Life of a Teenage Haner

Layla’s POV

I was laughing at a joke Aaron had told me when my phone started vibrating in my pocket. Pulling it out a smile spread across my face when I saw that it was Jaden. Looking up I smiled at the rest of the guys and excused myself

“sorry guys, I have to go take this” they nodded and I got up answering the phone

“hello!”

Nathan’s POV

As Layla left the table with a wide smile I looked at the others confused

“who was that do you think?” Zoe glanced at Layla before looking at me with a small smile herself

“that would most likely be Jaden judging by the smile on her face”

“Jaden?” I asked, I had never heard of a Jaden. Zoe nodded with a slightly hesitant look on her face as she looked to the others. Aaron sighed as he looked at me

“Jaden is the son of her Mom’s best friend” he told me. I grinned

“that’s ok then” I replied. Adam sighed as he shot me a sympathetic look

“look man, I’m gonna tell it to you straight before you get too into her because we can tell that you like her” I looked at him confused

“what are you talking about?” I asked, Adam looked to Zoe who looked at me and spoke

“Layla and Jaden have a bond, they have been close for years. God I can tell you stories about those two, take this one time when he was 15 and she was 12, he was on holiday with his parents and this kid picked on Layla, she was crying and walked away but the next minute she had gotten a call and it was Jaden asking what was wrong. He knew that she was upset and he was nowhere near” she told me. I shrugged

“coincidence is all, happens all the time, doesn’t mean they have a connection” I told them. Aaron shook his head

“nah man, I’ll tell you a better example; this was just last year. Jaden was in Phoenix with a band, getting the equipment into the back of the van when a group of thugs came up to him and threatened him with a knife; he managed to fight them off for about ten minutes before the police showed up and arrested them all” I nodded, brows furrowed

“that’s unfortunate but what does that have to do with this?” I asked

“who do you think called the police?” he asked, I frowned then shook my head

“no way” I muttered, he nodded

“yeah, we were having a movie night at her place when she started getting really antsy then all of a sudden she flew at the phone and called the police demanding to be put through to Phoenix Police where she told them that someone was being attacked and she gave the address as well and the police went there”

“they believed her?” I asked, he nodded

“if you had heard her, you would too. You know she was so upset by it, worried about Jaden that her Dad shoved her in the car and drove her all the way to Phoenix where I heard she didn’t even wait for the car to stop before she was out of it. Apparently she didn’t even ask where he was but she found him anyway and Mr Haner found them hugging tightly to one another” Aaron explained.

I frowned as I thought it over so there is another guy in the line for Layla’s heart, I had to watch this guy, he may try and come in and take her and frankly I am really starting to like this girl, she’s so interesting and I mean she’s sweet to those she loves while being cold to those who are not counted among her family or friends. She is so smart but she doesn’t brag about it like most and she has to be one of the most beautiful girls I have ever seen in my life.

“Wait didn’t you guys tell me that he and her brother were best friends?” I asked, Aaron nodded

“yeah, Braden and Jaden have been friends since babies really, they were always together because their parents were” he explained. I smirked

“so the reason they are so close is out of necessity, not because they have some kind of spiritual connection” I said, I knew it wasn’t complicated.

Zoe raised a brow

“the boys were forced together yeah, but they didn’t have to have Layla with them but they connected anyway” she told me, I waved it off

“look I appreciate you guys trying to help but I don’t believe in all that spiritual crap, I believe in choice and she will choose to be with me” I insisted.

I noticed them all share a look and I scowled at their lack of belief in me before turning and keeping an eye on the expressions crossing Layla’s face as she spoke with this guy

Layla’s POV

I heard a chuckle on the other end

“hey there Layla, how’s it going?” I smiled

“oh like normal really though no run ins with any bitches lately, how’s it going with you?” I asked and he groaned

“I am tired as hell, one of the bands decided to have a party last night in their hotel room, it was down the hall but you could hear it loud and clear, I couldn’t sleep for my life” I pouted

“aww poor you! I thought you could sleep through anything though?” he chuckled again

“yeah so did I but it seems not through that, and my roommate decided to hook up at the party so kicked me out of the room so he could get some action” I frowned

“that’s mean, you should have gone and got your own girl” he sighed

“nah, didn’t really want to do that, the whole getting girls because you work for a band thing gets old really quick” I giggled

“sounds like it’s been ruined for you, I’m sorry” I said and he groaned

“I know that is sarcasm but I’m too tired to respond” he whines and I giggled

“I win! So when are you home again?”

“I don’t know, a couple of weeks, something like that, I can’t think right now”

“oh, ok then,” I thought a moment before I remembered Braden “hey I have a favour to ask”

“what is it?” he asked hesitantly making me smile

“it’s nothing bad, it’s just we all missed Braden’s birthday and well I still haven’t gotten him anything, can you think of something?” Jaden chuckled

“I know the perfect thing, I’ll be back before him anyway and give it to you then ok?” I hesitated and he said “trust me” I sighed

“ok I do, just... I’ll pay you back ok” he laughed

“you don’t have to pay me back Layla” he stated and I smiled

“thanks Jaden” we were silent a moment before I heard shouting on his side then he said

“I have to go now, work crap, so I’ll talk to you later or when I get there alright?” I nodded and smiled

“ok, bye Jaden” I said and he replied

“bye honey” before he disconnected.

I walked back over to the table and sat down, Zoe looked at me and raised a brow

“how is he?” I smiled

“tired but he’ll be home soon” she nodded and we soon got back into the conversation.

It was the end of the school day and I was packing books into my locker while nodding my head to a beat in my head that Uncle Jimmy had been playing on the table this yesterday when a voice came from my right

“do you need a ride home?” I looked to the side to see Nathan stood there scuffing the bottom of his shoe on the floor while looking at me expectantly. I scoffed

“I wouldn’t take a ride off you, you’d probably kidnap me or something” he groaned

“I wouldn’t I promise, can’t you forgive me for acting like a moron” I rolled my eyes

“I suspect that moron is your real personality so no” I went to walk away but he grabbed my arm to stop me

“please Layla, I’m sorry, that’s not what I’m really like at all, I was just... nervous about starting a new school and acted like a dick” I narrowed my eyes at him as I studied him, should I trust him or not?

I sighed as my giving nature overrode me

“I accept your apology but I don’t need a ride, one of my uncles is coming to get me today” he nodded though he now had a smile on his face

“so friends?” he asked and I nodded slowly

“friends” he grinned before letting go off my arm and letting me walk away though I could feel him staring at my back as I walked off and out the school doors.