glitch to the 50's

2: in the shadows

Laylas pov:

"I do believe that we're supposed to shoot you on sight," the tallest of the three newcomers invited himself to sit at the one spare seat around their table, "correct?" he chuckled at the looks of fear on the girls faces

Layla took a deep breath and held her gaze, "yeah, we knew that smartass." she leaned back into her seat, as if she didn't have a lunatic with a loaded gun staring at her. "What you gonna do about it, huh? Shoot us in a crowded diner? Well good news story that would be." Layla put on her best news reporter voice "MEAN TEENS JAILED FOR MASSACRE-" she almost choked on her own laughter.

"She does have a point John, we'd be jailed for life," a new voice spoke, while playing with a gold earring, "my parents would kill me if they knew the kinda stuff that we were doing here – just the thought of me having a gun would send them insane!"

John hissed through gritted teeth, "shut it, boss said we had to do this – so let's get it done with quick..."

He was cut off by yet another voice, this time from the shortest of the three. "No, no, I'm sorry to say it but Nate does have a point." he flicked his coppery hair out of his face once again, "plus - I have a shift in four hours and id have to clean up all that blood an' shit – not nice I can tell you."

Layla caught Ruby's eye, she tried to tell her that she would get them out of this, she had to.

The boys' discussion had turned into what looked like quite a heated whisper-yelling match. They were sat with their heads almost touching and making such wild and angry gestures that Layla was surprised they hadn't hit anything yet.

She glanced around the table: AJ was sat clenching and unclenching her fists with such speed that Layla was surprised she hadn't cut herself; Ruby was shaking so much that it wouldn't be easy to tell the difference between her, and a house cat on the arctic tundra; Iris, meanwhile had almost bitten her fingers to stumps!

Layla shot a glare in their direction; she hoped that it told them to shut up and stop being babies, and not something else – that had been known in the past. Once Layla had silently asked iris for a piece of gum and been given a pencil sharpener instead!

AJ's Pov:

This whispered argument went on for what felt like hours. It went on and on, angry gesture after angry gesture, whispered shout after whispered shout. AJ had to admit that if it wasn't for the threat of imminent death, she would've fallen asleep a long time ago. Instead, she sat clenching and unclenching her fists, maybe that would help release all the fear building up inside her.

No use – AJ grimaced, seeing fresh bruises on her palms, obviously left by her acrylics. She looked up quickly, realising that the whispered argument was now over.

John raised his gaze, scowling miserably, "we have decided-" he glared daggers at the other two, "-that we are going to take you back to the hideout, see what the boss wants to do with you."

"But only because Leo here has a shift in a few hours, and it would be cruel to make him clean bloodstains all night."

"And also the prison sentence-"

"Yes that to" Nate rolled his eyes. "Anyway, we're gonna take yous back to base, and if you step out of line, we shoot you. Kapeesh?"

They all nodded sincerely – AJ wondered how he could be so light-hearted in a situation as serious as this, "she chuckled nervously. "Yep - Kapeesh."

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This unlikely group weaved in and out of tables on their way to the door, large tables, small tables, tables filled with families, couples and all the in between.