Leather and Lace (Eddie Roundtree)

Look At Us Now

"How did we get here?/ How do we get out?/ We used to be something to see/ Oh, baby, look at us now/ Baby, look at us now"

Layla Dunne: Nothing had been simple or easy but I had no idea just how messy it all was. For everyone.

Eddie Roundtree: I can't say I didn't want it to end. I did. I knew I needed to leave, there was no reason for me to stay. But there was still a few things I needed to do, to say, first.

Karen Sirko: If you had told me that morning that it would've been our last show... I would've laughed.

Graham Dunne: It's always when you don't want things to change that they do. 

Warren Rojas: I was just having such a good time, I didn't want to see it.

Daisy Jones: Some people might disagree, but it was all for the best.

Billy Dunne: There's still a lot you don't know.

Layla sat beside Camilla on the flight to Chicago, much to the surprise of a certain bass player. The two women didn't speak but Layla's presence provided a comfort to Camilla. It hadn't been so long ago that Layla sat on a different flight, feeling all the emotions Camilla was now. She knew the fears, the questions, the anger.

"What would you do?" Camilla asked in a hushed tone to keep the conversation between them.

"You know what I would do." Layla sighed.

"What if you could do it all again, would you?"

Layla paused, contemplating her question. She looked past her, looking at where Eddie sat gazing out the window. His brows were furrowed in contemplation and Layla's hand desired to smooth out the wrinkles on his forehead.

For once, she didn't stop the tidal wave of memories that came to her when she saw him.

The first day she met him, when they were only kids. Graham had brought home a new friend who was all knees and elbows. She had met him when the boys came through the living room where she was coloring. A childish introduction was made. Eddie smiled and he was missing a tooth. She asked them to play with her and Graham said no, tugging on one of her braids as he did, brotherly teasing. They left the room, and only Eddie turned to say bye. Neither one knew Eddie would become a near permanent feature in the Dunne house.

A little bit older and Layla was sitting on the curb outside her house. Billy was teaching Graham how to play guitar, and they had kicked Layla out of the room, shutting the boy's bedroom door behind her. Her head was in her hands, elbows on her knees. And Eddie came down the street. What's wrong with you? He asked, concerned for his best friend's little sister. Nothing. He looked at her, unbelieving. Well, do you mind if I sit with you? She didn't mind. She never did.

Later still, a basement at some neighborhood kid's birthday. Their mother made Graham bring Layla, even though she didn't know most of the kids there, being a grade younger. Truth or dare, the kids were just beginning to get interested in acting older. Eddie, truth or dare? She knew he'd pick dare, he always did. Kiss the girl here you like the most, on the lips. It was unexpected but not unwanted. He moved over to her. Can I kiss you? She nodded quickly, heartbeat increasing. It wasn't anything crazy, a little peck between kids. But she told her diary that night that it made her feel like the luckiest girl in the world.

Then came high school and self consciousness and forced confidence. Layla learned how to turn into the girl everyone wanted around to make up for how invisible she was at home. But to Eddie, she was perfect any way.

More memories came. Her mind flooded with this and that. Nights at their spot, sneaking in and out of his bedroom, watching him play for The Dunne Brothers.