Chapter 14

"Laylah? Laylah, wake up, Sleepyhead." Naiya frowned. She went over to the balcony doors and flung open the curtains allowing the full brightness of the sun's rays to hit Laylah's face. She laughed when Laylah groaned and jerked the pillow up as a cover.

"You're evil, Naiya!"

"Get up, young lady. You need to get dressed and eat so you will be on time for school."

"Can't I stay home? I'm tired today, Naiya. I don't feel like going."

"Why would you be tired? You went to bed around nine last night. Plenty of rest time."

"I had trouble sleeping and I had really strange dreams." Laylah rolled over to her side, and slowly moved the pillow away from her eyes, giving them time to adjust to the brightness. She sighed, pushed the covers back and sat up. Her hair had come free from its braid and fell past her shoulders, cascading down her back.

The red tresses came from her mother as did her green eyes. She grimaced and brushed her bangs out of her face. She really didn't want to go to school. How was she going to explain to Britta about having to miss the party? Why did Father have to be such a jerk? Laylah left the bed, grabbed a baggy sweater, jeans and her most comfortable shoes and hurried to the bathroom to change.

"Laylah, when you get finished, breakfast is ready downstairs," Naiya called through the closed door.

"Thanks, Naiya!" She stared at the shower. True, she'd taken one last night, but her body felt stiff. A quick glance at the clock assured her that there was time for a fast one. She turned on the water and got in, taking a moment to enjoy the smell of her French Vanilla wash. It was her favorite scent above all others. Something about it made her feel girly and almost pretty. She peeked around the curtain, saw the time and got out.

Laylah dressed quickly, grabbed a hair tie, her backpack and her data stylus for class before running to the kitchen. She made a beeline for the table when she saw the pancakes. "Naiya, they smell great!"

Naiya placed the plate of food and syrup in front of Laylah. "Yes, they do. Sit. Eat. What did you dream about last night that kept you from sleeping?" She put Laylah's customary veggie drink in front of the plate.

Laylah paused mid-bite, a blush heating her cheeks. "Just this and that." She loved Naiya, but her dreams, especially last night's dream, were private, not to be shared.

"You don't have to give me details. As long as it wasn't a nightmare, I wouldn't worry."

"No, not a nightmare. It was…interesting." She went back to eating and ignored Naiya's nosy look.

"Drink your juice," Naiya reminded her.

She sighed and did as she was asked to do.

"That dream was more than interesting, judging by the pinkness of your cheeks. I don't recall ever seeing you blush this much during a conversation."

Laylah was saved from answering by Jacques' arrival. "Well, gotta go!" She jumped up, scooped up her backpack, and hurried past him. She heard him mutter about impatient teens as he followed her out to the limo.

On the way to school, she took time to braid her hair into its usual single braid and spent the rest of the ride pondering her dream. In the light of day, she felt silly for running from the man. He hadn't hurt her. Once again she'd choked. Loser in life and loser in her dreams. She could have had an interested guy, and what did she do? Sic her animals on him and run like a wimp. She tugged on her braid and chewed on her bottom lip. Laylah knew the real reason she'd fled. He had offered her something, and in her little world, things offered had hefty price tags that she couldn't afford.

"Laylah? Laylah, wake up. You got to go inside before you're late."

 Jacques' words registered and Laylah scrambled to grab her things. She got out, ran hard to the front door, flung it open, and continued her mad dash to first period. She ignored the "Hey, watch out!" from a professor as she rounded the corner and rushed inside the classroom as the late bell rang. Laylah flinched at Professor Cormack's stern look. Oh, great! She was in trouble already and her day hadn't even started yet.

To her surprise, the professor started class without rebuking her for being tardy. Relieved, Laylah dutifully took out her data stylus and started her notes.