Forgetting Something? (Rileyy)

[Layla Harlow]

Her father was just about to rip into her once more when she saw Riley behind them and he spoke up. Her own eyes widened right along with theirs and she wondered if he had some sort of death wish. She had warned him about the fact that they were involved with the PUSE and strongly against metas hadn't she? Seriously was he stupid or something? And then he tried taking her blame as if he forced her to do dumb things. It wasn't his problem, it was hers and it sort of irked her that he was trying to play the good guy.

Her father stared at him and muttered to his wife, "Looks like it's one of these days...didn't have to wait long for her to sell herself." Her mother covered her mouth and also stared at Riley. Both of them were in shock, apparently unsure of what to say directly towards him. It was different when they were placing blame on their daughter. They didn't necessarily want to blame some boy they hadn't met yet. That was different.

Layla shook her head in irritation, "No, I'm not selling myself. He's a friend, goddamn. And it isn't his fault, it's mine. So either continue with your blame or let me go back up to my room, please." Gosh she just wanted to escape this awkward mess right now before it got any messier. Her parents would find out about him being a meta and things would get a lot worse. He had no idea.

Her father silenced her with a look and she sat back with her arms folded, "Please explain how this is your fault, boy." Of course he couldn't just let things go. They had to talk.

Layla pinched the bridge of her nose. Fuck my life.

[Riley Coleson]

Yeah, ok. Even Riley had to admit that this was by far the most idiotic and suicidal idea he had ever had. And her parents reaction and Layla's annoyed outburst didn't exactly lighten the mood or anything. Heck, couldn't she just appreciate the fact that he was actually trying to help for once? Man, ungrateful much?

His eyes wandered from her parents, to Layla and back again as her father talked to him. He cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his head. ''Well..'', he began and sighed. Good job, Riley. Just keep digging yourself deeper into this shit. But, if there was anything Riley could do, it would be talking to grown ups. He'd had his fair share of those growing up. ''My mother was out that day on a business meeting, so she asked me to babysit my younger sister, Kalila. The girl is only four years old, and later during the evening she started crying. I couldn't manage to calm her down, so I called Layla over for some help. I figured it'd be easier for the poor girl to find some comfort in some female company. And Layla did great with the girl, and honestly - four year olds are hard to handle with all that energy. I'm sure Layla's sister over here..'', he nodded towards Layla's mother. ''Remembers that from when Layla was four years old.'' Smooth. ''So one can only imagine how exhausted Layla was afterwards, so there's no surprise she managed to forget her keys.'' God, he really hoped that worked with her parents, and that her mother would bite on the bait, or else he'd just made a complete fool out of himself.

[Layla Harlow]

It wasn't that she was ungrateful, she just knew that it was going to create a lot of problems with him making an appearance and trying to talk their way out of this. She could handle her parents and their annoying accusations. It was when he got involved that she didn't know what to tell them. She hadn't mentioned that she was hanging out with Riley, she hadn't mentioned that she forgot her keys and she hadn't mentioned that she went to his house. All of those things would lead to them thinking she'd slept with him and they wouldn't believe that they'd only just kissed.

He started explaining in what was a huge lie, but she supposed it was almost believable. If it wasn't for the whole her being nice enough to come over and help thing, maybe they'd have bought it. But she didn't count on it. Not with the way she was watching her father's expression. He looked irritated, as usual. When Riley spoke to her mother, she had to cover her mouth before snorting out a laugh. Her 'older sister,' right. Layla wanted to tell him to just stop before he made things any worse, but her father spoke before she got the chance.

"Wait you forgot your keys?" He asked when he turned to her and Lay just frowned and looked at Riley with narrowed eyes. Way to go Riles, way to sell it to 'em.

Layla opened her mouth again to speak, but was cut off once more by her mother this time. "Aww, well isn't that sweet! This fine young man bringing back your keys. I sure hope you thanked him for it, Layla Grace," She said giving Layla a look that made her want to lunge at her own mother. Really did she have to pull out the middle name? "Come now, darling, we're going to be late for the party. Layla, make sure you don't go off gallivanting and embarrassing us. And as for you, it was a pleasure. I hope our daughter didn't cause too much trouble for you."

Layla shook her head in irritation and her mother ushered her father towards the door and out of the house. Just her luck. They loved him. As the door closed behind them, she closed her eyes, her hands gripping the fabric of the couch tightly. They had a great way of making her beyond stressed. He'd wondered why she was so on edge when he first got there and that was why. Constantly talking down to her like she was nothing, she couldn't take it anymore.

[Riley Coleson]

Riley was beyond relieved that his speech had actually worked. And as Layla's mother put on the sweet front, he couldn't help but to give her a bow. One hand behind his back, and one doing that weird thing gentlemen always did in movies that looked like some sort of wave. ''The pleasure was all mine, Miss.'' He said with the most sugar sweet tone, and as for Layla's father, he reached out his hand. ''Mr.'' At this point, he was just doing it because he saw how much it annoyed Layla. Besides, being on a good front with someone from PUSE could always come in handy.

As her parents finally left, Riley looked at Layla with a snicker and a smirk on his lips. ''Oh, yes. You should thank me, Layla Grace. I was oh so nice for bringing you back your keys. Oh, and before you say something snarky, remember what to not cause too much trouble for me~'' Oh yeah, he was so enjoying this. But hey, at least her parents were nice enough towards him. That should count for something, right? He chuckled and sat down next to her. ''Hey, your mom's pretty cute. You should let me know if she ever plans on being single again.''

[Layla Harlow]

Layla was going to be sick. She couldn't handle staying here anymore. Constantly a disappointment. Even if she hadn't rebelled she'd never be good enough for them. Why hadn't they just sent her off to finishing school or a convent. It didn't make sense why they hadn't shipped her off somewhere seeing as how she was such a burden to them and their perfect little social life. All of it just made her sick. And for them to think she was going to end up like some easy whore on the side of a street corner asking for money. It went to show how much faith they had in her.

All of the thoughts that went through her mind were enough to bring the tears to her eyes, which was why she squeezed them shut. It was Riley's addition to how she felt that made them fall down her cheeks and caused her hands to tremble. How was it that when he'd been upset about the whole thing with his mom that she'd been so nice and understanding, yet he couldn't give her the same courtesy after witnessing what she dealt with on a daily basis. At least he had someone to depend on and someone that depended on him. She had nothing here.

Finally after hearing enough, she stood up and walked up the stairs to her room. Layla didn't care if he followed or not, she just couldn't be around him when he was only making her feel worse. She walked over to the window sill and shoved it open, happy that it was actually somewhat dark outside now. Lay climbed out onto the roof and up to her little tower before sitting down and wrapping her arms around her knees, pulling them up against her chest. Tears streamed down her face silently.

She could just leave. Run right now and never look back. They had no right to her anymore. Who would find her? He would, but that's only if he decided to use his ability. Who would miss her? Sophie maybe, but that was what phones were for right? Layla rested her chin on her knees and just stared ahead.

She could leave.

[Riley Coleson]

''Hey, are you crying?'', he asked surprised and was about to reach out to her, but then she stood up and walked back upstairs. ''Crap.'', he muttered to himself and stood up. He then shook his head and groaned before skipping after her.

As he entered her room, he noticed that the window was open. With steady steps and a beating heart he followed her trails outside and peeked around, trying to spot her. Once he finally did, he silently crept up to her and sat down in front of her. ''Hey.'', he said quietly and lifted her arms so he could pull her in for a hug. He wrapped his arms around her body and held her tight, his face burried in her hair. ''I'm sorry. I should've just stayed upstairs...'', he whispered and leaned slightly back, still holding her tightly against his upper body. He placed a kiss at the top of her hair before running his hand through it. He wasn't the best comforter in the world, but he did the best he could. ''Man, I really screwed up didn't I?'' He lifted her face with his finger under her chin and looked at her. His expression was no longer mocking or showed any signs of the snicker he had before. He looked worried. Downright worried.

[Layla Harlow]

She'd always thought that it was funny how she could fake a smile, a snarky comment and act like everything was okay when really every night she came home, she curled up in her bed and cried. It sounded more pathetic than it was. It wasn't always because she was sad or because she wished for a different life. Often times it was out of irritation and anger that she cried because she didn't understand why she was still here. If she was smart she would have left. It wasn't all her parents' fault, it was hers too. She was the one that never said how she felt, though even if she did it would do her no good.

Layla heard Riley walk through her room to the window, yet she kept her eyes forward. She'd half expected him to take his opportunity and leave. It wasn't like he wanted to be here. She didn't want him here if all he was going to do was act like her situation was so easy compared to his. No, her parents didn't come home drunk or leave a four year old home alone. Instead they treated their only child like she was nothing and whenever she was brought into conversation at the country club they lied to everyone, saying how pleasant she was and how lucky they were. They never took her out in public.

Riley didn't have it easy, she knew that, but her life was no cake walk either.

He climbed out towards the little tower on the roof and ended up sitting in front of her, blocking her view of whatever it had been she was staring at. The change in tone was her first indicator that he regretted how he acted and then she was pulled into his arms. She didn't hug him back this time. She didn't know what to do anymore with him. Kissing, cuddling, it did nothing but hurt her. Lay didn't know why she couldn't just treat him like any other guy.

The longer he held her and the more he spoke, she finally just gave in and buried her face in the side of his neck. When he pulled back, she looked at him with tears still filling her eyes. It was a different kind of crying than when she'd been scared. He helped her through that because it had been in the moment. This had been going on for years and she couldn't just let it go. Riley tilted her chin up and she chewed on her lower lip, "I-I'm g-glad that you came down. I...I just wish you wouldn't have seen it...." She hated that he was forced to witness her parents' insanity. He probably thought she'd end up just like them.

[Riley Coleson]

''Hey, at least they weren't drunk.'', he said trying to cheer her up. Honestly, these two different scenarios couldn't be compared, and that's not really what he meant to do either. But here they were, two troubled kids both having huge parent-issues. He pulled her in again for another hug and pulled Layla up in his lap. He could relate. How many nights hadn't he sat by himself crying over his mother's harsh words? Without no one to comfort him or hold him. Yeah, he knew she had probably thought he'd bail again, but he knew how it felt going through this alone, and there was no chance in hell he was going to leave her side like this. ''Don't mention it. I'm glad I did. This way you don't have to be alone.'', he whispered into her hair and stroke his hand up and down her back.

He looked at the sky as a shooting star went across the dark sky. ''Hey, look!'', he said and pointed to where the star flew. ''Better make a wish.'', he said as he looked back down at her with a comforting smile on his lips. ''And no, you can't wish I had a Captain America outfit.'', he added and nuzzled her nose with his. Man, he really liked this girl. He could already feel the butterflies coming back, and the way she looked and smelled took his head places it shouldn't be in a time like this.

[Layla Harlow]

Layla nodded at his attempt of cheering her up. It didn't really work, but she found it comforting that he was at least trying. Drinking wasn't something they did unless it was champagne or fine wine. They thought that drinking until one was drunk was absolutely horrible and looked down on those who did it. It was one reason as a freshman that Layla had been so intent on drinking until she could barely remember anything. It had been dumb at the time, but it also made sense to her. She'd cut back on her drinking, but that didn't mean she didn't like a good buzz every now and then.

She took in a shaky breath and hugged him tighter, "Thanks, for being there....again." It really was hard for her to be like this in front of him. He'd seen it once already over something that could have been avoided and now this? It made her feel ridiculous. She could only imagine what he thought of her for being so weak.

Hearing his enthusiasm, she looked up and caught the tail end of the shooting star. Layla turned to look at him and laughed quietly as he nuzzled her nose. She felt like a child with the way he was treating her. Making her out to be some fragile little thing that needed soft words and fake feelings. But she could pretend. And right now she was pretending that he really did like her. That this wouldn't all just disappear the next time they saw each other, though she knew it would. She sniffled and wiped at her tears, making her wish silently.

I wish I wasn't kidding myself so much and that this could actually be real. She let out a soft sigh and rested her cheek against his shoulder. "Why didn't you leave when you had the chance? I mean you know they're part of the PUSE, I didn't think you'd want any part of that..." She said softly, hoping it wouldn't have an undesirable effect on him.

[Riley Coleson]

Riley wasn't against drinking or anything, but he rarely did. It was even rare he took a drop of alcohol. His mom got drunk every now and then, and he wanted to be prepared in case Kalila was left home alone once again. It wasn't the first time he had been called up by the poor girl, and it was a wonder he even left the house. Though, it was only a few more months until he turned eighteen and could take both him and Kalila out of that hellhole they called home. Oh, the time couldn't pass quickly enough.

Weak? Oh, no. That was by far what he was thinking. In his eyes, she was strong. She easily kept it all under control on the outside when she was out in public, while he sat in corners crying his heart out just for tipping a few shelves over. Now that, that was weak. ''Next time something happens, you know where to find me - or reach me.'' He said and kissed her cheek.

''And leave you there all alone? As if.'', he replied and scoffed. ''As long as you're part of the package, I can deal with it.'' He rubbed her shoulder and bumped his head playfully against hers. He interlocked their fingers and kissed her hand. ''I'm here as long as you need me.'' And he really meant it. He didn't want to run anymore. He didn't want to bail and leave her dealing with it all on her own.

He lifted her up and stood there beside her, just watching the sky for a few more seconds. ''Let's get inside before I end up saying something stupid, and you push me off the roof.'' Which was very, very possible. He took her hand and lead her back to the window, not even giving her the time to protest. And once they were both back inside her room, he sat down on her bed and reached his hands out for her.

[Layla Harlow]

Layla didn't see Riley as weak anymore than he saw her as weak. Crying in corners for knocking over shelves sounded pathetic when one left out what he dealt with on a regular basis at home. No, he was strong for taking care of a four year old when he was only seventeen. That was strong. She knew that if Kalila was ever in trouble he'd come to her rescue like a real hero. That was strong. He had a strength that no many people understood. She barely could say she understood it, but she still couldn't get over how amazing he really was, even when he tried so hard to hide it.

She was comforted for the moment by his words. She wanted to believe him, she wanted to think that he really would be there when she needed him. It was hard for her to accept anything like that from anyone because her parents never fulfilled their promises to be there. Lay had a lot of baggage and Ri did, too, she didn't want to add onto his. Still, she couldn't deny the swelling in her chest that made her feel like her heart would explode at any moment. It was all because some silly boy was treating her like a princess when she was so used to being treated like a shadow. She pressed her lips to his temple and nuzzled his cheek, "Same goes for you, got it?" She smiled at him, tears drying on her cheeks.

Riley helped her up and she laughed at the likeliness of his statement. She followed him inside, ducking underneath the window sill. He held his arms out to her and all of the hesitation she'd once felt wasn't there this time. She wasn't going to overthink things this time. Layla slid into his embrace easily and cuddled up against his chest. "Riley, was it worth the wait? Ya know...for your first kiss?" She looked up at him.

[Riley Coleson]

Her question made him uncomfortable. He didn't really want to talk about it, at all. It wasn't that the fact that he hadn't kissed anyone made him embarressed or anything, it was just so personal. Riley didn't do good with personal. ''Sure.'', he said quickly with a high pitched voice and looked away. Hopefully she'd stop prying and leave it at that, though he had a feeling she wouldn't. But hey, at least she didn't ask him about sex. Now that, that would've been awkward.

Leaning backwards and pulling Layla with him, he closed his eyes and played with her hair. He didn't really know how long she wanted him to stay, but he was sure she'd let him know when it was time for him to go. If he was lucky, he wouldn't run in with her parents again, and thus he didn't have to put on some fancy boy facade. He was surprised however at how well it had all gone down. He hadn't really expected them to bite the bait so easily. But hey, maybe that was how these rich people worked. They responded well to compliments.

Riley rolled Layla over so she was now on top of him. He cupped her face in his hands and placed another kiss on her lips. Well, no wonder people went about and kissed everyone. It wasn't all that bad. Not that he had expected it to be or anything, but he got it. ''Spider Lay, Spider Lay, does whatever Spider Lay does. Can she swing from a web? No, she can't because phycical laws won't allow it.'', he hummed and yawned.

[Layla Harlow]

For fear of making him pull away, she left it at that. The last thing she wanted right now was to make him angry or uncomfortable enough to leave again. She was just enjoying her time with him now because she knew that soon she'd wake up from this dream and things would go back to their teasing, irritating and confusing ways. She'd never admit it out loud, but that was part of what made her want him so much more. The thrill of trying to win him over when both of them were pushing away, it made things interesting, different.

Layla wouldn't have minded if Riley stayed for the rest of the night, just holding her like this. She knew he couldn't very well do that though, and she knew it would only raise suspicion if her parents decided to check in on her when they got home. It would be like them to do that, especially knowing there was a boy over. She just wasn't ready for him to leave yet. Being with him like this was like a stress reliever and she wasn't quite ready to give that up. She closed her eyes as he played with her hair and sighed softly.

Her eyes fluttered open as he re-positioned her on top of him. She returned the kiss gently and stroked his hair. Layla laughed at his song and nuzzled his nose, "You keep that yawning up, I'm gonna send you home, Ri-Ri." The thought caused her chest to hurt, but she ignored it and rested her cheek against his chest, hearing his heart beat softly. It was a steady, soft thud and hearing it made her smile as she cuddled up against him.

[Riley Coleson]

It was probably good that Layla decided to drop the whole thing. He didn't really know what he'd do if she kept pushing on about the subject. He'd probably end up saying something stupid, or something dumb, and that would be the end of that. They'd be right back where they started. Again. He didn't want to bicker and fight with her, but everything about this girl made him both happy and mad. It was all so confusing to him, he didn't even know what to do about it.

Just the thought of explaining himself to her parents about why he spent the night made him want to run away. He could deal with it under other circumstances, like before, but after something like spending the night? Hell no. Just the way the would look at them both with their judgmental eyes and snarky remarks made him feel like hitting someone. God, he really understood why Layla didn't like them.

He chuckled and poked her sides. ''Did you know that people don't yawn when they're tired? It's because the body has built up too much carbon dioxide and needs to release it.'' He peeked up at her with a smirk on his lips. Yep, even he could be smart when needed. Who woulda thought? He liked this. The way they acted around eachother. Still cautious, but oh so gentle and cuddly.

[Layla Harlow]

Going back to how things had been was the last thing she wanted. She wanted things to be easy with them. Friendly and fun, easy. Was that so hard? For them it probably was seeing as how their personalities clashed. They could not be any more different in her mind. He was bipolar and said mean things to get a rise from her. She had tried being nice to him, always giving him a chance to not be a jerk and every time he threw it back in her face.

Then there were the times like this. It was unfair the way he toyed with her. And she was totally innocent in the whole thing. (Right.) Layla just wanted him to be close to her because she was afraid of ending up like her parents in their empty, hollow marriage. They claimed they loved each other, but she could see right through them. She didn't want that.

Lay giggled as he poked her sides and she squirmed until he stopped. "Whoa ho ho, someone's pulling the scientific facts out. Where'd you read that? In one of those dirty magazines Kali found," She smirked and leaned down to kiss him, her hair falling over her shoulders around them. It was times like this that she enjoyed the most with him. Now that she'd kissed him, she didn't want it to stop.