a/n: This is late! Sorry... I haven't had time to write because of moving... I'm still a little busy and shouldn't even be writing right now.
but I had some time where I had to wait for something, so I'm just being at least semi productive.
Oh yeah, this is directed at the one guest reviewer. You said you don't speak English as a first language, may I ask what your first language is, and if you have an account so we can speak privately? Using reviews to have conversations is just a little awkward and not what reviews are meant for.
"Why are you late?" asked Sarah playfully, giving Layla a sly look as she entered the training hall "and where's Sora?"
Layla sighed as she took her jacket off and took a seat in a folding chair in the corner of the studio. She had known that Sarah would pick up on what happened between them immediately, and proceed to poke her in the side verbally. However, that doesn't mean she was looking forward to it.
If she didn't respond, Sarah would leave her alone, she knew that. Sarah was a lot of things, but she wasn't ignorant. If anything she was the one who knew Layla the best, and respected her personality the most. But, that still didn't mean Layla would be rude enough to give her the cold shoulder. So, she sucked in a breath and replied, hoping Sarah would take a hint.
"Sora is at home in the shower... We woke up late"
"Oh... So something interesting did happen last night"
Apparently Sarah wouldn't take a hint.
"Nothing like what you're thinking" Layla replied dully. This time, it looked like Sarah would back off a little. The blonde singer smiled sweetly and took a seat next to Layla on the ground.
"Alright, alright. I won't pester you any longer" Layla nodded and gave her an appreciative smile "... I'll just pester Sora instead"
Layla's smile was lost. her features became blank as she sat there and thought about the consequences of Sarah moving on to pester Sora rather than her. If she knew Sora the way she thought she did, the sweet girl would crack, given the right amount of pressure, and blurt everything for everyone to hear.
Layla's head slowly turned to look down at Sarah beside her, the woman was smirking something devilish.
"You're evil"
Layla's statement may have been blunt, but it was the only thing she could think to say without completely giving herself away.
A proud chuckle escaped Sarah before the doors slammed open and in ran Sora.
"Sorry I'm late!" Sora yelled, running over to Layla and Sarah, standing in front of them and trying to catch her breath.
Sarah smiled wide up at Sora... Layla was still in a bit of a mood and only raised an eyebrow at her, replying in a dull tone "Could you be any louder, Sora?"
Sora was taken aback by the tone, her expression was slightly shocked, and slightly hurt. Layla didn't miss this, but she never got the chance to correct herself before Sora pouted and furrowed her eyebrows at her, mumbling "Could you be any colder, Layla?"
Layla's face was now shocked. She had been going to apologize, but after that, she wasn't even sure. The thing was, Sora was so sweet and kind. It was odd to hear her spit an insult... Although she couldn't deny that she had egged it on. That still didn't mean she would be quick to apologize.
There was tension in the air. It was clear neither of them wanted to say anything, neither wanted to start a fight, but neither wanted to be the first to apologize either. Sarah noticed this, and stood up to break up the tension.
"Sora" Sarah put a hand on the girl's back, hoping the closer would loosen her tense mood and making the girl turn to make eye contact with her "We actually don't need you for todays class. I think it would be much more productive if you go and practice with Leon for today. I told him I'd tell you that and he is already waiting for you in the trapese room"
Sora took one last glance at Layla. She didn't want to leave without making up with her. It was such a stupid thing for both of them to be mad about too... So small...
Despite that, Sora nodded with a sad look on her face, turning and leaving silently.
Layla blinked as she watched Sora exit through the doors... Had that really just happened?... After only one day of being a couple, had she honestly hurt Sora?... Her heart hurt, and she wanted to throw up. Thinking about herself ever hurting Sora just made her even more sick.
"I really am terrible..." Layla murmured, inaudible to anyone else but herself "... I do it to her so often..."
Sarah turned around, noticing Layla was murmuring to herself, but not knowing what she was saying.
"Come on Layla" Sarah attempted to give another sweet smile "Class should have started a while ago"
Layla nodded and got up from her chair... Class would start, and at the end of it, she would have time to deal with her personal issues.
In the trapese room, Leon looked over and gave a small smile as Sora entered. After a moment of silence he noticed something was wrong... I mean, how couldn't he? Sora was usually so cheerful.
He casually strode up and leaned on the wall beside her, looking down on her as she knelt by her duffle bag and rummaged around for some gloves she had bought not to long ago to help her keep her grip during strength training.
"Nothing to say today?" He asked calmly.
Sora paused in what she was doing for a moment before replying.
"Just thoughts that nobody needs to be troubled with" She said quietly before continuing to rummage through her bag, eventually finding the gloves and putting them on.
Leon was a respectful and respectable man who liked his space. And so, he would not pry at Sora for information. He allowed her to have her thoughts to herself, carrying on with practice as per usual. If Sora needed his advice, she was smart enough to ask for it, so he wasn't too concerned.
The only thing he needed to do, was let her know that he was there to listen. He wasn't exactly known for being sensitive after all. So, he decided to let her know, gently and without prodding.
about twenty minutes into the practice, as Sora was completing her set of chin-ups, he spoke up.
"Just so you know Sora, and I will not prod for any information out of respect, but you can talk to me"
Sora finished her chin-ups and dropped to the ground, landing on her feet and smiling up at him in appreciation.
"Thanks. I knew that... It's just... Personal..." She trailed off, becoming silent but continuing after a moment with a more cheerful expression "It's only a little thing anyway. No point in getting people worried and making a big deal over it"
Her smile was surprisingly convincing... It looked genuine... And knowing how Sora was terrible at hiding her emotions, Leon believed it.
It wasn't too long before Sora was talking again, beginning with a question out of the blue.
Layla was done teaching for the moment. It was almost lunch break and she wanted to make up with Sora. It had been nagging at her mind the entire time, even Sarah had noticed and told her to go on an early lunch. So she did, and was now heading towards the trapese room to find Sora and bring her to the cafateria.
As Layla stood by the doors, ready to open them, she heard Sora's voice from inside and paused to listen.
"Leon, what am I to you?"
Evsdropping was bellow the great Layla Hamilton... However...
She just couldn't help it. That question, combined with the thought of Sora being mad at her, combined with her thinking of herself as the worst girlfriend ever... She just had to hear where this was going, then she would enter like she heard nothing.
Leon turned around, a little caught off guard by the question, but no shock was evident on his face.
"I suppose you are like a little sister to me... Why do you ask all of a sudden?"
"Hmm, that's what I was afraid of"
Layla's heart skipped a beat and she felt as if all the blood had left her face.
Sora had been afraid of that answer?
At Leon's questioning look Sora elaborated "Not in that way, I mean. I don't like you like that... I just meant..." She took a breath and sighed, thinking of how to word this without being insensitive "It's just that... Well, you always say how much like Sophie I am... And I kinda feel like, to you, I'm nothing more than... "
As Sora trailed off but Leon knew where she was heading.
"Sophie's replacement?" He asked indifferently.
Sora gave a slightly awkward smile.
"In words I was trying to avoid... Yes"
Behind the door Layla let out a breath she hadn't known she'd been holding.
Sora didn't like him. She was just worried about being seen as nothing more than a way of gaining closer with a passed relative.
'Why am I already so obsessive? I need to stop. This is not dignified' She would let them finish their moment and then make her entrance.
Leon walked up to Sora slowly and put a hand on her shoulder, looking down on her with a soft smile.
"Sora... Nobody will ever be able to replace Sophie... You should know that... The reason I care for you as family has nothing to do with the similarities you hold with her"
Sora smiled and nodded in understanding as Leon's hand fell from her shoulder.
Layla chose that moment to open the door and clear her throat. Sora looked over in slight suprise, her expression changing to a softer one after a moment. Layla couldn't tell if the expression was sad or not, but it looked cautious. She couldn't help but kick herself for being less than nice earlier.
As Layla leaned in the doorway with a sad, but attemptedly cheery, smile, Sora slowly made her way over, waving to Leon over her shoulder.
"Layla" Sora whispered her name once she had stopped about a foot in front of her.
"Shall we go to lunch?" Layla asked softly.
Sora nodded and grabbed her duffle bag. They both, slowly and awkwardly made their way out the doors. Halfway down the hall to the caffeteria though, Sora stopped and asked Layla a queation.
"Layla... Could we eat lunch at home? I don't have a practice schedule for the rest of the day, and I don't think you have classes for the rest of the day either"
Layla completely turned around to face her and smiled.
"Of course... I wanted to talk to you alone anyway"
Sora felt slightly worried at the thought of Layla wanting to talk to her, but she turned around and made her way to Layla's car.