Layla

Chapter Thirteen: It's Time

"Whoa! What the.." Peter spun around looking at his new surroundings, looking shocked. "Are we," He stopped, pointing his fingers down at the pavement. "Did you acquire a new ability or are we still back on the plane?" Peter asked baffled by what was happening.

"We're still back on the plane. I've just brought you into my mind. It's something I learned while I've been staying with Charles." Layla said keeping her eyes off Peter.

Peter turned his head to the large school that stood in front of them. "Where are we, Layla?" He asked intrigued.

Layla looked up at the school she once attended, with sad eyes. She could feel her heart breaking with each breath she took. Her stomach twisted in nervous knots causing Layla to feel sick from the stress, but she blocked out all her emotions, and began walking towards her old high school.

"My old high school in Fayetteville, North Carolina." She mumbled brushing past Peter's shoulder.

Peter followed behind Layla, looking at the surroundings in awe. Everything felt real, and if he hadn't known he was in Layla's mind, he would of thought they were actually in North Carolina. The sky was gorgeous, it was a vibrant turquoise blue, and white, puffy cotton ball clouds danced across the sky, moving with the cool breeze. The leaves on the trees were ruby red, flame orange, and a brilliant green, signifying that fall had arrived. A cool breeze drifted in the air, and Peter watched Layla's dark brown hair move with it. He watched as Layla pushed her hair back behind her ear, moving quickly to get inside. Peter picked up his pace, looking around one last time before he went inside. He sped up, catching the door before it closed, and stepped inside the large hall to the school. Compared to the beautiful and picturesque scene outside, Peter was expecting the same inside the school, but instead he was faced with dimly lit halls. The school appeared grey and dark. Lights flickered down the halls, and the school was barren. No one was around, and it was eerily quiet. Peter glanced at the back of Layla's head, and he frowned. He didn't get a good feeling about any of this.

Layla stopped in front of a large double glass window, looking inside the principal's office. To the side outside the office, sat Layla in the uncomfortable red cloth covered chair. Her bag sat next to her slouched against the wall looking just as miserable as she was. Layla kept her arms crossed over her chest, staring at the stained white flooring with an annoyed look, while her hair covered half her face. She chewed her gum roughly, grinding it with her back molars as she waited for her parents to come. Suddenly, voices of kids walking down the hall, and chatting filled the school. Peter turned around expecting to see people, but there was no one around. Peter looked back at Layla, who kept her head down, staring at the floor. His eyes danced between the younger Layla, and the present Layla, and their expression looked the same. Expect the present Layla looked grim, and she wouldn't look at him, since they arrived.

The sound of a door creaking open brought Peter's attention back to the office, and he saw a man dressed in his military uniform walk in with a woman.

"Her parents." Peter quickly realized.

Peter's eyes followed her parent's movement, and they didn't look happy. The father kept a stoic expression, standing ram rod straight, and the mother looked unhappy. She clutched her purse tightly against her arm, and looked down at Layla with disappointment.

"What did you do, now?" Layla's mother asked trying to keep her temper down.

Layla didn't even look up at her parents. Instead, she turned her head to the wall where her backpack was, rolling her eyes. She chewed her gum harder, clenching her jaw tightly. Layla's mother huffed and stepped into the principal's office. Her father on the other hand, remained where he was, looking down at Layla. He kept his stoic expression, and because of that, Peter couldn't tell if her father was angry, disappointed, or even worried. Feeling her father's eyes on her, Layla kept her face turned, waiting for him to step inside, so that she could go in next. Layla's father narrowed his eyes at Layla's concealed face. Peter knitted his eyebrows together confused by her father's look, and followed his gaze. Peter walked in front of the younger version of Layla, squatting down to get a better look at her. He lifted his hand up, brushing her hair out of her face, and saw the giant black and purple bruise under her jaw. Peter's heart broke, and he stood up, looking at the present Layla. She never looked up at him, keeping her eyes on the floor. Peter looked back at Layla's father, who looked angry, and his hands were fisted at his sides. Her father took a deep breath then stepped inside of the principal's office, sitting next to his wife.