I finish my tacos and then my shift, with Layne lingering around, waiting for me to get off work.

"Might as well hire her," Chess jokes, "If she's gonna be here this often."

"Don't," I jump at the thought, "This is my safe space."

"And you want me to believe that girl is dangerous?" We both look at Layne, busy blowing bubbles in her milkshake, which Chess had comp'd her. She laughs, amused, and looks at me, smiling.

"Look you don't know her like I do," I think about what she'd said to me in the break room. You think I give a damn what you want?

"True facts. Out in the jungle, tiger cubs are cutest right before they rip your face off."

We nod in agreement for a few minutes before noticing the time, "You wanna just head home now?"

"You sure you're okay?" I really don't want to be alone with Layne just yet. Or ever. At least not the new, demanding, Layne.

"Yeah, don't worry about it. I insist. All that's left is dishes anyway and it isn't like you can get your bandage wet anyway."

"Okay," I head into the back and Layne joins me shortly after.

"You done?"

"You're expecting a ride home?" I joke. She's not amused.

"Clock out," she orders. I do, "Happy?"

"Almost," she pushes against the wall, kissing me, deeply. "Now I'm happy. Let's go."

She grabs my gift basket and skips out the door, leaving me with no choice but to grab my things and follow her out.

I unlock the car and Layne puts my basket in the back before climbing into the front. I insert my keys, but hesitate to start the ignition.

"The kissing thing isn't gonna change anything about us? We're still friends right?"

She reaches over, running her fingers through my braids, "Of course. Friends who enjoy sticking their tongues down each other's throats."

"You're so weird," I start the truck, it's engine roaring to life.

"Whatever, Kaylie Jane," she withdraws her hand and leans against the window, silent as we drive home. When I reach her house, she kisses me goodnight and hops out the car, like nothing's different. As if nothing's changed.

I drive home myself, parking in front of the house, too tired to even swing around into the driveway. I kill the engine, resting my head against the back of my seat. I blink the sleep out of my eyes and glance at the handle, too tired to even

***

"KJ!" My head throbs and I see Layne at my window. The sun filters through my front window, reminding me that I'd slept in my truck. I groan and get out my truck, stumbling as the blood rushes to my legs again.

"Jesus did you sleep in here?" Layne moves to catch me and I shake her off.

"Don't worry about it," I wait for the Earth to stop shaking before opening my eyes again, which I don't even remembering closing. The sun is far too high for it to be morning still, "What time is it?"

"It's almost eleven. Did you sleep through your other school?"

"No I'm there right now in third hour," I head into the house and look around, wondering how many unconcerned drivers had driven past my unconscious state, knowing how my father and his wife were most definitely apart of it.

I throw water on my face and look into the mirror. Even though I'd clearly been asleep for over twelve hours, I look like absolute shit. My eyes are wild, like I hadn't slept in days. I dry my face and change into a pair of basketball shorts and the first clean shirt I see. I'm gonna have to be in uniform for tech anyway.

I head back out to my car, where Layne is leaning causually against the passenger door, "Do you have your shit together now?"

"Get in the truck," I reply, in no mood for anybody's shit. She does and I pull off, noticing I'm rapidly approaching E.

"My mom says hi," she reaches in her bag and produces a loaf of her mother's favorite cinnamon bread, "She figured you'd need a pick me up. Also she says you're dropping weight?"

"Thanks," I turn into the gas station, "If you want something to eat get here. I don't wanna stop again."

She heads into the mobile shop and I take a deep breath and hold it, hoping my head will clear or at least stop feeling like it's about to roll off. I hear a click, signifying I'm filled, and then head into the shop to fetch Layne. She comes out at about the same time holding chips and two drinks, handing the one in the hot cup to me, "Here. You're having withdrawals."

"How would you know?" I take the cup and take a sip, letting the hot liquid burn it's way down my throat. It tastes chocolately, "Besides, I don't do drugs."

"Yeah but you do have a caffeine dependency," she corrects, "Headaches. Crankiness. Light sensitivity. Evidence is there."

"What do you know?" We pull away, heading back towards school.

"My mom used to be a nurse," she opens a bag of chips, "I know lots of things. Now drink your go-go juice."

I take another sip of the hot liquid and she smiles, "Open." I give her a weird look and she insists. Fine.

I open my mouth and she places a chip in it, "You need to eat."

I open my mouth to protest and she adds more chips to it, "Shut up I don't care."

By the time Layne is done force feeding me chips, we're at school and my mood has improved immensely.

"Close your eyes," she says.

"What?"

"Dammit, Kaylie Jane, just listen to me for once," she whines. I oblige with an eye roll and feel her lips as she places them gently on mine before quickly pulling away.

I hear the door slam, and when I open my eyes again, Layne is gone.

I sit back for a minute before heading into class. What have I gotten myself into?

There's a tap on my window, and I jump. It's Wren. Moment gone.

"You okay, Kaylie Jane? The way you look makes me think y'all did more than kiss for three seconds," she smirks, "Way more."

Ew. "Perverts like you would think that," I brush past her as I exit my truck, "Just like perverts like you watch two innocent teens share an intimate moment."

"Innocent? The way Layne looks at you?" she lets out a sarcastic laugh, "Right."

"Whatever, Wren," I grab my uniform bag, "Why do care anyway? Jealous?"

She shuts up and her playful grin falters before she catches it, "Nev'a. Only in your dreams, Parker."

Okay... Inside the classroom a new seating chart is posted, separating Layne and I and putting us at opposite ends of the class and sandwiching me between a wall and Lori. Joyful.

"Hey, table buddy," Lori appears behind me, throwing her arm over me, "Sad to be away from your girlfriends?"

"Nope," I take my seat, peeping that Layne and Wren are next to each other now, free to discuss my headassery without me as a buffer not. Fantastic.

Nik comes in behind them, taking as seat in that row as well. Super. The rest of the class fills in the seats and the bell rings. Graves takes the stand, "You guys like the new seats. Parker?"

My head snaps up and I summon my inner Tony the Tiger in response, "Theeeeeey'rrrrree GREAT!"

The class laughs and Graves shoots me a look. Did you just try to trap me bruh?

My answer is confirmed when she turns to the other half of the room, "Layne? Wren? Everybody happy?"

The girls nod as well and I shoot side ways looks at Graves the rest of the lecture. We're starting a new unit; Vegetarian. Graves hands out the study guide for the unit and everybody busts out their textbooks as she lectures about different types of tofu. I tune most of it, finishing the study guide at a much more rapid pace than anyone else.

"You guys can take a ten minute break," Graves announces in the middle of class, "Hurry."

The class empties as everyone heads to either the vending machine or the bathrooms. Except for me, who stays behind and relaxes. I'm doodling mindlessly when a shadow overcasts my desk, "Parker."

"Yessum," I look up at Graves, my eyes challenging hers, "Graves."

"How's school going for you?"

"Fantastic," I shrug, "How's school going for you?"

"Fine," she continues to look at me, searching for something she won't find. Something I won't give her, "I like these seats. I think I'll keep them awhile."

"Do it," I shrug, "I like being by the window. It helps with my anxiety."

She leans in even closer, "I'm still watching you, Parker," she shoots a look at Layne, "You two seem to be getting reallllll close."

"Is it a crime to be close?" I realize I'm playing a dangerous game, "I can't be close wit my sister? That's not dating, last I checked."

She gives me a really hard look before she nods and turns, going off to look for another, weaker, student to wage psychological warfare on.

Layne comes in and sits across from me, "Is it just me, or is Graves playing anti-matchmaker?"

I look up, "I don't know what exactly she's up to... But she's seems liable to do some dumb shit like that." I hadn't told Layne about Graves whisperings to me. I didn't want her to make it worse. Graves has had a personal problem with students entering relationships for years, so it wasn't a reach that she'd personally take the time and effort to split Layne and I up.

"She moved Wren, too," Layne continues, "Do you still have feelings for her?"

"Bih, I don't even have feelings for you," I joke, "Why do you care?"

She leans in close, giving me a nose full of her sweet perfume, "You know why, fucking idiot."

The class streams back in from break and Layne moves back to her seat, shooting me occasional glances every now and then. When I look up, I can also see Wren staring at me. When I look away, I notice Graves frown, to which I smile, which earns me a glare. I wink and she shakes her head, before everyone just goes back to minding their damn business.

***

When class is over I grab my things and proceed to my truck, Layne in tow.

"Hurry up!" she whines, even though I'm in front of her.

"Why are you so needy?" I mimic her whine, "What's the hurry anyway?" She dances past me and I wait until I'm all the way at the door before unlocking it, where garners me more frowning. I toss my bag in the back and climb into the driver's seat, starting her up.

Once we're off campus Layne turns to me, "Wanna know why I was in such a rush?"

"What?" I turn to her and she kisses me.

"I just went all class without touching you," her voice comes out heavy as she kisses my chin and then my collar, "I didn't want to wait longer and didn't want Graves' creepy ass to watch me tongue you down."

She kisses me again, and I feel her smile against my lips.

"Careful," I tease, "If you keep kissing me like that, I'll have to tell Wren she was right about you."

"Oh? And what did she say?" She kisses my neck and my pulse jumps. She pulls away and smirks, satisfied with my reaction, "Green light."

Dammit. I hit the gas and she trails her fingers over my hand before grabbing it and holding it.

"You can breath, babe," Layne laughs and I exhale a breath I hadn't even realized I was holding in. She kissed the back of my hand before she unlocks them in order to plug in her phone.

As I told you, I'm in love with you. But I can't even tell you. Another day is passing by But I'm always going nowhere....