Songbird|Skreamer|Supacell

7

Layla's POV:

Morning light streamed through my curtains, casting soft beams across the room. I blinked a few times, slowly waking from the comforting haze of sleep. The warmth beside me stirred my senses, and I turned my head to find Skreamer still asleep, his features softened in the gentle light. His dark hair was tousled, and his chest rose and fell with each breath, steady and calm.

I couldn't help but smile, feeling a rush of affection as I watched him. It was a stark contrast to the chaos of the previous day. The memory of the Sixers creeping in was still fresh, but having him here made it all feel a little more manageable.

I carefully shifted, trying not to disturb him, but as I moved, he stirred, letting out a low groan. His eyes cracked open, revealing those deep brown pools that always seemed to hold a hint of mischief. "Mornin', love," he mumbled, a lazy grin spreading across his face.

"Morning," I replied softly, feeling my cheeks heat up. "Did you sleep okay?"

"Better than I have in ages," he said, stretching his arms above his head, the muscles in his chest flexing. "Guess it's the company."

I chuckled, my heart fluttering at his playful confidence. "You think so, huh?"

"Definitely," he said, rolling onto his side to face me. "Though I reckon it could have been the lack of drama last night. A nice change of pace."

"Don't get used to it," I teased, nudging him playfully. "There's always drama with me around."

His eyes sparkled with amusement. "I wouldn't have it any other way. But for real, what's on today's agenda? I hope it involves you, me, and a whole lot of chillin'."

"You been writing any new tunes lately?" I asked, shifting the conversation away from the Sixers. I could feel the tension rolling off her, and I didn't want to add more weight to her shoulders.

Layla smiled, a soft, almost shy look crossing her face. "Yeah... I've been working on a new song. But it's different. I've been trying to... experiment with my powers more. See what happens when I really let go."

I raised an eyebrow. "Your powers, huh? How's that goin'?"

She sat up, her energy shifting. "It's hard, but I feel like I'm getting better at controlling it. When I sing, it's like the sound vibrates through me, and I can change how it feels. Sometimes it's soft, like a whisper, but other times... it's like a punch to the gut."

I leaned forward, fascinated. "You reckon you could use that against someone? Like, make 'em feel what you want 'em to feel?"

Layla bit her lip, nodding slowly. "I think so. But I haven't pushed it too far yet. I'm still learning."

I grinned, feeling a spark of excitement. "That's mad. You've got a gift, Layla. More than just your music. That's real power."

Her smile faded, and her eyes darkened. "It scares me sometimes, Skreamer. What if I lose control?"

I reached out, taking her hand in mine. "You won't. 'Cause you're stronger than you think. And if you ever feel like you're slippin', you know I got your back."

She squeezed my hand, the fear in her eyes softening. I knew what it was like to have something inside you that felt bigger than you could handle. But Layla... she was a fighter, even if she didn't always realize it.

Suddenly, her phone buzzed on the table. I watched as her expression shifted, the light in her eyes dimming.

"What's up?" I asked.

She shook her head. "Just some random messages."

I didn't push. I knew Layla had her secrets, just like me. But as long as she was safe, that's all I cared about.

As Skreamer's hand warmed mine, my phone buzzed again. I glanced at it, my heart sinking. It was another message from him."Just some random messages," I muttered, but it was far from random. I hated lying to Skreamer, but there was no way I could let him know what was really going on. If he found out about my manager, about how he was pushing me to the edge, making me perform back-to-back gigs with no rest, stealing most of my earnings—Skreamer would lose his mind. 

He already had enough to worry about, with the Sixers and everything going on.I didn't need him storming into my world, fists swinging, trying to fix everything with violence. The thought of him doing something reckless... it made my stomach twist.But deep down, I knew I couldn't keep hiding it forever. My manager had been getting worse, more demanding, and it felt like I was running out of excuses. Every time I said no to a gig, he'd remind me how easily he could make me disappear, how lucky I was to even have a career. And the worst part? A small part of me believed him.

Skreamer's voice broke through my thoughts. "You sure everything's alright, Layla? You look... distant."I forced a smile. "Yeah, just thinking about the song I've been working on. It's... it's got me feeling all kinds of things."His eyes searched mine, but he didn't push. "Well, you know I'm here, yeah? Whenever you're ready to talk."I nodded, squeezing his hand again. 

"I know. And I appreciate it, Skreamz."But talking wasn't the problem. It was what would happen once the truth was out. Skreamer didn't do calm. And as much as I hated what was happening with my manager, the last thing I wanted was for Skreamer to escalate things. His world was already violent enough. I didn't want to drag him deeper into mine.Still, as I sat there, leaning into Skreamer, I couldn't help but feel trapped. Trapped between two worlds—my music, my powers, and this suffocating control my manager had over me. 

And Skreamer, who would burn it all down if he knew the truth.For now, though, I'd keep pretending everything was fine. I just hoped I could hold it together long enough to figure out a way out of this mess.