Zachery Williams

I looked at the guy Kayla was hugging. I felt a bit irritated at the proximity. He was smiling while hugging her but then looked up, saw me and frowned.

"I wanted to surprise you," the guy said, winking at her. "By the way, who is that?" he looked at me.

"Oh, shit. I'm so sorry, Zach," Kayla turned and gave me an apologetic smile before dragging the guy over to where I was standing.

"Nico, this is my friend Zach. Zach, this is Nico, my best friend." She introduced us.

Nico gave me a smile and offered me his hand. I took it with a polite smile and we shook hands.

"Nice to meet you," he said. I noticed the way he wrapped his arm around Kayla and pulled her to his side, almost possessively.

"Uh, yeah. Same," I said, feeling awkward and out of place.

We all stood there without saying anything for a while. The awkwardness was killing me so I cleared my throat.

"Kayla, don't you have to go to the café today?"

"Oh yeah, I almost forgot. Nico, wait here I need to go drop my bag off. I'll be right back." She walked inside before either of us could say anything.

"So, how long have you two been friends?" I asked him to ease the tension.

"We've been friends since middle school," he said.

I was thinking of a reply when Kayla came back out and invited Nico to hang out with her in the café. She waved at me and started walking with him.

I stood there, feeling a mixture of emotions I couldn't understand. It felt like I had just been rejected. Which was weird, considering I've never had to feel rejected before in my life. All I knew was that I didn't like that guy and I had only just met him.

I didn't feel like going home so I just kept walking and wasn't surprised to find myself in front of Liam's place. His mom opened the door for me and I climbed upstairs to his room.

"Where have you been, man? I didn't see you at lunch." Liam said, looking up from the game he was playing.

I flopped down on his bed and didn't bother replying. I was still bothered about this best friend of Kayla's whom I wasn't even aware existed before today.

"Oh no. Is it your time of the month again?" Liam gasped dramatically, covering his mouth with his hand.

I threw a pillow at him and he snickered before pausing his game and turning to face me.

"So, what's up?" he raised an eyebrow.

"He looks like a dick with his dumb hair and his pretty-boy features. Who the fuck does he think he is? I'm not sure he's even human. I don't think it's possible for a human to look that stupid. And the way he looked at her. You'd think he was her boyfriend or something." I grumbled.

"Okay...." Liam stood up and walked over to me. He started turning my head this way and that, like he was looking for something.

"Dude, what the fuck?" I pushed his hands away.

"Oh, don't mind me. I'm just checking if you have a dent on your head. So far I'm seeing nothing. My conclusion is that it's probably psychological."

"What the hell are you talking about?" I looked at him.

"Well, you're talking like a mad man. I'm just very concerned about your mental health."

"Whatever, I just hate that guy."

"You know, you're sounding more and more like a girl. Wait, I'm sorry. You are a girl," he said. "And anyway, who is this guy you seem to have developed a strong hatred for all of a sudden?"

"Kayla's best friend Nico." I said, putting air quotes on the word 'best friend'. "What kind idiotic name is Nico? I mean it's just lame."

"Well I think Nico is a pretty cool name. It's unique too."

"Who's side are you on?" I glared at him.

He put up his arms in mock surrender. "Whoa there, peace." He settled down on the bed. "Well why don't you start from the beginning? I looove juicy gossip," he said, rubbing his hands together.

"Who's the girl now?" I asked.

I told him everything, starting from us bunking school until I met the guy.

"I don't know, man. The way he pulled her to his side and the way he looked at her. It just made me feel irritated and uncomfortable for some reason," I sighed.

"Okay, if I didn't know any better, I would think you're jealous. But I do know better, so I know you are," he said with a smug smile and wriggled his eyebrows suggestively.

"Jealous? Why would I be jealous? I have nothing to be jealous of," I scoffed.

"Uh-huh. Sure. Why else would you be going off about someone you just met?"

"I don't know. It's just that, since she moved here, I'm the only guy she hangs around with." I stood up from the bed and walked to Liam's window.

"As I said before, you like her, Zach," Liam said seriously. "Look, I've known you for a long time. And I've never seen you reacting like this toward any girl," he continued. "And also, that much hatred for a guy you just met a few minutes ago? That's not like you, unless there's a valid reason for it."

"I'm so confused, Liam. And it's just weird. It's like I'm living in a classic love story. It's so stupid. When she smiles, I end up smiling like an idiot. I've seen her sad just once, and it felt so frustrating that there was nothing I could do to comfort her. And it bugs me so much that she seems so close to him, while I know next to nothing about her," I ranted, walking around his room.

"See? All that proves how much you like her," Liam said with a huge grin.

"What should I do?" I asked my best friend, who was more experienced than me in that department.

"First, admit to yourself that you like her, and we can go from there," he folded his arms.

My mind drifted off to the time I first saw her. From that day, I had taken a keen interest in her and the more time I spent with her, the more I wanted to know about her. All the times we hung out, the memories flashed in my mind and I felt like a wrestling match was going on in my stomach. Was this what some people described as butterflies? There was nothing delicate or sweet about it. It was like a storm after years of serenity. I realized I had never felt this way about another girl before. And the words spilled out of my mouth, surprising me and earning a loud whoop from Liam.

"I like Kayla. I like her," I smiled. "Liam, I like Kayla!" I said loudly, shaking him by his shoulders.

"Yes, yes, I know, I know, control your emotions." Liam said, making a face which made him look like a wise old man.

"Damn, I like Kayla!" I yelled.

"Are you trying to announce that to my neighborhood? I'm sorry, but there are only fifty years old grannies who won't be very concerned about your love life."

"Well. I'm sure the old ladies would be on my side in this matter."

"Soooo, Zach and Kayla, sitting on a tree, F – U – C-" I lunged at him before he could finish his stupid song. We both wrestled for a minute before Liam surrendered when I pinned him down. I smacked the back of his head one last time and slumped on him bed.

"Thanks, Liam, for always helping me," I turned my neck to look at him.

"I accept your gratitude. Keep thanking me more. I deserve it, since I'm such an awesome friend to you. You don't know how lucky you are. People would beg for a friend like me."

"Of course, Liam. You're the best. All in one package," I said sarcastically.

"So, what do you plan to do? You need to woo her to make this work," he settled down in front of his xbox.

"I guess I have to do something. But do you think she could like me?"

"Well, that I don't know. Who knows, maybe she already does."

"Yeah right," I raised an eyebrow.

"Good luck to you, man," he said before focusing on his game.

I lied down on his bed, my thoughts filling with Kayla. I needed to come up with a plan. Soon.