Chapter 91

" I'm puzzled, why are you backing off? You wanted me to find you, did you not?" 

She couldn't deny it. I had literally heard her say so. She swiped her tongue over her lower lip before she glanced back at the door. Then she looked at me and struggled to form words. 

" I think those books you read are getting to your head, running away from your problems is never the way to solve them. " I seriously informed her, she finally seemed to come back to reality. 

" At least you know that you're my problem, " her tone was hard-edged steel. A little cold as well, I had no clue what I had done to warrant such a reaction from her. I stopped moving towards her and chuckled, it hadn't even been a full day but I had missed her so deeply it was a wonder she wasn't already in my arms. At last the dread that had settled inside me began to fade away because I had confirmed she was okay. With my eyes pinned on hers, I crooked my finger towards her and beckoned her to walk over to me. 

" How'd you find me?" 

" I implanted a tracking chip in your back while you were asleep,now come over here. "

It was a joke, but her eyes widened and her hand instinctively reached for her back. Like she truly believed I had done that. Christ! What sort of person did she think I was?

" You certainly hold me in such low regards, don't you Layla?" I playfully asked. Then I told her to quit worrying since I had done no such thing, she didn't seem completely convinced but she stopped searching for the nonexistent chip. 

" Come here. "

I was certain she wasn't planning on doing so, is she did then she would be admitting that she had truly missed me, and I was sure that was the last thing she wanted to do. So I was prepared to spend a solid amount of time finding ways to lure her to me, but then I watched as she bowed her head and kept her focus on the floor. Then she placed her small hand on her forehead and shook her head. 

I began to grow worried, but just as I was about to ask her what was wrong, she made her way towards me and wrapped her arms around me. I was taken aback at first, which prevented me from reacting right away. I just stood there, wondering what exactly was happening. But I eventually came back to my senses and cautiously hugged her back. 

" Well, this isn't exactly how I expected things to go, " I confessed but she said nothing. 

She just held on tight, then I heard her as she sniffled back a cry and my protective instincts kicked in. 

" Hey hey, " I tried to pull away but she kept on holding onto me, so I had to carefully pry her arms apart, then I made her look at me and I saw the tears in her eyes that were so close to falling down her cheeks.

" What's wrong? Did anyone hurt you while you were here?" I tried to think of another explanation to her state but found none. 

" Was it the bald gentleman at the front desk? I knew I had a bad feeling about him! What did--" She continuously shook her head and I stopped the assumption halfway. 

Her hair was getting in the way and I had to move it back to get a better view of her face, then I exhaled and shook my head, unaware of what to do. 

" It's me isn't it? Well if only you'd tell me what I did?"

I must have done something, and judging by her behavior it must have been awful. Otherwise she wouldn't have ended things, neither would she have run off like she did. I thought it was mostly because of Dahlia but I was starting to second guess that thought. Maybe her recent anger and frustration was because of whatever it was I had done to her. 

" Come on, how do you expect me to know unless you tell me?" I reasoned out. And because she looked so out of it, I led her to the bed and sat, then I made her sit across my lap in a position that allowed me a better view of that lovely face. Seeing her so distraught was making me feel uneasy. I didn't like the feeling one bit, if only she'd smile. I'd feel a lot better I'd she fucking smiled!

" Was it something I said?" She shook her head and I sighed. Then she tucked her head into the crook of my neck and I felt her as she relaxed, closing her eyes and reaching for the hand I had placed on her lap, then she placed hers on top of mine and I grew quiet. 

" I honestly have no clue what it was that I did but I sincerely apologize. " The things she made me do. I hoped she would accept my apology and we could finally move on from all that. 

" You didn't do anything, I mean, you have done some pretty crazy things but that's not why I'm upset. "

" Why then?" 

She had to tell me, otherwise I would never know peace. She shook her head but I wasn't going to let her taunt me like that, my mind didn't function that way. I wasn't going to be able to concentrate on anything else until she finally gave me the answers I wanted. And for the next five or so minutes we engaged in a verbal banter where I tried to get her to tell me and she repeatedly refused.  

" Have some mercy on me , will you? You come into my life, mess with my reasoning! Take over my thoughts, interfere with my logic, play with my bloody feelings and now you refuse to answer a simple goddamned question?!"

That was uncalled for. I regretted the words almost immediately after, especially the last part. It sounded like an admission. Then I watched as Layla turned away from me and but that same tempting bottom lip, she looked anxious. Scared even, and I wondered what had gotten her in such a state. Then she spoke and I felt my spine as it naturally stiffened.

" I like you, " she whispered. And I knew she had done so in the hopes that I wouldn't hear her, and after she said that she immediately shook her head and tried to quickly get off me and probably flee again. But I wrapped my arms around her and restrained her exactly where she was. 

'Like' was a broad and casual word. It could have meant anything, but I wasn't foolish. And I recalled her self directed scolding when she walked in and I knew what she had wanted to say. And that was different, she hadn't been meaning to say 'like' there. She wanted to say something more, something so much more. My heart immediately started pounding and I didn't know how I ought to handle the situation, but I knew that I had to hold onto her because letting her go would only serve to make her think the worst. She'd end up hurt and regretting having told me anything in the first place. For a girl like Layla, it must have been extremely hard to make such a confession. I needed a few minutes to digest the statement and come up with the most appropriate response and reaction. 

" Calm down, no need to run off, " I assured her when she tried to get me to let go of her. Her face was completely flushed and she seemed to be greatly uncomfortable but I still didn't let her go. I couldn't. 

" It's okay, I know you don't like me back. You don't have to worry about it, but I hope now you understand why I acted the way I did, " she was trying so hard not to face me. " There's no way we could go on with what we were doing, I didn't want to do that to myself, " her voice cracked and she kept quiet. 

I scoffed and looked up at the ceiling, asking for strength from nowhere in particular.

" From where did you get the insane notion that I don't like you, huh?" I asked because it was the first thing that came to mind and it was a question that fought to be voiced. And it was nothing but the pure truth as well. She turned to me and observed me skeptically,a suspicious look on her beautiful face. Then she looked away again and darted her gaze around the space Infront of her. 

" You don't have to lie to make me feel better. I'm not a child. "

" God grant me strength!" I pleaded with the heavens. I wasn't even a Christian but the girl was stomping over my sanity with her tiny feet. 

" I cupped her cheek with met palm and angled her to face me once more, she was trying her best to remain passive and stoic, to appear like she didn't at all care about my feelings. but I knew she cared a lot more than she would ever be willing to admit. 

" Don't play dumb sweetheart, my feelings for you have never been a secret. " I had taken a giant leap into an unknown land and I was worried about how things were going to turn out from that point onwards, but I chose to focus mainly on the present. I'd tell her what she wanted to hear. 

I'd tell her the honest truth. 

" Do you want to hear me spell it out? Is that the only way you'll be willing to believe that I genuinely like you?"

She swallowed hard but didn't look away. Her brown eyes were digging into mine with desperate claws. 

" Fine then, I like you Layla Kendrick. You've managed to turn me into a mad man who craves your company, but that's okay because I really really like you. "