Layla

Here I was, in my brand new bedroom, here in Baltimore, Maryland. I had just moved into the house with my Mom, brother, and my Mom’s annoy as hell boyfriend. All the way from Sacramento, California. I had to leave my whole live in California, just to move here with the three people I hate most in my life, and trust me, they hate me too. Which is also the reason they are making me sleep in the cold, damp basement. I was broken from my thoughts by the shouts of my ‘Mother’.

“Layla Nicole! Get dressed and try to look some-what decent enough to be seen in public! You are coming with me to meet our new neighbors!” My Mother shouted from the top of the stairs. I sighed to myself and threw on a pair of black skinny jeans with a random All Time Low shirt. My Mom hates when I wear band shirts, don’t ask why, she just does. Oh well, I’ll just pay for it later on in the day, I’m going to support my favorite band if she likes it or not. I put on a pair of purple Vans, and grabbed my phone, headphones, and ipod on the way upstairs.

“About damn time! Really? That’s what you are wearing to meet our neighbors? Gosh you are so ugly. Are you sure you are the daughter I gave birth to?” My Mother nagged at me. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I would love NOT to be the daughter she gave birth to, but that’s not going to happen anytime soon, or ever. “You know what, we don’t got time for you to change, let’s go. Now.” She said as she gripped onto my wrist and dragged me out the door behind her. I sighed to myself and followed her, getting her to let go of my wrist as we walked down the side-walk, side-by-side. I wish I could just leave her here on this damned side-walk alone. I put in one of my headphones and turned on Just The Way I’m Not by All Time Low. I used the other ear to call up my best friend, since I knew this would be the only time of day I could call her, my Mother wouldn’t do anything to me in public.

“Hey Kaitlin!” I said as she answered the phone. I looked up at my Mom, and saw she was glaring daggers into me, not nothing she hasn’t done before.

“Hey girly! I miss you already!” Kaitlin spoke with a pout.

“I miss you too, I wish I could come back home.” I spoke as my Mom and I walked up the first driveway, which was two houses down from ours. I let out a groan as we got to the porch, and I turned around to face the street, not looking at the door, and not really caring who is in the house.

“Then come back! I need you here!” Kaitlin replied to me.

“Buy me a plane ticket then.” I giggled at the sound of my best friend.

“Ugh! I don’t have that money! What are you doing anyways?”

“The devil is dragging me around outside to meet the new neighbors. Which I could give no fucks about.” I muttered quietly as I heard the door open behind me, and my Mother started speaking.

“Layla!” She spoke trying to get my attention on her and the people.

“Hold on Kaitlin, the devil wants my attention, even when she doesn’t deserve it.” I finished with another groan, I looked to my side, still facing the street, and not turning around to see the people at the door. “What the hell do you want?! Can’t you see I’m on the phone?” I snapped at her.

“Say hello to our neighbors, Layla.” My Mother spoke as she crossed her arms over her chest, giving me the death glare, which means I’m really going to get it when we get back to the house she is making me live in.

“Yeah, whatever, hi.” I muttered as I waved her off and put the phone back up to my ear. “Okay, I’m back, and I’m most likely going to be murdered as well.” I muttered into the phone, as I felt my Mother elbow me in my side, making me bend over and hold my side. “Yeah, I am.”

“If she at it again?” Kaitlin asked sadly.

“When is she not?! She’s nothing but a abusive bitch.” I spoke, not really caring who heard. Till I met the eyes of my Mother. “Yeah, I’m dead. I’ll see you in the afterlife.” I told to my best friend.

“Don’t say that! Don’t let that bitch get to you! Be strong, babe!” I chuckled at what she called me, we always call each other cute little pet names. That’s just the friendship we have I guess.

“Kaitlin, have I ever told you that I love our friendship? Kinda reminds me of Jack and Alex from ATL.” I spoke with a giggle, as my mind was drifting away from the thought of the beating I would get when we got back to the house we were staying in. I refuse to call it a home. California is my home.

“You always talk about them!” Kaitlin laughed.

“Of course I always talk about them! They are like, the best band in the world!” I said as I walked away from the porch a little bit, till my arm was grabbed by my Mom, rather tightly. “Fuck! Let me go, dammit!” I shouted, fully turning around, and fully seeing the other two faces on the porch. That’s when my eyes went wide at who was there. Alex Gaskarth and Lisa Ruocco. “Holy shit.” I spoke, almost dropping my phone from my hand. I saw Alex’s eyes drift to my shirt, and he put on a smile.

“Lay? Babe?! Are you okay?!” Kaitlin asked with a worry filled voice.

“No. I’m not okay. I’m standing in front of Alex Gaskarth and Lisa Ruocco.” I spoke into the phone, as I shook my arm from my Mother’s grip.

“Holy shit! No fucking way! Oh my gosh!” Kaitlin screamed into the phone, making me flinch back and hold the phone away from my ear. Because holy shit she’s loud when she’s excited.

“Hello.” Alex spoke. Getting me to look back at them.

“H-hi.” I muttered softly, as I put my head down to look at the ground. I could feel my anxiety start to show already, I knew my Mother knew it was coming as well, because she never misses a chance to make me have a anxiety attack, no matter who is around.

“Stop embarrassing me you worthless shit. You are just as bad as your Father was.” She whispered into my ear as she pulled me close to her. That’s when it hit me. Everything just came flooding to my mind. She always brings up my Dad when she wants to make me feel even worse with myself. I felt tears already start to fall from my eyes, and I saw Lisa and Alex look with worry filled eyes, I covered my face and broke from my Mom’s grip as I fan away. I ran all the way to the porch.

“Lay? Lay?! Layla!?” Kaitlin shouted into the phone, over and over again. I grabbed my ipod from my pocket and turned the music on full blast. Music always calms me down when it comes to my anxiety.

“Just give me a minute, please.” I spoke softly into the phone as I heard her reply with an ‘okay’ and I set the phone next to me, as I grabbed my other earbud and put it in my ear. I put my head in my hands and started crying my eyes out. And as if right on time, Do You Want Me? Or Do You Want Me (Dead?) by All Time Low came through my earphones and blasted into my ears. I sighed at the sound of the angel singing. I felt a arm place its self around my shoulders. I flinched at the feeling and looked up with a fright to see Alex sitting next to me, with a sad smile on his face. I let out another sigh, just glad is wasn’t my Mom or Brother, or worse, my Mom’s boyfriend. I quickly wiped my eyes with the back of my hands and took out one of my earbuds.

“This is not really how I wanted to meet one of my idols.” I spoke with a little chuckle. Making him let out a small laugh as well.

“Wanna talk about what just happened back there?” He asked with, again, worry filled eyes.

“Do I have to?” I asked quietly.

“Well, seeing as, and I quote, am one of your idols, I think you should.” He spoke. Making me chuckle again.

“Layla?! Are you okay?! I hear talking!” Kaitlin shouted into the phone, that way I could hear her. I let out a sigh, and Alex removed his arm from around my shoulders, so I could pick up my phone that was in between us. I pressed the phone up to my ear and spoke.

“I’m fine, Kaitlin.”

“Oh thank gosh! I thought you were dying! Don’t do that to me, dammit!” She spoke as she let out a huge sigh, always being the overdramatic best friend. “Plus, who the hell are you talking to? Never in your life have you been so calm around your family.”

“That’s because I’m not talking to one of the demons. I’m talking to Alex.” I spoke, as I held the phone away from my ear quickly, knowing what was coming next. Just when I pulled the phone away from my ear, Kaitlin started screaming at the top of her lungs. Making both Alex and I flinch away from the phone even more. I rolled my eyes and shook my head. “My friend and I may, just so happen to be huge fans.” I spoke with a chuckle as I looked over at Alex. He put a smile on his face. Kaitlin stopped freaking out over the phone a minutes time later. Giving me the chance to put the phone back to my ear. “Are you going to live?” I asked, knowing the answer.

“Oh my gosh, Layla! You are talking to the man who we both idolize! Well, I idolize him more than you do, because you idolize Jack more. But still! Oh my fucking gosh!” She squealed into the phone.

“Ahh, so you’re a Jack fan.” Alex said shaking his head and laughing. As he heard what Kaitlin said, since I had her on speaker.

“To be honest, I love you, Jack, Rian, and Zack.” I spoke with a small laugh.

“Oh my gosh! Don’t listen to her! I love you more, Alex!” Kaitlin fangirled over the phone. Making me put my head down and let out a sigh. Alex took the phone from my hand and started speaking.

“Is that so?” He asked with a smirk.

“Oh my gosh!” Kaitlin screamed into the phone, just at the sound of Alex’s voice. Making me let out another laugh. Gosh this girl could scream loud, but I love her.

“So Kaitlin, tell me, I kinda saw your best friend here, go into a anxiety attack a little bit ago. Do you know how to get her out of them? Just in case of future times?” He asked the girl who finally calmed down on the phone.

“You know, Alex. I could easily tell you how.” I spoke.

“Well, I want to see how well your best friend knows you.” He whispered as he winked at me.

“That’s like the easiest question ever! All you need to do is give her music! Preferably your song Therapy.” Kaitlin spoke, I could hear the smile on her face. He looked over at me, to see if she was right. I nodded my head with a small smile.

“Okay Kaitlin! Thank you for the heads up! Well, we our going to let you go now, I want to have a little talk with your friend here.” Alex spoke.

“Okay! Bye Alex. Bye Layla! I love you, babe!” She spoke into the phone.

“Bye Kaitlin.” Alex spoke with a smile.

“Bye beautiful, love you too!” I shouted so she could hear me. Alex hung up the phone and handed it back to me, which I placed into my pocket.

“So, want to talk about what happened now?”

“No.”

“Too bad. Tell me what is going on girl.” He spoke as he nudged my side. I sighed.

“It’s kinda, a really long story.” I spoke, trying to get him to not make me tell him.

“I don’t care. We have all the time in the world.” He spoke with a smile. This is why this guy is one of my idols. He is so caring and sweet.

“Fine. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.” I spoke, making him nod and chuckle. “Okay, so it all started a few years back when my Father passed away from cancer. Ever since that day, my life has been nothing but hell. My so-called ‘Mother’ hitting me every fucking day if I don’t do whatever she says to do. My older brother is just like her, and she loves him to death. She hates me. She gets him anything he wants, and if I even ask for her to bring me a simple glass of water, she goes off on me telling me that I am a lazy ass just like my Father was, who I might just say, was the best person in the world, he was my best friend, he still is. Anyways, back to my brother, who just so happens to be inside right now, anyways, he hits me as well. See these fingerprint bruises on my neck?” I asked as I moved my hair out of the way so he could see my neck. He nodded with a sad look on his face. “Yeah, well, that just happened last night, my brother choked me. Now, let’s move onto my Mom’s boyfriend, who thank the lord, is out right now. anyways, he is worse than my Mom and brother put together. I would explain more about him, but...I rather not relive anything right now.” I ended as I wiped a tear from my cheek. Alex looked at me with sad eyes, he brought me into his arms and let me cry. Till the devil had to return.

“Layla! Stop crying to this man and get your ass inside and clean the house!” My Mother shouted as she walked up to us with her arms crossed. “If you don’t get up right now, I swear to gosh you will be sleeping on this porch tonight.” I pulled away from Alex and wiped my eyes. I stood up, with Alex standing up next to me as well. I went to walk up the stairs but Alex grabbed my arm softly, making me turn around and face him.

“Ma’am, you really wouldn’t make your own daughter sleep on the porch would you?” He asked, looking at my Mom.

“Not like she hasn’t made me before.” I spoke before she could.

“Layla! Stop talking and go inside! Now!” She shouted. I went to turn around again, but Alex pulled me back and into his arms.

“She’s not going in a house with you. You are the most horrid person I have ever met. Come on Layla.” He spoke as he pulled me with him.

“I can’t Alex, if I don’t do what she says it will only get worse.” I spoke softly as I wiped another stray tear.

“I’m not letting her put her hands on you. Come on, you are staying with Lisa and I tonight.” He said pulling me with him. I followed him, looking back at my Mother who, if we were in a cartoon, would have smoke coming out of her eyes right now. I turned back around and continued the short walk back to Alex’s house, where Lisa was standing on the porch. She must have saw the tears in my eyes and got worried again.

“Is everything okay?” She asked when Alex and I got to the porch.

“I’ll explain later babe, Layla is going to stay the night, alright?” Alex spoke. Lisa nodded her head and took my hand and brought me into the house, into the living room and sat me on the couch. I took my arms and wrapped them around myself, holding me into place. I could tell that both Alex and Lisa where looking at my wrists, seeing as I forgot to wear a sweater.

“Please don’t stare at them.” I spoke softly. Both their eyes looked up to mine and gave me a small, sad smile. I took my phone out of my pocket and went to Twitter. The first thing I saw made me almost want to squeal with excitement.

@JackAllTimeLow
On my way over to @AlexAllTimeLow’s house right now!

I closed Twitter again before I freaked out even more, but it’s a good thing I know how to hide my of the things I want to feel or do. Or I would be freaking out right now, mostly because the fact that I am going to spending the night with Alex and Lisa! As well as meeting Jack!

“Alex, can you come to the kitchen and help me get the rest of dinner ready?” Lisa turned to Alex.

“Sure, Lis.” Alex spoke with a smile, as they both stood up. “Do you need anything Layla?”

“No thank you.” I spoke, giving them both a small smile. They both nodded and made their way to the kitchen. I pulled up a random game on my phone, trying to keep my mind off everything that was going on. All I know right now is, my Mom is going to kill me in the morning. A few minutes later Lisa came back into the living room.

“Would you like some dinner?” She asked me with her sweet smile.

“No thank you. I’m fine.” I said, not wanting to impose on them.

“Are you sure?” She tried again.

“I’m sure. Thank you though.” I said, giving her a smile. She nodded her head and went back into the kitchen. I went back to my game on my phone, finally beating my highscore, so that made the night even better. I heard the sounds of feet coming into the room, I looked up and saw Alex and Lisa walking into the living room with plates of food in their hands. Also being followed by Jack. He looked over to me and smiled. Holy shit is his smile cute. Well, not that I didn’t know that already. Lisa and Alex took the couch across from me, and Jack took a seat on the couch I was on.

“Hi. I’m Jack.” He said holding his hand out to me.

“Layla.” I said giving him a smile and shaking his hand. He smiled again and went back to his food. I looked over at Alex when I heard him chuckling, I saw he was looking over at Jack and I and shaking his head.

“How much you want to bet she is freaking out on the inside right now?” Alex spoke with a smirk, recalling the moment Kaitlin told him that Jack was my favorite.

“And why do you say that?” Jack asked tilting his head to the side as he looked up to Alex.

“The fact that you are her favorite in our band.” Alex said with another chuckle. Jack looked over at me, to see it Alex was telling the truth. I felt a blush come onto my cheeks and I looked away quickly.

“Aw! She’s blushing! How adorable!” Lisa spoke, I could hear the smile on her face. Making me hid my face in my arms.

“Well I may be her favorite, because I’m the most awesome, sexy, and most amazing guitar player in the world.” Jack said, making everyone laugh.

“Only in your dreams, Jack.” Alex said with a laugh. The moment he said guitar, my face fell. I went to stand up but Alex stopped me with his voice. “And where do you think you are going?”

“Home.” I spoke softly.

“Oh no your not. Sit back down.” Alex spoke again. I sighed and sat back down on the couch. “Tell me why you want to go back home.”

“My Mom likes to break the stuff I own when I don’t listen to her. My guitar my Father left for me when he passed away if there. She has been threatening me about breaking it the moment I don’t listen. And I just know when I go back over there in the morning that it will be broken into bits.” I spoke as I felt a tear roll down my cheek.

“First off, what makes you think you are going back home in the morning?” He asked me.

“Um. The fact that I have to?” I spoke, confused.

“No you don’t.” Lisa spoke next.

“I don’t?” I asked, still confused.

“Of course not! There is no way we will be letting you back in that house without us around!” Alex spoke.

“Oh.” Was all I could say at this moment.

“Plus, we will go over in the morning and get your guitar, and if it is broke, we will take it down the the shop and get it all fixed up for you.” Jack spoke.

“No, you guys don’t have to do that.” I shook my head as I spoke.

“It’s the least we can do, Layla.” Alex spoke. Making me let out another sigh.

“You guys are already letting me stay here for the night. I will not let you guys pay to repair my guitar.”

“Shut up. We will do as we please.” Jack spoke with a smile, as he put his empty plate on the table. I shook my head, telling him no again. But let me tell you, this guy does not take no for an answer. He laid down on the couch we were sitting on, placing his head on my lap. “We are rockstars. We do whatever we please.”

“Jack! Get off the poor girl!” Lisa laughed. Making Alex laugh as well.

“Never!” He spoke with a smirk, as he looked over to them.

“Well, this has to be a fangirls dream right now.” Alex chuckled.

“But I’m not a fangirl.” I spoke as I tried to lift Jack’s head off of me, also failing at it.

“Maybe we should call Kaitlin then.” Alex spoke with a smirk. Making me laugh, as we both recalled the phone call we had with her.

“Oh gosh. I don’t even want to think about what she would be doing right now if she was here.” I said with a laugh as I gave up on trying to move Jack. “She would most likely be jumping off the walls with excitement. And I would be trying to get her to chill and calm the hell down.” I spoke, as everyone laughed. We heard a knock on the door, and Alex got up to answer it. Jack taking this time to finally sit back up. Lisa, Jack, and I stayed in the living room talking and laughing with each other. We heard more than one set of foot steps come into the living room and we all looked up. When my eyes met the person standing next to Alex, my face fell.

“Layla.” He spoke raising his eyebrows.

“What?” I asked, sadness laced with my voice.

“Your Mother told me what happened. Home. Now.” He spoke, trying to keep his calm.

“And who are you?” Jack asked, getting defencive.

“I’m her Mother’s boyfriend.” He spoke. “Now Layla, get up now and come with me.” I let out a sigh and started to stand up, only to have Jack move closer to me, and put his arm in front of me, to keep me from standing up. “Layla. Now.” He spoke, you could tell his voice was getting angrier.

“She’s not going anywhere with you.” Lisa spat out.

“I beg to differ. She is coming with me.” He spoke as he tried to walk over and grab me. Only Jack stood up in front of me and crossed his arms over his chest.

“I think it’s time for you to leave.” Jack spoke.

“Not without her.”

“Get the hell out of my house before I call the cops!” Alex spoke, finally at the end of his fuse. Making him turn around and look at Alex. Who was getting red in the face with anger. “Now!” Alex shouted. Making my Mom’s boyfriend huff and walk the way to the door, Alex following behind him to shut the door. Even with him leaving, the only thing I could do was think about was all the stuff they would do to me whenever they see me next, making my anxiety rise. Jack sat back down next to me, and I’m guessing he knew that I was starting to have an anxiety attack, as he threw his arm around my shoulder and tried to calm me down.

“Shit. I only know how to calm Lex down when he has a attack.” Jack spoke, mostly to himself. Alex walked back into the room and saw what was going down. He made his way over to us, taking my ipod off of the table, as he placed the earbuds in my ears and went through my playlist. Finding the one song that calms me down. Therapy. He put the song on replay for me and took his seat next to Lisa again, as Jack still had his arm around me, still trying his best to calm me down. After the song ran two times over, I finally came down from my attack.

“Thanks.” I spoke softly, to both Alex and Jack.

“No problem.” Alex spoke. “Plus Jack, the only way to calm her down from a anxiety attack is to play Therapy to her.”

“And how do you know that?” Jack asked confused, as he took his arm off my shoulders, but stayed close to my side.

“Her best friend told me.” Alex chuckled.

“Oh.” Jack spoke.

“By the way, Layla, do you think you have enough of our songs on that thing? It’s like you have almost every single song.” Alex spoke with a smile.

“It’s not enough till I have every song. Even then it won’t be enough.” I said with a laugh. “You can never have too many songs by your favorite band!” Everyone laughed with me this time.

Notes

Wow. So like, this chapter was ten pages long in the thing I use to write my chapters in....

Anyways, I said I was going to take a break from writing(in the notes of my other stories). But, this idea has been in my head for along time, and I feel like getting it out, will help with my writers block and shit.
So yeah.

Enjoy.