Chapter 4, part 2 - Secret feelings and stolen kisses.

I got home and found my mum had left me a plate of salad and pasta in the fridge...What a star! I could literally inhale the food right now I’m starved. I heated up the pasta and took it to my room to quickly eat then got into the shower. I had three hours before I had to meet the girls at Maz's so I had a nap after my shower, setting my alarm to wake me up in two hours I had to have some sleep my body was practically begging for it.

We had all met at Maz's the sun still shining, It was a lovely warm afternoon. We headed straight to the high street going from shop to shop, even though it was only a garden party, people still made the effort to dress up and look nice, summer dresses, playsuits, skirts, bikinis and hot pants.  We'd done a few shops until we'd all found something to wear. Lola bought a white straw type beach hat to match her white playsuit. Maisie managed to find a shirt and bralette she liked for the party, and I had found a strapless coral dress that stopped just above my knees.

Eventually we decided to have a break and grab dinner, we found a nice cafe right near a small stream. We sat by it eating our dinner, catching up on the latest in each other’s lives. We talked about how we passed today’s training and I laughed when I told the girls how happy Drake looked when Dakota was straddling him on the floor making them all go into fits of laughter at the thought of it… we talked about our work, and that I had started painting again and that I had managed to save even more money to hopefully one day have my own gallery.

Maisie was a dentist assistant and would always tell us funny stories about the client’s reactions while they were high on Novocaine. Lola worked for her families company that specialised in a range of posh and expensive cars that were hired when anyone in the town would want to do travelling, most of the town used bicycles or motorbikes, only a few people in the city had cars, but Lola’s company was mostly used by the alpha family.

Dakota worked in a very posh hotel in the city so she would always have gossip on any newcomers or people that would visit from other packs.

After our dinner we spent more time looking around the shops until Dakota had finally found herself a black shorts and a white laced crop top outfit. Before heading home, we decided to stop at Bella's, a small but posh bar that was inside lit up inside with little blue lights around the black shiny bar, the floor was dark wood and blue lights around the edges> soft music was playing in the background, we chose a silver table with black chairs on the terrace that overlooked the high street as we ordered our cocktails from the waitress. After our 3rd cocktail, knowing that me and Dakota needed sleep. we all headed home feeling excited to all get together again tomorrow for the party which was to begin at 2pm.

I woke up the next morning and stayed in bed only getting up to get some breakfast and snuggling back under my duvet as I spent hours watching films knowing I had no work or training, it was so relaxing to have some rest and peace after a busy few weeks.

PING…

My phone chimed and I grabbed it from my bedside table to see a message from Layton "Hey Lil’s, you going to Jay' party?"

"Of course, are you?"

"YES definitely. I need some time out after the weeks I’ve had being cooped up in the office"

"Yea Sam’s been telling me how busy it’s been for you both, it feels like forever since I saw you last".

"I know, I know, tell me about it, look for me at the party, ok, we need some time to catch up".

"Yea course, I'll see you later :)

"See you later, Lanny”.

I got ready, my makeup all done with dark red lipstick to finish it off, my hair in lose curls and my dress and sandals on.. I grabbed my phone and my bag to make my way to Maz's. We agreed to meet there and walk over to Jays together.

We all looked and felt confident our tanned skin glowing as we walked into Jay’s large garden, we quickly took in the swarms of people standing around and dancing. Jays Garden went on for acres, you couldn’t see the end of it from the large glass doors at the back of his house. It was actually his parents, but they were hardly ever there.

The garden had statues of different sorts, some of cherubs, some of naked men and women, one was of a bear. then you had angels that stood tall and elegant in the middle of a large fountain, the fountain surrounded by bushes of colourful flowers, in fact there was nicely planted flowers arranged all over the garden, with neatly trimmed bushes with trellises of white roses with little white lights trailing around hanging along them. Tall floor lanterns dotted around the large lawn and a wooden summer house to the right of us with a bar inside and two bar staff serving drinks.

It was beautiful today and the atmosphere was so positive and loud. We headed to the bar to get our drinks then made our way around the garden, all of us casually mingling with other people we knew but staying close together“would you look at this garden… I wonder how much just one of those statues cost" I spoke quietly to them

Dakota "I know, I'll bet these statues alone could make us rich" she chuckled with a snort, and we all laughed

Maisie "well to think of it, that’s probably why Jay still doesn’t have a girlfriend, in fact it must be hard in that sense for most people that are rich"

Dakota "what do you mean?"

Maisie "Well I mean how would you know if someone was with you for you or with you for your money, just think whoever marries Jay gets to live here, this becomes hers also. I think I'd find it hard to trust anyone’s intentions if it were me and unfortunately, we do have a lot of money hungry gals in our pack".

We all raised our eyebrows in agreement, Jay was a very sociable guy that hung with the popular guy group, he was very good looking and always had girls giving him attention, but he’s actually one of the few that we never saw snogging the faces off of the girls that constantly surrounded them but whenever a girl would make a pass at him or talk to him one on one he was always really shy. Maybe that was one of the reasons he'd never been seen with a girlfriend or maybe he was just waiting for his mate.

We headed back to the bar for another drink another plastic cup of beer. We were just walking out of the summer house when I heard Sam shouting for me "Lanny, come on, come over here". he waved for us to go over and join their group, even though we got some

jealous stares by some of the girls stood around them wearing dresses that barely covered their asses, we just looked at each other and grinned, girls always got funny when we were asked to join the guys, it never got old.

Not our fault I was Sam’s sister! They all started chatting away to us and by my sudden surprise Layton came running over to me and picked me up by my legs I let out a shocked scream only to hear him laughing at me "Come on Lanna, you’re coming to the maze with me"..

"What?" I squealed as he carried me away from the group.

"Yep, the rest of the guys are too scared to try it"

He put me down as we reached the entrance of the maze "you’re joking right?". I asked I pointed out to the maze, "Its huge and the hedges are really high, what if we get lost?"

"Na can’t get lost...at least I don’t think we can" he said with a mischievous smile, a smile that was so captivating.

I eyed him and for a moment but the thought of being lost in a maze with Layton did actually sound appealing and fun. I laughed and put my arm in his "come on then brave wolf, let’s go!”

We were about ten minutes into the maze but due to our chatting and laughing we hadn’t actually made it very far, we turned around to see we could still see the entrance in the distance, we laughed at ourselves as we headed in further then from the opening in one of the hedges to our left two giggling women came out "OH MY GOSH LAYTON" they both screamed and engulfed him in a hug wrapping their arms all around him pushing my arm out from his in their obvious attempts to push me aside.

"Oh, hey girls, you did the maze then?" he asked as he detached himself from their grip, but they still held onto his hands as they looked at him with big lustful eyes

"Oh my gosh, no" said the brunette who sounded tipsy, or at least spoke that way unless she is just naturally a drool

"We literally came in and thought no waaay we don’t wanna get stranded, like that would just be THE worst" she giggled, and the red head joined in as they both locked their arms in his and I felt so stupid just standing there.

‘Ahh I’m not that desperate to see him and these two are pissing me off’. I cussed to myself "Well see you around Layton, I’m going back to the party" I gave him a curt smile and turned to head back to the entrance.

"Hang on Lanna… Wait" I heard him shout from behind me along with giggles from the girls, but I didn’t stop, I headed straight over to my girls who were all playing a drinking shot game…. I found a space in-between Sam and one of his mates and decided to join in. The game was beer pong, but it was a mix of drinks, some were beer, some were straight gin, and some were tequila with salt and a wedge of lemon on the side of the cup.

Layton emerged from the Maze and looked at me as if he was annoyed, I didn’t wait, but I barely glanced at him and turned my attention back to the game. After two rounds our teams had grown with more and more people wanting to join in. Layton was on the same team as me and soon as it was my turn to throw the ball, It landed in the other teams cup straight away, making me jump with a celebratory squeal and Layton high fiving me laughing... "DRINK UP GUYS" he shouted to the other team, the drinker this time being Maisie.

"Sorry Maise" I said smiling but trying to seem apologetic.

"It’s ok Lanny, I'll get you back" she said grinned playfully and downed the shot in one.

We each took a turn, our teams were large enough now that I only ended up taking two shots, a third I was supposed to have but I convinced Layton to do it for me as it was tequila, and I couldn’t stomach anymore.

He laughed as he bribed me. "I'll do the shot, my girl if you...hmmm, what can I do with all this power? he laughed as I held the tequila out for him to take

"Uh uh no, within reason...I'll…. beee your friend forever" I laughed teasingly feeling slightly tipsy

"WHAT! you have to be my friend anyway that’s it Lanny your bound to me forever" he gave a jokingly evil laugh, I laughed with him as I tried to push the shot into his hand

"Ok, ok Lanna I've got it. I'll do this shot but you have to have a dance with me after" he said looking at me with one eyebrow raised.

I looked over to where everyone was dancing and feeling tipsy enough, I agreed "Sure, why not...drink up buddy" I laughed and as soon as he downed it, he grabbed my hand and dragged me over to the dance area.

To be fair the music was good and there was so much energy around us as people danced. It was dark now and all the lights were twinkling away while the DJ shone his disco lights onto the dancing crowd. We got to the dance floor and Layton kept his hand in mine as we danced closely, our legs sometimes touching each other as we bopped around to the music every now and then he'd pull me close and twirl me around, but it didn’t feel nerve-wracking or make me blush it just all felt so fun and natural between us as we both sang loudly and laughed. Our smiles never faltered as we danced to song after song.  

This is the most I’ve seen Layton in weeks, and I have to admit... I missed my friend I missed how it used to be between us before I complicated it with my feelings.

Layton grabbed my other hand and put them both around his neck as he held my waist, as everyone began to sing even louder to practically shouting the lyrics as two guys stood on chairs squirting champagne on everyone that was dancing as everyone hyped up drunkenly to the music.

When the song finished people started to disperse and I realised how thirsty I was “I’m going to get a drink" I mouthed to him over the loud music as I lowered my arms from around his neck

"I'll come with you” he put my arm in his as we walked over to the summer house as Layton asked for a beer and I asked for water.

"Man, I’ve been needing a night like this" he said between gulps

"I know you did, perhaps you need to make sure you schedule time once a week just to relax or have fun… even if It’s just a few hours"

He laughed "ok miss advisor... perhaps I should have you work in the Palace so you can come and drag me away and make me have a good time" he winked

"Oh, I’m sure your mum and Dad would loove me for that... Sam’s a bad enough influence, you don’t need me too"

"Well actually, Sam is very serious when we’re working, I’ve never seen him so responsible in all my life and so dedicated"

"Really? Wow that’s a surprise, you should tell my mum that” I chuckled “I think you mean that much to him Layton he wants to take it seriously and prove himself "

“Yea he’s great honestly he really is I don’t know what I’d do if he didn’t always have my back, he’s always been there... and… well… so have you" he looked at me thoughtfully and it made me feel nervous as I sipped my water

"Well, we wouldn’t have it any other way, we love you and your family, but I do miss your sister I haven’t seen her for so long"

"You should visit, just stop by any time, she'd love to see you"

"I will, definitely she was always such a sweet girl”

"You know she'd love that Lanna, she doesn’t have as many friends now, she always hides in the Palace and well...one by one they stopped coming to see her, she only has one or two left that still visit".

I frowned and felt a stab of guilt for not seeing her often and the thought of her being lonely in such a big Palace “Poor Florence, I’m sorry I just assumed she still had all of her old school friends in her life, well I promise to see her next week and I’ll make a point of seeing her as often as I can”.

"Really?" he asked with a wide smile

"Yes of course"

"Hmm thanks Lanna, you’re the best" he grabbed my hand and held it as the corner of his lips twerked up.

My heart started to beat faster, and my hand felt fuzzy in his. "You better be ready for more dancing Lanna" he grinned,

I just opened my mouth to answer him when a rush of bodies came into the bar and people started crowding us, most of them we knew. As they started talking excitedly to us both and as more people shoved their way in it caused a gap filled with sweaty, drunken bodies between me and Layton and our attention reluctantly drifted from each other to everyone else.

I looked through the swarm of people to find Layton and as I saw him standing back at the bar, I started to make my way over when a girl approached him and began pulling him by his hand toward the dance floor, he hesitated at first but soon enough he was trailing behind her. When they started dancing, she suddenly pressed her lips against his and they started kissing. He didn’t even try to pull away.

My stomach lurched at the sight of it, ‘FUCK’ I yelled in my head as my jaw clenched in jealousy, I angrily averted my eyes feeling pained and my gaze landed on Maisie in the distance, she was sitting on a chair looking rather drunk as her head was hanging between her legs, so I quickly asked the bar for more water and ran over to her. I knelt down in front of her and being closer I could see she could barely keep her eyes open and was slurring her words. I pulled her up and put her arm over my shoulder and we made our way back to her house.

 I knocked on her door and handed her over to her sister, as she chuckled and rolled her eyes playfully at Maisie "I'll get her into bed Lelanna thanks for bringing her home"

"Bye Louisa, see you soon" I waved as I left.

I made my way home, grabbing my phone out of my bag quickly texting Lola, Dakota and Sam to let them know me and Maisie had left and were safe,

I got home and dragged myself to the kitchen for water and quickly made some toast I sat at the breakfast bar eating it while I mulled over the thoughts swimming around in my head from the party. I had such a good time up until the end of course I blinked hard to cut out the image of Layton kissing that girl, I mean it’s not like I haven’t seen him kissing girls before I should be used to it by now.

I woke up feeling slightly groggy and tired but then I haven’t rested much over the last three days. I looked over at my bedside table to see a bottle of unopened water… ‘hmm thankyou Sam I grinned to myself, he must have snuck in and left it for me when he got back last night, I wonder what time he eventually came home.

I grabbed my phone and the bottle of water and sat up in bed, turning my screen on to see messages from the girls and Layton… I opened the girls group chat first to see their messages

Dakota "morning girls, how are you all feeling? I need lots of water, food and a hot bath, I stink of beer… yuck"

Maisie "Eww don’t say beer, I feel disgusting. Lil’s my sister said you bought be back last night... thanks hun I can’t even remember getting back or getting into bed... I hate myself today”.

Dakota "haha, oh maise how much did you drink?? it must have been the beer pong!"

Maisie "DONT SAY BEER"

Dakota "just eat you’ll feel better"

Lelanna "morning girls. I’m not too bad just tired, I’m going to have a bath too then climb back into my amazing bed"

Dakota "morning Lil’s"

Maisie" Morning my saviour :)"

Lelanna "Haha your welcome Maise I know you'd do the same for me".

Maisie "I would :)"

Lola "Good morning"

Dakota "LOLA SHES ALIVE"!!

Lelanna "Morning Lola"

Maisie "Good morning"

Lola "yes finally made my eyes stay open I didn’t get home till 3am last night, how did I drink from 3pm to 3am?"

Dakota "haha ahh I got home around the same time I think"

Lola "well I actually had company when I left, someone walked me home"

Lelanna "WHO!!!"

Maisie "WHO???"

Dakota "details?"

Lola "It was Jay actually. I was practically falling asleep on his sofa... so embarrassing, I know, anyway he offered to walk me home. So, he did, and we got talking, he’s really sweet and so handsome, but he seemed really shy but when we got to my house, we just stood outside for ages still chatting. I didn’t want it to end to be honest, but I was so tired my eyes felt like they were burning”

Lelanna "Ohhh Lola, that’s cute! are you going to see him again?”

Lola "no we didn’t exchange numbers or anything, he just said, see ya around, and that was it, I was a bit disappointed I was really hoping he’d ask me out"

Dakota "aww well the thing is with Jay I think he’s one of those that likes to take his time with things, maybe he was too shy to ask you out. Perhaps next time we see them just make a point of getting to know him better"

Maisie "yea I agree, what D said"

Lelanna "Sam said the Alpha and Luna are doing a village festival in a few days, Jay will definitely be there, talk to him then ".

Lola "good idea, thanks girls… anyway, I’m going to raid my fridge for food, speak later, love you all"

Maisie "good idea, when I can will myself to move! love you all"

Dakota "speak later girls, love you"

Lelanna "love you"

I opened Layton’s message to see he had text me last night.

"Where are you?"

I shut off my phone not feeling like I could reply to him right now I know I had to remind myself we were just friends but today I just didn’t have the will to force myself into that façade.

I got out of bed to go to Sam’s room, I peeped in to see him pretty much passed out on his bed I quietly chuckled at the sight of him then made my way downstairs to cook us some food it was lunch time now, so we'd missed breakfast, so I knew he'd be just as hungry as I was. I made us both bacon sandwiches and a cuppa and took it all back up to his room.

I woke him up by waving the plate of sandwiches and wafted the smell in front of his nose "mmm bacon Sammy, there’s tasty Smokey baconnnn"

His eyes flashed open as he eyed the sandwiches then looked at me "aww you legend Lil’s, I’m bloody starving I thought I was just dreaming that I could smell bacon"

"Eat up Sammy" I said handing him the plate as he sat up. I sat next to him on his bed as we started to eat our sandwiches. "So, what time did you get back?"

"I don’t even know, Lil’s” he answered groggily  “some of us ended up falling asleep for a bit at Jays, I  woke up on one of the sofas in the back room and decided to come home, it was getting light though, the sun was starting to rise, so maybe 5am"

"Wow Sam” I grinned at him “awesome party though"

"Yea as always” he chuckled, "First proper party of the summer, and so many more to come... but speaking of the awesome party I happened to notice you and Layton spending a lot of time together, every time I looked over you were both together"

"Are you spying on me Sam" I said my brows frowning playfully, anyway It wasn’t rare for me and Layton to hang around each other at parties, we usually did.

"Noo, you guys just kind of seemed stuck together and really close" he looked at me thoughtfully

"Well, we were just having a good time Sam, were friends, just cause we’re older it doesn’t mean we'll stop being close"

"No, I know, I just... well, when I got your text last night to say you’d gone home, well not long after that he came storming over to me asking if I’d seen you, so I told him you’d text to say you and Maisie had gone home and he just looked a bit disappointed by it he looked a bit gutted it kind of caught me off guard to be honest, it was weird".

"Oh well maybe because we had been having a good chat, I don’t know, anyway what does it matter?" I certainly wasn’t going to tell him that I got jealous when I saw Layton kissing another girl that I wanted to go home. A part from my friends, I didn’t want anyone else knowing about my feelings for him… not even my brother!

"Look Lil’s I’m not sure but, it kind of seemed like he was gutted you’d gone, then he just said 'oh' then turned away and left"

"oh" I thought about it, a bit puzzled "I'll text him later, ok and ask if he’s alright" I thought it was hilarious, he comes looking for me after he’s finished snogging some girl, he certainly looked happy enough when I left.

"Ok fair enough but there’s nothing you want to talk to me about? Anything to do with Layton?".

I hesitated “no, why would there be?” I shrugged as I answered, feeling guilty that I was lying to him.

“Ok, well as long as you sure" and I just looked at him and nodded in reassurance as we ate our sandwiches. I got comfy in one of his armchairs and we watched two films together until I finally had a hot bath to rid the smell of alcohol and sweat that clung to my skin and my hair before getting into clean pyjamas and heading back into bed.