Throughout the majority of my life, I had always been the person people came to to talk about their problems. I didn't know if it was just because I was a good listener, because I appeared to have my shit together, because I was just easy to talk to, or just, well... ya know, because.
Either way, it was the one thing I truly loved about myself. I had always thought of myself as someone with a good head on their shoulders, so from my perspective, I tended to give logical advice. It's nice to know that people trust you with their deepest secrets. It's also made me realize that everyone has a crappy life. The people you would least expect to be miserable usually are. Take Layla, for instance. She seems like your typical gorgeous teenage girl: she has numerous boys chasing after her, has a lot of fun, and seems to have the perfect life. While sometimes her life is basically reality TV show quality, other times it's just completely fucked up. We're all humans; we all have shit to deal with. You can judge a person not by the obstacles they've faced in their life, but by the way they tackled and overcame them. That's why I liked Layla, she has a somewhat dramatic life, but always ends up with both feet on the ground. I guess I was like that, too.
Since I was the therapist out of my group of friends, it was still weird to be the "patient" in this situation. I just didn't know how to express my feelings very well. I was one to deal with my emotions on my own, not verbalize them.
"So...?" Layla stared at me with a wide eyed glance, "you're in love with NATE?"
We were sitting on the couch in her "den", aka a spare room that was connected to her garage. We usually hung out in here to have private conversations or blast music since the space was practically soundproof.
I bit my lip awkwardly in an attempt to peel off the little dry flakes, and wrung my hands together. I looked down, there was no way I could look at her. "Idunno, maybe," I mumbled.
Slamming her hands down on the couch, she yelled, "What you you mean 'Idunno"? You HAVE to know, this is Nate Lennon we're talking about!"
Her attitude towards this was really starting to piss me off. Why did she seem so angry about him and I dating? I understood she didn't like his reputation, but being in a relationship with him was my choice, not Layla's. "What the hell is your problem, Lay? He's my boyfriend, and it's my life. I can make whatever choices I want to. As my friend you don't have to like the ones I make, but you do have to respect them."
Her angered expression softened a bit and she sighed. "Ry, I'm sorry. You're just so cute and innocent, I just don't want you to get caught up in a life that's... well... not so cute and innocent."
Still slightly disgusted by her actions, I rolled my eyes, "Layla, I know he parties. I know he drinks, and smokes and has hooked up with soooo many girls and isn't innocent, like at all. I know. Is it kinda gross? Um, duh. But, he respects the fact that I don't do any of that stuff and I believe that he will never, ever force me to do anything I don't want to do. And, if he does, I'll be sure to call you so we can kill him together, got it?"
She laughed, "Okaaaaaay, fine. But, I call chopping his dick off!"
"EW!" I screamed, and whacked her with a pillow, "That's no bueno! Like at all! Can we pleaaaaaase not discuss my boyfriends thingy-doo?"
She laughed, "Well, we kinda have to, considering the fact that you're IN LOVE with him! I never thought I'd see the day that Ryan Montgomery would be in love with a boy!"
"Shut up!" I blushed, "As I said, I don't know if I'm in love with him or not."
She stopped laughing long enough to ask, "Meaning what?"
I sighed, "Meaning, I've never had feelings like this for anyone before, like ever. I feel so safe when I'm around him; like he's my rock. When I look at him, I just feel so happy and giddy and I can see in his eyes that he feels the same way and it's one of the best feelings I've ever experienced in my entire life. He makes me feel like I'm a great person, because I know he thinks I am one. And he doesn't make me feel 'complete' like how most girls say their boyfriends make them feel, he just brings out the best in me and I know that I do the same for him. It's just such an indescribable feeling; like happiness but with a lot more added. Do you have any idea what I'm talking about?"
He eyes were wide again, "Ry, I'm like 99.9% sure that that's love. Holy shit, I wanna feel that so bad. Please don't give me the feels!" She scootched closer to where I was seated on the couch. "Ry, how the hell did you fall in love with a guy you've known for 3 weeks and that's the exact opposite of you?"
I shook my head, "I wish I knew," I mumbled, "I really wish I knew."
She giggled and poked my arm, "Well it doesn't matter now, what matters is that you're in love with Nate! Oh my god I can't believe this. Holy shit please tell me you haven't had sex yet, remember no glove no-"
I iinterrupted her rambling by screaming, "Shut up!" Her hand dropped from touching my arm and her purple lipgloss clad mouth stopped moving. "Thank you," I sighed. It was hard to take her seriously with what she was wearing. She had changed into cat pajamas once we had gotten home, and they were pink and covered in glitter. I, on the other hand, had changed into yoga shorts, one of my dad's old sweaters and a pair of over the knee socks. "Layla, who do you think I am? Ew, there's no way I'm having sex like anyyyyyy time soon. I may almost be 17, but I'm psychologically 10."
I looked over to find her picking through a laundry basket of clothes on the other side of the room. "Yaaaaaaaaaas, victory!" She cheered, while putting a pair of fluffy socks onto her feet. "I know you're practically 10, that's what I love about you, boo! I don't have to worry about you being scandalous, since the worst thing you've ever done is forget to feed your dogs." I squealed, "We don't mention that dark night that I starved my dogs, okay? I was tired!"
"Uh huh, suuuure," She groaned.
I was now on my phone, scrolling through my twitter feed when I felt it buzz. The banner at the top displayed a text from a certain someone special.
Nate: hey babe:) we still on for 10:00 brunch tomorrow?
Ryan: hey, you! looking forward to it :)
Nate: awesome! I miss you
Ryan: I miss you too :( I wish we could be on a shave it date rn
Nate: hmm what if I told you that i was at Layla's door with 4 shave it's and a friend?
Ryan: I would think you're joking. are you joking???
Nate: open the door and find out!
"Holy shit!" I screamed. Layla looked over and mumbled, "hmm?" I shot up from my seat, "Um, Lay, you might want to change your pj's. I think Nate is here with shave it and a hot friend for you."
"Fuck!!" She yelped, "omg okay, okay um... you answer the door while I go change! Be back in 5!"
"Okay!" I laughed, as I walked upstairs to the front door.
Once I finally approached the door, I swung it open to find, as Nate promised, himself, a hot friend for Layla, and my favorite shaved ice. "Cherry?" I asked him. The brunette boy smiled, "Yeah, of course!"
"Wow, you don't disappoint! Come on in," I noticed his friend again, and realized that it was Chase! I guess I was so distracted by my boyfriend being so perfect that I didn't comprehend that his friend was actually MY best friend. "Chase!" I squealed, "Oh my god, hi!!!"
"Hi, Ry," Chase said while pulling me into a hug.
"Nate!" I said, "Why didn't you tell me that your friend was actually Layla and my's friend?" He kissed my forehead, "because then it wouldn't of been a surprise."
I led them down the stairs and into the den. Layla wasn't back from changing yet, so the three of us sat on the floor and ate our shaved ice. I looked at Chase, "how did he even get you to come?" I asked. The boys looked at each other and Chase chucked, "he banged on my door and told me we were surprising you. I had nothing better to do on this super eventful Friday night, so I let your boyfriend kidnap me." Seeing the shock on my face, Nate added, "Oh, yeah, I kinda told Chase you were my girlfriend, by the way."
Shoveling the sugary, cherry goodness into my mouth, I snarled, "you're lucky you brought me food, or else I would have probably killed you by now." Nate smiled and shrugged, "with kisses, right?"
I jokingly rolled my eyes, "uh huh, yeah, sure babe."
After appearing in the doorway, Layla laid eyes on our surfer friend. "The 'hot guy' Nate brought for me is Chase??" She yelled, "Ugh, why didn't you tell me, Ry?? I changed out of my amazing cat pj's for nothing!" Layla and Chase were super close, as well. Like so close that I think she's peed in front of him. That could have been a story they told me to creep me out, though
As Nate handed Lay her dessert, I raised my hands in a sarcastic surrender. "Ask him!" I said, pointing to Nate, "I didn't know it would be Chase!"
"Ugh, whatever! I'm just glad it's Chase and not some random creepy dude." She took a bite out of her strawberry kiwi ice, "are you guys sleeping over, too?"
The boys looked at each other again and shrugged. "That's fine by me," Chase said, "What about you, bro?" Nate looked to me, "Is it okay if I do?"
I nodded, "Um, duh! Let's not fall asleep sitting up again, please. My back still hurts from that!" I pouted.
"Haha, okay Ry, I guess we'll be normal people and sleep lying down."
"I call the couch with Layla!" Chase yelled. "Ditto to what he said," Layla agreed. "Fine," I huffed" I guess Nate and I can make a floor bed, then!" Nate wrapped his arm around me, "Sounds good to me, babe."
