Archer's Paradox | Slow updates

Chapter Two

Sitting in Josh's house on his couch is even more awkward than when I arrived. I got dressed and when I came back into the other room, they were staring.

And they're both older than me. It's kind of weird.

Lucas cleared his throat and we all sat down. Which is what we are doing right now. The silence was turning eerie until Josh clasps his hands together and looks at me. "What would you like to eat? I could make something or we could order something." He smiles at me warmly and I glance between him and Lucas. "Anything really. I'm starving." I say and he breathes out a sigh of relief. "Pizza it is!"

"Didn't think such a small girl could eat so much!" Lucas laughs as I take my eighth slice out of the box. I haven't eaten in weeks and this pizza is just doing wonders to make up for the lost pounds. "Very hungry." I say through a mouthful and savour the taste. Gosh, it's so good I don't want it to end.

"We need to discuss living arrangements and things." Josh says as he wipes his hands. I stop chewing and gulp. I knew this was coming. They want me out because they can't take care of an orphan who has never gone to school and might be crazy from being held captive for 5 years. "I'll leave in the morning. Just let me stay for the night," I begin to say but Josh cuts in. "No! Don't worry, we won't throw you out. But we'll have to get you some clothes and accessories and things girls like. And you have to go to school." I smile as the words fill my brain. They actually want me to stay. My eyes tear up and I wipe at them. "When do we start?" I ask enthusiastically and Josh smiles even bigger.

"Well you can stay in the guest room. We'll have it set up for you and then we can enroll you into a school nearby." I nearly jump off the couch. I'm going to be normal.

When I enter the room there's a stack of pajamas laying on the bed and I immediately get dressed. It's a button up long sleeve shirt with matching pants and it hugs my body perfectly. I see a pair of slippers in a bag by the closet and try them on. They're a bit big but very comfy. These guys sure know how to spoil a girl. A knock on the door brings me back to reality and Josh peaks his head in. He smiles when he sees me wearing the pajamas.

"I'm glad they fit. They uh .. they were my wife's before she passed." His smile falters a bit and I frown. Josh was married? Why don't I see pictures or something suggesting such things? I notice how he looks around the room before turning to me again. "But I'll leave you to it. Night Layla." He says with a sad expression underneath his smile and closes the door. It must've been horrible to lose someone so close to you. I lost my parents so I guess I know the feeling.

I take in my surroundings before pulling back the covers and getting in. It's a beautiful room with a vanity. The floor is stained hardwood and the walls are a pale purple. The bedding is dark purple with lighter purple linens and pillowcases and the bedlamp sits on a dark polished bedside table with drawers. It's absolutely beautiful and I'm so thankful that I get to have it now. I switch off the light and lay back against the pillows. It feels like a dream that I never want to wake up from and I'm too afraid to close my eyes but drowsiness wins eventually and soon I drift off into darkness.

"Let me go!" I run from him but he seems faster and catches up to me. "No where to run girl! I'll always be there." His laughter fills the void and I feel a sharp pain in my skull. I fall to my knees but manage to bring a hand up to my head. It's sticky and my fingers graze the edge of a knife as I let out a strangled scream.

I fly up from the bed while breathing heavily. My heart is pounding and I carefully touch around my head.

No knife.

It was just a dream.

You're safe.

He's dead.

I sigh as I lay down again and Josh rushes into the room. "Are you ok?" He asks out of breath and I nod. "Bad dream." I answer and he leaves the room. I frown and before I can fall asleep again, he comes back with a glass of water and a tablet. "Helps for anxiety and stress. I pop one when I have nightmares and it makes me sleep so soundly, I don't even wake up tired." I take the tablet and examine it closely before gulping down the water. "Thanks." I say and he leaves the room. My mind stills completely and sleep takes over so fast, I don't remember closing my eyes.

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I wake up with a jolt. The suddenness of being in a bed causes me to panic until I remember what happened.

You're ok.

My muscles relax and I sink back into the pillows. Then the door opens suddenly and I almost jump through the roof. Josh comes in smiling with a tray of bacon and eggs on toast. "Eat up. We're going shopping." He leaves after I break into a wide toothed smile and I quickly force the food into my body. It forcefully tries to get back out through my mouth but I swallow it back.

No time for shit, stomach.

I grab the clothes I got yesterday and yank a brush through my hair. It's naturally straight so I think I look fine before throwing open the door and strutting down the hallway. Josh grabs his keys when he sees me and we exit his home. It's more like a huge apartment next to the ocean. I didn't look out the window last night and now I'm getting the surprise of my life.

"Where exactly are we? Are we still in San Francisco? Are we even still in California?" The questions fly out my mouth and Josh laughs at me. "We are in Linden. Just outside San Francisco." I notice the difference between the houses and suck in a breath. I never knew Linden and when we pull up at the mall, I almost lose it at the size. It must have like everything. Linden is kind of a big city then. Or a really rich town where all kids over 15 wear Vans and Cherokee jeans and drive Rovers. I see these brand names while we walk around and we head into a store called Jam. It has so much beautiful clothing and I want to get it all but it seems wasteful until Josh nods and says we have a lot of money to spend since his wife's policy paid out.

So I get dresses, jeans, hoodies, socks, tops and underwear. We go to a expensive shoe store where I buy Vans, Chuck Taylor's, Converse, forest boots, ankle boots and uggs. Then we head into a place that sells camping gear and I get a few jackets and sweaters. I also get makeup and hair products from a store before we eventually go back to the car. The trunk is barely big enough for all the bags and some go on the backseat.

I try everything on at home. And everything looks perfect. I don't know how many times I thanked Josh until he said he'll kick me out if I thanked him one more time. So I shut up. We went earlier to enroll me at a school and they happily accepted me. I'll be going to J.S. Jones High. Since I just turned 16 years old, I'll be a junior. My birthday was like 2 months ago since I heard the date, which is the 6th of November.

September 14th

I'm so excited to begin my life as a normal kid that I can hardly sit still. Josh has to make me do something until I've calmed enough. That only lasts an hour until I start rearranging things and packing up my bag for school again. I already picked my outfit and it's hanging in my closet. I really hope it's not too flashy since the school doesn't have a uniform or dress code and I'd like to remain in the shadows until I'm confident enough to make some friends. I've never had many friends because the bowhunting community is relatively few and far between. A few of them live in other states and my parents home schooled me to fit in to the busy schedule of competing nationally. My thoughts are interrupted by a cough and I look up at Josh.

He smiles at me. "Wow it's the longest you've sat still. Go look in your room. There's something you might like." He nods towards the hallway and I cautiously get up from the couch. I raise my brow at him before contemplating what could be something I would like and make my way towards my room.

I almost die from happiness.

There, on my bed, sits my red custom-made longbow. It looks polished and when I turn it over I see my initials engraved in beautiful lettering on the handle. Did Josh do this?

Then a small white box catches my eye and I carefully set down my bow. I turn the box over in my hands before reading the labeling.

Samsung Galaxy S9

A ... phone?

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Layla's hair is straight but I can't find pictures of Zoey Deutsch with straight hair so for time being, bear with me.