Secrets |

Chapter eight | Home.

Stepping into the small café he was in yesterday he scurried over to the far corner and took a seat. This booth was perfect - it was scheduled from the rest of the café and even though he would remain unseen, he could see everything, or more so everyone. His hood was once again placed over his head, covering his eyes from everyone else. He was aware that his attire was suspicious but he had to take these precautions in order to keep his identity safe.

He leaned his head back and let out a shaky breath, he had not told the boys of his early morning visit to Roma's, but he knew it was best if he didn't. if they were searching for him now - which was highly unlikely given the fact that the lot of them liked to sleep in until late afternoon, they would have no idea where he was but that was okay because he knew he would be home before they were even up.

Home.

The thought of going back home did a number on his mood and on instinct he clenched his fists and bowed his head, in shame almost.

Home. That place is not my home, it'll never be and the sooner I come to terms with that the better. He had made it painfully clear that I'll always be an outsider, that the place I grew up would never be home and it would be best for my sanity if i just stopped thinking of that place, him as my home for I know it'll never be.

Maybe she would become my home.

His thoughts began to make him angry as the sensible part of his mind mocked him and made him see truth.

You honestly think she'll want to become who we call home? Never. Pretty girls like her don't like to be bothered with problematic pests like us.

But it was true wasn't it? He knew that the annoying voice in his head was right and he should stay away, both for his sake and hers but that seemed nearly impossible and he was here now wasn't he? Cursing under his breath he told himself that it would be the first, last and only time he would pull a stunt like this.

Never again. After this I'll leave her alone.

He toyed with the white table cloth and tapped his foot impatiently. He didn't know how long he would have to wait, he had no idea when she would walk through the dark green wooden doors and he most definitely did not know why he was playing stalker and watching her from afar, rather than approaching her like a normal person would.

I'm not exactly normal an i though?

Hechuckled lowly to himself and rested his finger on the table in front of him.

"Can i get you anything mister?" a middle-aged man stood there wearing a black apron with the cafés logo on it - just like she had. The waiter stared expectantly at him and he realised that he was yet to reply.

"No thank you sir." His voice was low and the waiter had to strain his ears in order to fully catch what he had said. Looking baffled the ageing waiter walked away without further questioning the strange male.

How odd must he look sitting here, in a café and without ordering anything. Maybe he should've atleast asked for water, it would have made him sound less stupid than not ordering anything and just.. sitting there.

He was lost in his own thoughts for a good fifteen minutes, before the bell hung above the door rang and the girl he had been waiting for rushed in looking frantic and more tired than the waiter.

His head rose immediately and his breathing quickened as he watched her rush to the back of the café - where the kitchen probably was. She was in there for a while and he waited patiently now as she walked out roughly ten minutes later. Her previously lose hair was now in a tight bun and she had changed her jeans and t-shirt for a white blouse and black skirt.

Absolutely beautiful.

He wasn't sure exactly how long he sat there watching her attend to other customers and for him it felt as if time had stood still and this was where he belonged. He had been alive for so long now and yet he never truly felt alive, but in that moment he watched her and he felt more than alive. He wanted to talk to her, to hold her, to hear her sweet laughter fill his ears and to have her be his for eternity.

Julia.

He was so lost in his own mind that he failed to notice the lean figure standing near his booth and staring at him in puzzlement.

"So this is where you've been." He snapped out of the trance he was in and stared at his friend - who was more of a brother. Sitting up straight he looked past the brown haired, blue eyed male in search for the other guys.

"I'm here alone, you don't have to look like you've been caught stealing food out of Roman's secret food cabinet." Layton Pierce stared at him, his eyes were practically laughing at his condition and the smirk on Layton's face was growing bigger by the second as he stood there looking like he knew the exact and honest reason he was here. But that's how Layton was, he could read even the coldest people like an open book and constantly looked as if he held all your deepest, darkest secrets.

Taking the empty seat Layton raised an expectant eyebrow as he waited for his friend to start talking.

"What are you doing here?" he growled out the words with a harsh tone.

"Dude, I should be asking you that after all I'm just here for an innocent cup of coffee this fine morning, whereas you my friend, are not. So spill." Layton's tone was commanding and he did not take well to orders but he knew that he had been caught red handed.

Layton continued to stare at his friend, he was aware that whatever reason he had snuck out to visit the café was not for a simple cup of coffee - or else he obviously would have not snuck out in the first place. But what intrigued Layton more was the fact that he had snuck out; this was highly unlikely of him as he was the one who worried most about safety and the one time Layton snuck out, he had returned to get an hour long earful from his best friend.

"Ma-

Layton was cut off by a sweet voice that he had grown accustomed to now after all those times he and the boys had visited this café.

"Hi can I get you anything?"

Layton turned his head to the waitress his friends liked to tease and even though she was pretty, Layton could never really bring himself to join in with the teasing and flirting. Layton was about to reply with his usual order that he was pretty sure she had already memorised, but he was cut off when he saw his friend was sitting up straight and staring at the waitress who stood there looking suddenly nervous.

What the fuck was going o- oh shit.

another short-ish chapter please don't hate me // Layton on the side😍❤️