POV FinnKeri and I sat across from each other in a booth at the Diner, waiting for Layla. Sally, Hart, Tom and Jake were in the booth behind us and we were all chatting back and forth."I'm so worried about this math test. I have an English and a science test this week too but I feel prepared for those. This math one is the only thing I'm concerned about." Keri said and I agreed."I feel the same way. I have a few other tests but thanks to all our studying this year, I'm ok with those. It's just math that I think I'll fail." I added."I hope Layla gets here soon. She's the only one who understands this stuff." Keri replied."She texted a few minutes ago. She and Peter had to clean up the room and then they are both coming here." I responded."She and Peter are such good friends. It's funny how well he fits in with us. I forget that we haven't been friends with him that long." Keri commented."It's the same with Layla. We really haven't known her that long. Leo told me once that Layla
POV LeoWe were all in the lounge, talking. Except for Layla and Finn. I nervously watched the door as it got later and later."Where are they?" I asked Eve. Peter was just sitting down next to me."I just saw them making out in the hallway." Peter informed us. I started to jump up but Eve pulled me back down."Damn, Leo. Leave her alone. You should be grateful that Finn is cheering her up. She's going to beat the shit out of you if you don't cut it out!" Eve snapped. I was startled by her words. I sat back down and thought about it."I just hate seeing her scared and those nightmares were the worst" I defended."You think that I don't know that? I share the same room with her. You have no idea how many times she woke up with bad dreams that terrified her. I know that you are trying to help her but you can't force her. How many times do you need to learn that?" Eve asked me. I nodded slowly. She was right."I know. I should apologize." I said and started to get up."Not now, give her
POV LaylaAfter we pulled up to school, Eve and I quickly handed out the rest of the lunches. All our friends were touched. It was sweet how such a little thing made everyone so happy. We were all in a good mood when we sat in the lounge and hung out."I'm excited about the dance tonight. Daddy got us a stretch limo so we can all drive together comfortably." Eve informed us."I'm excited too. Can Keri and I go with you to get our hair and nails done?" Sally asked. Eve looked surprised."Really? Sure! I'll call right now and book you both appointments!" Eve replied, happily. She grabbed her phone and walked out to the hall. I smiled at Sally. I knew that she hated getting her hair and nails done and that Keri was so particular that she didn't like anyone other than her normal hair dresser and nail tech. I also knew that they knew how much this meant to Eve and they wanted to make her happy."That was really nice of you two" I said to them. Keri shrugged and Sally grinned at me."She de
POV FinnI was lonely during the next hour without Layla so I decided to do what she suggested and I went to the library to study for my last test. Time dragged slowly but finally the period was over and I could go to my last class. I finished my test quickly and my teacher let me leave after I was done. I hurried out to my locker and ran into Peter. "All done with your test?" I guessed and he nodded. "Me too. Want to come with me to the Diner?" I offered, hoping that's where Sally and Layla went. "Sure!" he said and we hurried out. I was disappointed not to see the girls in a booth when we got there. We sat down and Donna the Waitress came over to take our order. "Has Sally and Layla been in today?" I asked after we ordered. "I haven't seen them." She responded and then hurried off to get our order. We got our food quickly. "Are you excited about our trip?" I asked Peter. He shrugged. "I'm not sure if I'm going to go." he said between a mouthful of burger. I looked at him in s
POV LaylaI giggled at Finn's pout as we walked down the stairs. "There they are. Finally." Jake called out as we walked into the entertainment room. "Sorry. My hair and makeup took longer than I thought" I replied. "Yeah, right" Eve smiled, knowingly. "What do you want to drink?" Van called from the bar. "Just a water, please" I called back. "Same for me" Finn yelled. Van tossed two bottles at us which thankfully, Finn caught. We sat on one of the big couches with Tom and Hart at the other end. "What are we watching?" I asked. "That's what we were just fighting about. Eve, Keri and Hart want a rom com and the rest of us want horror." Van explained as he sat in one of the armchairs. Eve handed me a bowl one of the many bowls of popcorn from the cart in the corner. "Thanks" I said to her. "Well, I would prefer horror but it is Eve's house so I think that she should choose" I added. Eve grinned at me. "You are my favorite, Lay." Eve responded as everyone else aside from Keri
POV LaylaSally and I had a great time hanging at my house. Leo and Eve weren't home so it was just the two of us. We ate junk food and just talked about everything. It was so relaxing. Sadly we only had a little time."I'm going to take a quick shower. Do you want one too?" I offered and Sally nodded. I took a five minute shower and then dried my hair as Sally took her shower."What should I wear? Just jeans?" I asked Sally after helping her dry her hair."I would dress up a bit more than that. Everyone's going to be there tonight and you'll meet new people. It's going to be busy since Christmas is Friday, everyone is on break and looking to cut loose." Sally explained."Who would be new that I haven' t met?" I asked confused."All the college kids and all the people who moved away that are back to visit." Sally replied."I didn't realize that. Crap. I was hoping for an easy night." I responded and she smiled, sympathetically."Wear that new tight black dress that Hart bought you." S
POV FinnI woke up naked in my bed with Layla. I smiled down at her. I loved watching her sleeping. I knew it was creepy but whatever."Stop staring, it's weird." Layla mumbled with her eyes still closed. I tickled her and she laughed."Don't! I have to pee!" She yelled and hurried to the bathroom."What time is it?" she asked as she walked back. I admired her and she blushed."Its a little after 7." I answered."Shit. I better get back to my house before anyone notices we're gone." she replied, grabbing her clothes. Suddenly, there was a pounding at my front door."Too late" I responded with a smile. I threw on a pair of boxers and went to answer the door, kissing her as I walked past. I opened the door to Leo and Jake glaring at me and Eve grinning."What?" I sighed."Where's my sister and why don't you have any clothes on?" Leo demanded."Lays is in my room and when two people love each other very much..." I began but Leo cut me off."Shut up." Leo growled and I smirked."Can you l
POV Layla"It's obvious that you all got in a fight so who's going to tell me the truth?" I insisted. Hart, Eve and Keri's eyes widened and then they glared at the others."After you all called us last night, we got bored so we decided to go to the Den." Finn began, sheepishly. I nodded and gestured for him to continue but he stopped and looked down."So we drank too much and Vic, David and his crew were there and they were really drunk." Tom continued. I sighed and closed my eyes. I could see where this was going."So Vic started talking about you. He was saying that you were too good for Finn and that we didn't deserve to be your friends. That you shouldn't be in the Watchmen. You were too sweet to be one of us. So David started yelling at him and all hell broke out. We tried to stop David's crew but they wanted to kill him. We all kinda got injured trying to stop them." Sally explained. My eyes flew open and I let out the breath I was holding."So... you were trying to stop the fig
POV LaylaThe next couple of years had some ups and downs but our friends stuck together through everything. At first, I had to fight with Leo, Van, Jake and even occasionally Finn for my independence and against their natural tendencies for being overprotective asses. Eventually, they got better or at least livable although I still had to punch Leo from time to time.Marissa and her Mom both moved to Porter for a 'fresh start'. It may seem strange to move to the place where your son/brother committed horrible crimes for a new beginning but somehow, it worked. Marissa had a long road to recovery but since she had so much support here, she has remained sober for the last years of high school and graduated with a full ride to a good school back in Chicago. She and Vander dated for a while again but just couldn't make it work. She ended up casually dating Jake for the last year of school and for some reason, they seemed to fit. Vander was happy for them both.Jake and Pam broke up right
POV FinnPeter and I walked back to our house a bit after Layla and Marissa went to bed. To say that I was frustrated was an understatement. I slammed the door closed and threw my hat on the table."It'll be ok, Finn. She's not going to leave. She's just pissed and needs some space." Peter tried to calm me."Space? How am I supposed to give her space when all I want to do is have her with me all the time? My head understands what she needs and wants but the rest of me is violently disagreeing" I storm. Peter nodded."I get that but you are going to have to find a way or you really will lose her" he replied. I sighed."I know. I know." I closed my eyes and took a deep breath."You know her. What should I do?" I asked him."Back off. Let her call you, let her make the first move. Give her some freedom. She's safe. Give her what she's asking for." he suggested."Freedom?" I asked weakly, knowing how dangerous that sounded."You have to risk losing her. She needs to find herself again. If
POV LaylaFinn finally parked his bike between Leo and Tom. I quickly took off the helmet and went to hop off when Finn grabbed my hand."Where are you going?" he growled. I glared at him."Inside." I replied, furrowing my eyebrows."Not without me. I meant what I said before. You need to stay with me." he ordered. I scoffed at him."Don't be ridiculous. I'm fine. This is the Den. It's safe!" I argued."No, he's right. The same goes for you, Eve." Leo piped in from behind me."What the hell?" Eve stormed and I looked at her. She looked as pissed as I felt. I was trying to be understanding and all but this was too much."Listen, we aren't some helpless girls that can't take care of ourselves." Eve began but Leo cut her off."That's sure what it seemed like today, am I right, Finn?" he snapped. Finn nodded as he looked at me."Are you fucking kidding right now?" I raged. I slapped Finn and Eve did the same to Leo. Neither of them reacted except to try to grab us. Eve grabbed my hand fir
POV Layla"What was that?" Dan shouted."I don't know. Come with me to check it out. Steven come with us. Pam, Suzy, watch them!" Tyler ordered. He pulled out two guns and handed one to Pam and one to Suzy."If they move, shoot them" he finished. He held his gun while both Dan and Steven pulled out theirs as well. The three of them ran up the stairs. I glanced at Jake's hands and saw that he was free as well. He raised his eyebrows at me and I nodded slightly. I started to double over and cried out."What's wrong with her?" Suzy demanded."It's my stomach. I think that I'm going to be sick" I called as Suzy walked over to me. Just as I was about to punch her, she fell at my feet. We all looked up in shock as Pam put her gun away. She had just hit her own cousin on the back of the head and knocked her out cold."I'm so sorry, Layla, Jake. I never wanted to do any of this. My dad and uncle forced me. They said that they would beat me if I didn't help." Pam cried as she went to untie me.
POV Marissa (Remember her? Billy's sister and Layla's best friend from Chicago?)I was so glad to be out of that rehab! Mom was overjoyed that I was out too. She was so happy that I convinced her to let me go visit Layla. I needed to make some things right with her and I knew that I needed to do it in person. I decided to surprise her on the day she and her friends were getting back home. With any luck, I might even run into her at the airport. I hurried off the plane when we landed and went through baggage check. I checked the screens to see when the flight from Florida would be in. Shit, it had already landed a while ago."Guess I'll just have to take a cab to her house." I mumbled to myself as I walked out of the airport. A cab pulled up to be just as a van passed. I looked up to catch a glimpse of Layla and Eve with some other friends in it. They didn't notice me. I smiled."Please follow that van. Some friends are in it and I need to catch up with them." I asked my driver. He loo
POV LaylaAfter we landed, Finn and I got our carry on bags as the rest of our friends did the same. We waited until everyone else had gotten off the plane to leave together. Finn and I followed our friends off the plane and into the airport. Keri led us all to the baggage claim where we wrestled with all the suitcases."I think that's all of them." Hart announced and I sighed at the huge pile of suitcases."Our drivers are over there." Eve gestured to three men all holding signs with her name on it."Why are there three? I thought you ordered two?" Finn asked. Eve shrugged."It's ok. We'll need them." she replied as she nodded toward the luggage."Why don't you girls and Hart all go in the first van while the rest of us help load the luggage?" Tom offered. Finn looked annoyed but he nodded."Ok but Peter and Jake should go with them. Just to be safe." Finn added and I agreed. I wanted to argue that we could take care of ourselves but we shouldn't take chances with Hart's well being.
POV Layla"Since it's our last full day here, I think that we should enjoy the beach and house today and then go out for a nice dinner tonight." Eve announced at breakfast the next morning. The rest of us agreed."Great! There's a really nice steak and seafood restaurant not too far from here that I already have reservations for at seven." She added and I chuckled. We all went and changed into our swimsuits."Finnie, we should pack up some tonight too." I suggested and he nodded."Let's go to the beach and then come back this afternoon and start packing." he recommended and I smiled."I'm going to miss sharing a room with you" I said and he smirked."I'm going to miss sharing a bed with you." he added suggestively. I rolled my eyes but giggled. We grabbed some towels and headed down to the beach. We laid down between Peter and Eve."It's so cool that your housekeeper washed all our laundry. Now I don't have to take dirty clothes home." Peter was saying to Eve as we settled in."Eve, I
POV LaylaThe next day we decided to go sightseeing. Peter seemed in a better mood and loved every second of visiting the sights of the area which were not that exciting to the rest of us but we humored him. To be honest, it was boring but it got us out of the house and walking around. By the end of the day, we were exhausted. We got drive thru for dinner and everyone went straight to bed when we got back to the house.Everyone slept late and we all met up in the kitchen the next day."I don't want to cook. Let's just do fruit and cereal for breakfast" I suggested. The rest agreed and as we munched, we discussed what our plans were for the day."The weather is perfect. Let's have another beach day. We can make a bonfire tonight." Eve suggested."That sounds great." Keri gushed and everyone else nodded.Finn and I changed into our swimsuits and grabbed some towels. We spent the morning splashing in the water and building sandcastles. When we got hungry, we went back to the house and ma
POV FinnLayla and I woke up to the sound of thunder the next day."That was loud" she commented as I got up to shut the window before it rained too much in."Let's get up, I want biscuits and gravy." Layla suggested."You can make that?" I asked, excited when she nodded back.We both took turns in the bathroom and then hurried down to the kitchen. She directed me as what to do and soon, the kitchen smelled wonderful. Van and Jake were surprisingly the first to stumble down the stairs."What are you two making?" Jake demanded as Van got them both some coffee."Lay's making biscuits and gravy and I'm making eggs and sausages to go with it." I answered.They both looked shocked for a moment and then Jake smiled a sly grin."If things don't work out with Finn, I'm here. Just so you know..." Jake faked whispered to Layla."Hey! I'm already signed up to be her rebound!" Van argued.I glared at both of them as Layla shook her head."Nope. She's mine, boys." Peter added as he walked in.He w