Layla's Terrible at Improv

                                    

                                          


                          
The next day, Layla and I got up and got ready to school. Luckily I kept a few sets of clothes here anyway, the two of us having formed a bit of a habit for spontaneous sleepovers over the past few years. We headed down to breakfast and I held polite conversation with her Mum about her gardening while I chewed on my granola- no bacon in this household.
                          
"You girls better get going or you'll be late," Layla's Mum gently chastised.
                          
"And the bus waits for no one," I said to Layla, springing to my feet, hands on hips like Mum and Dad seemed to constantly do when they had their super suits on.
                          
"Except for you, Stronghold," she sprang up into the same position, jabbing a finger at me as we both burst into fits of giggles.
                          
Her Mum was stood at the sink laughing at us; "Come by again soon, Rosie. It's been really nice to see you."
                          
"And you, Mrs Williams! The garden's looking great by the way," I called over my shoulder before Layla shut the door.
                          
She happily linked her arm through mine. 
                          
"Last night was SO fun," she laughed.
                          
She was right; after Warren had dropped us off, we'd spent a good couple of hours flicking through fashion magazines and deciding where to hit when we went to the mall for homecoming dresses. That, and we'd gossiped, ate an embarrassing amount of chocolate, and laughed more than Layla had since starting high school.
                          
"It was amazing," I confirmed; "We definitely need no boys nights more often!"
                          
"Agreed," she laughed as we rounded the corner and saw Will approaching us.
                          
"Hey Layla, hey Rosie," he greeted.
                          
Layla smiled in return, but I just looked at the pavement, wanting him to cotton onto the fact he'd massively messed up recently. Will frowned my way and turned back to Layla.
                          
"So what did you get up to last night?" he asked.
                          
Layla looked at me and I looked back, nodding. Layla handed Will a fortune cookie we'd taken from the Paper Lantern last night.
                          
"Oh I love these," Will exclaimed, taking the the cookie and breaking it to reveal the fortune.
                          
"Your loyalties are clear when it comes to friends," he read happily. 
                          
I had to fight the urge not to laugh; it couldn't have come out better if I'd written it myself.
                          
Then Will's face fell. Finally, the penny dropped.
                          
"Oh my God, we were meant to be going to the Paper Lantern weren't we?"
                          
Layla nodded, a somewhat disappointed smile on her face.
                          
"Layla I'm so sorry," Will continued.
                          
"It's fine, really. Rosie and I had a really nice time together," Layla smiled over at me genuinely, "And I've got something to tell you."
                          
I smiled, proud of Layla for finally deciding to tell Will the truth. We'd discussed it while we'd been laying in bed last night, just talking about anything random that popped into our heads until she mentioned her plan. She was going to ask him to homecoming, rather than wait around for Captain Oblivious to make the first move.
                          
"Oh, me too," he grinned, "But you go first."
                          
"No, you go," Layla urged.
                          
"Okay. Well I am going to homecoming with Gwen Grayson. Can you believe that? Gwen Grayson!"
                          
No I really can't, Will. My heart sunk for Layla as I watched the smile go to fall from her face before she willed it to stay put just for the next few moments.