limerence | COMPLETED

24

IT TAKES A FULL TWENTY-FOUR HOURS BEFORE THE POWER FINALLY TURNS BACK ON. The TV blares to life without warning, scaring Layla half to death in the process.

With nothing much else to do, she spends the few days after Christmas trapped indoors watching more films, sleeping and trying to survive on the little food left in the fridge. When the grocery stores open again, the first thing she does is a massive grocery shop, much to her stomach's relief. She stays in touch with Kai a lot more over text throughout the days that pass, the two of them checking in on each other and otherwise talking just because.

Two days before New Year's Eve, Mercy finally comes back home from Miami.

"I have arrived!" she announces loudly as Layla swings open the front door. Layla automatically smiles at the sight of her.

"Hi Mere," she grins, making an oomph when the girl tackles her into a hug.

Since Miami, Mercy's skin has become a deeper, richer brown and when Layla jokingly compares the differences in their colour, they both laugh hysterically at just how pale Layla is from years of practically no sun. One thing Mercy definitely hasn't lost while she's been away, however, is her natural instinct to be loud.

They sit – well, Layla does the sitting and Mercy does the pacing and frantic up and down in her seat kind of thing – and the second Layla asks about how it went with the Greek Goddess, Mercy launches into a literal two-hundred-page explanation of everything that happened.

From re-telling how they first met, to how her plan worked a treat, to how the girl - Eva - eventually asked her out on a date and they later had sex on the beach when the sun was setting, which apparently isn't as romantic and hygienic as people make it out to be.

It's only at the end of Mercy's story that Layla notices the shopping bag. It takes Layla a mere two seconds to regret even asking.

"Okay, so you're wearing this dress at the New Year's party but I can't let you see it yet until the day because it's so gorgeous and I want it to be a surprise!" Mercy explains, literally shoving her up the stairs. "But I need to make sure it fits so try it on but keep your eyes closed."

Layla goes to protest but Mercy waves a dismissive hand, continuing to push her into her room and grabbing for the hem of her shirt.

"I've seen your beautiful body before, don't worry," the girl jokes, discarding Layla's top with ease and ignoring her red face of protest. "Okay, close your eyes and don't look, okay? Feel the material, nice right?"

It does feel good to touch and as Mercy carefully pulls it over Layla's head, the silk material slides easily over her body down to her mid-thigh like water.

"Oh my God, I knew this would look stunning," Mercy praises. Layla raises a brow, desperately wanting to see the damn thing.

"Why are you so obsessed with me wearing this anyway?" she asks, her arms waving wildly in the air to steady herself as Mercy spins her around a few times. "It's only a party so what's the big deal?" She can literally hear Mercy roll her eyes.

"It's New Year's Eve!" Mercy emphasises, as though that explains everything. "And it will be our last official year as high school students and there's also-" She abruptly stops. "It's New Year's Eve!"

Layla sees straight through her friend's poor attempt to cover up her mistake. "Mercy," she says slowly, accusation lacing her tone. "What exactly have you got planned?"

"What do you mean?" Mercy asks way too innocently, snapping hundreds of photos to share with Savannah over iMessage. "As I said, New Years is going to be lit. I mean, James is throwing it first of all and his parties are famous for being amazing."