Chapter Text
---- Chapter 1
Claire walked into Crocus Academy, her new school for the year. Her father had gotten a new job opportunity at the city near her sister’s college so they migrated. She nervously walked through campus, looking for her classroom through the sea of students. After looking around for a while around the hallways, she had finally ended up in front of her classroom that she had been assigned to. When Claire had walked in, she coincidentally bumped into another person on the way simultaneously. “Oh, sorry, my bad.” The guy apologized. They both sit down in their seats, watching the teacher walk in a few minutes later. “Okay class, sit down. I’m your chemistry teacher for this year, Ms. Barclay.” Said the woman in the front with red hair and a smile. “This year, we’ll be going to the chemistry lab a lot since we have a project we’ll be doing for the whole school year.” Once she finished talking, the entire class groaned simultaneously. “Oh c’mon! It won’t be that boring. Now, it’s time to pick groups.” The teacher said.
A few minutes later, Claire was sat on the floor in a circle with other students. She looked across her and saw the guy she bumped into. “Hey, this is awkward. Sorry again for bumping into you earlier. I’m Hayden.” The guy said, reaching his hand out for a handshake. She took his hand, introducing herself. “I’m Claire. I’m new here.” “Okay, group six… Where’s Lyla?” The teacher asked. “She’s absent today. Her flight back here was delayed so she’ll be here tomorrow.” Hayden replied.
Their group leader turned to them both a few minutes later. “Hey, do you two think you can go to the library and get us a few chemistry books?” They both nodded and got up. Claire followed Hayden since she didn’t know where the library was. Inside the library, Claire saw a book that she thought would be useful for their group's discussion, so she tried getting it. Unfortunately, since her height didn't meet up to where the book was located within the bookshelves, she was unable to reach the book she was hoping to use. Hayden saw this and got it for her, their hands nearly brushing against each other. “Thanks.” Claire said, looking up at him. “No problem. Let’s go.” Hayden replied, already walking towards the exit.
Later that day, the lunch bell rang. Claire looked around for an empty table in the cafeteria when she saw Hayden sitting at a table waving at her. Claire walked over to his table, sitting down beside him. "Mind if I have lunch with you?" Claire asked, making sure she wasn't overstepping boundaries. “Not at all.” Hayden replied. Shortly afterwards, they talked about how their day went and ate lunch, while Claire thought her first day at her new school wasn’t too bad.
After the busy day, as soon as Claire got home, she immediately sat down on her bed, took out her phone, and started texting her sister about her day.
The next day, before class started, Claire decided to go to the library to look for Hayden. There she saw him talking and laughing with another girl. “Hi Hayden, who’s this?” Claire asked him after going to where he was. “Oh, hey Claire.” Hayden’s gaze shifted to Claire, pausing his interaction with the girl he was talking to before introducing her himself. “This is Lyla, my childhood best friend.” He spoke.
“She’s the one in our group who was absent yesterday because her flight had gotten delayed.”
The corner of Lyla's lips mused up slightly into a small smile after Hayden had finished speaking. "Hello there. Hayden told me about you." She moved beside Hayden, looking at Claire, her voice as soft as the wind. “It’s nice finally meeting you today.”
“–And, if you don’t mind me adding.. you look nice.” Lyla hummed quietly.
“Thank you. You look good too.” Claire remarked. “Anyways.. guys, let’s go. Class is starting in a few minutes.” Hayden interrupted.
“Alright then, Haystack.”
Lyla commented with an amused expression. “Haystack?” Claire raised an eyebrow. “It’s her stupid nickname for me.” Hayden murmured, clearly not wanting to continue speaking about the topic of his nickname.
Lyla grinned slightly, noticing Hayden’s hesitation, before deciding to tease him further. “Oh my goodness, I still remember when you fell into that haystack-” “Ugh.. shut up!” Hayden exclaimed. “---You looked like a porcupine when you finally go-” “Shush!!” Hayden exclaimed again, his face turning beetroot red. Claire asks, “Wait, do you have a picture?” “You bet I do!” Lyla said, showing Claire the picture she had in her phone. Hayden groaned in response, completely crimson and embarrassed as both Lyla and Claire giggled. “Didn’t I tell you to delete that?” Hayden said, slowly lifting his face from his hands. “Didn’t I tell you I’d never even if it’d kill me?” Lyla retorted back almost instantly. Hayden continues to whine, “I thought you were kidding!” Claire chuckled softly at the sight of her two new friends, already liking the pair.
One day, Claire was out at the park with Lyla and Hayden when Hayden saw the new ice cream store nearby. He went inside and came out with two ice creams, one for him and Lyla. When he gave it to Lyla she looked over at Claire and then back at Hayden. “Where’s hers?” Lyla asked. “Get her one, Haystack.” Hayden looked at the two girls sheepishly and ran back to the store before Lyla could hit him with her shoe.
Lyla kept her slight glare on Hayden even when he gave Claire an ice cream. Claire chuckled and lightly elbowed Lyla. “Calm down, he got me one already.” Hayden chuckled sheepishly as they kept walking. Just then, Lyla’s phone rang.
“Hold on a second, I gotta take this.”
She looked down on her phone, answering the call. After a few minutes she came back with a smile on her face, the sun’s rays shining down on her.
“Guys, my parents volunteered to take us to the beach house this sem break. Wanna come?”
Claire’s eyes brightened slightly as Lyla’s words came through, nodding eagerly much without a second thought. She beamed.
“Huh– really??! Is it really okay for us to come?” Although she hasn’t met Lyla’s parent’s yet, she was thrilled for the trip they could go on and what the beach house would look like. It’s been so long since then since she went on a trip with a friend. “Sure, it’s been a while since we went back there.”
Hayden said.
“You went there before?” Claire asked. “We did, but something happened and we haven’t been there since eighth grade.” Lyla answered. “What happened?” “Nothing important, let’s get back home. It’s getting late.” Hayden said.
A week later Claire packed her things and went to Lyla’s house, meeting her, Hayden, and Lyla’s parents. A middle-aged couple with gray hairs and slightly fancy clothing. It was clear that Lyla was well-off. It was a long ride to the beach house, but they got there at lunchtime. “Well kids, we’re going to the nearby restaurant for lunch. Get ready.” Lyla’s mother, Jellisa Christale replied.
They got to the restaurant quickly, since it was just nearby. “Hello, do you have a reservation?” The person at the entrance asked. “Yes, it should be under Christale.” Lyla’s father, Steven Christale answered. “Yes, I see. Welcome, Mr. and Mrs. Cristale. Your seat is right by the window. Enjoy your stay.” The person hummed briefly, pointing to their table. They sat down and started chatting. Just then, two men walked into the restaurant, their hands intertwined as they sat down nearby. It was clear those two men were on a date, or atleast was in some type of relationship, but it was also clear that Lyla’s parents were disturbed at the sight, shown by their scowls. “They let those type of people into this establishment?” Lyla’s mother scoffs, crossing her arms. “Maybe they’re just friends.” Lyla interrupted with a more serious tone than before, while trying to reassure her parents into calming down due to the fact they were in public. “Don’t have an attitude with me, young lady!” Lyla’s mother retorted. The atmosphere was tense.
“Calm down. They're just trying to be themselves.” Lyla pleaded, hesitation seeping through her tone as she clenched her fists slightly, trying to look normal despite the sudden feeling of anger suddenly sinking into her thoughts. “What your mother means is that people like this, they are wrong. Unacceptable. We believe they’re just confused and conflicted about their lives.” Lyla’s father explained. “It shouldn’t be possible, it’s wrong. Thank goodness you’re not like that.” Her mother replied, turning away as Lyla hummed in agreement, her eyebrows furrowing shortly afterwards without anyone else noticing.
The rest of the meal was uncomfortably tense, even after the gay couple had left.
“I can’t believe such a nice couple like Mr. and Mrs. Christale are homophobic. Are they religious?”
Asked Claire as they left. “Yeah.. they are very, very religious. They have emergency crucifixes placed everywhere in their house.” Hayden replied. “--And, I’m not even kidding.” She looked at him with a flabbergasted expression, concern showing through her face. “Oh.. wow. That’s just… wow.” Claire trailed off with a mumble, not knowing what to say as she was left speechless. “Real bonkers, isn’t it?” Hayden replied, chuckling.
“---Engaging yourselves in a conversation without me?” Lyla asked with a small smirk, coming into view while once again interrupting their conversation when they got back. “Nope, but about your parents.” Hayden replied. “Yeah, they're crazy. They’ve just gone up to the prayer room. They wanted me to go but I just said I’d be studying.” Lyla said. “Isn’t it sem break?” Claire asked. “You gotta do what you gotta do to be a straight A student like me.” Lyla replied. “Wow, I’m jealous.” Claire remarked with a slight smile.
That night they were all sitting in Lyla’s room, having fun just chatting with each other. Hayden and Lyla were talking about their childhood together, and Claire couldn’t help but get a tiny bit jealous at the sight of them being so close together. She felt a small pang of hurt in her chest whenever Hayden laughed at his and Lyla’s inside joke, or whenever he smiled at Lyla with that look in his eyes. “What is this feeling…?” Claire asked herself, her gaze slowly falling down on the floor. She tried to shrug it off, but she couldn’t deny it. She was falling for Hayden. Why wouldn’t she? He’s cute, smart, does judo, and is nice to everyone. She internally smacked herself, feeling foolish for falling for the very boy who definitely didn’t like her back. She looked at Hayden, watching as he continued to laugh at his and Lyla’s inside joke. When Claire had looked a bit down, Lyla was the first one to notice, commenting on it.
“Hey Claire, are you okay?” Lyla stared at Claire, worrying about the other’s facial expression.
Claire snapped out of her trance, responding back. “Ah, yes.. I just feel a little under the roof today. I’ll be heading to my room now.” Claire responded, masking her inner thoughts with a soft smile. “Okay…” She nods, seeming a bit disappointed.
“Your room is across mine.” She spoke again before Claire left the room. “Thank you.” Claire said, getting up to go, making a beeline for her room as soon as she left. She didn’t know what to do, but she knew something; Hayden would never like her back the way she does. And.. It hurts. Her chest ached and small tears welled up in her eyes, but she couldn’t do anything about it. It felt like a curse was dropped down on her the moment she knew she liked Hayden.
The next day, when she went downstairs for breakfast, she didn’t see Lyla’s parents there, but she saw Hayden and Lyla there. Lyla looked up from her breakfast, looked at Claire, and immediately became concerned again.
“What happened, did you not get enough sleep?” Lyla asked, going over to Claire. “Oh, yeah, I’m fine. It’s nothing.” Claire said as she sat down. “Dude, she’s got a point. You have some faint eyebags now.” Hayden remarked. “I’m fine, it’s nothin-” “--It doesn’t look like nothing.” Lyla remarked sternly. Claire just shrugged, said it was probably just because of the seagulls squawking early in the morning, and ate her breakfast. Throughout breakfast, Lyla kept glancing worriedly at Claire, but she didn’t notice, too preoccupied with her feelings for Hayden. After breakfast, Hayden decided that it was a good idea to go to the movie theater. They got their tickets, got their snacks, and went to their seats. Claire was sat in the middle, her cheeks flushed a slight pink hue when Hayden sat in the seat beside her. Thankfully, it wasn’t noticeable due to the darkness of the movie theater. The movie wasn’t bad, but she couldn’t stop blushing at Hayden’s close proximity.
“---This movie’s boring, should we go?” Hayden murmured after a few minutes into the movie. “Uhh, sure.” Claire replied. She turned and saw that Lyla already fell asleep. “Leave her.” Hayden said. “She’ll know where to look. C’mon, let’s go.” Hayden said, and Claire followed him out of the movie theater.
“Where do you want to go?” Claire hid her sheepish expression as she looked around nervously after following Hayden out of the movie theater. The two of them spending time together..
She knows her crush is hopeless, but she can’t help but imagine them together.
As Claire stood side by side with the guy she had a crush on after leaving Hayden’s childhood friend in the theatre as they went out for a walk, her mind kept on wondering if this is what it’d feel like if they were together.
While Claire was lost in her thoughts, again, they came across a stall selling and making boba teas. Hayden noticed the stall as they were passing by and grabbed Claire’s hand, dragging the poor girl to the said stall before she could even protest.
“Gah! H-Hayden? Where are you taking me to?”
Hayden spoke with an excited face before she could finish her sentence. “Oh, c'mon?? Look in front of you. There was a stall making boba tea, and I thought of getting us one each.” Claire’s face reddened slightly when she realized the fact Hayden was holding her hand when she was dragged to the stall. “Oh.. uh, okay.”
Hayden looked through his pockets to find a pouch filled with his money, but then he had forgotten he left it in the movie theatre with Lyla, his childhood friend. He looked at Claire with a slightly embarrassed look after realizing his mistake. “Err, uh.. Sorry. I forgot my wallet.”
He scratched his head slightly while looking away awkwardly. Hayden also only realized just now that he dragged Claire here. “And um, sorry about dragging you here..” He said. “It’s alright, I’ll pay for it. What do you want?” Claire replied. “Brown Sugar, please.” Hayden replied, excitedly waiting for his drink like a big golden retriever.“--Oh wait. You’re paying?” Hayden replied back sheepishly, slightly forgetting the fact that Claire was the one paying for it. “Yeah. You want one, don’t you? You don’t have your wallet but I do. So I’ll pay.” Claire said, although she was just happy to be spending time with Hayden, her crush.
“Thank you.. really. I’ll repay the money when we get back into the movie theater with Lyla.” Hayden said sheepishly. “You don’t have to, but alright. Claire reassured Hayden, already taking out her wallet to pay for their orders.
When they got back to the movie theater Lyla was standing outside with their stuff.
Lyla was staring at them with an unamused expression, while she was carrying the remaining things they’ve left alone with her. She raised an eyebrow after catching sight of the boba teas in their hands.
“....Aha, had fun without me again? Haystack?” Lyla commented with her tone dripping with sarcasm as she looked at the both of them from head to toe.
Claire’s face flushed pink when Lyla had made another comment about her time together with Hayden. “I– uh, it was Hayden’s idea.”
She excused herself, fiddling with her own fingers as she was holding the boba tea she bought on her second hand.
Oh, no. She hoped she wasn’t being too obvious right now.
“--Claire, are you sick?” Hayden looked back at Claire, seeing her pink-ish face as he became worried.
“Oh, um.” Claire hid her face in her hands as she turned away from the pair, her face turning even more pink when Hayden had asked as her mind wandered places.
“N-No... I'm alright. Sorry for making you guys worry.” Claire said sheepishly. “Don’t be. Now answer the question, are you sick?” Lyla asked. “No, I’m fine, it’s probably just the cold.” Claire responded. “Alright then, let’s get back.” Lyla glanced at Claire’s expression for a few more seconds, before eventually leaving it as she went to stare at the boba tea in Claire’s hand, slightly shifting closer to her.
“Anyways… where’d you guys get this without me? Can I have a taste?” Lyla murmured jokingly, breaking the tension between the three of them not too long ago.
“Hayden found a shop that sells boba tea. Let’s get you some, it’s really good.” Claire replied. “Oh… Okay. Thanks.” Lyla said, a very faint pink hue forming over her cheeks as Claire grabbed her hand to get her to the stall where she and Hayden were in earlier.
Later that night Claire once again went to sleep earlier than Hayden and Lyla. It wasn’t really her choice, Lyla just insisted she catch up on sleep and Hayden agreed. She lied in bed, tossing and turning, thinking about Hayden and how it’d be nice to be with him, to be in his embrace, to have him smile at her. It took a while for her to fall asleep.
In her dream Claire saw two children chasing each other in a game of tag. Upon closer inspection she realized that they were Hayden and Lyla as kids. She had to admit, they were adorable. She watched as they played hide-and-seek, and Hayden climbed a tree to hide. Claire thought that was pretty smart for Hayden in his child appearance, until he started crying because a bird was pecking him for disturbing her nest. Young Lyla noticed and ran over, but not before he fell. He didn’t climb too high, but high enough to cause a few bruises. “You idiot! What were you thinking?” Young Lyla cried. “Y-You can’t say that.. That’s a bad word.” Young Hayden sniffled in pain from the bruises that formed in his skin. Despite this, he still had a faint amused smile on his face. “Whatever, I’m getting my first aid kit. Stay here.” Young Lyla replied and sighed at Young Hayden’s appearance, rolling her eyes.
Just then, Claire jolted awake at the crack of dawn.
Her eyes snapped open, registering the surroundings around her as she sat up slowly with a small, confused look. Claire’s memories of her dream were slightly hazy, so she tried figuring out what felt off and missing today. Weren't those children in her dream the younger forms of Hayden and Claire..? She found it cute, their bond that has lasted such a long time. But she also couldn’t help but feel a bit envious that they lasted so long, and that resulted in Hayden liking Lyla in more ways than platonic. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes, got ready, and packed her things. It was their last day at Lyla’s beach house, and admittedly, she just wanted a bit of time away from Hayden and Lyla to process her feelings and to hopefully erase some of her envy.
As soon as they got back, Claire didn’t even bother saying goodbye to her friends and immediately went back home.
A few days passed later after she left on her own unnoticed, Claire heard a notification ring out through her phone as she was laying down on her bed, doing nothing but rotting slowly from the inside out since it was already semester break.
As she kept processing her feelings for Hayden and Lyla’s relationship, Claire wanted to ignore her phone and whatever’s happening in it but another notification came shortly afterwards.
She blinked slightly, scowling a little. Was it her older sister that was messaging her?
Claire grabbed her phone that was on the table beside her bed defeatedly, and scrolled through her messages and contacts through her own social app, wanting to tell whoever’s causing her phone to ring annoyingly to go away since she was disrupted from her deep thoughts. Claire was already busy in a way, and she didn’t need more people interrupting her own time.
While Claire was expecting to see her sister’s contacts pop out on her screen, she was surprised by the fact that it was Lyla who had been messaging her this time.
Did something happen?
Lyla, your girl best friend 🙌💕
5:02 pm
hihi
are you okay? you went home alone a few days ago after we went back
oh, hii
im alrighty, tyty for worrying abt me
i was just kinda tired and stuff, the usual
ohh okok, get some rest
I hope you’ll feel better soon <33
thankss ^^
hows hayden btw
u guys doing ok/???
oh
Claire doesn’t get a response after that text for a bit. She thought she had been ghosted, or somewhat, so she had decided to give up on texting Lyla until the other girl responded a few minutes after.
um, yeahh, he’s fine ¯\_(ᵕ—ᴗ—)_/¯
we’re doing okayyy, no need to worry
5:12 pm
ohh, alright
anywaysssz, wanna come to the park w me?
If ur not busy, of course ><
sure ^^ im not doing anything
can u ask hayden to come too ?
sorry girlie hes kinda busy rn .. (╯︵╰,)
aww, thats a shame
where do u wanna meet ??
5:20 pm
girlie ><, open up the door, i came to pick u up !!
its coldddd out here
???
its only been like what, 8 minutes??
no way ur outside…
don’t believe me ?
mwehehehee, look outside ( ˶˃ᆺ˂˶ )
Claire walks over to her bedroom window, still thinking, ‘There’s no way she’s already outside.. Right?’
Her inner thoughts were then proved wrong after seeing Lyla waving up at her
from below her house. Claire’s eyes widened slightly in surprise. This was one
of the many times Lyla had surprised her.
“Oh, guess I’ll have to go.” Claire muttered, getting her scarf since it was already a bit late. She walked outside, seeing Lyla waiting for her at her doorstep. “Hey! Ready to go?” Lyla asked excitedly.
She stared at Lyla for a few more moments, before shaking her head, smiling slightly. “Mhm. Come on.”
Pretty much sooner, they were at the park, and there was a birthday at a house nearby so fireworks were in the sky. They sat on the bench, watching the view peacefully.
Claire turned towards Lyla, her expression turning blank as she spoke with a quiet voice.
“Lyla… Can I ask you something?” Claire stared into her eyes, her pupils slightly shrinking back.
“What is it?”
Lyla tilted her head slightly, looking back into Claire’s eyes, reciprocating her looks.
Claire fiddled with her thumb for a moment, before slowly asking,
“Do you… Like Hayden?”
Lyla was a little dumbfounded at Claire’s question, becoming speechless in just a few seconds before responding back instantly, retaliating.
“What?”
“No! I see him as a brother! And an unbelievably annoying one too...”
“Why did you ask.. though?”
Claire kept staring at Lyla, her expression unmoving.
“Well it’s just that, I think he likes you. Do you like someone?” She responded back.
“I-I do, and it’s not Hayden.”
Lyla chuckled nervously, her face turning momentarily red as Claire chose to ask her that in front of her face.
“Then.. who is it?” Claire’s eyelashes fluttered slightly, genuinely curious for Lyla’s answer.
“I-It’s…”
Lyla paused and took a deep breath, before moving closer to Claire, gently grabbing a hold of her hands and intertwining them slightly.
“It’s you .”
Lyla finally responded back, her voice loud and clear that made clear of her intention, although she was a bit shy at the same time, her cheeks flushing a pink hue.
The End