Held Captive

Unknown

Laylah's POV

12 hours earlier

I rummage in my bag until I hear the familiar shake of my prescription at the bottom. I pop one back and grip the counter as I force it down my dry throat. It was the only thing keeping me from having a full on panic attack. I splash my face with some water and stare at my daring reflection before me. I was a mess. There was still a faint hint of a bruise on my cheek and my eyes were puffy and red from all the crying I'd been doing. Pulling the sleeves up on my sweatshirt I put a shaky hand to the dark purple bruise on my arm. It was the only one that hadn't quite gone away yet and it was a daring reminder that Neil was still out there. Waiting for me to come home.

It's been days since the party. He knew something was up by now and I prayed to god he didn't come looking for me. If he..if he got his hands on me again I wasn't so sure i'd survive this time. 

"Laylah, you in there?" Gwen knocks. 

"Yeah just give me a minute." I say, yanking the sleeves of my sweatshirt back in place and swiping at my face with the back of my hand. Opening the door I glance down the hall on the way to my room and spot a red haired girl walking downstairs. I wonder if i'm hallucinating before I catch Gwen's curious expression as she follows my gaze.  

She grabs my arm and yanks me down the stairs, following after the mysterious girl. "What are you doing?" I whisper, panicked. 

"I saw her downstairs with Vixen earlier. We're going to meet the bitch." 

My heart squeezes in my chest at the mention of him with another girl but then I want to punch myself for still feeling anything for that asshole. After what he did I wanted nothing to do with him and I made sure to make that very clear. "Gwen no, I don't think this is a good idea."

She side eyes me before practically dragging me into the kitchen. Everybody stops and turns their heads towards us as our hushed voices filter into the kitchen. I'm on the verge of stabbing Gwen with her fresh new set of acrylics when I force myself to plaster a fake smile on my face, glancing at the strikingly beautiful red haired girl who was now sitting next to Jackson at the island. I'm glad Vixen isn't here but it doesn't make it any less awkward as we all glance around at each other. Gwen smiles and, just as I thought, is the first one to break the silence. "Aren't you guys going to introduce us to your new girlfriend?" She asks, sarcastically.

Zane scrunches his nose but dare I say I see a hint of a smile grace Jackson's lips. "Don't be impolite, it's not a good look on such a pretty face." 

"Everything's a good look on me." Gwen flips Zane the bird before looping her arm through mine and walking up to the poor girl until we're pushing the boundary on personal space. "And you are?" 

The girl struggles to maintain eye contact as she picks at a rip on her jeans. I could tell she was feeling a bit intimidated and I didn't blame her. Gwen tended to have that effect on people. "Yasmine, but people call me Izzy." Despite her uneasy demeanor, her voice was soft and slightly cheery. 

Before Gwen can say anything Jackson stands, taking a protective stance in front of her. "If you don't have anything nice to say don't speak to her at all." He hardly spoke but when he did it was more intense than a hungry grizzly bear waiting to hunt its next prey. I'm tempted to take a step back but of course Gwen isn't the least bit intimidated as she scoffs and shoos him aside. 

"Oh please, we're just making friends. Now if you'll excuse me us girls were talking." Her smile stays plastered on her face but you can practically feel the daggers her eyes are shooting at him. He grunts but sits back down. "Why don't you come out with us today and we can get to know you better?"