Searching for love

25

I awoke to feel snuggled and warm. I let out a loud yelp when I noticed two other figures in bed. "Rose! Serena! What are you guys doing here?", I screeched loudly. Rose mumbled something incoherently and snuggled closer with her blanket while Serena stuffed her face under the pillow. I rolled my eyes and got up from bed while smiling to myself. Yesterday night, I had finally exposed what I was really feeling. It was time for me to stop feeling sorry for myself and take action. I don't remember much of last night except a lot of crying and consoling. I was lucky to have such good friends who genuinely cared for me. As I dressed in my suit I decided to wake them up, I had to leave shortly and obviously these two had to go to work too. I blasted some heavy metal music and amusedly watched as they bolted from the bed and rushed to get ready when they noticed the time.

I smiled as I walked into the lab. I hadn't felt so good in a long, long time. "Morning Ellie", I said, greeting her enthusiastically. She smiled back and said, "You seem to be in a good morning". I nodded when my phone interrupted us. It was Eren. SUrprised I picked up, "Hi Eren", I responded immediately. "Hey. I just wanted to check in and see if you're doing okay", he said, sounding unsure. My smile grew wider and said, "Yeah. I'm actually feeling better than I ever have. I didn't realize how much I had bottled up". I couldn't believe he actually called! My heart was going crazy! "I'm really glad to hear that. We're all here for you and will be with you every step of the way". My pulse beating erratically, knowing what was to come I said, "Are you free this weekend?", he responded with a yes and I said, "Do you maybe wanna do something? I rarely see you and was wondering if we could do something. I haven't seen much of Fort Meade anyway".

As we sat in my car parked by Ellie's apartment I turned to face her and said, "I have something to talk to you about. It's Eren. Are you in love with him?", my eyes staring at hers determinedly. Her lips parted in surprise and her eyes were wide in shock. "What? Is it that obvious!", she screeched. My heart lurched wildly and I said in a whisper, "It is to me because I'm in love with him too". Her face immediately turned into an angry red and her once quiet and shy attitude turned dark and ugly really past. "You! How can you love him? You have no chance with him! Eren is mine! Only mine! You get that!", her eyes bulged out as she screamed maniacally at me. To say I was shocked at her outburst would be an understatement. She looked positively crazy and nothing like the reserved, shy and genius Ellie I knew. I was also confused. Wasn't eren with her older sister and unable to get past her death, why would Ellie love him? If anything shouldn't she blame Eren too? This whole situation was over me but I had decided to change for the better and deal with my feelings, so I was going to do exactly that. "I thought Eren was dating your sister'", I questioned her. Her face turned a blotchy red with anger at my question and she said, "It's always been about her! Everything she did was better than me. She stole all the limelight and even after she died she still is taking away all my happiness. Yes she was dating Eren! But she stole him from me! I was the one who introduced Eren to her! I was so stupid. I should've known better".

As we sat on her couch after that awkward conversation I sighed and said, "Look. It's unfortunate that we have feelings for the same guy but we shouldn't let that come between us. We are professionals here and should focus on the job. Although...I am a bit curious about...why does Eren still wear that promise ring?", she scoffed loudly and said, "He still loves her, duh. He had just started working in the NSA when they started going out. He thought her research was interesting and brought it up to a superior. Apparently it was so fascinating that everyone was dying to have her and her research. They begged her to come work for the government but she didn't want the government to use her research for anything bad. In the end, it was Eren who convinced her to give it a go. DO something bigger and better for the future. Eren was assigned to overlook her safety. You know kinda like you but not as involved. In the end, she was shot by some bloke trying to steal her work and Eren blamed himself. After all he was the one who forced her to work in the NSA. When she was alive they were constantly fighting and arguing over the same thing...that stupid research project. She blamed him all the time. It was annoying to watch. I don't understand why Eren put up with her. He deserved better than her manipulative and cruel self. Even though we were sisters I hated her. She was beautiful on the outside but inside...she was a monster".

I called Javier earlier to his shift informing him that he could leave earlier too. I wanted to get out of there. What Ellie told me about her sister was...disturbing. From the sound of it Eren had been in a rough and unstable relationship. I was super curious about his ex too. I had no idea of how she looked like or what her name was. As I drove home I tested Rose if she knew who his ex was. She replied promptly saying she had a picture and sent me that picture. As I sat in my car outside my house with a pounding heart I opened up my phone to look at that picture and wow, I was struck speechless. To say she was beautiful would be an understatement. She was much more than that. She looked like a protein doll with short red hair that framed her face beautifully. WIth high cheekbones and a jaw that could cut glass she looked like a model. She had beautiful blue eyes that shone fiercely. She was out of the world beautiful. Wow. I texted Rose who responded with a I know. Oh yeah her name is Valentina. I groaned. Wow what a name. Meanwhile my boring blonde hair and dull blue eyes stared back at me. My especially boring name came back to me too. Layla. Eww. A knock interrupted my thoughts as I looked up to see my amused dad looking at me.

I followed my dad back into the house sheepishly. Apparently I had been daydreaming in the car for over 20 minutes and my dad had heard me arrive and went out to check on me after I hadn't come in and caught me staring off into space like a fool. "Hey Layla", Eren called out to me from the dinner table. I smiled upon seeing him and said, "Why am I not surprised to see you in the ding table? Whenever I walk in, everyon'es always gathered here. All my friends are constantly eating", I finished it with an eye roll as I sat down and grabbed an apple from the table. My after laughed at my comment and said, "You know I didn't realize that before but you're right. Here are some rice and beans. I made dinner today", he pushed a p;ate towards me looking proud and I smiled as I ate a bite. "Dad! This is really good! I didn't know you knew how to cook!", I said devoting my food. "This is all he knows how to cook. Trust me I know. Before you moved in this is all I used to get to eat", Eren commented. "Hey!"My dad protested and hit Eren lightly on the head to mhich Eren grinned a little making my heart thump loudly.

"You're not working this weekend, right?"Dad asked me and I shook my head and said, "I'm not but I'm hanging with Eren. He's going to show me the flights of this town. Though I doubt they're much to see except for all of the government offices". Eren shook his head with disappointment and said, "There's more to Fort Meade. I promise you that will all change tomorrow". I grinned and said, "We shall see about that. Also dad I appreciate hanging out with you about 100% of the time but I know you had a life before I got here. I saw your golfing stuff. Why don't you go golfing on the weekend? I feel kinda bad taking up all your time". My dad looked up at me and said, "I don't mind spending my time with you. We've been apart for so long...but since you already have plans", he trailed off excitedly and I smiled and hugged him and said, "Go have fun. Thanks for being here with me".