The Runaway

Three//: Drinking and watching shameless. That's true friendship.

"So have another drink, have another drink coming, if this is what it takes, if its what it takes baby. Dream another dream 'cause your killing it, honey. This is what we do to get by, we're always chasing that paradise."

-Paradise, Ellie Goulding.

(A/N: Fun fact, it takes about anywhere from three to five hours to write a 2000 to 3000 worded chapter, and sometimes I go higher than that.)

-----

I muffle my laughter as I almost trip on my way up my driveway. Oh jeez.

The living room light is on.

I step in the house and shut the door silently behind me. I make my way into my room and change into pajamas quickly.

I tear the blanket off the bed and throw it on the floor. I lay on the sheet-covered bed and curl in a ball as the tears come.

Earth itself is my personal hell, not this town.

-

ASHTON's POV

I hear footsteps and wake up instantly. The door to her room closes. After about twenty minutes, I finally go in.

She's curled in a ball, hugging herself.

She's asleep, her breathing laboured, but she was awake not too long ago I'd say, by the now-drying tears against her cheeks and chin.

Nothing has ever been more painful than seeing her cry to me.

But I can't tell..

Does she want to be this way? Is it just a front?

Or...

Could my baby girl be broken?

------

Laila's POV

I blink as I stare at the sight in front of me.

My mom, dad, sisters, Ashton, and my brother sitting in a circle on the couches and love seat.

"Really?" I ask, my eyebrows raised. I laugh once. "I have plans.." I trail off. I look down at my phone.

Me: Hey Kehls, up to some partying with Andrew today? I'll bring my recent fling.

Kehlani.S.: The usual?

Me: Where else but Lux?

Kehlani.S: True. Meet you there at 7:30.

((NOTE: THIS WAS BEFORE KEHLANI RETURNED.))

"With?" Mom asks instantly.

"Ah.. a friend." I let slowly. How do you describe Kehlani Stevenson?

Well, she goes by Shadow, but a lot of people call her The Siren. So what do I use?

"What's his name?" Dad asks.

"Her name is Kehlani." I tell them, and smirk down at my phone, pulling up a picture of us drinking together, dressed similarly​. "Here she is." I tell them, showing the photo. Their curious and slightly relieved looks disappear and their eyes narrow.

"No." Dad says. "Sit for a minute." He says. I do as he says, seeing as its only 6:04.

I put my phone's notification ring on that way they get annoyed quickly. A ding goes off, and I answer the text quickly.

"Hey sis, I missed you." My brother says warmly. I look up and smile a real smile.

"You too." I reply, but my lips twist sarcastically as I look over to Genevieve. "Can't say the same about you two." I tell them, even though its a lie. They both flinch. I yawn. "Oh god I'm tired." I whisper, mindlessly tracing the scars on my arm that aren't visible to them.