Note: I have no idea what Layla's parents names are, so I just made them up. Sorry if you don't like or agree with the names. And I know Layla said that animals don't like to be eatten in the movie, but I have friends that only eat fish and no other meat. It's weird, but it works. Which is why I put it into my story.

Chapter 6

"Great, the party's here." Magenta said sarcastically as Warren and Layla walked into the room.

Layla blushed when everyone turned to look at them. Layla cleared her throat and step beside Warren, "Everyone, this is Warren. Warren, you already know Will and Magenta. This is Wills' mom and dad. And the couple you here bickering in the kitchen are my parents. Let's go introduce you." Layla said, grabbing him by the wrist and dragging him into a different room.

Sheesh, that was awkward she thought to herself. She didn't think that the Commander would just gap at him like a fish out of water when he finally showed up to the party, but that was just what he did. Was it so hard for people to understand that she and Warren were now friends? Layla had told them that she invited him to dinner. She was positive that she told them that he had said yes to the party too. With a shrug she concluded that they probably thought he wouldn't show. Well, he was here now. And she was NOT going to send him away. That would be rude.

"Mom and dad," Layla called into the kitchen before they turned the corner. "This is Warren."

The couple before them looked up from the table that they were placing and smiled at Warren. "I have heard such lovely things about you," Layla's mom gushed as she moved over towards Warren.

Warren's eyes widened in shock as her mom pulled him into a hug. He stood there uncomfortably in her mother's embrace before he awkwardly patted her back. "Nice to meet you too," Warren said stiffly.

Her mother pulled back and smiled at him, "I hope you came hungry. Layla and I don't eat any meet aside from fish, which means that we have tons of chicken to spare for everyone else." She winked at him.

Layla coughed to cover her laugh as Warren stood there looking like a lost puppy. She should have told him about her mother. But it never came up when they were talking. And this was just how her mother is. Her mother was always a friendly person and loved to give hugs. If there was one thing you could count on when you walked into Layla's house was that you would be getting a hug from Josslyn and a stiff nod from Michael.

Layla's dad cleared his throat and walked up to Warren. He extended his hand and waited for Warren to grasp it. They didn't shake hands; they just stood there staring at each other. Both were unwilling to look away first. Layla watched as her mom began pulled out a huge bowl and began to fill it with Lettuce, acting completely oblivious to the tension in the room. Then again, this was how she always was.

"Wow," Magenta said as she came into the room and stood beside Layla. "I couldn't cut through that eye contact with a chain saw."

"Michael," Layla's dad said curtly.

Warren nodded, "Warren."

They let go of the others hand and began acting like nothing just happened. Magenta and Layla shared a curious look before they shrugged and sat at the counter in front of Josslyn.

"So Magenta, do you have a boyfriend yet?" Layla shot her mom a look that clearly said to back off, but her mom waved her outrage off.

Magenta laughed, "No I don't."

"How come?"

Magenta leaned forward like she was about to share a secret with Layla's mom. Josslyn's eyes sparkled with excitement as she leaned in too. "No one's good enough for me." Mage said before she shrugged and left the counter to grab a glass out of the cabinet. Layla watched her mom's face drop for a second before she smiled again.

"I'm sure you will find someone, Magenta. I mean look at Layla, she found Warren."

Both Warren and Layla's heads snapped towards her in shock, but her mother started to chop up carrots and wasn't paying attention. "Warren and I are just friends." Layla said when she could find her voice.

"Of course you are, hunny." Her mother sent her an outrageous wink before she turned back to the carrots. Layla felt her face burn with a blush when she saw Warren staring at her from her peripheral vision.

Great, Layla thought again. This is going to be so much fun. She was going to go and hide out with Will in the living room until her mother called and said that dinners ready.

"Grubs ready!" Layla heard her mother cry out with glee a few minutes later.

Will and Layla took their normal seats across from each other while Magenta sat next to him and Warren was seated beside her.

"Why didn't you tell me," Warren trialed off looking at her mom.

Layla hid her smile with a frown, "Tell you what?"

Warren looked at her for a moment before he shrugged and looked away. Layla caught Magentas gaze from across the table and they shared a silent moment or laughter. They were both remembering the first time Mage met her mom. Her mother had been sitting in the living room reading a book out loud when they walked in from school. Mage had thought her mom was crazy when Josslyn started to explain that it was their favorite book (Magenta made a huge production of looking around for someone) until the birds started to peck at the widow to get Josslyn's attention. "Sorry, this is their favorite part," she mom said with a wink and began reading again. Magenta stood shocked for about five minutes before she finally blinked and looked at Layla.

Layla's mom had always been acentric. She had seen the pictures of when her mom was a hippy. She had a pretty wild past; arrested for nudity, arrested for protesting, partying and having a blast. She had been getting arrested when she met Layla's father. Her mother liked to explain that it was love at first sight, even though it took two years for Michael to actually kiss her. "He's shy." Her mom would explain.

"This is great, Josslyn," The commander said as they all began to eat. Layla watched her mother's face light up with pride with his comment.

"Thank you. Layla made the desert." Layla smiled. Another thing about her mother: she liked to share the glory.

"What did you make," Will asked in excitement.

Layla shrugged, "Apple Cheesecake."

"Yum," Magenta and Will said together.

Jetstream smiled at her, "So what have you been up to Layla. It's been so long since you've come over."

"I've just been hanging out with new friends and we've had a lot of work at school." Layla explained.

"And you like your classes?" Layla nodded. "That's good."

"So," Layla's dad started. She shot him a warning look but he ignored it. "Warren, when was the last time you saw your father?" Warren instantly tensed.

"Dad! Warren you do not have to answer that. He is being rude." Layla shot her dad a glare.

Michaels face remained impassive. "It's a simple question. It's not like I'm asking when he's going to bust him out of prison." He shrugged and Layla glared harder at him.

"I visited him last Wednesday." Warren said, surprising everyone. "He is doing very well, asked about classes and how my mom was doing." He shrugged like it was no big deal, but Layla was getting warmer by the second. "And no, I am not going to bust him out of prison. There are actually two reasons. One, it's the top prison facility. It is basically impenetrable. And two, my dad doesn't want me to follow in his footsteps."

The room was quiet for a moment, "I always liked you father." Josslyn said with a smile. "Very well-mannered and he never hurt animals."

Layla and Will started to laugh while the rest of the room was silent. "Of course you like him because he didn't hurt animals." Will roared with laughter. Layla couldn't help but laugh that much harder and soon the rest of the table was laughing with them.

Layla saw that Warren was still confused, but chuckling anyways. "It doesn't matter who you are, if you are nice to animals and are polite to her, my mother will like you no matter what you have done or about to do."

Warren grinned at her, "So because my dad didn't hurt any animals in his quest to rule the world, your mother likes him?"

Layla shrugged, "Pretty much."

He shook his head, "And I thought you were a hippy."

Layla laughed along with Josslyn. "I have big shoes to fill." Layla grinned at her mother.

After that, dinner passed by uneventful. They had mild conversation, cracked jokes and got into fake arguments. Soon everyone was leaving, except for Magenta who was spending the night.

"See you guys later," Layla called from her porch to Will's as the family walked in the house. They all waved at her and smiled.

"I'm sorry about my dad. He's a little...um, well he can be a grouch sometimes." Layla shrugged.

"I actually had fun." Warren admitted while he shoved his hands into his pockets.

Layla noticed that they were alone again. But this time, as they stood under the porch, it seemed more intimate.

"Are you glad that you didn't ditch?" Layla asked folding her arms.

Warren smirked at her. "Yeah, I am."

Layla stared at him, "Me too."

They stared at each other for a long time. They didn't say anything to each other, but Layla found herself moving closer to Warren and he was moving closer to her. She leaned forward and he bent down. Layla could barely contain her excitement; she was about to kiss WARREN.

The front door swung open right before their lips were about to touch and they jumped apart. "I hope I'm not interrupting," her dad said crossing his arms.

"No, we were just saying good night." Layla said with a forced smile. On the inside she was yelling at her dad for ruining the moment. That was about to be best kiss she had ever had in her life and he had ruined it. She tried to hide her disappointment.

"Night," Warren nodded at Michael. Her dad nodded back. "Catch you tomorrow, Hippy."

"See you Hot Head." She grinned at him when he narrowed his eyes at her before she spun on her heel and entered her house.

It didn't take me forever to update this time! But I will admit, it did take a while. I promise, it will change from now on! Stick with me in this story…PLEASE!

I enjoyed writing it! I didn't struggle as much as I did with the others before.

Let me know what you think by leaving a review!