It's Me or Him

(Lyla's POV)

When I had heard that, Mike's face immediately drained of all its color. What the fuck did Anna just say? She was pregnant? And by Mike? So he was cheating on me, with her. That's great, after he assured me that they were just still great friends. I wanted to desperately reach across the table and slap him, but then it suddenly hit me like a ton of bricks. I wasn't any better than he was, if he even really did cheat. Because I was still having a secret relationship with his best friend behind his back. And vice versa, I was having a secret relationship with him behind Chester's back. "What the hell is that about, Michael Kenji?" He hated whenever I used his full name because he knew that there was about to be trouble. He hangs his head low, putting his hands to his face. "Well? Are you going to answer me or keep hiding? What the fuck was Anna talking about? Is she seriously saying that she's pregnant by you? When? How?!" It's another few moments of total silence until I practically slam my fist into the table, making him flinch slightly. He draws in a shaky deep breath before looking back at me. "I have no idea why she's telling me, because there's no way that it's mine anyways. I haven't been with Anna since a few months before I got with you. She never once mentioned to me about any possibility that she could be pregnant. She was on birth control!"

I laugh bitterly now before tossing my napkin to the side and getting up without hesitation from my seat to race for the front door. Mike's obviously trying to catch up to me but it's useless, I'm already halfway across the street by the time he even makes it to the door. "Lyla! Get the fuck back over here! Stop making a huge scene in front of the entire population of Los Angeles! You're acting crazy!" He yells at the top of his lungs to me from the sidewalk, causing tons of people to turn and stare at the both of us like we were insane. Okay, now he was really asking for it. With tears streaming down my face, I immediately reached for my cellphone and dialed the only person I knew who would answer and not asking any questions. "Hey babe." I sniffled greatly, wiping my nose on my sleeve as I to try and gather my thoughts together. I guess I couldn't exactly tell him why I was upset, nor could I even tell him how the hell this all came to be in the first place. What the fuck was I going to even say? Oh I'm just upset because my boyfriend, who I said I broke up by the way, you're best friend, Mike, is supposedly going to be a dad because Anna is apparently pregnant but he knew nothing about it the entire time. So that's why I'm upset but don't worry because now I can come running back to you and have all kinds of intense sex until I have to leave and try to work things out with Mike again. Totally fine. Not. "Lyla, what's going on babe? Where are you?"

It takes a few more seconds until I can finally think of a good enough excuse to tell him that wouldn't sound super unbelievable. "I just had a fight with one of the girls at the shop and I left. I'm gonna come over, okay? And spend the night with you. I'll be there in an hour tops. I love you Chazzy." I don't wait for him to respond as I hang up, only to rejoin Mike who reluctantly still waited for me outside of the restaurant. "Lyla please you have to-" I put my hand up to quickly silence him. "I don't want to hear shit from you. Take me home." He instantly looks away, not saying a word besides a simple "Ok." before we start the small walk through the parking lot to his car. Once inside, neither of us continue to say anything the entire way there. Thoughts are running through my head at a million miles a second, the very idea of someone else having Mike's child truly starts to make me sick to my stomach. I don't know why I cared so much, I guess it was because I truly thought that he was entirely all mine. But alas, I'm sure he probably thought the same thing about me too. Here I was, getting ready to run to my other lover, my other source of comfort, his best friend. I was sure that by now if Mike didn't figure out something soon, I was just going to have to flat out tell him. Of course, my heart just wasn't in the game for it, not in the least bit. A part of me still deeply loved and cared for him and never wanted to break his heart. Even despite this newly discovered situation.

When we pulled into the driveway, the awkward and extremely tense silence wasn't broken until he finally spoke up barely above a whisper. He grabbed onto my hand tightly, keeping me there beside him. "I'm so sorry Lyla. You have to believe me, I'm gonna figure this out. I love you." The sadness lingering in his voice hits me deep in my chest and I can't even bare to look at him any longer before I give him a swift peck on the cheek and make my exit. Once inside the house, I break down a few more times, for an entire half an hour to be exact, until eventually I can pull myself together long enough to grab any other essential items I would need for my night at Chester's. Finally satisfied, I head for the front door and load everything in the car. I scan through my phone quickly, sending him a simple text saying that I was on my way which he happily responded a heart emoji to. During my fifteen minute drive, my phone began to buzz nonstop, signaling that someone was calling me. I should have known better, but I decided to answer it without checking the caller ID first once I pulled in front of Chester's place. "Hello?" I ask somewhat annoyed. "Mike came here a complete wreck needing to talk about you. What the hell even went on? He said you're breaking up with him?" It was Tyler, the last person I was expecting to be honest. I sighed deeply, putting my hand to my head. "No, I never said anything. For your information, he was being a complete prick during dinner."

"So?" She cuts me off bluntly, only to succeed in agitating me even more. "So, as I was saying. We were out to dinner, he started acting stupid because you and Cory kept texting me. Long story short, Anna suddenly decides to call and announce that she's pregnant, by him. So before you go accusing me of him being torn apart my fault, it's actually his own." I can hear the sounds of light talking in the background before absolute silence, meaning that she must have went outside. "Look D, I know this is a lot to handle and take in at once, but he's really not the father. There's no possible way and I would know. That's why I invited Mike to your birthday party in the first place was because he was completely single. Anna and him had already been broken up with for the last two months. So if she was pregnant now, it wouldn't make any sense to say that it's his because that would make her already five months. Do the math, Lyla. You've been seeing him for three months already. He's never been away from you besides when the band is working in the studio or anything else of that sort. He's truly head over heels for you, do you honestly think that he would cheat on you? Because he wouldn't, he's not that type of person. He's not like you, he doesn't need to sleep with multiple people to feel wanted and cared for. I'm sure that's probably where you're at now, am I right? Chester's house? Begging him to love and comfort you while he has no idea why you're even sad?"

After hearing that, I hang up on her and abruptly shut my phone off. No one needed to know anymore of my business, I was done with this entire night and I just wanted to spend it with someone I knew who could make me feel at ease. I gather my bags before practically slamming the door shut and rushing up the driveway. Without any hesitation, the front door suddenly swings open, revealing a very excited looking Chester who greets me with a big grin and arms held out wide. He helps take my stuff inside before planting a big kiss firmly on my lips and hugging onto me as tightly as he can. I inhale the scent of him, feeling a sudden wave of relief wash over me. Thankfully I had changed down into some more comfortable clothes before I had left the house so I was ready for the fun he had planned ahead. "I'm so glad you get to finally stay over babe." He beams as we head straight for the sofa in the living room where there's a pile of blankets and pillows set up strategically around, a bag of original flavor Skittles and peanut M&Ms on the coffee table, and my favorite movie, 'The Lost Boys' waiting to be played on the large flat screen in front of us. I catch Chester completely off guard as I pretty much tackle him onto the floor and attack him with tons of kisses. He truly was such a big hearted and amazing person that I swear I still don't deserve to have in my life. "Easy baby, take it easy. Are you happy with the set up? Do I know you or do I know you?"

Tears are running down my cheeks as we sit up now and the smile on his face is gone in a second. "Woah why are you crying, baby? What's wrong?" I let out a light chuckle, wiping my eyes with a tissue that he hands me from the tabletop beside us. "It's only happy tears don't worry, I promise babe." He lets out a quick sigh of relief before pressing a soft kiss to my forehead. "Alright if you're positive there's nothing wrong, I'll let it go babe." We then get everything situated once I finish with my quick episode of never ending emotions, my head resting firmly against Chester's chest as he presses play on the DVD player, signaling the start of the movie. I was about halfway through the bag of Skittles and only a third of the way through the movie when a swift and hard knock came to the front door, making my heart start to pound heavy in my chest. I had honestly no idea who it could be, but I only hoped it wasn't who my mind kept thinking it was. "Hang on baby I'll go check it out." He says with a small smile before getting up from behind me and making his way towards the door. I peeked over the edge of the sofa as discreetly as I could to see who it was standing on the porch. Sure as shit, my heart just about gave out and my last breath had escaped my lungs when I noticed the oh so familiar red flannel shirt and ripped blue jeans. It was Mike. "Is Lyla here, Chester? I need to talk to her, please. It's important."