Chapter 10: A Sea Of Confusing ThoughtsThe Quinn Residence, Backwoods, Temperance, South Dakota... Finally making it home after the long day she had and the events of the diner, Layla had not been surprised to see that Jarrett left the house a complete mess for her to have to spend hours cleaning despite everything she'd already had to do at work and school before she even got to finish her homework. She sighed as she stepped inside the stuffy old yellow house and began her long-labored task of cleaning it before her father returned from his rare job appearances. He had let the rottweiler out into the backyard and tied him up to his dog house, a small favor if ever there was from him. He knew that Layla had a lot to clean and that she and his dog had not been best friends. His desire to see the house cleaned trumped his need to make his daughter feel uncomfortable about bringing anyone over while he'd been away. For once Layla was glad of it after everything that happened wi

Chapter 12: A Dreamer's HeartThe Backwoods, The Quinn Residence, Temperance, South Dakota... Alone in the house, as night began to overtake the last lights of the afternoon sun, Layla Quinn found herself in her bedroom with many a textbook and notebook spread along her bed as she lay back against the pillows with her pencil having dropped from her grasp and onto the nearby floor following her dozing off after finally completing the last of her homework. She'd finally finished her English essay when sleep caught up to her and remained so for several hours as the day gave way to night and there was still no sign of Jarrett coming home despite the house being cleaned from top to bottom. Layla found herself awakening after being startled by her dream as once more she found herself back at the diner with the older man clad in a biker cut, she seemed to have memorized all of his patches and then some as he pressed her up against the nearby wall their tongue's warring as if both of th

Chapter 14: The Pros And Cons Of An Unconventional RelationshipForest Lake High School, Temperance, South Dakota... Layla was fortunate that her father had not returned from the previous night out and that she didn't have to worry about having to clean up the house after his insistence upon making it a mess every chance he got. She'd gone to school and suffered through the most mundane aspects of her day before finally getting to have a break via lunch. Casey had been busy with cheerleading practice once again and couldn't join them, but everyone seemed to understand that her life had been pulled in different directions ever since they made it to high school. As they sat and chatted about events from the past and what was to come with the new school year due to the one they were in was only a few months away from coming to an end, Layla seemed more or less preoccupied and her friends had immediately taken notice. "Something on your mind Layla?" asked Derrick already going

Chapter 16: An Almost Full DisclosureThe Backroom, Earl's Diner, Temperance, South Dakota... Layla moved as slowly as ever when her shift at Earl's Diner had finally winded down. She had not been feeling too enthusiastic about her day ever since a strange feeling washed over her and she felt as if she'd been losing something. Her young heart seemed to ache for something she couldn't fathom and try as she might, the sadness only continued to build as the day passed and she settled back into her familiar routine. Phoebe entered the back room confused as to why Layla had seen sop out of sorts as of late. She deduced it had something to do with the previous day and had been quite adamant about hounding her for the answers to the numerous questions she had about what transpired. Layla had been in less of a mood to answer them as she had previously but knew Phoebe wouldn't let up until she told her. "So..." said Phoebe, as of this were a casual conversation, as she walked over to

Chapter 18: A Rather Disappointing EveningThe Quinn Residence, Backwoods, Temperance, South Dakota... By the time Layla got home, it was on its way to being quite late as she took note of the porchlight and the screen door being propped open. She could tell by the lack of Brutus, the slobbering rottweiler, being in the back and chained to his house, that Jarrett had returned home for the evening. She sighed as she made her way inside dreading having to clean up yet another round of mess that the two of them would leave behind. Still, she'd been much too busy with her thoughts to care very much as she moved quickly through the house and toward her bedroom passing a half-slumbering Jarrett along the way as he lounged in his armchair with Brutus at his feet like before. She took note of the loud volumed television in the background but ignored it as the frequent snoring on the part of her passed-out drunken father seemed to be competing with it in some odd fashion. Layla tossed her