Disclaimer: I do not own Sky High.
Magenta sat with Layla silently, as Ivy brought in a cup of hot tea from the kitchen. She had never realized how few times she had been to Layla's house in the time they'd been friends. Layla stared blankly towards the television, a small shiver passing over her. Magenta immediately reached for a blanket on her side of the couch. Ivy sat across from Layla on the coffee table, handing her the mug of tea. Their bruises had become increasingly less noticeable since the afternoon, courtesy of Nurse Spex offering her help so the group didn't walk around looking poorly. Ivy looked at Layla's hollow gaze and noticed that she wasn't crying. She wondered if it was shock, if she was fighting it, or if she just couldn't cry over her break up with Will.
"So, is there something going on between you and Gambit?" Magenta was unusually soft in speaking to Layla; she didn't want to make matters worse.
Layla shook her head. "He's been a friend. I didn't realize that wasn't allowed anymore. I haven't treated him any differently than I have anyone else, I don't think." She shifted her gaze down towards the tea.
"Do you want something to be there?" Magenta brushed a wisp of hair off Layla's face gently.
"I don't know. I know he's sort of dating Rogue, and I know I care about him as more than a friend, but I don't know how he feels. He's hard to read." She shrugged.
Magenta looked at Ivy who shrugged as well.
"You guys should get going, it's getting late and we all still have homework." Layla sipped her tea carefully to avoid burning her tongue.
Magenta and Ivy simply nodded and both kissed her on the forehead, extending invitations to her to call them at any time if she needed anything. They left the house and stood awkwardly on the sidewalk staring at Layla's front door.
"Wow." Magenta breathed.
"Yeah." Ivy shifted her weight.
"I never actually thought something could break them up. Especially another person, you know?"
"Life's unexpected like that." Ivy checked her cell phone.
"Anything from Warren?" Magenta leaned over to see the screen.
Ivy finished a text before responding. "He's at Will's right now trying to talk some sense into him. But we all know how good Warren is at that. They're probably sitting on the couch playing video games, ignoring any means of conversing."
Magenta gave a half-hearted laugh before looking again at Layla's front door.
"Did you need a ride?" Ivy took her keys from her side bag and headed towards her car.
Magenta pulled her sweater on, shaking her head. "No, I'm just heading over to Lash's. I'll be fine walking."
Ivy eyed her suspiciously. "Are you sure? I really don't mind."
Magenta smiled, "It's totally cool, Ivy, really. Besides, I could use some exercise. This afternoon was a piece of cake." She sarcastically smiled as Ivy made a disgusted face.
"You're sick, you know that?" She unlocked her door as Magenta laughed and walked down the street, not turning to wave, simply raising her hand above her head.
It was dark when she reached Lash's street. The few street lamps provided little light, and Magenta was thoroughly exhausted so the darkness was not helping her stay awake. She smiled a bit at the thought of crawling into bed with Lash and falling asleep in his arms, suddenly becoming grateful for having such laid back parents. She yawned loudly shutting her eyes for barely a moment, but when she reopened them a man was standing in front of her, sparkling green eyes bearing into hers.
"You must be the guinea pig. Magenta." Dylan smiled sickly and reached out his hand, brushing a strand of purple hair that was near her face.
Magenta dropped her bag instantly and whipped around to run the other direction, when Dylan caught her with a fistful of her hair, dragging her back into him.
"Shh, shh." He ran his hand along her cheek as she opened her mouth to scream, and he hooked his finger on the inside of her cheek, pressing against her jawbone and throwing her to the ground.
-10 Chapters left. Nearing the end!