08

"Ouch!" Daniel moaned as Anne applied a soothing balm to his back.

"I thought you told Layla it didn't hurt at all," Anne said.

They were in Dan's room a few minutes after they got home from school.

Dan lay on his chest, shirtless while Anne applied the balm to his back, doing his homework in the process.

"I can't tell her it hurts, you didn't see how bad she already felt, she would feel even worse if I told her otherwise" Dan said and Anne nodded in agreement. 'OK.

"And we'd both be lying if we really thought his leg was healed and the pain only lasted a short time"

"Yeah! The burns don't really heal quickly and they hurt so much," Anne said.

"She only said that in order for us to feel better, I had to make her feel better too," Dan said.

"You did the right thing. I'm so glad we finally met the girl from the cafe and thought it was Layla...wow" Anne laughed as she sat on the edge of Dan's bed.

She had finished applying the balm.

Dan smiles. "She looks like a nice girl but when she's triggered she's crazy"

Ann laughs.

Dan dropped his pen and faced Anne.

"You won't believe I just heard 'Hot Coffee' while I was checking the schedule on the wall and the next thing I knew someone bit me so hard “, he recounted.

"Oh my God" Anne laughs loudly.

Dan was tempted to join in the laughs and he did.

"I bet people had to keep him away from you," Anne said, still laughing.

"Exactly! And a girl with pink hair said she's African and African people's teeth are like an axe. Layla told her to be careful or she's going to get chopped by her axe," Dan said and they both continued to laugh.

"You must not have thought she was the African I'm talking about," chuckled Anne.

"I doubted it and I thought there must be another African in the school, that it surely couldn't be the nice guy my sister was telling me about" Dan said and Anne laughed harder.

"I'm glad she's free from bullies and stuff," she said.

Dan nodded. “Nobody seems to taunt her anymore, it seems like they are rather afraid of her”

"It's done well for them, you had to see how badly she was treated before, standing up for it really goes a long way," Anne said.

"Of course the bullies were so lucky to have stopped taunting her before I resumed, you know how much I hate bullies" Dan frowned.

"Yeah, there's a lot of them at Ocean High and the one person they bother the most is Layla, thank goodness she's free now," Anne said.

"Left to me, I don't think they hated her because she's African, if most of her bullies were women then they were probably jealous of her. Layla is still undoubtedly one of the prettiest women in this school and she has this beautiful body that none of them have," Dan said.

"You're right, being African is just a pretext to hate her"

"Yeah, we should just call them jealous assholes," Dan said and Anne chuckled.

"Yeah, because why would you hate someone and even hurt them just because they're prettier and better than you, that's completely insane," Dan said.

"I think people like that should be treated like little assholes" Anne said and they laughed.

"What's wrong with Dylan's guy, it seems Layla has a crush on him," Dan said.

"Yeah, I feel so bad for her, you won't believe he embarrassed her after sharing a kiss during a game of truth or dare"

"Really?" Dan asked as he sat down.

"Yeah, he said his lips tasted like a dead log of wood that wouldn't even light if lit by a big, burning fire," Anne said.

"Oh my God!" Dan exclaimed.

“He also added that he had never felt so sick after kissing someone”

"Wow" Dan frowned.

"And that coming from Dylan would have hurt her so much, Dylan is known to be a big flirt, he kisses almost any girl who wants to be kissed and I don't think he's ever embarrassed any of them about this way"

"It's so bad of Dylan, even if he felt that way, he shouldn't have embarrassed him by telling everyone about it. It's immature," Dan said, angered by the Dylan's behavior.

"Maybe he had treated her that way because of the way Layla is perceived, he might have thought an African is not to his liking," Anne said.

"So Dylan is another little asshole," Dan said.

"Of course he is" Anne was playing with her bedside lamp.

"When did it happen?" Dan asked.

"Just yesterday" said Anne.

"Woah..I just hope she got over the embarrassment," Dan said.

"Looks like she was, she didn't seem bothered by anything while she was with us"

"Yeah and I hope you weren't caught eating in class," Dan smiled.

"No, bad influence" Anne said and they laughed.

☕

"Oh my god I'm so sorry about that Layla" Aria said after Layla told her about the ordeal, the reason she was so depressed yesterday.

"It's okay, I'm done now" smiled Layla.

"I'm glad you are, but you're so strong, those terrible words are so hard to get over so soon," Aria said.

"I didn't do this alone, my new friends brightened up my mood," smiled Layla.

"Your new friends?" Aria asked in surprise, she smiled as she faced Layla.

Layla never mentioned the word "friend" to her and she knew it was because she didn't have one, she knew Layla wasn't treated well at school and she always felt so sad about that and now... did Layla just mention 'friends'

They had even helped her out of the depressing mood that this idiocy had almost thrown her into.

Who are these angels?

"Yeah they're my friends even though they haven't told me but they are. I already take them as mine. What we shared today may not be enough for that They take me as a friend but that's enough for me. They are the only ones at school who have accepted me as I am, even when others have tried to talk them out of it. They are so nice," said Layla said, almost laughing as she remembered the burger getaway.

It was fun.

She had no idea that breaking a school rule would be so awesome..

She doubts she's ever broken a school rule and well, she doesn't regret breaking one today.

The professor had almost surprised them when they were laughing but they had been lucky.

"I'm so glad you finally have people to call friends after a long time," Aria said as she hugged Layla.

Layla is the first child she has met who has such a difficult life at her age, no friends, no parents, no siblings, only an aunt who has made her life more unbearable.

Most of the time she wants Layla to come and stay with her, but of course that's not possible.

Seeing the joy on her face now when she mentioned her new friends almost brought Aria to tears.

Layla is so turned on by what most teens have tens and even throw away however they want.

She's so excited because she's never had one.

She knows how much Layla would appreciate her new friends, they would be the first friends she had in years and she will really go all the way for them, they are really lucky to have her as a friend.

"Uhm..Aria, I have to go take care of the customers" Layla said.

"Oh, so be it," Aria said, pulling away from the embrace.

Aria smiled as she watched Layla diligently take the controls.

She frowned and wondered why Dylan was treating her like that.

He even made her cry, it was so mean of her.

He disappointed the hopes he had given him.

So bad that most of the time good things go unappreciated, having someone like Layla in your life is a blessing.

She is one of the few people with a heart of gold, Layla is so selfless, she is always ready to help.

She doesn't deserve the kind of life she has but again, life and its ways.

Aria is happy that things are starting to look up for her.

But how could that asshole treat his lips like dead logs!

Layla has returned from customer service.

"How could that guy treat your lips like dead logs?" Aria said and Layla smiled.

"I'm sure it was a mistake, he told me he didn't want it to spread throughout the school," Layla said.

"Wh-what are you saying?" Aria asked, raising an eyebrow in disbelief.

"Don't tell me you haven't forgotten it," she added.

“Forget it? Layla burst out laughing.

"I love Dylan so much more than you can imagine, I love him enough to forgive him for every mistake he makes. Mistakes happen almost all the time, we all make them." Layla shrugged.

"Oh my God, what's happening to you? Isn't it so obvious that this guy doesn't respect you, he doesn't even like you or he would never embarrass you that way"

"It was a mistake Aria," Layla said.

"Did he tell you that was the case?" Aria asked and Layla drummed her fingers on the table, giving no response.

Dylan didn't say it was a mistake, he admitted he said it, he admitted to feeling that way, he only apologized for the words that were spread throughout the school.

"He compared your lips to a dead log of wood and you call that a mistake? Come on Layla"

"Never mind, plus we were starting to get closer before that happened, I really hope he starts talking to me again," Layla said hopefully.

"What! you mean he didn't even talk to you after that? He didn't apologize? Wow, fantastic" Aria clapped dramatically.

"He'll be back soon," Layla said as she walked away to tend to another group of customers.

"If I hadn't known love, Layla would have almost made me believe that love is a bastard," Ariana said as she prepared to pick up her child.

"You're really getting better at meal prep these days" Philia smiled as they ate dinner.

"Thank you Phil" said Layla.

They continued their meal in silence and when they were done, Layla sorted the dishes.

She joined Phil in the living room when she was done and they watched a movie together.

~

Layla remembered that she had homework because they had to watch another movie.

"I'm going to bed" she told Philia as she got up.

"Good night" Philia smiled and Layla knew that one of the men who fuck Phil is coming tonight.

Every time Phil stays up this late, it means she's expecting someone. Phil is a morning sleeper.

Layla went to her room, she got her school bag, sat on the bed and started her homework.

*

She went to freshen up for the night after finishing her homework.

She was wearing her soft sleepwear after drying off her body.

She made her bed, about to really sleep when she realized she needed to drink water, she's thirsty and if she refuses to put it out now it will wake her up at midnight and she won't be able to go on sleep.

She slipped her feet into her shoes and left her room.

As she passed Philia's room, she shook her head as she heard moans.

She went to the kitchen, swallowed a glass of water, rinsed the cup and put it back in its place.

As she walked out of the kitchen back into her bedroom, she realized that Philia hadn't even turned off the television and the lights in the living room.

The shagging must really mean a lot to her.

Layla turned off the TV, turned off the lights, then ran back to her room, plugging her ears as she passed Philia's room.

Philia was moaning like a cow being slaughtered and it's so disturbing to her ears.

She locked her door as she entered her room, turned off the light, and slipped under her blanket.

She turned on her bedside lamp and stared dreamily into the dim light, reminiscing about how her day had gone.

She smiled.

⛅

“Have you turned off the lights and the TV? Philia asked Layla the next morning.

"Of course I did," Layla said.

"I went to get some water and saw you forgot to turn off the lights and the TV," she added.

"Well thank you," Phil said, preparing Layla's allowance.

Layla was fully dressed for school, standing in front of Phil as she waited for some money.

"Here" Phil handed her some dollar bills.

She said thank you as she picked it up.

She quickly counted it and discovered that it was more than Phil was giving her, way more than.

"Phil..." she said.

"Yunno, the pizza cost that I deducted from your allowance last time, well...it was returned to you," Phil said.

"Thank you, but even at that the money is still more," Layla said.

"For cooking a great meal last night and also turning off the TV and the lights" Philia winked.

"Wow" smiled Layla, Philia can be amazing sometimes.

She does unexpected things that make you like her or dislike her.

Things that make you happy or sad.

She is happy that Philia's unexpected act this morning made her happy.

"You should run," Philia said, bustling with her phone.

"Thanks Phil, goodbye" Layla said.

"Bye"

She took the bus today, having more than enough money, her legs should at least rest from the trek even if it's only for today.

Layla inhaled before entering the classroom.

She was glad no one was laughing at her anymore, they seemed to have forgotten about her.

Thank you!

They only stare at her for a few seconds as she enters and then faces their belongings.

She walked past Chloe's seat who deliberately muttered "dead wood log" in her ear.

Layla ignored him as much as she could, she glanced at Dylan's seat and saw him sitting there chatting with his group of friends.

His eyes met hers and it lingered for a few seconds before he looked away.

Maybe he felt sorry and maybe he would talk to her soon.

She smiled at the thought as she finally got to her seat.

Her smile widened when she saw Daniel whose eyes had been on her since she walked in, he saw how she had smiled when she looked at Dylan and knew then that she hadn't managed to get over it yet. . She looked so in love with him with the way her face lit up, her love was so one-sided.

Dylan doesn't look like someone who would want anything to do with her.

"Hey" He smiled back.

She was already seated.

" How are you ? " she asked.

"I'm fine, your smile tells me you're fine too," he said.

"Yeah, my aunt gave me an extra allowance this morning," she said.

"Oh really?" Daniel smiles.

"Yap" Layla said, realizing she didn't need to tell him, the way he slipped out of her mouth has yet to be understood.

Maybe she's excited to finally have someone to tell things to.

Daniel and Anne would be her first friends since she took over Ocean High School.

"Did I…seem childish?" she asked, pursing her lips.

"Child? No you didn't, you were just excited and decided to share it with your friend, there's nothing childish about it," Dan said.

"My friend?" asked Layla.

"Yeah…ah, aren't we friends?" Daniel asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Do you consider me your friend? Layla asked, blinking hopefully.

She had already taken Dan and Anne as friends but she wasn't sure if they took her as their own, she wasn't sure what they had shared yesterday was enough to make her their friend but she was hoping really that would be the case.

"Of course we're friends Layla" Daniel said.

"Really?" Layla's face lit up.

Daniel nodded.

"Thank you" Layla said happily, surprising Daniel with a hug.

He was so surprised that she could hug him just because he took her as a friend but then he shouldn't be, he knows her story, he knows he was probably the first person to call her a friend since she took over Ocean High School.

She must be so excited to finally have a friend after a long time.

He had dozens of friends he couldn't even count, friends he didn't even care enough about and here is someone who is so happy to have just one.

He felt moved as he hugged her.

He can't imagine how she must have felt for years without having someone her own age to talk to, confide in, cry, laugh and share nonsense with.

He would make sure to fill this void, he would make her happy and make her feel the joy of having a good friend.

He would make up for all the years she missed without a friend.

Yeah, he would do that.

She deserves it.

He smiled "Come on Layla"

"I won't let you go" she said and he laughed.

"You are the first person since I was at Ocean High to make me your friend, thank you," she added.

He was still smiling when he caught Dylan's gaze, it looked like he had been staring at them for a long time, he didn't really look pleased with the sight with the glare he was sending Dan.

Maybe it wasn't a one-way street like he had thought.