Invited

Chapter 12: Gifts

Inside Layla's bedroom, gifts began to pile up in the corner. A table was brought in specifically for them to be placed on top of. Each box was marked with the seal of the noble family that sent the gift. Off to the side, a large envelope lay solely by itself on her dresser. This particular envelope lacked the seal seen on the pile of gifts.

Layla excitedly rushed over to the dresser. She turned the envelope over, the front of it being decorated in simple drawings. One of the drawings caught her eye. It was a particularly cute drawing of a yellow-haired girl that had the words 'Happy Birthday' above it.

Basilisk came to her side, looking over her shoulder. "You found it too quickly this time."

"It was on my dresser." Layla gently ripped open the folded top, careful to not rip over the drawings.

"I thought the pile of gifts would deter you from it being in plain sight." Basilisk pulled out her vanity chair. He rummaged through the drawers to find her hairbrush.

Layla tried to suppress a giggle as she sat herself onto the chair, placing her envelope on the vanity. She straightened out her long hair, pushing it over her shoulders to reach for the tie behind her head of the headband.

Basilisk noticed her brushing out the hair, he clasped his hand over hers, pulling them away from the knot. "I'll do it, you can read your letter."

Layla reluctantly let go, smiling to Basilisk. She picked up the envelope again and slightly tipped it to the side to spill the contents onto her vanity. Another headband of varying color she has never seen before came first out of the envelope, following behind it were multiple papers.

As she sorted through the papers, Basilisk untied the headband on her head, opening the drawer next to them. He placed that headband into its place and shut the drawer. Taking the brush in the drawer above it, he combed through Layla's hair with his fingers first. He then parted half of it to the side and made some progress brushing the long strands of the half that were still in his hands.

While he brushed her hair out, Layla read through the papers. Minerva had sent her the usual letter, along with another headband as a gift.

Happy Birthday, Layla!

Let's hope that Devon, or whoever he sends to deliver this, gets the gift on time to you for your birthday. If he didn't, you can rat him out to me in your next letter. Nothing, not even my boyfriend, can come between us.

Did you enjoy the drawings I did on the envelope? I figured it was a tactic to get him to deliver faster. He wants to see what I draw next for you. Pretty funny, right? One day you'll be able to meet him. He tells me he doesn't want to be caught on your balcony by Rebecca. Excuse me, LADY Rebecca. How dare I disrespect her like that.

How is everyone holding up there? Judah still doing his Lucan things? What about Basilisk, Saber, and Summer?

For me, nothing has changed. I go shopping a lot to find things I can send you. Devon is still getting himself sent to the hospital over stupid things, like falling out of a tree. I'm going to have to start charging him overtime, instead of taking it up with Maverick.

Now that you are 21, what do you want to do? I bet the first thing is to come out of Vesta and see what the other Regions have to offer. Don't forget to visit me!

Enjoy your new headband!

With each sentence Layla read, her smile got wider and wider. Finishing off the letter at the end was another drawing of a yellow-haired girl. This time, it was waving with a delighted face on it.

"Is she adding drawings to her letters now?" Basilisk stopped brushing Layla's hair for a second to take a closer look at the envelope and end of the letter. Layla brought the letter closer to him.

"It's cute! Doesn't it look like her?" Layla beamed with each drawing she showed to Basilisk.

Basilisk glanced to the side, where the gifted headband lay. "It does. Also, how many headbands does she plan on sending you? Your drawer is bursting at the seams."

"It's not enough. You should try wearing them, it's very comfortable." Layla picked up the new headband and placed it on top of Basilisk's silver hair.

"Summer wasn't kidding when she told me you needed a separate vanity for those headbands. I'll put in an order for it tomorrow." He pulled off the headband and placed it back on the vanity. He continued to brush out her hair, switching over to the other side, beginning to work on the last half of her hair.

As soon as he began, five knocks sounded on the door. He placed the brush back down on the vanity, and went to open the door.

Summer and Saber stood in the hall outside of the bedroom, arms full of more gifts.

Layla turned to see the three standing at the door. Basilisk reached for the gifts in Summer's hands.

"I'll go get the rest of the gifts with Saber. You can stay here with Layla. She got another gift from Minerva." Basilisk stuck his thumb back behind him to show an unfamiliar colored headband on the vanity.

Summer handed Basilisk the gifts in her hands. Basilisk and Saber marched right over to the existing pile, carefully dropping them on the open area of the table.

"Have fun getting the gifts. Saber and I barely dented the pile in the ballroom. I'll be here marveling the beautiful new headband Minerva sent." Summer walked over to Layla and picked up the hairbrush left by Basilisk.

"Where did he leave off?" She asked.

Layla pointed to the side that was kept in the back of her head, while running her hands through the brushed part. "This half. He just got to this part." She pulled up that half of the hair, allowing Summer to take it into her own hands and start brushing.

Basilisk and Saber had already left the room by the time Summer started brushing, which they left the door open for easy access in their return.

"So what's the update on Minerva?" Summer asked, squeezing Layla's shoulders.