Finding Laila: Some Changes Are Necessary Part 4

Cole was never on time.

"If he's not here in five, we'll head home," he said with finality. "How was your day?"

"It was a day, I suppose." I leaned my head on his shoulder. "How was yours?"

"I could do without calculus and history," he laughed. "There he is. C'mon, Cole, get a move on," he yelled.

The doors were closing behind him and a few of the girls outside were watching his swagger. It was always funny to see the looks the girls gave the guys, and Cole wasn't oblivious to their attention. In fact, he would milk it for his own entertainment. He was, by far, the most shameless of all of them. He would get an extra pep in his step or flex a muscle in his arm, even if it was barely evident to anyone but himself.

For some reason, it made girls like him more.

I tried to contain my laughter as Cole headed our way and lifted his backpack over his shoulder, making an effort to go slow and show off his bicep. You would have thought you were watching him in slow motion. He even ran his hand through his sandy blond hair to get it out of his eyes. Haden shook his head and laughed outright, but only I could hear it.

When he reached us, Cole held out his hand to help me up and pulled me in for a hug, which I returned. Haden grabbed my bag and his and the three of us started walking toward our neighborhood when I heard cackling behind us. Since I didn't know what it was about, I continued chatting with the guys until one of the girls got my attention.

"Laila," I heard shouted from behind.

I stopped walking and turned to face them, and the two that had been watching Cole moments before were giving me an odd look.

"Yeah?"

"C'mere." She waved me over with a friendly smile.

Me? Really?

I didn't have girlfriends, so it was new for me to be accepted into the girl-world.

"Y'all go ahead, I'll come by your house when I'm done," I told Haden with a hopeful smile.

"You sure?" he asked. "We can wait for you-it's no big deal."

"Nah, I'm good. I'll call you later?"

"Yeah, see ya," Cole said as he continued walking.

Haden c.o.c.ked his head to the side to make sure I was good, but I narrowed my eyes at him playfully.

"Go," I ordered with a smile. "They probably want to ask for your number, so leave."

"Whatever," he said as he turned to walk away.

I watched while he caught up with Cole, and when they were a safe distance away I walked toward the two girls that I'd known but never talked to.

"Callie, right?" I asked, as I got closer.

"Yeah, and this," she pointed to the other girl, "is Cloe."

"Nice to meet you," I said with a nod.

I'd perfected the nod because of the guys.

"So what's with you and Cole? Or are you with Haden?"

"I'm sorry?" I asked, confused by the question.

"No judgment here," she said in a totally judgmental tone as she threw her hands up, "but you know it's a little s.l.u.tty to have two guys at once, right?"

Inside, my jaw dropped, my eyes bugged out, and I was sweating profusely.

Outside, I was the picture of calm.

"I'm sorry, did I hear you right?" I asked, disgust evident in my tone.

"I don't think I stuttered." She blinked and turned to her friend. "Cloe, did I stutter?"

Cloe, to her credit, appeared as shocked by Callie's words as I felt, and shook her head slowly.

I took a deep breath, straightened my shoulders, and fixed my glare on Callie. "First off, there is nothing s.l.u.tty about being friends with guys. And second, your jealousy is showing and it looks a little pathetic. Maybe Cloe can help you get your head out of your own a.s.s so you can grow up."

I spun on my heels and started walking away when I heard her shout a few nasty expletives my way, wh.o.r.e being the last one I heard before I was out of earshot. I never turned around. I kept my head high as the tears rolled down my face, but they would never know. I'd never give them the satisfaction of knowing that they had gotten to me.

It was the first time someone had called me a name because of my a.s.sociation with the guys, but it wouldn't be the last. As I rounded the corner, Haden was leaning against an old oak tree, staring at his phone, and I stopped. My fingers swept under my eyes quickly to hide the tears, but my red nose gave me away.

"I thought I was going to meet you at your house."

"I'm not sure if Mom is home yet. She had a late s.h.i.+ft last night, so she might be sleeping-wait, what's wrong?" he asked, pulling himself away from the tree as I got closer.

"Nothing." I shrugged, taking my bag from his shoulder. We started walking toward our neighborhood and he shook his head.

"Liar," he said, keeping his eyes off of me.

"It's not a big deal. Just next time I think I want to be friends with girls, remind me why I need to stay away."

"What did they say?" he asked in an even tone.

"Well, you'll be happy to know that you and the guys are really lucky to have me." I smiled through the tears in my eyes.

"Lucky, huh?"

"Yeah, I mean,-you have a resident concubine in your group. Did you know that?"

He stopped walking and reached for my arm to turn me around to face him. My tears finally spilled out and he wiped them away.

"Why do you care what they think, Lai?"

"I'm a girl, Haden, and despite my unofficial 'guy' status, of course I care!"

"Yeah, you're a girl. But you aren't like other girls."

"But I am." I swiped at my eyes and showed him the mascara that had run with the tears. "See? Girl! And if that's not enough, I have the same girl parts, I get the monthlies, and I have crushes on boys that will never find out."

His shoulders slumped and he stepped into my s.p.a.ce and wrapped his arm around me. "I didn't mean it like that. You're special, Nixon. We all know it. And you know there is nothing we wouldn't do for you."

"I don't need saving."

"You'd think with all the time we've spent together, you'd have thicker skin by now."

"Why is that?"

"We're guys-we have no filter. I'm sure we've said worse than they could ever say to you," he said honestly.

"Y'all haven't tried to hurt me or gone out of your way to make me feel like a complete loser."

"No, but we both know you've seen and heard your fair share from us."

I couldn't help but laugh and Haden became uncharacteristically animated. He jumped back and clapped his hands together. "A smile! I'll take it."

"Weirdo," I shot back as we started walking.

"You know it," he said. "And you still love me."

"I do," I admitted, linking my arm through his. "So where did Cole disappear to?"

"I may have told him the girls were interested in him," he laughed.

"Haden Searle," I admonished. "You know what a sucker he is for attention."

"Yeah. I'm a jerk," he admitted. "But it was funny to watch him run home. He's expecting a call with numbers, by the way."

"What am I supposed to tell him?"

"Nothing. Just let him wait by the phone all night." He winked and I laughed.

"You guys are terrible."

"See, it's not just chicks," he retorted.

"I guess not," I agreed and leaned my head on his shoulder. "So how long are you going to let him wait?"

He looked at his watch and shrugged, "Forever?"

"I may need to rethink this friend situation-Lord knows what you guys say when I'm not around," I said only partially joking.

"Nah, I'd never let them do that to you."

"Always looking out for me-jeez, I need to set you up with someone." I squeezed his arm, trying to think of someone good enough for Haden. Perhaps Jason Gentry, the new guy?

"No need-I'm all taken care of," he protested quickly.

I would have argued, or begged to know who he was talking about, but I knew he'd let me know in his own time.

So I let it go.

Chapter 4 ~ Finding Art.

I'm not a girlie girl.

I'm not a girlie girl.

Somehow, repeating the words doesn't make me feel any less girlie, and the makeup I am plastering to my face confirms it.

I am, in fact, a girl.

I never wear much makeup because it feels suffocating, but since it's Haden's big night, I'll take the leap. As I stand here looking at my reflection, I can't fight the smile that creeps onto my face.

Not bad, Laila.

I had to find YouTube videos about how to apply a smoky eye, because if I wear eye shadow, it's one color and it's all over my lid. It took me three tries to perfect the look, and the result makes my blue-green eyes stand out. I apply another coat of mascara, determined to make my lashes look long and full like the girl on the video.

That's it, I've gone full-on girl!

My dress is hanging on the back of my closet door and I step into it so I can pull it up over my hips. Over the head is not an option. I spent twenty minutes working my chestnut brown hair into a sleek, low, side-braid, which is more than I would normally do. Mom tried to talk me into wearing a necklace, but I'm not a jewelry person so this leaves my neck exposed.

I find the zipper on the side and secure the dress in place, brus.h.i.+ng the sides down to free any unevenness. Mom and I went shopping the other day, despite my aversion to it, and she insisted this was the one.

Looking at my reflection, I struggle to see why people point out the resemblance to my mom. Brown hair that is a shade lighter than hers, and medium build-I suppose I can attribute those to my mom. But other than that, it's a stretch.

"Is it okay to come in?" she calls from the other side of my door with a knock. Speak of the gorgeous devil.

"Yeah, I need a little help."

She walks into the room and smiles at my simple knee-length yellow dress and stands next to me as we look in the mirror. Standing side by side, I can see the concern in her eyes, though I don't know why. I've caught her watching me carefully quite a bit lately, as if she's trying to memorize something about me.

"I can't believe you're about to be eighteen," she sighs wistfully. "You look gorgeous."

"You're my mom, you have to say that."

"I do not," she argues. "The manual clearly stated to provide food, shelter, and clothing-it said nothing of padding your ego."

"Okay, if you say so," I scoff. "Which ones look better?" I ask, holding up two pairs of shoes.