• Chapter Two
    Layla’s POV


    A while later I looked over at my clock and it was still only 6:30. Only an hour had passed. I sighed and sat up. I was done lying around. I didn’t want to think about this anymore. I got up and went to my closet. Might as well get dressed and ready for school.

    I got out a pair of dark skinny jeans, a tank-top with lace at the top and the bottom and a stripy dark low cut see through top and brought them to the bathroom. I had a quick shower and put on the tank-top, I put on the low cut see through shirt and a bit of the lace showed at the top and the bottom of the shirt. I put on the skinny jeans and looked in the mirror to make sure it looked decent. I nodded and approved of the outfit.

    I plugged in my hair straightener and brushed my hair. I put most of my hair up in a clip and left the bottom layer down to straighten. Once the straightener was hot I straightened the bottom layer then let the next layer down to straighten it too. After my hair was done I put in some hair stuff so it would stay pin straight.

    My hair wasn’t really curly, just a bit of a wave to it, but the way my hair was styled it looked better straight. My hair was a really light brown naturally but I added a really dark, almost black, color to the bottom layer. I would have gotten it black but my mom wouldn’t let me. My hair was layered with side bangs.

    By the time my hair was done it was seven and my mom was just getting my brothers up. I could hear my brothers already arguing. I shook my head and smiled. Stupid boys. They never stopped arguing. It was rare for them to get along for five minutes. Typical brothers.

    “Morning mom” I said as I came out of room and skipped down the stairs.

    “You look like you’re going to a funeral, not school.” She said and smiled “Morning.”

    “School might as well be my funeral.” I said and stuck my tongue out at her when she turned her back.

    My mom never let me wear what I want to. She said I was trying to be more like Akisame and not me, but that wasn’t true. The style I wanted might look a lot like hers but it was what I wanted. No one told me to dress like that. It’s what I wanted.

    I wanted to dress scene. It’s like a mix between Goth and Punk. It looked awesome. I would wear ties, arm warmers and suspenders hanging down, and fedoras even. I wasn’t allowed to wear make-up either. I did anyway when I wasn’t around my mom, but sometimes my mom did catch me and when she did when I got in trouble.

    I got a bowl of cereal and sat at the table. I ate quickly, not wanting to start another stupid fight over what I want to wear. After I ate I put my bowl in the sink and went back up to my room to get my toothbrush. I brushed my teeth and checked the clock. It was 7:30 now. Close enough to the time I had to go.

    I grabbed my bag and threw some of my school stuff in it before leaving my room and closing my door behind me. I went downstairs and went to the door to get my shoes. Black mini air walk, the converse knock offs, and in my opinion better. I put my shoes on and went up the few stairs to say bye to my mom.

    “I’m leaving now.” I kissed my mom on the cheek “Bye.”

    “Bye.” She said and went back to making my brothers lunch for school.

    I walked down my street and went up Akisame’s. I didn’t even knock when I got to her door. Her parents were used to me coming there every morning. They usually slept through my morning visits. Today was no different. They were asleep again.

    “Morning Akisame.” I said as I went into her room and pulled out the black eyeliner from my bag.

    “Morning.” She said focusing on her own make-up. It was black and very heavy.

    Her outfit wasn’t much different. It was all black and red. She was wearing a very dark red tutu with black lace type stuff underneath. Her leggings were black and had a cool design on them. Her shirt was a simple black and grey stripy t-shirt. Her arm warmers were red mesh ones with the same but in black underneath to make the red darker. She also had on a black tie with red skulls on it.

    I opened the eyeliner and started to put it on myself. Like hers mine was heavy and if I didn’t have the clothes to go with it, people would say that I have way too much make-up on. After I was done with the eyeliner I grabbed the eye black eye shadow and also put it on. I put on mascara and went over to the closet Akisame and I shared.

    “Hmm… What to wear today” I mumbled, barely audible to Akisame across the room.

    “I was thinking the black mesh arm warmers. The ones that almost go to your shoulders.” She said and threw the arm warmers at me.

    I caught them and went to the dresser where she kept all of the accessories. I also grabbed a black suspenders with dark hearts on them. The suspenders hung down and I grabbed my small black Lolita hat. I put them on and looked in the mirror, analyzing the outfit. After about thirty seconds I turned back to Akisame “I like it”

    “Me too” She said and got out a studded bracelet “Just add this and it’ll be awesome”

    I put it on and looked at the clock “We should go.”

    Akisame nodded and grabbed her bag “Okay.”

    She left her room and I followed, closing the door behind me. We left quietly and went down the hall and on the elevator. We left the building and walked down the street. It was quiet this morning, as it was most mornings. No one around here got up early unless they worked or had school. The ones who worked often left earlier than the kids for school too, so by the time we left no one was out.

    I sighed to myself and looked around a bit. Things never changed. It was all the same. Same houses, same people outside, same dogs and cats, same everything. It was boring. I wished something would happen here, but knew it wouldn’t. The police at the apartments behind my house was as exciting as it got here and that was only for parties and maybe a drug bust. Nothing exciting at all.

    We got to the bus stop and didn’t really say anything. Same as always. I frowned and looked down the street, looking for the bus. I hated this wait. It was boring and nothing ever happened. When the bus finally came we all got on and the ride was the same as the wait. We got to school and got off the bus.

    I went to my locker and one of my ex boyfriends and his friends were sitting near it. Their first class was right near my locker so it’s where they always sat.

    “Hey Isaiah” I said to one of them. He was Kaily’s boyfriend so we talked every once and a while. He was pretty cute, black skater type hair and he was really shy around Kaily. It super cute ‘cause she was shy around him too.

    He smiled and nodded “Morning.”

    “Oh my gosh! It’s Cuts!” One of the guys, Mitch, said as he came towards his friends.

    “******** off.” I said and rolled my eyes before turning around to face my locker. I heard him laugh and it made me angry, and it hurt a bit. I would never admit to it though.

    “Oh touchy.” He said and his laughter was silenced, by Isaiah hitting him or glaring at him.

    I threw my things into my locker, except what I needed for my first and second classes. It wasn’t much. I only carried a small bag between my first half classes and my full bag to my second half classes so I didn’t have to come back to my locker after lunch.

    I closed my locker and locked it before walking away, resisting the urge to punch Mitch. Of course I wouldn’t reach high enough to hit him in the face. He was over six feet tall and I was a measly five-four. A punch in the gut would serve him well though. I shook my head and ignored the stupid violent thoughts that wouldn’t help at all. I wasn’t exactly a fan of mindless violence.

    “Layla!” I heard Kaily call my name as she ran down the hall towards me. When she caught up she threw her arms around me in a hug “Morning”

    I laughed “Hello to you too. Your boyfriend is around the corner if you want to see him.”

    She shook her head, her blonde-ish hair framing her face perfectly “Not right now. Lunch for sure though. Where’s Akisame and Suki?”

    “Akisame went to her locker and I’m not sure if Suki is here yet. Her bus always comes pretty late. What time is it?” I wasn’t surprised that she said no to seeing Isaiah. Her shyness always got in the way, even though they had been together for a few months now.

    She looked at her cell phone as we started to walk “Eight fifteen”

    “She should be here soon then” I said and waved to Akisame who was just closing her locker. All of our lockers were pretty close together so it was easy to meet up when we were done.

    We walked to our usual spot, it was a big open area that separated the intermediate section from the high school section, and sat down in the same places as always. Me in a corner, Akisame next to me and Kaily either across from me, or across the hall. Today was across from me, leaning on the doors to the intermediate section.

    Our usual morning spot was the guys usual lunch spot. They hated it when we came here at lunch too. Only three people actually liked us. Isaiah, Trevor and Kimaru, who was Trevor’s girlfriend. All of them were older than us by a grade, but that wasn’t the reason they hated us. We don’t actually know why they hate us. I know the hate was increased because Suki was always so loud, but they didn’t know that before. They just naturally hate us I guess.

    In all there was nine people who like to hang out here at lunch. Isaiah, Trevor, Kimaru, Axton, Dylan, Ian, Mitch, Shane and Adrian. They all seemed to hate each other, but were actually close friends. Mitch and Adrian were always together. They were a team of a** holes really. They tried to convince you that they like you or want to help you and then turn whatever you say against you later, hence the name ‘Cuts.’ Axton was, well he was, special, for lack of a better word. ***** would fit too I suppose, I just didn’t like to call him that ‘cause it’s kinda mean. He likes a type of anime called Lolicon. Basically little girl porn, but animated. He’s also my ex boyfriend, but he started with this after I broke up with him. Ian, well no explanation necessary really, other than no one really likes him. Even the people he calls his friends. I don’t really know Shane. Sometimes he seems like a complete jerk, but other times he seems decent so I don’t really understand him.

    Isaiah is pretty nice. At first he gave off the impression of hating us, but he turned out nice once we got to know him better. He liked Kaily and she finally asked him out. They were together for about a month and the relationship ended mutually, then they got back together a few months later and are still together four months later. Trevor is the oldest, I think. He’s very strange, but like-able. Over the summer we became pretty close friends. His girlfriend, Kimaru is also really nice. She always seems happy, and it’s pretty hard to get her angry or sad. Also her birthday is on Valentines day.

    Now Dylan. He’s different alright, but not all bad. Sometimes he’s a bit creepy but he does have a good side and shows it every once and a while. He used to talk to me, but we kinda stopped talking. He’s one of those foster home kids. His parents didn’t want him so got rid of him. Foster and group homes are all he’s ever had. I feel bad for him, but I can’t exactly say that to him. It would be weird. I like to be around him though. Maybe it’s his personality, or maybe it has something to do with my brother. My brother had the same name as him, so I guess it’s comforting to be around a Dylan after all this time.

    After a while of sitting there I heard Suki coming down the hall. She was talking to someone so the whole hall could hear her. She came around the corner with a book open in her hands and talking to someone behind her, who was being very quiet today. He came around the corner and I smiled. It was Ryan, my boyfriend.

    “Still half asleep I see.” I said and got up to give him a quick hug before sitting back in my corner.

    He sat beside me and nodded “Yeah. I was up all night playing my game. And my tummy hurts again.”

    “Well that’s no fun.” I said referring to the stomach ache “And you’re stupid for staying up all night again. You should try to sleep.”

    “I’m stupid for staying up all night? What about you? You are always up late every night, Miss I only get five hours of sleep a night.” Ryan said grinning.

    I rolled my eyes “But the difference is I’m trying to sleep. I don’t play video games until I pass out, unlike someone.”

    He laughed “You win. So how was your night?”

    I shrugged “It was alright. My mom got me ice cream and then I went swimming with my Kaily, Akisame and Suki. How about yours?”

    “It was alright. Me and Tony went to a movie and then I played games all night.” He said shrugging.

    After a few minutes of sitting there the bell rang. I stood up and hugged Ryan “I’ll see you at lunch, okay?”

    He nodded and smiled as he got up as well “Of course.”

    We walked down the halls to our separate classes. Ryan left us first then Suki an Kaily. Akisame’s class was right across from mine so we got to walk to whole way together. I gave her a quick hug and went into my class.

    I was in three grade eleven classes this year, but I was really only in grade ten. Because of the program I was in I got to go in more advanced classes like photography, anthropology and a family studies class. Though the family studies class, a ten year old could do, and do well. I only took it because Akisame wanted me to. Anthropology was a mix between that, psychology, and sociology. I took it because I wanted to be a psychologist when I was older. And photography was another career or a hobby class.

    I went to my seat and smiled at Kimaru. She was in my photography class and at Shima who was my friend from the previous year. I also glanced at Ian, my smile fading when I saw him looking at me. I quickly looked at my bag and got out my binder.

    “Morning Layla.” Kimaru said and gave me a quick hug.

    I smiled at her and hugged her back “Morning. How’s things?”

    Before she could answer though, someone from the office got on the PA system to start the day. Everyday was the same. Stand for ‘O Canada,’ sports and clubs announcements and other announcements and then the teachers take over.

    After the announcements Kimaru shrugged “Alright. I havent really done anything exciting.”

    A shrugged also “Well that’s no fun. Why don’t you hang out with your boyfriend or something?”

    “Alright. Let’s get on the computers to start todays work.” The teacher said and everyone went to their computers.

    I got on one beside someone I didn’t really know, but was happy. I was across the room from Ian, so I didn’t really care who I was sitting beside. I logged into my account and opened the photography folder.

    “Read the article ‘The Eye Of A Photographer’ and then answer the questions about the pictures on a piece of paper.” The teacher said and started to hand out the question sheet.

    I glanced at the sheet quickly and then opened the article. I started to read and understood it all. It was basic things like ‘What is the theme of the photograph?’ and ‘What draws your attention to the theme’ and also ‘What did the photographer do to simplify?” All things I could understand.

    After I read the article I started to answer the questions on the sheet. I was almost done when the bell rang. I packed up my things and started to leave the class when Akisame came in the door and walked towards me.

    I smiled at her “How was teaching the little kids?”

    She shrugged “It was alright. We didn’t really do anything today.”

    Akisame also was taking three grade eleven classes, mostly our schedules were the same except for our fist period. She had peer tutor instead of photography. other than the one class our schedules were exactly the same for the whole year.

    We walked to our next class which was down the stairs, but really close to our first periods. We went in and sat at our usual spot, right at the back corner near the door. I threw my binder down and sat in my chair.

    I really hated science and math. They were the two classes I couldn’t stand and would probably nearly fail again this year. I opened my binder and started to doodle on the doodle pad I had. There’s about ten pages filled of doodles and it was only two weeks into the school year. I only doodled in this class too.

    The class went by slowly, as it always did and I was watching the clock again. The time moved slowly, but it did move and eventually it was time to pack up before the bell. After my things were away I got up on my desk to sit for the last minute or so before lunch.

    The bell rang and we all flooded out of the class. I looked at Akisame, who shrugged. Neither of us knew where Suki and Kaily would be. We wandered the halls for a it until we finally ran into them.

    “So where are we going to hang out?” I asked looking at Kaily mostly.

    Kaily noticed and shrugged “I don’t care. I want to go outside though.”

    Akisame rolled her eyes “What about your boyfriend? You havent seen him at all. You know for a relationship to be worthwhile you have to see him.”

    Kaily sighed “Fine let’s go see him.”

    We went back up the stairs near mine and Akisame’s class and went towards where we hung out in the morning, also where we would find that big group of people who hung out with Isaiah.

    When we got there Isaiah saw us first and smiled at Kaily. He came over to us and gave Kaily a hug. His friends on the other hand weren’t pleased to see us. The avoided us when we came to see Isaiah, which wasn’t very often.

    Kaily sat against one of the walls and, of course, Isaiah sat next to her. Suki sat next to Kaily and Akisame next to Suki. I stood out from the wall because I didn’t want to sit down. I don’t know why but I never sat down here or outside. When we were in our corner I did sit, but not here.

    After a while Akisame got up “I’ll be back. I’m starting to get a headache. And the food is out so it will be thrown. I don’t really want food all over me.”

    I shrugged “Okay.”

    It’s needles to say that the corner would be loud at lunch. There’s only four girls, eight guys here and soon to be nine whenever Ryan gets here. Also the guys seem to like throwing food at us. I just laugh and shake my head because most of the time they miss horribly. It’s actually pretty amusing.

    “Hey Layla” I heard Ryan say from behind me. Or to the right of me.

    I looked at him and smiled “About time.”

    He sat beside me and put his arms around me “Sorry. I got a detention. Our detentions are retarded. A whole ten minutes.”

    I laughed and shook my head. I leaned on him and put my hand on top of his “What did you do this time?”

    “I was late for class. The teacher bitched at me so I bitched back. I don’t think she liked that.” He said and chuckled.

    I shook my head and sighed “Oh geez.”

    After a while of talking and playing around the bell rang and every one slowly went off the their separate classes. When I got to my next class Akisame was already there doodling on a notepad. The doodles were of nothing in particular, yet quite amusing. I sat down next to her and started to doodle with her.

    The teacher walked in and started the class promptly. It was an anthropology/psychology class. It was yet another grade eleven class that I really wasn’t supposed to be in. The teacher started to talk about what we would cover in this class and such an soon the class was over.

    The bell rand and Akisame and I went to our next class which was the final grade eleven class. It was some parenting class I only took because Akisame wanted me to. I sat down and listened as the teacher spoke and after nearly falling asleep from boredom the bell rang.

    “Well our family studies teacher can’t teach.” I said after we got on the us and sat down.

    “No kidding! She is seriously annoying.” Akisame agreed and rolled her eyes.

    After the bus ride we walked down the street to my street. We were for the most part quiet for once. When we got to my street I gave Akisame a routine hug before starting to walk down my street.

    “Text me later.” Akisame said and I nodded before walking down my street towards my house.

    I grabbed my ipod and put in the ear buds as I walked, turning up the volume all the way. The song playing was playing Silent Screams by Éowyn. It was a good song, in my top rated actually. I looked at my house and noticed my mom’s car was there. It wasn’t an odd thing. My mom worked shift work, so some days she was home and others she wasn’t. I honestly liked it when she wasn’t home. It was easier to do whatever I wanted then.

    I walked into my house and threw my bag down against the wall in the computer room. I went into the kitchen to grab a snack and decided on a cheese string. I started to walk up the stairs to my room and took ate the cheese string. When I got to my room I flopped down on my bed and stared at the ceiling. As I flopped down my ear buds fell out and I could hear yelling coming from my mom’s bedroom. It wasn’t normal so I got up to go and see what was going on.