Jordayla

Jordayla is the het ship between Layla and Jordan from the All American fandom.

Canon
Jordan and Layla have known each other and been friends since they were kids, and played together a lot as Layla and Olivia were best friends. One time, Layla made Jordan cry because she kicked him out of a fort the three of them had built. As teens, Layla becomes the most popular girl at school, while Jordan is popular too, being the school quarterback and captain of the football team. When they are juniors in high school, they hang out in the same friend group and Layla is dating Asher, one of Jordan's friends. Unbeknownst to everyone, Layla is lonely and neglected, having lost her mother two years prior and her dad never being home, which she hides under a facade of 'it girl' partying and studious excellence. Jordan, meanwhile, struggles to prove himself outside of his father's NFL fame and as more than the coach's son.

At the start of their junior year, Crenshaw star wide receiver Spencer James transfers and joins the football team. Layla immediately shows interest in Spencer despite having a boyfriend, which Jordan notices and is visibly jealous of, despite dating someone himself. When Jordan hosts a pool party where Layla and Spencer flirt, Jordan stares at them despite being right next to his date. Jordan also develops a rivalry with Spencer for his father's attention. Jordan eventually learns that Asher cheated on Layla with Olivia while Olivia was using, and, despite knowing they were both drunk and Asher didn't take advantage of Liv, Jordan punches Asher. Layla and Spencer are drawn to each other and Layla dumps Asher for Spencer at the Homecoming dance, while Jordan starts seeing a girl to escape with.

Layla's mental health starts to suffer due to her father's continued neglect and she doesn't let anyone in. Meanwhile, his parents' problems lead Jordan to party constantly and drown his sorrows in a string of meaningless hookups. When Layla's father finally returns to town after learning that Layla is sick, she refuses his help and, to continue her popular girl smokescreen, decides to throw Jordan and Olivia a surprise 17th birthday party. Jordan and Layla, both deep in their separate woes, get along well at the party before JP shuts it down. On that night, one of Jordan's random hookups reveals that she is pregnant with their child, which serves as a bit of a wake-up call for Jordan who starts to heal as he prepares for fatherhood. However, she lied and the baby isn't Jordan, but despite this Jordan starts dating Simone.

Layla learns that her mother suffered from mental illness as well and finally commits herself to a treatment center to get help. Layla steadily gets better and is supported by her friends. After leaving the treatment center, Layla attends Olivia's cotillion, where she runs in to Jordan.

Songs

 * lean into love | BIZ COLLETTI
 * first kiss


 * could you be mine | JAI FREEDOM & MEESHA BLACK
 * layla waiting for jordan at the beach house

Fanon
Jordayla is one of the two biggest ships in the fandom, along with Spelivia. Shippers have been there since the pilot, given how many parallels in their struggles were present, Jordan's jealousy, their childhood friendship and the opposites attract dynamic. The number of shippers steadily increased over the first three seasons, despite them being given few interactions. When they were given more screentime in Season 4, shippers delighted. The excitement grew significantly when it became clear the ship was given a slowburn into romance, which culminated in their kiss in the Season 4 finale.

Fandom

 * TUMBLR


 * TWITTER