Comfy Closets - Chapter 20: Chapter 20

“What do you think about Pumpkin?”
“No.”
“What about... Sweets?”
“No.”
“Honey?”
“Eh...”
“Tarts?”
“Where’d you even get that?”
“I don’t know!” I threw my hands up, out of ideas. For the duration of our chemistry lesson, I’ve been bouncing ideas off Leah for good nicknames, and apparently, I wasn’t as creative as I thought.
“Why can’t it be something related to my actual name?” the dirty blonde mumbled as she concentrated on mixing the solution in the beaker.
“Because your name is so short! It’s hard to come up with one,” I pouted, leaning my arms on the table as I watched her do the experiment for us. “I mean, all I can think of is Lele, Laylay, Leah Beah and Leahbear. And none of them are that great.”
“You said you were creative...” she sang towards the end. “And only my sister gets to call me ‘Lele’ because it’s embarrassing and she only does it to annoy me.”
“Alright, got it. But, seriously, this is hard. And I like calling you babe anyway, so why change it?”
“Done!” she announced, moving away from the equipment and sitting back down. “Now all we have to do is write the report.”
“Babe...”
“I heard, I heard. I don’t mind, whatever feels natural, y’ know? I love when you call me that, so I have no complaints here.”
I smiled happily. “Okay, that’s settled. So, the report?”
We worked through the data together, comparing notes and results before doing the write-up. I’ve loved having Leah as my lab partner since she changed seats. My previous one has since replaced Leah's place in the back, who was very irritated to find out, but did so without complaint because - come on, she would be picking a fight with the class president.
After handing in the report and chatting between ourselves, the bell rang to release us. I walked out with Leah, heading in the direction of the cafeteria when I felt someone’s hand on my shoulder. The contact startled me to a stop, causing me to turn around instinctively.
“Ash? What’s up?” I asked, confused. He looked very serious as his eyes darted between me and Leah. “Is something wrong?”
“Can I talk to you- the both of you, for a minute? Please?”
“Sure...” I had no clue what this was about.
He turned around and headed the other way, going against the current of students rushing towards food. I gave Leah a sideways glance and shrugged before following his lead.
Ashton took a turn into a small, secluded hallway that only held storage rooms before stopping and facing us. He crossed his arms, his stance a little guarded as he pursed his lips. I felt the barest of touches on the small of my back as Leah prompted me to start.
Clearing my throat, I proceeded. “So, what is it, Ash? Why did you want to talk to both of us?”
“I needed to know something, and I want you guys to confirm it for me,” he said slowly. “Are you two a thing?”
I looked at him blankly. He must have just pieced it together in class. I thought it was quite obvious though since I told him a couple of weeks back that we had something going on, it just wasn’t official then. With the amount of time I spent with Leah now, I figured he had already found out. I mean, even his girlfriend noticed.
“Wait, what?”
“I want to know if you two are together. I saw you guys in class. That was definitely couple-y things you were talking about,” he stated confidently. I looked to Leah to see she had an expression that can only be described as ‘oops’.
She leaned towards my ear and whispered. “Maybe we’ll have to tone it down just a little more next time.”
The feeling of her breath near my exposed neck caused a shiver to pass through me. Leah donned a smug grin when she saw that. “Yes, Ash, we’re together. I thought you’d already know since I did kind of tell you back at the pizza place, but Gia did mention you not being able to catch on,” I noted.
“Wait, Gia knows? How come I’m the last to know?!”
“Eh... for... reasons.”
“Either way, you and me –” he pointed at Leah, “we are going to have a serious conversation, young lady.” I rolled my eyes at that. “If you ever hurt my Aly, I will- ”
“Okay! Let’s do this later, alright? I want food,” I interrupted. His brotherly overprotective-ness can sometimes go overboard, and I don’t really want to be around to hear it.
I led the way, walking a few steps ahead of them as they trailed behind. Even though they were whispering, I could still hear their words.
“For real, if you ever hurt her, you will regret it. She’s been through enough the last time, so don’t be like her,” Ashton heatedly muttered.
“I won’t, I promise,” Leah said resolutely, even if she didn’t actually know what happened before. He hummed in acknowledgement.
I didn’t know how I felt with Ashton bringing up Izzie, but I tried to brush it aside. The unsettled feeling still lingered like a bad taste in my mouth.
By now, almost everyone was at the cafeteria, leaving the hallways empty. But just then, a figure came out of a classroom, her head down as she looked through the papers in her hands. As we drew closer, I realised it was Riley heading in the same direction. “Hey, Riley!”
“Hm?” Her head shot up, her face brightening when she saw us. “Hey, guys. Why aren’t you at lunch?”
“Ashton just found out that we were together,” Leah said simply, catching up to my side and putting her arm around my waist. So much for toning it down.
“Wait, she knows too?!”
“She figured it out.”
“Aww, you’re so clueless, Ash,” Riley condescendingly patted his cheek in a playful manner. He pouted angrily as a response.
“I’m not talking to you people,” he harrumphed childishly, stomping ahead of us.
“He’ll calm down soon,” I waved reassuringly.
We got to the cafeteria, full of noisy teenagers seated in their own groups. Leah let her arm drop from my waist, which I dearly missed, as we got in line. I took a glance at the usual table me and Ash shared, only to find some other kid sitting there and not our friends. I tried to scan for them within the vicinity but was rudely interrupted by the cranky cafeteria lady to hurry up and choose. She even gave me less food. I knew I’ve always never liked her.
“Where are those two...?” I trailed off as I looked around after paying.
Riley nodded her head to their table. “Just sit with us, we have room.” Ashton gravitated to her side and walked with her, now all happy again.
Looking to Leah, she smiled encouragingly. “Come on, you can sit with me.”
I followed her unsurely, not all that excited with the break of habit, but at least Leah was there as company.
As we approached their table, I spotted the previously missing fiery redhead animatedly chatting with the girl seated next to her.
“Gia? What’s with the change?” I asked curiously.
“Oh, I needed to talk to Hailey about our presentation for next period, ” she explained, looking to her partner with beautiful ombre hair.  “We have to get an A because it’s worth insanely a lot of our final grade.”
“Oh. Then where’s Zach?” I followed up, placing my tray on the table next to Leah's and taking my seat.
“Don’t know. Don’t really care,” she said dismissively before continuing her conversation with Hailey.
Concern filled me at that response. I had the impression that everything was alright between them, but apparently, Zach must’ve done something to piss her off because she rarely got like this.
I was about to question her further, but thought better of it, deciding not to bring it up in front of everyone. So instead, I just started eating quietly as I observed everyone.
Ashton was chatting with a fellow basketball teammate at the table. Leah was immersed in her own conversation with Sara. Riley was throwing her fries at a boy, and everyone else was just eating and talking like normal.
At this very moment, I felt... sort of okay.
The reason I say this is because, in the past, if I was ever put in a situation where I was stuck between acquaintances, I would always feel unbearably shy. It was almost like an out-of-body experience where I was an observer that was invisible to everyone else. I wouldn't be able to talk without jumbling my words. I wouldn't be able to stay still because of all the nervous energy coursing through me.
But now, I’ve noticed I’ve grown more confident and comfortable in social situations. It may be because I was also surrounded by people I felt like myself with, but I've started being the one to start the conversation or to take the first step. Maybe that’s because I’ve been around Leah lately.
She has always radiated this confidence and ease that drew people in. Maybe she rubbed off on me, because now, I wasn’t as uncomfortable or as shy as I used to be, and I was happy for it.
“You alright, Lyssa?” Leah whispered when she noticed how quiet I’ve gotten.
I smiled contentedly “Yeah, I’m good.”
She smiled back. “Alright.”
“By the way,” I lowered my voice, “what was the name of that girl I sat next to at the diner?” I asked as I looked at the said person who was sitting across from Leah.
“The girl with the auburn hair? She’s Emma.”
“Cool, thanks.” I raised my voice to capture her attention. “Hey, Emma!”
She stopped eating mid-scoop and looked to me. “Oh, hi! Haven’t talked to you in a bit. What’s up?”
“I was wondering if you have any new indie artist you’ve discovered that you could recommend to me. I want to listen to something new.”
“Heck yes!” she exclaimed, slamming her spoon down excitedly and causing me to jump. “I have TONS in my mind right now! Heck, songs are constantly playing in there.”
I couldn’t help but look at her weirdly. “Playing in your mind?”
“Yup. There’s always a song playing in my head. It’s kind of like a ‘head radio' of sorts,” she explained, taking another bite off her plate.
“Doesn’t it get annoying?” I asked curiously, leaning forward as I propped my chin up with a fist.
“No, not really,” she mused. “Although, when I’m in an exam or something, it can sometimes get in the way of my thoughts.”
“Damn, that actually sounds like something I want,” Leah chipped in. “I won’t even have to whip out my phone.” I nodded in agreement.
“So what’s playing right now?”
“Peanut butter jelly time.”
“Okay, I go back on what I said,” Leah mumbled. “I do not want that ability.”
Emma scratched her head impishly. “Yeah, that wasn’t the best one in the stash...”
Sara decided to join the conversation. “Oh, I have a song! I may not have your ‘head radio' thing, but this song has been stuck in my head for days,” she groaned.
“Well give it to us,” Emma prompted.
“Lover by T Swift.”
“Hey, that’s not a bad song!” I exclaimed in protest.
“Yes, it’s not, but like on repeat?” she reasoned.
“There could be worse,” Leah said, pointedly looking at Emma.
The auburn-haired girl crossed her arms defensively. “I don’t care, I like that song,” Emma harrumphed. She chose to change the topic to avoid anymore teasing. “Has that song been playing because you like someone, Sara? Hmm?”
The blonde suddenly became all meek as a blush coloured her face. “Umm, no?” she said unsurely.
“Oh, come on. That is definitely a yes,” Emma called out. “You gotta tell us who it is.”
My thoughts drifted to her and Zach back at the diner, all close and flirty. I couldn’t help but suspect there was something going on there.
My gaze drifted to Gia to see she was silently eating her meal with her head down, not saying a word. That was unusual. I’m guessing she was thinking the same thing as me, and a flood of sympathy washed through me for her at the thought. She was still recovering from that blow.
“Wait, some guy is into Sara? Never saw that one coming,” some guy with a letterman jacket butted in, rudely pushing himself into the space left between Leah and Sara and taking a seat there.
“Seriously, Kyle? Can you be less of an ass?” Emma remarked.
“What? I genuinely wasn’t expecting it,” he responded, stealing a fry from Leah's tray. Now that was rude. “Come on, Sara, it was quite obvious,” he nudged her side
“I don’t even want to talk to you right now,” she said, turning her body away from him and looking the other way.
“Fine, I’ll just talk to Leah then,” Kyle said indignantly. Turning to her, he put an arm around her waist and pulled her closer. “Missed me, Le?”
My previous annoyance skyrocketed to anger as I saw his arm wrapped around my girl. I was about ready to tear his offending limb off when Leah squirmed away.
“Kyle, stop,” she demanded, taking his arm off of herself and sliding back my way, now even closer to me than before. Our thighs touched, and I took solace in her hand reaching for mine under the table, as I gripped it with a fervour to stop myself from punching the jerk.
“Jeez, Leah. I was just playing,” he brushed off. “Why can’t we cuddle, huh?”
“Dude, back the f*ck off.” My tone was stern and my gaze cold as I looked at him unflinchingly. Leah started rubbing soothing circles on the back of my hand, trying to calm me down.
“Oh, the new girl is telling me off now. What are you going to do?” he taunted, but I could see that he was starting to get worked up, his nostrils flaring at my words.
“Piss off, man”
“Be a jerk somewhere else,” Ashton and Gia said at the same time, the attention of the whole table now drawn to us.
Kyle looked around at everyone, and seeing that he didn’t want to embarrass himself further to keep his ego in check, he got up from the table and left. “Whatever, losers.”
The table was silent for a few seconds as everyone took in what just happened. Emma was the first to speak. “Sorry about that,” she said to me, “he’s such an ass, I don’t even know why he hangs around here.”
“Yeah, and the most arrogant piece of crap you’ll ever meet,” Sara commented, shaking her head as she went back to her food. “Don’t let him get to you, he’s not worth it.”
The conversation slowly moved on to other things as we tried to forget the previous encounter. “You alright?” Leah asked softly as her soothing patterns she drew with her thumb didn’t stop.
“Yeah, he just pissed me off when he put his arm around you,” I sighed with my head down, blowing out a frustrated breath.
“Babe, he’s not worth your thoughts,” she whispered. “I’m yours, and I know if he continued with what he did, he would’ve definitely gotten a punch or two in the face,” she smirked, trying to lighten up the situation, and she did.
I chuckled slightly, calming down a little. “Yeah, I’ll add a few more kicks to the nuts just to finish it off.”
Leah laughed, her beautiful smile stretching across her face. “That’s my girl.”