Chapter 2 The Boy I couldn't Forge

Layla's POV

I stared at my phone until the screen went dark. I barely breathe. What the hell was that supposed to mean? My fingers hovered over the screen.

I replied: What are you talking about?. This message showed one tick, then two. He was online. My heart started beating faster. I waited, nothing.

"Seriously." I dropped my phone on the bed and ran both hands through my hair. This has to be some kind of joke. Daniel had always been like this. He loved getting inside my head, he loved making me angry, he loved knowing that one little comment could ruin my entire day. Maybe this was just another game. I picked up my phone again. I typed "if this is some stupid joke, stop!"

Three dots appeared then disappeared then appeared again. Finally a message came through

"Ask Daniel why he stopped talking to you."

I had never asked myself that question, not properly. Daniel and I had spent almost our entire childhood fighting. Then somewhere during high school, everything changed. We stopped talking, no more teasing, no more stolen pencils, no more childish arguments, nothing. It was as if someone had drawn a line between us and neither of us dared to cross it.

I typed quickly: "who's this?"  No answer. I waited another minute, nothing. I called the number, it rang several times then went straight to voicemail. "Unbelievable." I threw my phone onto the pillow.

I wasn't going to let Daniel ruin my first night at university. I had bigger things to worry about, especially my art. I pulled my portfolio from my bag and placed it on my desk. I carefully opened it, revealing the drawings I'd spent months working on. This is why I came to Gerald university. Not Daniel, not parties, not hockey players, art.

I reached for my sketchbook and my phone buzzed again. I ignored it. It buzzed again, I groaned and picked it up. This time it wasn't the unknown number, it was Sophie.

Sophie: Girl, are you awake. Layla: Unfortunately.

Sophie: Good, we need to talk.

I frowned. Layla: about what?  Sophie: Daniel.

I stared at the message.  Layla: No. Sophie: You kissed him.  My eyes widened. Layla: How do you know?!  Sophie: because I saw you two disappear together.  I covered my face with my hands. Great. Just great. Sophie: so???  Layla: It was a mistake.  Sophie: A mistake you kissed back?

I didn't reply because she was right, I had kissed him back. For a moment, I had forgotten every reason I hated him and that scared me.

The next morning I woke up with barely enough time to get ready. I threw on a pair of jeans, a white top, and a jacket before grabbing my bag. I stopped in front of the mirror. "You're fine." I whispered. I walked into the hallway and almost immediately walked straight into someone. My portfolio fell from my hands. "Seriously?" I bet down to pick it up. Another hand reached for it at the same time. I looked up, it was Daniel. Ofcourse. He picked up one of my drawings and his eyes moved across the page.  "This is good." I snatched it from his hand.  "Don't touch my things." He raised an eyebrow " good morning to you too."

"I don't want to talk to you." I walked past him.

He followed me. "You've said that before."

"And you still don't listen."

He smiled. "I've never been very good at listening to you."

I rolled my eyes and continued walking. "Wait!" He shouted "did you get my message last night?" His voice sounded less playful, more serious.

I turned to him "you sent that?" . He stared at me. He looked nervous, then his expression changed  "which message?"

"The one about first grade."

"I didn't send you anything." His expression became more serious.

"I'm probably mistaken." I continued walking and he asked, "Why did you stop talking to me in high school?", I asked.

"Why are you suddenly bringing that?"

"I just want to know what happened."

"You really don't remember?" He walked away.

I spent class distracted. I kept thinking about Daniel's words. The professor starts announcing our semester project and students are being paired together. "I hope I'm not being paired with anyone annoying", I whispered.

Then the professor says: "Layla Bree and Daniel Collins."

I looked at Daniel, he smiled. "Looks like you're stuck with me."

I raised my hand and stood up. "Professor, can I change partners please?"

"I'm sorry Miss Bree, it has been decided." The professor answered.

This was the definition of hell. Now I have to spend the whole semester with a boy who made my childhood miserable. Just wow.

After class, I met Sean outside campus. "Layla!" He was standing near the stairs."There you are, how's your first week going?"

I walked toward him "terrible."

He laughed."That bad?"

"Yes, I was late yesterday, almost fell on the pavement and then I had to sit beside someone I never wanted to see again."

Sean raised an eyebrow "who?"

Before I could answer, I heard a familiar voice behind me  "probably me." I turned around, it was Daniel and Noah was beside him. I rolled my eyes.

Sean put an arm around my shoulder "Daniel knows this campus better than you do. He can show you around."

I immediately stepped away from him "no, thank you."

Daniel smiled, "I don't mind." I looked at him. "I do."

Noah laughed under his breath. Sean shook his head "Layla you're going to need someone to help you get around. I have hockey practice most days and I don't want you getting lost."

"I can find my way around."

"I know you can but Daniel can still help." I stared at my brother. Why was he making this so difficult?

Daniel leaned against the wall looking far too amused. Sean turned to him "just look after her okay?" Daniel's smile faded slightly "yeah." He said "I've got her."

Something about the way he said it made me uncomfortable. I folded my arms "I don't need anyone looking after me." Sean laughed "you say that now?"

Noah shook his head "she's definitely your sister."

"What does that mean?", I asked.

"Nothing," Noah replied quickly. Sean looked at Daniel again. This time, his expression became serious. "I'm trusting you with her." He stepped closer to him "she's my sister, don't mess with her."

Daniel's eyes flickered toward me, then back at Sean. "I won't." His voice was quiet, serious. I didn't notice the way his expression had changed. I was too busy looking at my brother. "Can I go now?" I asked. Sean laughed. "Fine, go." I turned and started walking "see you later, Bree." Daniel called after me. I stopped and slowly turned around "don't call me that." His mouth curved into a small smile. I turned away and walked off. Behind me I heard Noah laugh, then Sean's voice "I'm serious Daniel." The laughter stopped. I didn't turn around but somehow I had a feeling whatever Sean was saying next had nothing to do with hockey.

Daniel and I were supposed to meet at the library after the day's lectures for our project. The library was quieter than I expected. Daniel was late. I checked the time on my phone for the third time. "Typical Daniel," I muttered.

"You're talking about me already?" I looked up, Daniel pulled out a chair opposite me and sat down. "You're late." I said.

"By three minutes."

"Three minutes is late." He leaned back in his chair "you missed me?"

I rolled my eyes. "Can we just get this project over with?" He smiled "nice to see you too Bree." I sighed and pulled out a sheet of paper toward him "we need to decide what we are doing." Daniel looked at the paper " Our professor said we need to combine art and business." "I know." "So you handle the art and I'll handle the business."  I frowned "that's your plan?." "Pretty much."  "This isn't a plan, that's you avoiding any real work."

His eyebrows lifted "Wow. We've been sitting here for thirty seconds and you're already insulting me."  "Because you deserve it." He laughed.

I reached for my pencil "I think we should create an art exhibition and build a business plan around it. We could focus on young artists who don't have the money or connections to promote themselves."

Daniel stopped smiling. He looked at me, "that actually isn't bad." I looked up "did you just compliment me?" "Don't get excited." I narrowed my eyes.

He pulled the paper closer "We could make it bigger though. Instead of just an exhibition, we could create an online platform where young artists can display their work and connect with people who want to buy it."

I stared at him, "That...is actually a good idea." He chucked "I know." I watched him scribble a few notes on the paper. He wasn't joking anymore. His eyes were focused and every idea he gave actually made sense. I had always thought of Daniel as the annoying boy who spent most of his time making fun of me. Not this, not this serious intelligent guy sitting across from me.

"You're surprisingly smart." I said. He smiled. For the next few hours , we worked. We argued over names, we disagreed about the presentation. We even argued about the font but somehow, we were getting somewhere.

I reached for my sketchbook while Daniel worked on the business plan. Without thinking, I started drawing a  small red crayon. I shaded it carefully, adding the little marks I'd remembered since I was a child.  Daniel suddenly stopped writing. "What are you drawing?" I looked down " the same thing I always draw." He leaned forward so I closed the sketchbook "it's nothing."

He stared at the sketchbook for a few seconds "why a red crayon?". " I don't know." "You don't know." I shook my head "I've been drawing it for years." Daniel became quiet, too quiet. His eyes were fixed on my sketchbook. I studied his face "What's wrong?" He hesitated, then he quietly said "nothing. I just remember that crayon." My entire body froze. I stared at him "What?" He didn't respond. I slowly closed my sketchbook "How."

He didn't say anything, instead he looked toward the window. And suddenly, the room didn't feel as warm as it had a few seconds ago. I had never told him about the crayon, not once. I hadn't even known why I kept drawing it, yet somehow Daniel remembered it.

By the time I got back to my dorm, the sun had already disappeared behind the buildings.  I dropped my bag beside my bed and kicked off my shoes. My head was still full with everything that had happened at the library. While I was trying to sleep, my phone buzzed.

Unknown: He remembers everything.

My heart started racing. What is this again? Another message appeared .

Unknown: the first grade. The crayons. High school. The night of prom.

Then

"Daniel isn't the person you think he is."

I didn't want to read the messages anymore. I immediately called Daniel. He answers "what's wrong Bree?." I asked "what happened at my senior prom?

Silence. A long silence then Daniel quietly said "Who told you about that?". And in that moment I knew one thing for sure. Someone had been lying to me, I just didn't know if it was the stranger texting me or Daniel.