A Stone Turned Soft

Chapter 3

Layla was living the life. A month had passed since she escaped her last group home. This was the longest she lasted on her own without getting caught. This time, she was extra careful not to attract unwanted attention. She got rid of her phone (anyone could track her), she never applied for jobs (someone could recognize her), she never used her debit card (she would be the system). She was invisible. Just another face in the crowd. She liked it that way. If it meant living on her own instead of being trapped behind four walls, she would do whatever it took.

She did miss sleeping in a bed. And being in a house. And Nicky. And Elias. She wondered how they were doing...

No! That was then. This is now. She was living her best life and she hoped the same for them. She wanted to reconnect with them, but she couldn't do that without making herself visible. It was just another sacrifice she had to make in order to maintain her freedom.

As Layla walked the length of the crosswalk, her heart skipped a beat. She did a double take. It couldn't be him. It was impossible. She must be really tired. Yeah, that was it. She was tired. She walked around the corner and saw her favorite coffee shop at the end of the opposite streed. She felt strange for some reason. She looked to her right and there he was again on the opposite side of the street. She was about to cross the street again, but she stopped as soon as she saw the man. He was looking on his phone outside the coffee shop she was trying to go into, but there was no doubt about it. Elias had found her.

She had no choice. She had to go in. She was already halfway across the street and she hadn't had breakfast yet. She would just have to stay at a distance. She made sure Elias went in first so that he wouldn't see her behind him. Luckily, once he ordered he sat down at a table and looked at his phone. Layla's cash was running low, but she managed to get discounted food if she worked it off and the owner kept her identity a secret. She ordered her regular then went to the restroom to wait. She thought of nothing but questions as to how Elias had found her. Did he just happen to see her in the coffee shop? Was this part of some elaborate scheme to capture her? Did he even see her? She waited awhile to make sure he had enough time to get his food and leave. She walked out of the bathroom but stopped abruptly. There he was, face to face, holder her order as well as his.

"Don't make a scene. Follow me to my car and I'll explain everything."

She had no choice but to comply. She grabbed her food from his hands and asked, "How did you find me?"

"I have connections," he said suspiciously

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"There's a lot that you don't know about me."

"Can we please stop this covert mission talk and just answer my question? How'd you find me?" she repeated

"You go to the same coffee shop at the same time every morning and order the same thing. And I've heard people say you work there."

"Hey, money's pretty tight right now. I have a good relationship with the owner so I work nights so I can make ends meet."

"You know you could have reached out to me," he said sympathetically

"Ha! Sure I could have. Look, I don't need your pity. I'm fine on my own."

"I'm not saying that because I feel bad for you. I'm saying that because I'm in your corner. Why do you think I covered for you all those times. I only want what's best for you."

"Don't go all father-figure on me. 'Trouble follows wherever I go.' Remember that?"

Elias sighed. "Yes, I remember saying that and believe me, I've spent the last month regretting what I said. I was only saying what I knew Justin wanted to hear. I didn't mean it and I apologize for what I said," he said humbly