Layla held back her annoyance after Topper pulled the front door open, leaning on the doorway and staring at her, "Top of the morning."

He gave her a eyebrow raise.

"It was partly a pun." Layla pointed out, the morning sun shining down upon her glowy skin and green top, "Top, Topper."

"I got that." he nodded, eying her in the slightest.

"Layla!" Sarah's voice echoed in the house, her feet hitting the floor as she ran out the door and wrapped her in a hug, "You got here quick."

"I wasn't far." Layla grinned, hugging Sarah and swinging them slightly, "Stayed at Henry's girlfriends, actually. Big house, a lot of paintings."

"I bet you liked that." Sarah grinned as she pulled back, arms still around her shoulder.

"Why are you with Topper?" Layla asked, looking at the awkward teenage boy in the doorway, not hiding her clear look of disgust.

"He saved me, last night." Sarah's words brought Layla to look at her oddly, "Rafe jumped me, tried to drown me."

"Drow-Rafe?" Layla asked with a crazy look as Sarah nodded, "What a asshole. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Sarah took a deep breath as Layla cupped her face to look at her better, "Thanks to Topper."

Layla cleared her throat, trying to force a smile his way but looking more disgusted, "Looks like I owe you one then."

Topper laughed, "It's all good. I mean, somebody had to rescued your girlfriend, right?"

"Glad someone did, can't help but wonder how someone knew she was there though." Layla mocked, crossing her arms as Sarah grabbed her hand with a squeeze. Layla cleared her throat, looking at an invisible watch on her wrist, "Well, look at the time, Sarah. The two of us should be off by now."

"About that time." Topper nodded.

"Topper." Sarah spoke up, letting Layla hand go as she hugged him, "Thank you."

Layla stood awkwardly, rocking on her heels until Sarah turned to her, latching onto her hand as they walked off, "Did you hear?"

"I did hear." Layla grinned, swinging their hands back and forth, "What exactly did I hear?"

Sarah laughed, tugging her hand, "John B got out!"

"Ah, that I did hear." Layla smiled as they approached their bike, "Where do you think we're going now?"

Sarah grinned, "Can I drive? You threw us off last time."

"I did not." Layla defended herself, Sarah looking back at her with disbelief across her face. Layla sucked in her lips and squinted, "I maybe did."

"You maybe did." Sarah agreed as she sat on the bike seat, holding her hand out for Layla to get on the back, "You on?"

"Y-" Layla began, feeling her phone buzz in her pocket, "One second, Suber."

"What did you just call me?" Sarah looked back at her with a odd look, "Suber?"

"Sarah plus Uber." Layla shrugged, "Suber."

"Do not call-" Sarah began before Layla gasped down at her message, "What? What happened?"

"We have to get to Haywards." The Winters girl looked at her with sad eyes, "Popes dad was attacked."

"Let me know if i'm hurting you." Sarah spoke as she placed the bandage on Popes dads head.

"You're doing fine." he winced slightly, "Thank you, darlin."

"So sorry this happened to you." Layla spoke as she handed Hayward the cup of lemonade, "Recharge your brain with this."

"Pop, what happened?" Pope bent on his level.

"Oh, I should've known better." Hayward shook her head. Layla glanced over at Sarah, watching as she touched John B's arm to give him a smile before joining her side, "He came in just as I was about to lock up. Caught me by surprise. Once he had me down, he put his knee in my chest, and he asked me about that..that..that key from that..that drawing you showed me. And in case you're wondering, I ain't tell him nothing."

"Period, King." Layla cheered, all eyes turning her way as her face fell, "No, nope, bad timing."

"Now did you track it down?" Hayward ignored Layla as he looked to Pope.

Pope hesitated but reached into his pocket, handing a vintage looking key to his father, "I found it in Mee-Maw's old apartment above the pharmacy just like you said."

"Shit, boy, you should've gave this to me. I wouldn't have had to take a beating." Hayward held the key in his hand as he spoke, "What's the big deal? It ain't worth anything. Why they want it so bad?"

"I don't know. First, I get this letter telling me that I need to go to Charleston. And then I meet a rich lady who wants me to give her a key that I didn't even know was in my family." Pope ranted on, speaking fast and shaking his head.

"Non of it makes sense." Kie shook her head, Layla looking her way.

"When does anything make sense?" Layla asked, Kie looking over to meet her eye.

"Well, don't y'all just sit here whining about it. Figure it out!" Hayward gave them all a judgmental look.

"No. I'm not gonna give the key to that lady. It's not worth-" Pope began before his dad cut him off.

"No, no, no. Did I raise you to back down from a fight, boy?" he gave a serious look toward Pope.

Pope shook his head, "No, sir."

"Well, all right." Hayward nodded, "I didn't think about it before, I admit that. But now..now? I'm interested. Well, did they say why they wanted it?"

"Something about an old cross." Pope went on to his dad, "I think it might be some kind of lost treasure."

"You know who you should talk to?" Hayward gave a knowing look, "Your great-grandmother, Mee-maw."

"Layla." Sarah nudged her after they dropped Pope off at the nursing home, going to a small market down the road. Layla had been looking at the florals, "You okay?"

"Why wouldn't I be?" Layla gave a odd look, running her hand across the petals.

"You've just been quite since we left. Just taking it all in or.." Sarah messed with her fingers as Layla glanced her way.

The Winters girl gave a shy smile, "I guess I was just waiting to find a okay time to ask you something."

"Ask me what?" Sarah hummed with a frown of her eyebrows.

"I guess i'm just feeling kind.... out of touch with you?" Layla's words came out more of a question, "Like, I haven't really been there much and when I am, it feels kinda off."

"What do you mean? I think we've been pretty good lately." Sarah gave a grin, seeing the slightest bit of hurt in Laylas eyes, "Whats bothering you?"

"Is something still happening between you and John B?" Layla blurred out fast, taking Sarah by surprise as her eyes widened, "Sorry, that sounded a lot like my freshman year health presentation."

"Nothing has gone on between us since I told him about what I feel for you." Sarah shook her head, biting the inside of her mouth, "Do you not trust me?"

"What? Of course I do." Layla shook her head quickly with a shrug, "I just, like, get the vibe sometimes. Not that you guys are together still, just that maybe something is still... there?"

Sarah looked away before meeting her eye, "Well, that's not it. We- I wanted you more then him."

"I know, and i'm so glad you have figured it all out." Layla gave a soft smile, grabbing her hands, "But if you still have feelings for him..."

Sarah sighed, "I love you. I just- I did like John B, really bad, until I didn't. And we broke up so quick. I don't know, it was complicated and it still feels complicated, but at the same time I know I want this, us."

Layla tried to hide her pain as she forced a smile and nodded, "Understandable, yeah, totally. Maybe we should just.. take a step back?"

Sarah gave a look of fear, "Like, break up?"

"No! No!" Layla shouted suddenly in panic, having a few of the elderly people near the flowers give a odd look her way, "I mean, just not be so all in. If you still feel like things are complicated then I don't want to pressure you or anything."

"Not complicated as in who I want to be with. I want to be with you, over anyone." Sarah nodded her head as she stared at Layla, "Complicated as in as soon as I broke up with him, I got with you, and there was no in between for me to stop and think about anything."

"I know." Layla nodded, rubbing her thump on the back of Sarah's hand, "So we'll just, chill for a second, take a step back."

"Maybe like just half a step back, just so I can take a second to process a breakup and then immediately a new relationship." Sarah nodded with an inhale, "Thank you for understanding."

"You know me, Miss Understanding." Layla cringed at her own words with a shake of her head, "And for John B's sake, honestly. I know he says he's cool with us and he isn't mad but apart of me feels kinda bad. I mean, really liking someone just for them to cut things off with you really sucks. I know what that's like. So, I think maybe you should talk to him. It could help you too."

"You say that like you know what it feels like." Sarah laughed with a eye roll, "Like you have ever not been able to get with the person you liked. You're the entire package."

Layla forced another smile, "You'd be surprised."

"Hey." Kie cut in as she walked over, "I got us some drinks."

"Great!" Layla announced awkwardly, eyes wide and a fake look of enthusiasm, "Back to the Twinkie we go then."

Kie and Sarah shared a odd look as Layla walked before them, "Whats up with her?"

"No clue, she's acting so strange though." Sarah said back.

•

kylie speaks

layla is either super
confidence or super
awkward. there is no
in between.