but the subject
matter is terrifying to an almost-eighteen-year-old—especially one that
only just started dating her best friend and found out that he’s been in love
with her since…forever.

I
throw my hands up in the air and flop myself on top of the bed to stare at my
ceiling.

“I
love it, it’s by far his best piece. The details, the colors and lack of colors,
it was perfect. But it was also too much. We’ve only been together for a couple
of weeks and that had our entire future wrapped up in a single image. I’m
seventeen. I’m thinking of college and career—not marriage and
forevers
.”

“If
you don’t mind two cents from a third-party observer, I think you’re reading
too much into it. Yes, it looked like the two of you in the future—and
sure the title itself is a bit overwhelming.”

“Your
point?” I ask in exasperation.

“Why
don’t you look at it as he sees you two going the distance? I’m not saying
you’re going to get married tomorrow, but who’s to say that after college you
don’t end up together? Go through all those couple-y things together? If you
ask me, I think it’s romantic that he sees
a
future with you, not
the
future.”

“Are
you trying to be all sensible, become my friend, and get in good with me so you
can be my maid of honor?” I deadpan. “Because I think Joey has that spot
already taken.”