“Hey Layla, can I ask you something?” Elane asked when we were walking to the cafeteria lunch area.
I looked at her cynically. “Why do you bother asking when you most likely already know Elane?”
“Because you have to know what I say first or you cannot do anything about it,” she shot back.
She seemed a tad grumpy today, I thought.
“Okay, ask away,” I said defensively, lowering my eyes.
“Do you fancy my brother?”
I looked at her stunned. We had stopped walking and she was staring at me. I had to quickly compose my guarded face but I stuttered incoherently for a minute before I answered. “Well... ah... I like all of you guys, you're like family,” I said, looking at the ground.
I knew what she really meant but it was too embarrassing to admit it and I didn't really want to admit it.
She glared at me. “That is not what I meant and you know it.”
“Elane really, Im not quite so sure and I mean why are you even questioning me? You know he doesn't like me that much,” I said, I really hoped she couldnt hear the sad note in my voice.
Her face softened up. “Lays,” she sighed.
I looked at her and she didnt look too mad now. “Do you get a certain… feeling when you are around him?” she asked curiously.
I looked down when I answered. “Maybe, I'm not sure.”
“Elane!” someone shouted.
We both looked over and James and Hunter, Fredric, Jane and Sam who were sitting at one of the far tables were looking at us.
“Come sit with us today,” Elane said.
“Alright, I just need to tell Lily about an English assignment.”
We walked over to Lily Reighner, a tall, thin, goldy blonde haired girl who needed my copy of an English question sheet. Lily was a bit of a bitch, even though she was tall and thin with pale skin, she could be nasty in ways you couldnt even comprehend, and was obsessed with this new band called Paramore.
Apparently Paramore were the hottest band out there according to her, and I agreed, I just wished she didnt like them. Her best friend was an Asian girl named Kytia Lee, I didn't really know her that well but she must be a nice person to tolerate Lily.
After I had said goodbye to them, Elane took my arm and pulled me over to the table in the south-east corner of the cafeteria area. She sat down and pulled me down with her. I ended up sitting next to Fredric and across from Sam.
I kept my eyes down, tracing patterns on the wood of the table.
The whole time I was aware of Sams eyes on my face but I was just too… too, well it was a mix of shy and embarrassed so I fiddled with my long hair instead.
“So Lays, have you figured out what you can do yet?” Fredric asked conversationally.
I looked over at him and smiled. “No, not yet.”
“You know we will help you figure it out,” he said, still casual.
“You will? How?” I asked, suspicious.
“Well I dont know exactly how, but well figure it out eventually. We already know you can heal yourself so…” he trailed off and shrugged.
“So,” I prompted with a small smile.
“That's a start right. Obviously that's in connection with your main power,” he said, rolling his eyes.
“We'll see,” I said, dismissing the subject.
For the rest of the lunch we all dissolved into small conversations except for Sam and myself. He just kept looking at me sometimes, which made me feel a little self-conscious but pleased that he was looking at me.
Occasionally my eyes wondered to his face, as usual, and every time they did he saw this and smiled beautifully at me. Then I went back to being silent and looking down at the table. The way he looked at me never failed to trigger my emotions and leave me feeling breathless.
Fourth session bell finally rung and everyone at the table made plans to meet after school at the parking lot. I was going to meet Fredric outside the gym and walk with him to the parking lot and Sam was going to walk with me to Biology, since we were in the same class. I was nervous about walking with Sam, but I tried not to think about it too much. I figured as long as I keep my head out of the clouds and my feet on the ground I should be fine... I hope.
Hunter left with Jane, they had the same history class. Fredric left with James and Elane, which left me and Sam to walk to Biology… alone... by ourselves... no one else.
We walked silently side by side, people definitely staring at us again and this time I noticed. I was trying to concentrate on walking straight and keeping a clear head. People shouldnt stare, it's rude, and it's not like were dating or anything. It's just the plain school girl everyone knows of, walking with one of the new really seductive guys no one knows of, nothing else.
“Are you sure about being alone with me?” Sam asked, breaking the silence.
I took the courage to look up at him, but when I saw his eyes search mine, the words got stuck in my throat so I just nodded stiffly.
“I am trying very hard to find a way to explain things to you,” he mused.
I gulped. Time to speak up.
“I trust you and I can wait,” I said quietly, looking away from his gaze once again.
He didn't say anything in return, which worried me that I might have said something wrong to upset him.
We walked into the classroom quietly and walked over to our table silently. I sat through Biology quietly and so did Sam. We werent doing much in class today so I tried to focus on controlling my emotions again, it wasn't an easy task but I knew it was the only way I was going to get this over with.
I glanced over at Sam, he wasnt as tense as he usually was but he didnt pay much attention to me being next to him either.
I sighed. Why was this happening to me, I felt so confused, about everything, my feelings, my thoughts, they were all jumbled. I peeked over at Sam again and he was drawing in his book but not even looking at it, he was staring into space.
He was too good to be true, he was very smart, mouth-wateringly good-looking and his personality was beautiful, it shone through his bad mood once you had seen his good side. I take back thinking he was a loser because for some reason I didn't see his flaws anymore, I couldnt focus on them. Sure Sam isnt the type of guy I'd usually go for and thats why I was so confused. Id usually go for guys who were sensitive, friendly, charismatic, and Sam was the total opposite of that. He came off as weird, lonesome, scary, and a bad boy, but I think I actually liked that. God I'm pathetic!
Biology went by, and before I knew it, the bell for Gym went and Sam was walking out the door again, looking back at me one last time with a slight smile.
I didn't feel so rejected or threatened, his smile was appropriately friendly.
I got to Gym class and sat by Fredric until we got split into our classes again. This unit we had to do tennis. Not one of my best sports but at least I could do it, I just hoped I wouldnt trip and fall on my face. It's not that I'm bad at sports, it's my footwork, and I'm not always very coordinated and I hated that I was just a little bit accident prone, it made things a whole lot worse.
We lined up against the wall and were being paired alphabetically by last name.
“Atkins-Benson,” coach called.
I stepped forward and so did this other guy. I didn't think I had seen him around before, he must have been new.
I went and took a racket from the trolley and so did he, then I sat back down with my racket in hand and waited for coaches instructions.
We were first up unluckily and we were playing Venessa Evans; another girl from the lunch table. She was a medium height girl who wore a headscarf and I was about a head taller than she was. The headscarf was part of her religion so she chose to wear it, but she was still a kind person and it did not lessen her beauty. She was someone I could trust. And Robbie Knox was her partner, a tall gangly red head boy who looked as uncoordinated as I sometimes did, but he was a very cute red head. I sometimes secretly wondered if Venessa and Robbie were d
ating because they were always so close, but they would never admit it, even if it were true because her parents wouldnt allow it.
I was up to serve, and amazingly it was perfect. Benson wasn't too bad either.
The game was nearly over, it was the first team to five and we were winning four to one, and if we got one more we were going to win the game. We both used team work really well and communicated between each other easily, which meant we were guaranteed to win.
Robbie hit the ball, hard, and before I knew it, the ball was flying towards me and I was on the ground. I opened my eyes and the boy playing on my team was helping me sit up and everyone was around me.
“Are you okay?” he asked in a very light Scottish accent.
I looked at him like an idiot. “Ah, I'm fine,”
He smiled crookedly.
“Where does it hurt Atkins?” Coach Young asked gruffly.
“I'd say right about here,” the boy said.
He slightly touched my forehead and I winced. “Ow, ow, ow,” I said until he released the pressure off my head.
It felt like my head was about to explode it was starting to throb that hard.
“Hmm,” Coach said after a minute. “Take her to the office Benson and grab some ice. Take your bags.”
The guy just nodded. He helped me up, wrapped an arm around my waist and put my arm over his shoulders. We walked out the gym doors with our bags on our shoulders and made our way through the school.
My head was thumping and I was feeling dizzy, preventing me from walking straight and stable on my feet, so lucky I had his support.
We were halfway through our little high school and he finally spoke. “So, what is your name?” he asked conversationally.
“Layla,” I said casually. “And you?”
“Sylar,” he answered, modest.
I was struck with curiosity by his name. It sounded so strange, not common at all.
“Where's your name from?” I asked, trying to keep my voice light.
He chuckled. “My name was handed down through generations of my family from all over the world.”
“It's a beautiful name,” I said, looking at him.
He smiled. “Thank you.”
We walked most of the way in silence but I had noticed he was cute in his own boyish way. His short golden hair shined, even in the overcast light. His facial features were soft, not hard and angular, he was gangly not buff, but it did give him a certain charm along with his baby blue eyes.
We walked through the office door into the small foyer.
“Oh, what happened kids?” Mrs. Holts asked, concern in her tone.
I looked at the small and frail old lady behind the desk but didn't say anything, it was too embarrassing.
“She got hit with a ball in Gym class,” Sylar said, trying to hold back a laugh.
“I can see, she has a lump there. Go on through to the nurse,” she ordered.
Sylar pulled me through the doorway at the end of the hall and sat me carefully on a chair. The young nurse came in, obviously at work experience and handed me an ice pack for my head.
I winced a little when I put the ice pack on and looked over at Sylar, he was sitting beside me.
“Are you okay?” he asked, concerned but still trying not to laugh.
“Yeah. Do you think we should head back to class?”
“Nah, school finishes soon,” he pointed out. “It would just be a waste of time.”
I contemplated it, but it made sense. “Okay.”
“So... Layla Atkins, does this happen very often?” he asked, trying to hold back a laugh I knew was going to come out.
“No, but I do have a habit of getting hurt easily,” I answered, sheepishly.
He chuckled. “Do you want to know a secret Layla?” he asked, suddenly intense.
“Ah... okay,” I replied.
What the hell could he have been talking about, I barely knew him.
“I like you, you're okay.”
That stunned me. “I don't know what you mean,” I stuttered out.
He leaned in closer. “Do you want to be kissed?” he whispered.
He was just inches away from my face and my heart was beating out of my chest, but for some reason all I could think about was Sam.
Betrayal, I thought.
“I… I…” was all I got out before his warm thin lips were on mine.
I started to freak out, it didnt feel right and every part of me yearned for a different set of arms and lips, ones I was ashamed to yearn for.
I kept my eyes wide and he pulled away.
“What's wrong?” he asked quietly, tucking my long hair behind my ears so he could see my face clearer.
This didn't feel right; it was wrong, so wrong.
The bell rung before I could answer so I bounded out of my seat and headed for the door.
“I have to go,” I called behind my shoulder.
I didn't look to see if he followed me out and I didnt want him to, but I was in that much of a hurry I tripped on the door on the way out and caught myself with my hands.
“Are you alright dear?” Mrs. Holts asked when she saw me trip.
She got up to help me but I said I was fine and rushed out the door into the Grey afternoon.
I walked straight to the car park and tried to compose myself as I held my bag tight. I wasn't going to make it. I could feel the guilt building up inside me. Somehow I felt like a traitor. But I had to make it... at least until I was inside my own house. I could wait couldnt I?
I saw the Mustang and went to lean beside it. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, gritting my teeth together. But I wasnt alone for long.
“Lays? What are you doing here? Weren't you suppose to be with Fredric?” someone asked.
I opened my eyes to see Hunter in front of me, his expression was surprised and confused.
“I'm sorry. I got hurt in Gym and went to the office and then the bell rung and I forgot to meet Fredric and…” I blurted out.
I was on the edge of losing it so I stopped and took another deep breath.
“Lays, what happened?” Hunter put his hand under my chin and pulled my face up to look at his.
His expression was worried now. “I can feel somethings wrong and I know you enough to recognise it. Now what is it? You can tell me. I promise I won't speak a word of this to anybody, not even Fredric.”
I searched his face, he wasnt lying and I could trust him, I never doubted that, not even for a minute.
“But how do you know me enough to know that?” I asked.
“Do you want the truth?”
I nodded.
“Both Fredric and I have had an eye on you since you came to this school, its like people with abilities are sort of drawn towards each other. We watched you closely, but in retrospect not that often,” he answered honestly.
I nodded, trying to pull myself together. It was a reasonable answer and I know it should have freaked me out but it didnt, I felt safer as he said it.
“Stop trying to change the subject. Tell me what happened Layla, I can see what it has done to you. I want to help,” he said, concerned, his brow furrowing.
I started blubbering before I could even get the words out. “Hunter, he kissed me,” I sobbed, putting my head in my hands.
He pulled me into the warmth of his arms and I wrapped mine around him in return. I needed comfort, and I, for some reason knew Hunter would never judge me.
“Shh,” he tried to calm me. “Who Layla, who kissed you?” he asked into my hair.
“Sylar Benson,” I sobbed out.
“Did he hurt you?” Hunter asked, suddenly sounding angry.
“No, he kissed me and it felt dirty and wrong.” I cried into his jacket more.
I couldn't get a grip on my emotions.
He stroked the back of my hair with his hand, not needing to say a word. I felt sickened in a way, and angry. Its unfair how people take advantage of me, no matter the situation.
�
�Shh, it's okay, you're safe. Im here... were all here for you,” he finally said into my ear gently.
He pulled me back and started wiping my tears away with his fingers. “Come on, the others are going to be here soon,” he said, wiping my tears away easily. “If you want, I could beat him up for you. You have the right to want to be kissed or not,” he said.
He sounded serious but there was joking in his eyes.
I laughed, but it sort of sounded like a cry. “Thanks, you are a good brother... but you don't have to beat him up.”
I reached up to kiss his cheek the same time he kissed mine, then he wrapped me in his arms again, knowing I really needed the comfort.
“What's happening with you Layla?” he asked, burying his head into my neck.
I shook my head as I answered. “I don't know Hunter, I can't get a grip on myself anymore.”
“I'm here to help you, always. Never feel alone,” he said, pulling back.
I looked up into his big brown eyes and tried to smile while he swept my hair back.
“Layla, there you are,” Fredric said from behind me, sounding relieved like he hadnt breathed since he last saw me.
I turned around and looked at Fredric. Hunter let go of me the same time I let him go, and I walked over to Fredric to stand in front of him
“I'm sorry,” I mumbled.
“It's okay, I'm just glad you're safe.”
I looked at the ground, my hair falling around my face.
“I heard you got hurt in gym,” Fredric said.
“How did you know that?” I asked, astonished.
“Word travels fast, show me a look,” he said.
I lifted my hair away from the now yellowish bruise on the left side of my forehead.
Fredric craned his neck so he could get a better look.
“It's getting better. Look, you can already see its healed some,” he said in an unsurprised tone before mussing my hair. “You're going to live,” he said sarcastically.
I rolled my eyes and smiled half heartedly, trying to uplift my spirits. He was so caring, but I already felt guilty for not telling him what I had just told Hunter.
“So are we going?” I asked Hunter.
“Actually, we're waiting for the Archers first, then we're going to their house to work on our abilities,” Hunter explained.
The Hidden Revelations: First Light Page 14