"I swear she did!" Lauren laughed as Peter came over with a tray of drinks. He placed them in front of his friends
"No... I really don't believe you!" Peter said as he sat down next to Layla "It's not like her at all..."
"No... She clearly said it! She chose truth, Lauren asked the question, she answered your dad..." Layla giggled
"That is disgusting!" The three friends roared with laughter...
"Lauz... Look your lovely and all, but will You please talk to Joey!" Peter said after a long moments break
"Yeah... He's doing our heads in! Asking if we've seen you like every other second!"
Mick watched Layla from behind the bar. He thought about it, but with great regret he walked over to her table...
"Lay... Can I have a word with you in the back?" he said. She nodded and jumped up... Following him through to the hallway. When they reached the steps, she leant against the wall whilst he paced up and down
"Look... I'm sorry about yesterday... And thanks; For getting Linda to come back..."
"Seriously Mick, it's fine. I understand completely!" Layla answered nervously.
"Umm..." Mick stopped and looked down at his feet "Johnny told me where you got those scars, on your arm, from." Layla stopped and put her head up. She stared at the ceiling for several seconds, before taking a deep breath in and looking Mick in the eye!
"He said he wouldn't say anything!" she sighed
"Layla...!" Mick grabbed her by the shoulders "You're practically a daughter to me... He had to tell me. Your brother is crazy, I don't care how much you deny it..."
Mick wasn't lying... For one, he was old enough to be her dad. Another, Toby was slightly bonkers.
She gave a small smile... Knowing someone was there for her was a relief. She'd been through her whole life with no-one to watch her back. Thrown into care. Abused. A pig of a mother. A dad who scurried off before she was even born. It was the best thing ever when she found her mum... Then Toby turned up and ruined everything. Now she's in Walford! A tear ran down her cheek. Mick looked at her, then leant in and kissed her gently on the lips. He then walked straight out of the hall, turning to take one last look at her before he entered the bar. Layla stood there; Frozen... It felt like her brain had shut down completely.
'Hi stuff come up. Had 2 go. Will c u and Peter tomorrow. Lotsa luv Lay xoxoxo' Layla typed out the message on her phone careful. She sent it to Lauren. And within seconds she received a reply
'Too bad :( C u at The Albert tomorrow... Meet us there at 6 k? xoxoxoxo'
Layla ran out of the Vic, trying not to think about what had happened. She had nearly made it all the way back to Sharon's when she saw Johnny walking towards her. She turned around and started to go in the other direction "Layla!" He shouted, quickening his pace. She started to run it was no use, he caught up with her and grabbed her arm. Layla flinched in pain. "Lay... Your all over the place!" He was right. Her mascara had run all down her face; her jeans were crinkled; her face was bright red, and her jacket was hanging off her left shoulder.
"J-Johnny... Look! I just want to be left alone..." Layla jerked her arm, pulling free of Johnny's grip. She started to walk further down the road, Johnny hot on her heels.
"But you don't, do you?" Johnny moved around to stand in front of her, blocking her path. "You don't want to be left alone? Do you?"
Layla stood still and looked at her feet. The rain splashed on her pumps. She watched it bounce on the cobbles before finally looked up. Her clothes were drenched, and being stood in the poring rain wasn't doing her any favours "Come back to Sharon's... I'll explain!"
'If our love, if tragedy, why are you my remedy... If our love, insanity why are you my cla...' Layla pressed the answer button on her phone
"Shaz!" She answered grouchily "No... I can't! I'm going home... No... With Johnny! NO! I can't Shaz. I don't even work there! Sharon! I'm nineteen! You can't tell me what I can and can't do! SHARON!"
Layla ended the call angrily. "Just come on, before she finds out where we're actually going!" Layla grabbed ahold of Johnny's wrist and pulled him away!