THE TELLYS COMPANY

Part 7

When I walk away I feel a hand grab me. This place is so crowded and the hand takes me by surprise to the kitchen.

"Lauren?" My heart drops when I turn around and see the person. The voice that I haven't heard in years. The one person. My best friend.

My...sister.

"Layla." My voice breaks and I bring her into a tight hug. She cries as she hugs me even tighter,

"They got you too. I'm so sorry. They were the ones that sent those stupid letters to you guys. Mom and d-" our conversation is interrupted by a man.

"Hey babe, I want you to meet these people." He points to the people next to him while talking to my sister. She nods with a smile and holds up her finger reassuring him she'll come.

"I'll be right back. Don't go anywhere please, I have so much to tell you." She squeezes my hand and smiles at me. She doesn't seem like she hates that guy but still.

She was taken away too. She was sold. My sister whom I assumed didn't want to see me and wanted to run off with her "man" was actually taken and sold.

Wow. I wonder what mom and dad would do if they found out.

"Lauren! I said to not leave me." Johns voice breaks the sad thoughts in my head.

"John...that's my sister." I point sadly to the woman across the room that I honestly don't recognize.

She seems happier. She looks like she's..glowing? I don't know. As I said before, this whole thing is very odd.

"Layla's your sister?" He sounds surprised in a way. I nod and he grabs my hand leading me out of the kitchen and into the dining area.

"Do you know her?" I ask curiously. He nods his head but doesn't say anything more. Instead he just starts a conversation with another person. Great! More secrets!

Maybe he knows the man that took her away from us. Maybe she can also be in on this plan so we can go back to our normal lives. I hope she wants to go back at least. This isn't a normal life style anyone should live. Then again she's been here for years without us knowing and she doesn't even seem the least bit of sad.

The rest of the party I spent talking to rich old woman who botox their face so much that they look like puffed up peppers.

I did a pretty decent job at acting like I'm interested in talking about politics and how bipolar the weather here is.

"Time to go, Lor." That's what I've been waiting for. I follow John quickly to the door but the voice behind us stops us from leaving

"Aw you've already got a nickname for her? How adorable!" A squeaky voice says. I turn around impatiently and see the girl hugging John.

"How are you Britt?" I can so tell he doesn't want to have a conversation with her but he isn't a rude person 

"I am good. Just missing you a lot lately. So you bought something to have fun with, I see?" She points to me and I gasp.

That's the last damn straw. The last time I will ever let someone make me out to be an item.

I immediately step in front of John and get close to her,

"Excuse you? Say that again please with the same energy." I growl. She laughs sarcastically and smirks right after. I don't know what to cringe at the most her overly drawn eyebrows or the fact that her red lipstick is about to pop out of her face and say 'boo' to me.

"I said John has a toy now. Well that's the shortened version at least." John stands there awkwardly I bet he's hoping I just walk away.

Nope. Too bad.

"John doesn't have a toy and he doesn't want one either so I guess you have to walk away now. But I mean you can offer yourself to any other man in this place I'm sure they'll lower their standards for your bimbo looking self." I grumble through my teeth. Johns eyes widen and so do hers

"Do you know who you are talking to? I can basically buy 10 of you! But who would? I mean look at you!" She laughs loudly causing some to stare at us

"I do know who I'm talking to. A cheaply looking Barbie you can buy at the thrift store." I argue back.

"Lets go Lor." John demands but I push his hands away

"Don't tell me what to do!" I scream. This causes even more heads to turn at what's going on and my face turns bright red.

I open the door running out and of course he has to run out after me.

"Would you stop?" He yells as he keeps chasing me. I ignore him and keep walking even faster through the grass. This is so hard with heels.

"Lauren! Just quit it! Just stop!" He screams and I fall on the grass afraid that he might have a gun.

"Dont! Please!" I yell holding my hands over my face in defense.

"What? Why are you covering yourself? I'm not going to hurt you." He just looks down at me while I sit on the grass. He sits down besides me and pulls out his phone

"I got Telly's number tonight. That's the first step. We've officially became acquaintances." He grins at his accomplishment and I sigh

"John...is Layla okay?" She's all I can think about. She was my best friend and they took her away. My mom and dad think she never wants to see them again when in reality they took that chance from her.

"Yeah. She's with Michael Lasen. Don't worry though, he's a real nice guy. That's why she seems so happy. As a matter of fact he proposed to her a few months ago." He mentions with a smile on his face. What the hell.

"Are you serious? How do you know she wasn't forced to get engaged to him?" I say crossing my arms

"Come on. I'll explain more when we get to the house." He helps pull me off the grass and we walk to the car together.

"Lauren, as hard it is to believe..they love each other. He cares about her and he's different than all the other guys. He's loyal and he really cares about her. He told me all that before he proposed." This explains the glow on her face. She actually is in love.

"Still though. It doesn't matter. I don't care. It doesn't mean they didn't take her life away from her. The life she had before."

"Yeah you're right. Which is why I will make things right no matter what." He reassures me.