Another Chapter to Enjoy.
Disclaimer: Not mine except for whatever is not in the movies
Note: Don't worry about Warren's hair people, there's a reason why he cut it. Maybe it'll come back.
Chapter 2
Light poured through her windows in steams of orange, waking Layla up to a good mood. Well, at least until she found that the cause of her warmth was from a familiar leather jacket. She hugged the leather close to herself, trying to comprehend everything new. Warren was gone. The jacket was proof of that, but more than that, he had held her, had kissed her, then must have put her to bed. What did it all mean? Did that mean he liked her? Did she even want him to? But most of all, what could have been so bad that he felt he had to resort to that type of goodbye?
What she knew she really needed to do was talk to Magenta. Will was a great best friend, but some conversations you just needed a girl. Jumping from bed she dressed at a record rate, probably the fastest in girl history, and found her cell phone. After messaging Magenta to meet her at the swings in the neighborhood park, she sneaked down stairs with the jacket. No need for her mother to question when Warren left his coat. Especially when it didn't get cool yesterday until the evening. Once the coat was stuffed lightly into her messenger bag, she allowed herself to step into the kitchen to scavenge some breakfast. Maybe even some coffee for a future, grumpy Magenta.
Her mother stood by the stove, watching over the pancakes she made special for her father and baby brother. Two of the cakes had been set aside for Layla in her spot at the table. She kissed her father and mother on the cheek and slid into her chair. Her brother, Samuel, was only two years old, and was born around the end of her freshman year. He caused plenty of heart attacks when watched by Layla and her friends, but his toothy grin won them over every time. Even Warren liked the little guy.
"Why are you in such a hurry today? Big plans?" her mother questioned as she took her seat. Her father gave her a nod and continued eating. Sam didn't even look up from licking his plate clean of syrup.
"Eww, Sammy don't do that." Layla picked up the plate to let her mom put another pancake on it, then returned it to her anxious little brother. "I'm gonna head to the park to meet up with Magenta."
"At 8:30 in the morning? I thought Magenta didn't wake up until noon during the summer." Layla was getting worried, she never was very good at lying to her parents and didn't want to start now.
"Well...we have something kind of important to talk about."
"And what would that be?" asked her father, getting interested in the conversation. 'Shoot', thought Layla, knowing very well that she'd have to spill something clever now that her dad wanted in on her plans. Truth is always the best option she decided, knowing very well she didn't have to tell them everything.
"Warren had to leave town last night, something having to do with a family issue. Not about Barron though. He didn't have a chance to say goodbye to everyone, so I thought I'd make sure they knew."
"And let me guess," her mother stated, "he didn't tell you what the family issues were, so you want your friends to help you find out?"
"Well... kinda."
"Just stay out of trouble Layla, life isn't always pretty when you start to mess with it." Her father's wisdom was heard, but Layla disagreed with it. She wasn't messing with life, she was making sure her friends were okay. And Warren had a habit of going where the trouble was, so if he seemed worried the night before, then something could be wrong. There was no way in the world Layla would just let her friend get hurt.
Ten minutes later and Layla was off at the park, allowing the wind to help her swing. Her messenger bag sat safely beside her swing, letting two portable coffee mugs lean against it. She could see Magenta off in the distance making her way towards her. Slowly walking, and still in pajama pants, Magenta looked as if she was the walking dead. When she finally made it up to her friend, Magenta crashed down upon the swing. She excepted the coffee with a smile, and the two friends sat in silence.
Magenta was the one who finally broke it.
"So why in the world did we have to talk so early? You couldn't have waited, say, another five hours so us nocturnal people could get some beauty rest?" Layla laughed, guessing her friend probably sat up all night talking to Zach on the phone. The only time he could talk was at night when his parents were sleeping, due to bad grades and getting grounded. "No ones dead right? Come on girl, answer my questions! Your driving me nuts!"
"Okay, okay! Calm down. No, no one's dead. At least I don't think so. I just really needed to talk about last night." Layla looked to the ground, not meeting her friends eyes.
"So what happened? It was your parents anniversary right? Is that what it has to do with?"
"Not exactly. Well..not really at all. It has to do with Warren." And with that Layla told her friend of the conversation with Warren. How they goofed off, and talked on the roof, and finishing with the part that freaked Layla out the most. The kiss.
"Finally!" Magenta yelled when Layla finished her tale. Layla looked up at her friend with shock. What did 'finally' mean? Before she could question the girl in purple though, she was answered. "Well come on girl. We've been waiting for you two to get over yourselves since you and Will broke up. Will was even in on the bet."
"BET!?"
"Yeah, it was obvious that you two were gonna get together at some point. Looks like we all owe Ethan ten bucks."Layla wasn't even sure she could react to that. They all knew that their was something between her and Warren? She didn't even know if there was something between Warren and her.
"But, I don't even know if he actually likes me. It could have been just some goodbye kiss. And I've never really thought about a relationship with him or anything. I mean I've always been close to him and sure I always kind of liked him but what about..." Layla just rambled off and Magenta let her. Sometimes its better to listen and let them talk. When she finished, Magenta finally aked the biggest question.
"So, do you like him?"
"Yeah, I think I do."
"Well, since the group already knows he likes you, then I guess there's only one thing we can do."
"And whats that?" Layla asked already knowing the answer.
"Lets go find our boy, and get him out of trouble."
Thanks for the reviews, they're always appreciated. Next chapter should be out by the end of the week or sooner. -SC (wonder)
