A Chill In The Air (Book 1)

A Chill In The Air - Chapter 23

A Chill In The Air

Chapter Twenty-Three

Wasting no time in getting back, Layla swiftly made her way back to campus with the comments Tyler made still replaying through her mind. He always did leave an impression on her but tonight he came across to her as more dauntingly dangerous than daringly dashing. A hint of fear merely gracing the surface of her soul as she grew closer and closer to the campus entrance, always worrying that he could be following her making sure that she didn’t run straight to anyone about what he had said to her. Layla had never been one to be afraid but ever since meeting up with Tanner and Tyler her inner scared child was slowly surfacing, breaking through her strong emotional barriers she had spent years crafting to protect her sanity from whatever life would throw at her, for she knew if she didn’t do this she wouldn’t be able to cope. The cracks however were starting to show little by little.

Standing at the entrance to the campus, Cassie stood with her arms crossed casually as she waited for Layla to arrive back. A small smile resonated out from her as she looked up spotting a deep-in-thought Layla coming ever closer. She unfurled her arms and gave Layla a gentle wave now standing up, her posture more composed and relaxed than when leaning back. “Hey, sorry about earlier Lay did it ruin your lunch with Paisley?” Shaking her head Layla quickly embraced Cassie before letting her go again, “No we got done all we needed to it was actually good timing and she didn’t mind me going early. Though Ty…” shaking her head again Layla smiled instead, remembering the promise she made not to speak of her talk with Tyler. “Never mind, can we go in now? I feel a chill in the air.” Cassie smiled and nodded, linking her arm in Layla’s the two made their way inside the inner campus building, chatting and spreading gossip all the way up to outside their room.

As both of them rounded the corner before their room, Layla shuddered with a sudden feeling that disturbed her, running the full length of her spine goose bumps followed on her arms and legs. “Cassie, call me crazy…” before she could finish, Cassie quickly interjected. “Crazy.” Earning a playful frown from Layla, she continued despite the interruption. “Call me crazy but I feel something strange, like as if something’s waiting for me.” she looked at the door.  Ignoring what Layla said completely, Cassie shook her head and got their room key out. “You’re not crazy but seriously Lay there’s nothing to feel uneasy about at all.” She stood back allowing Layla to be the first to enter, not stopping to ask anymore Layla gave the doorknob one firm turn and the door swung gently open, herself stepping inside not long after. The room is a deathly black as Cassie enters behind Layla, the darkness only adding to Layla’s uneasy feeling. “I’ll get the lights.” Layla said to break the feeling and as she flicked the switch up, her uneasy feelings were confirmed. Standing in the darkness was a familiar figure Layla saw not even an hour ago, Tanner Shay was here.

Nothing else ran through Layla’s head now apart from one thing, Tyler was right. He warned her of Tanner’s suspicious and sudden actions and here less than four meters away was Tanner himself, inside her locked room in the dark. If that didn’t scream suspicion and danger not much else could. Tanner casually looked around Layla at Cassie and gave her a simple straightforward nod, “You can go now Cassie, thank you.” Despite the situation Tanner was still able to retain his manners when others in this case may not. Cassie closed the door with the upmost silence she could so not to cause too much attention even during this time of day; too much noise would still cause an audience. Layla was now left standing facing Tanner, he looked her up and down and with the feelings he read off of her, he knew she was wary and unpredictable.

Layla ran through briefly in her head what she wanted to ask him, which was a lot considering all that had happened which has led up to this point with them two alone in her dorm room in the afternoon of the day. A small lump rose and remained in the base of Layla’s throat as she felt unusually nervous of the situation whereas before her bravery was second to none, when she drew a breath she was finally able to speak. “What’re you d-doing in here? How did you g-get in here? The door was locked.” Even the expression now on Tanner’s face could easily show that even he was confused at her sudden mood change on being suddenly confronted. Pointing his right hip out ever so slightly, Tanner resumed a casual arms-crossed carefree schoolboy look as he remained looking at her, “I think the both of us can work this one out Layla, I’m here to talk.” He said frankly, the polite tone gone straight out the window or it would do if the window was open. “Okay well what about? What is it exactly that you want out of me?” Not bothering to answer Tyler instead moved forward and closed their gap to less than two meters, and then he answered. “I want you to stay away from Tyler, Layla. He’s dangerous and he only wants to turn you against me, believe me I’ve known him long enough to be familiar with his deceitful tricks.” This only made Layla twice as confused, both Tyler and Tanner had told her the exact same thing but about the opposite man, but Layla had had more time with Tyler than Tanner so her loyalty swayed to him.

Putting back the distance between them Layla now stood with the coldness of the wooden door at her back, her head shaking in disbelief. “No. No actually you’re wrong.” Tanner blinked and didn’t contest against her; he knew she had more to say. “You’re the one that’s been all ‘Mr mystery man’ acting the sly stranger around me when in fact Tyler yeah Tyler’s been the one that’s been there for me, he’s the one that’s stuck around long enough to be my friend when you, huh, yeah you’ve just been off doing God knows what.” This stunned Tanner further because despite his absence in her life he’s always been the one to protect her, Layla at this point failing to see that. Giving Layla no option but to remain where she was, Tanner once more and for the last time closed their gap but to even shorter an extent to less than a meter. “Layla.” He exhaled before he continued. “This is exactly why I’m telling you this, he’s only gotten close to you because he’s trying to turn you against me to make me look like the bad guy here. I’m the one that’s trying to keep you safe believe it or not.” Creasing her brow Layla took the doorknob firmly in her right hand turning it so the door popped out of its seal, “Oddly enough I don’t believe you, now would you please leave, I have studying to do.” It took him a minute to decide on what to do but the best resolve for this situation would be for Tanner to leave so not to cause her more upset. He left without a second look back at her as his second attempt at telling her the truth had failed.

When alone Layla went over to her bed and forthrightly flopped down on it like a fish that had the life drained out of it the moment it was hooked, indeed this is how Layla is seeing herself. The moment she had met both guys something from her had drained from her, like something had been taken away from her that wasn’t hers to begin with. None of that seemed to matter to Layla at the moment as she curled up as tight as she could go, her arms tightly wrapped around her with her eyes closed thinking about how her life could be turned in so many circles in a short space of time, she felt more than confused. She felt lost.