Lunch

POV Layla

trigger warning, talk of abuse, language

We decided to go to a nearby restaurant for lunch. We piled all our bags in the trunk and got in the car. We drove for about five minutes and then got out at sushi place.

"Do you like sushi, Layla?" Tom asked.

I smiled and started to answer when Leo cut me off, "She loves it. Especially since Tate hated it so she didn't get it for like a year." The girls frowned while Vander looked alarmed.

"Who's Tate?" Finn asked with his eyes narrowed.

"He's my ex boyfriend. He lives in Chicago" I explained.

"Is that why you broke up? Because you moved?" Van asked as we sat down.

"No. They broke up before that. I never liked that dude." Leo cut in again.

I frowned at him and said, "You never even met him."

"I don't care. I don't like anyone that dates you. No one is good enough for you." Leo said looking at Finn, Jake and Vander. The three shifted uncomfortably.

I rolled my eyes and said, "Really, Leo? Get a grip. Plus you have nothing to worry about. I'm not looking for a relationship right now. " I said.

"Oh, really? Just planning to date around, then?" Jake asked with a smirk.

Leo growled but I laughed. "Nope. Done with all that for a bit. I don't need the headache. Men are terrible." I quickly said. Vander looked sad while Finn looked thoughtful.

Jake smirked again and said, "Everyone knows that I love a challenge"

Leo started to get up but I snapped, "I'm a person, not a challenge and even if I hadn't sworn off dating and relationships, you don't have a chance."

"Why is that?" he shot back.

"Jake, you aren't even close to my type, sorry." I said with a smile.

"We'll see" he said but he shut up after that.

I looked at Leo and said, "Will you please chill the fuck out? You're being ridiculous and annoying. I'm fine, and if I can handle the guys I dealt with in the auto shops in Chicago, I sure as hell can handle little Jake from Porter." Everyone looked at me in shock except Leo. He looked pissed.

"First of all, I'm not being ridiculous OR annoying. I'm looking out for you. Secondly, what the hell did Tate do to you to make you think that all guys are terrible, not that you're wrong. Thirdly, what happened in the auto shops and what guys?" he said darkly.

I rolled my eyes at him. "As usual, you are missing my point." I stopped and looked at everyone else.

"What's wrong with all of them?" I asked Leo.

He looked and shrugged, "No idea"

I looked at Eve and she finally said, "I think that we were all just surprised to hear you talk like that?"

"Like what?" I asked and Leo chuckled.

I looked at him and he explained, " You dropped the f bomb and you were all sassy."

"So?" I asked.

"They aren't from Chicago. They don't curse like you all do there and I think that they just assumed that you were a stereotypical "good girl"." he said.

He looked at everyone else and said, "Don't worry, she only talks to me like that. It's how we work".

"Sorry if I offended anyone." I added sheepishly.

"No, I loved it." Hart said and everyone else laughed.

Thankfully the waitress came and we gave her our order. Afterwards, everyone started talking about what they bought at the mall. I looked next to me and noticed Finn looking at me thoughtfully. I rose my eyebrows at him and he just kept staring.

"Is there a reason that you're staring?" I whispered

"Besides the obvious?" he asked with a smirk. I felt myself blush and glared back.

"I'm just trying to figure you out." he finally said. I rolled my eyes

"Did you just roll your eyes at me?" he whispered. I shrugged and his eyes narrowed.

"So, Layla," Finn started louder so the whole table could hear. Everyone stopped to listen. That was something that I had noticed. He didn't say much but when he spoke, everyone seemed to listen.

"Why didn't you answer Leo's question?" he finished.

I glared at him while Leo said, "Yeah, that's right!"

"What question?" I said innocently.

"He actually asked you a few but let's start with why you think men are so bad? What did your ex do?" Finn asked.

"I don't think that's anyone's business but mine." I snapped.

Luckily the waitress saved me again by delivering our food. I was going to have to leave her a huge tip. As everyone began to eat, Finn smirked at me and I glared at him. The food was wonderful and I was in heaven.

After we ate for a bit, Leo sadly started back in though. "You aren't going to tell me? I'm your brother."

"That's even more reason for me not to tell you." I said.

Leo looked confused but then asked, "What about the auto shops then?"

I shook my head and sighed. "Lets just say, rich asses with fancy cars don't understand it when a girl mechanic tells them no, ok?" I said.

"Why didn't you tell me? I thought we told each other everything? Who were they? What are their names?" Leo demanded.

"I tell you everything except the things that might cause you to perpetrate a felony." I said

"But that's what a brother is for" he whined. Everyone else chuckled and I rolled my eyes yet again.

"I still don't understand why you won't tell me what happened with Tate." he kept on. I looked over at Eve, Sally and Keri and they shrugged.

Leo noticed and snarled, "Wait, do they know? Why do they get to know and your own brother doesn't?" I shrugged.

Finn spoke up, "Leo, why couldn't Layla have sushi even if Tate didn't like it? Why couldn't she just go out to sushi with her friends?" I spun around to glare at Finn.

Leo thought for a moment. "I don't know. I just seemed like when they were together, she didn't do anything with anyone else after a while."

I closed my eyes. "Come to think of it, she called me less and less and she always had to cut our conversations short because he would call her." Leo added. I rubbed my forehead and refused to look at anyone.

"Is that it? Did he stop you from going out with your friends?" Leo asked. I finally looked in his eyes and nodded.

"What else did he do?" Finn asked softly.

"Fine" I snapped "He would get mad when I would go out with my friends so I stopped going out with them. Then he would get so angry if I didn't answer his texts or calls right away. After that he would get jealous every time he found out I was talking to you. I broke up with him when he told me that I couldn't call you anymore." I stopped.

"There's more, isn't there?" Finn prompted and I snarled at him.

I looked down and finally said, " I broke up with him after school one day. When I broke up with him, he hit me in the face. He said that it wasn't over until he said it was. I managed to get away from him and into a public space. Ever since then, he would follow me, call me, show up at my house and leave me strange gifts on my doorstep or in my locker. That's another reason why I stopped staying at home and why I moved out here. Happy, now?"

I looked around the table. Leo was white with rage. Eve, Keri, Sally and Tom all looked concerned at me. Hart had tears in his eyes. Vander and Jake both had clenched fists.

Finn looked scarily angry and asked in a dark and measured voice, "Does he still call you?" I looked down.

Finn put his fingers under my chin and forced me to look into his eyes and repeated, "Does he still call you?" I nodded and tried to look away but he held my chin.

"You know that it isn't your fault, right?" he asked softly I shrugged and pushed his hand away.

"I'm embarrassed. I should have ended it sooner. I'm not some weak girl, I can handle it, ok? Like I said, I don't need a hero." I said.

"This isn't your fault, it's his. You couldn't have known that he was going to change like that" Eve said and Keri and Sally nodded. I shrugged.

"I'm going to kill him" Leo said and Van added "I'll help".

"Me too" Jake nodded.

Finn shook his head and said, "That's why she didn't tell you in the first place. I'm so sorry, Layla. I'm sorry that happened to you and I'm sorry that I forced you to tell us. I shouldn't have. It was wrong. I understand why you didn't want to."

He turned to Leo and said, " I understand, I want to kill him too but why do you think that she didn't tell you? Do you think that it was to protect herself? Or Tate? No! It was to protect you from making a bad choice and possibly getting hurt or arrested."

Leo looked at me and asked, "Is that true? Is that why you didn't tell me?" I nodded and Leo looked broken. He got up and hugged me.

"I'm sorry, La. You're right. I'll do whatever you want me to do in this. Just know that if it escalates, we have to do something" he said into my hair.

"I know. I'm hoping that this move will make him back off" I said " but I promise to let you know if he doesn't, ok?" He nodded and went back to sit down.

Finn looked at Van and Jake and said, "Guys?"

They both nodded too but Jake said, "Can't I just threaten him online?"

I shook my head and said "That would just make things worse."

"Fine" Jake agreed.

"Let's talk about something else." I requested.

"Well, what are we going to do for the rest of the day?" Hart asked.

"I was thinking about taking La to the movies and dinner" Leo said

"We just ate" I pointed out.

"So, maybe two movies then?" Leo added and I grinned.

"There's that new movie theater in Maple that has an arcade in it. We're already halfway there" Hart suggested. Everyone agreed and we paid the bill and got up to leave. I ran to the bathroom and when I came out, Finn was waiting for me in the hall. I rose an eyebrow at him and he grinned back.

"I already have a stalker and I'm not taking applications for another one" I snapped.

He chuckled and said in a low voice that made my knees slightly weak, "I'm not looking for that job, thanks. I wanted to apologize again. I shouldn't have pushed you to talk. At first, I was just trying to get you back for rolling your eyes at me but honestly after that, I was intrigued and worried. That's no excuse though, I'm sorry."

I smirked and said, "I forgive you. It's fine."

I began to walk away but he softly grabbed my hand and said in that dangerous voice, "Layla, wait." I stopped and turned towards him.

He stepped closer and continued, "Did you really mean what you said about not wanting a relationship?" I shrugged and mentally cursed myself for not having a stronger will.

He looked at my and sighed. "I understand why you would be afraid to have another relationship." he started.

"I'm not afraid" I snapped and he smirked.

"Ok. I get that why you wouldn't want another relationship now but I need to let you know that I want you. Whenever you are ready, I'll be here. I'm a very patient man. I'm not trying to scare you and if it's ever too much, I need you to tell me. I don't want to frighten you or pressure you, but I also want you to understand that I would do anything for you."

I looked at him and my resolve to maintain a basic friendship with him crumbles. He can tell and grins. He slowly reached out for me and I let him. He grabbed my waist and pulled me close.

"Is this ok?" he asked and I couldn't stop myself from nodding. He looked into my eyes and I was enthralled with him. His eyes were so deep and true. My eyes flicked down to his lips and back up. I bit my lip and his eyes widened.

"Don't do that." he said and pulled my lip out from my teeth. l rolled my eyes.

He leaned in and whispered in my ear, "You have to stop rolling your eyes at me too."

"Or what?" I teased and he growled. I chuckled.

"Come on you two!" Hart called from further down the hall. I pushed him away and walked toward Hart.

"Be grateful that I convinced Leo to go out the car. If he saw you two like that, he would have lost it." Hart said as we walked.

"Thanks, Hart." I said.

"Yeah, thanks" Finn said sarcastically. I laughed.

We all got into the car and left. We were all laughing and talking in the car all the way there. I felt safer and more comfortable with this group than I ever did with my group of friends in Chicago. I smiled and snuggled into Leo.

"I don't think that I've ever seen you this happy, Leo." Sally said. I looked at him. I was on one side of him and Eve was on the other. We were all cuddled together and Leo was leaned back with his eyes closed and a smile on his face.

"Of course I'm happy. My sister is finally here and all my friends like her." he said.

"Plus, Eve just agreed to go to the dance with him" Vander added. I smiled and Leo glared at him.

"What? I was right behind you walking out of the sushi place. I heard everything" Van added and Keri and Sally giggled.

"Alright, leave him alone" Eve said. The group started to talk about something else.

Leo looked over at me and I said, "So you and Eve, huh?"

He shrugged and said, "She's really kind and smart."

I nodded and replied, "I think so too. I'm happy for you. I really like her and I think that you two make a good match."

Leo smiled and said, "Thanks, La but don't think that I'm going to be ditching you for her or anything. I just got you back." I smiled and hugged him.

"And don't think that I'm going to take him from you, either." Eve added. "I know that you two are a package deal."

I smiled and said, "Thanks but I know that you two need some time. Maybe we can double date or something"

"I thought that you weren't going to date." Finn said from the other side of me, obviously eves dropping. I shrugged and Leo frowned.

"Can I join in on this double date?" Finn asked.

"But who would be your date? And wouldn't that make it a triple date?" I asked innocently.

Finn growled and said "You know what I meant" and I smirked.

"Did I?" I replied. Eve laughed while Leo glared at Finn.

We got to the arcade/movie theatre and all piled out. Finn got out in front of me and he turned around to grab my hands to help me out.

"Thanks" I said and he kept ahold of one of my hand as we walked in. We checked the movie times and argued. Leo, Van, Jake, Finn, Sally, Tom and I wanted to see the horror movie but Hart, Keri and Eve wanted to see the new rom com.

"We could split up" I suggested but no one wanted that.

"Why don't we see the horror flick today and Sally, Tom and I will take you three out to the other one tomorrow night?" Leo suggested and I grinned.

Everyone agreed and I elbowed Leo.

He looked at me and I said, "Smooth way to score a date with Eve." He shrugged and I grinned. We all bought tickets to see the 5 o'clock showing so we could grab dinner at the Diner after. I texted Dad to let him know that we might be a bit late but in around 10.

We had a couple hours before the movie began so we hit the arcade. It was crowded and big so we all naturally split up. I wandered off on my own for a bit. Sometimes crowds stress me out and I need to take my time to feel comfortable.

"Hey. Are you ok?" a soft voice asked. I looked up to see Van looking down at me, his hair falling across his forehead.

I nodded and said, "Yeah. I just got a bit overwhelmed."

"I can understand that" he said and smiled.

"Can I walk around with you?" he asked and I nodded again. He offered me his arm and I took it with a grin.

He sighed happily and asked, "Is there anything you want to do or play?" I shrugged and he smiled. We walked around and watched Leo and Eve play against each other at Pac man. Keri and Sally played DDR and Hart and Tom were trying to win at a claw machine. We spotted Jake and Finn over by the pool tables and walked over.

"Whose winning?" Van asked and they glanced at us for the first time.

"I am" Jake said as he glanced at us.

"You wish" Finn snapped and glared when we saw my arm in Van's. We watched them for a bit and then wandered away.

"So I was wondering, since everyone is going to that awful movie tomorrow night, would you want to go out to dinner with me?" Van asked. I thought about it. I know that I had just said that I didn't want to date but would it really be that bad to casually date some guys that I knew would be safe?

"You mean like a date?" I asked.

"Well, yeah. I know that you aren't ready for anything serious but a casual date can't be that bad, right?" he said.

I thought about it and said, "Sure as long as we are clear that it is a casual date" I said.

"I'll take what I can get" he replied. We sat on a bench and people watched for a bit. Van gently put his arm around me and I put my head on his shoulder. We talked about everything. He told me about his parents, his music and football. I told him about auto repair and dance team.

"Sally and Keri asked me to be a cheerleader and I agreed" I ended.

"So you're going to be a cheerleader and I'm a football player. See? We're meant to be" he said and I smiled.

"What are you two up to?" Jake asked as he and Finn walked over. Finn sat next to me and narrowed his eyes when he spotted Van's arm around me.

"Nothing, just planning our date for tomorrow night" Van said.