Three little birds

Jake's visit didn't last long but it had done some damage to Laila's heart. Though she was passing it off as it being nothing, she couldn't help but feel a sting in her chest as if she had been stabbed. This caused her attention to not be on Jake at all as he was being ushered out and made her miss his words as he walked out of the door. Though she did hear him say something, she only registered his words until after he was out the door and out of sight. She called out "Wait!" and raised her hand to stop him but it was already too late. Causing Laila to drop her head in a sigh.

Now that Jake was gone, there was no longer a need for Maria to hide. So, she came out of the dining room and joined Laila in the living room as she asked, "Did I hear that right? Did that ball of slime just say that he would visit again?!" Laila sighed again and in a somewhat whiney voice said, "He did. Ugh." To which Maria replied, "Why didn't you stop him?! Why didn't you say no?!"

Laila made a fake crying sound as she dropped her head in Maria's arms and said, "I did. I wanted to but I was too late. I was so preoccupied with the pictures he showed me, that I didn't register his words until after I heard the door fall shut. I can't believe that guy. Why is he inviting himself to my and Noah's house again! Who needs him to check up on me." After saying this she started whining a bit more as she made fake crying noises. "What should I do Maria. I really don't want to be in a room with him again. Can I really not have you or Steve here. He is so annoying. Why did I have to doze off before he actually left."

Though no one was looking forward to that self planned visit of Jake, he had gone out the door before anyone could say no. So, now they were left to behind to deal with the consequences of his words, which consisted of a dreading Laila and an already annoyed Maria. Being the good friend that she is, Maria stroked Laila's hair as she tried to comfort her. "It's gonna be okay. Don't worry. You can always have Garry tell him that you aren't home. Pretend that you have gone to visit your parents or something to escape my presence. I'll even lie to him for you." Laila looked up at Maria with hopeful eyes as she asked, "Will you really do that for me? I might actually take you up on that." Maria chuckled. "For you I am willing to do anything. Especially if that thing allows me to see the disappointed face of that turd. That just gives it an added bonus for me. So, don't worry and don't allow that man to have the ability to affect your mood in any type of way."

Laila smiled and hugged Maria tightly once more as she said, "Thank you. What would I do without a friend like you. I will put him out of my mind then and let you chase him away for me." Maria chuckled and said, "It will be my pleasure". After that both friends laughed before Laila got back up and showed Maria the pictures Jake had brought of Noah and Olivia. As Maria looked at the images she said, "Wow. You have to hand it to him. Jake sure is resourceful. If he wants to find something, he will find it. How did he managed to get so many pictures, from so many angles, in such a short time? Maybe we should consider hiring whoever he has hired to take some pictures for us of Olivia's shady business or that Harold Richardson."

Laila chuckled again as she asked Maria, "Do you want that poor man killed? Don't drag innocent people in this mess when we don't even know how bad the situation is for ourselves." Maria shrugged her shoulders and said, "Can a person involved with Jake really be innocent?" After that she said, "I think you should show Noah these pictures. Maybe he knows who could have taken them. Or at least find out. The more we know about their little network, the better."

Laila let out a sigh before she got up from the couch and said, "Yeah, you are right. I should", as she walked over to the other side of the table to grab her phone. As she dropped herself back down after grabbing her phone and taking pictures of the pictures Jake had brought, Laila said, "Why are so many things happening all at once? I just don't know who to focus on anymore. If it isn't Olivia making trouble it is, Jake we have to worry about or Harold. And now I even added starting my OWN company to the madness! I don't know what I was thinking."

Maria chuckled at how dramatic her friend was being and grabbed her by her shoulders as she shook her with her own excitement and said, "Don't worry! It'll all be alright!", before she grabbed her own phone and used it to play Bob Marley's - Tree little birds, which contains that very line. After Laila shot Maria a quick glare, the two friends sang along with the song, while Laila continued to take pictures and sent them to Noah with her questions. Hoping that he might have some answers.