Laylah lay in bed and stared at the ceiling. She'd gotten only a few hours of sleep, not that it mattered. Her father's words kept replaying in her head. He had called her a failure and a liar. She hated him for his harsh words. The slap had shocked her to the core. What hurt most was Jacques and Naiya allowing it. She didn't understand why. She thought they were on her side.
She flung her arm across her face to cover her eyes from the dawn light that peeked through her balcony doors. "Britta will be mad if I miss her party. My luck's always bad," she grumbled. She heard a knock on the door.
Laylah didn't bother responding. It would be Naiya on the other side. She decided that it was time to give both Naiya and Jacques the silent treatment. She would show them that she had feelings, too!
"Good morning, Laylah." Naiya waltzed in with a smile as she turned on the lights. "Get dressed and come eat." She stopped at the foot of the bed and pointedly stared at Laylah.
Laylah unblinkingly regarded her caretaker. She was not going to move until she was ready. Secure in her plan, Laylah didn't budge from her spot. She also ignored Naiya's irritated glare.
"I see. Don't take too long. Your food will get cold if you do, Laylah."
She waited until Naiya left before getting dressed. She made sure to take a long time, which meant skipping breakfast, but she would live. She left her room and saw Jacques waiting at the bottom of the stairs.
"Come on or you'll be late," he growled.
She went past Jacques to the front door and found her way blocked by her father. She froze. There was that air about him like yesterday. Laylah didn't want him to hit her again so she remained silent.
"Your refusal to speak reinforces my low opinion of you, Daughter. Such childishness is improper behavior for a Le Croix. I will be extending the amount of time you are grounded. Perhaps that will correct this attitude of yours. I expect you to be at the appropriate pick-up spot this afternoon. There shall be no complications. And if you do get into another fight with a classmate, have the decency to win."
Laylah gritted her teeth at his cruelty. "Yes, Sir."
He stepped aside and she ran out the door, wanting only to get away from his stifling presence. Sullenly, she got in the limo. During the drive she wondered how Britta would take the news of her being forced to miss the party.
Her thoughts were going everywhere as she hurried inside the academy. Britta pounced on her and looped her arm through Laylah's.
"Britta, I have to tell you..."
"Not now, Laylah. We have to talk, during lunch. Make sure to go to the music room at that time and I'll explain."
"Britta!"
"Later, mi amiga!" Britta waved and got lost in the flow of changing classes.
Laylah stood there, unsure how to react. When a passing boy bumped into her, she hurried to her first period class. She fretted all morning and was distracted to the point of not hearing any lectures. Her first two professors ignored her lack of attention. Mr. Mozar, however, was not amused.
"…and so our ancestors wanted to avoid repeating mistakes of the past and instituted the Accords of 2130. Miss Le Croix!"
"Huh?" She blinked and focused on the irate history professor standing next to her desk.
"Miss Le Croix, pray tell what were you doing just now?"
Frantically, she thought of a plausible excuse. "What I was doing just now, was, uh, trying to, uh, pay attention because my face hurts!" Laylah blushed at the laughter her words produced.
Mozar's expression softened for a second and she thought he might let everything slide. His next words lay that hope to rest.
"Miss Le Croix, blaming inattentiveness on surface pain does not impress me. What will impress me is the five-page essay you will hand in on Monday discussing the topic of the Human-Were War of 2150. Understood?"
"Yes, sir." She slumped in her seat and stared at her desk.
"Good. Now, let's continue with the lecture on the Accords of 2130."
Laylah glared at Mr. Mozar's back as he moved away from her desk. She took notes for the rest of class and headed to the music room after the bell rang. Along the way, smells from the cafeteria made her waver, but curiosity won and five minutes later she knocked on the music room door.
Britta flung it open and yanked her inside. She stumbled and Britta caught her.
"Whew! Thanks!" She straightened and faced her friend. "Okay, what is going on? Why all the secrecy? Besides, we never miss lunch. Ever."
Britta laughed. "Are you that eager for a rematch with Violet?"
"No! It's…never mind." She squirmed under her friend's sudden scrutiny. "What? Look, I have to tell you something before I lose my nerve. Please don't…"
"Be mad because you're grounded and can't come to my party?" Britta interrupted.
"Wait! How did you…I mean…"
"Oh, I figured as much when Jacques wouldn't let me speak to you last night. So, I made a backup plan."
Laylah eyed Britta suspiciously. "Backup plan? Now, hold on a minute! You know how it is at home. Once Jacques gets me and takes me there, I'll be locked in my room. The only other way out of my room is the balcony. Unless you can grow me a pair of wings, I'm stuck in there!"
Britta took her hand and patted it. "Calm down before you hyperventilate, Amiga. I said I had a plan. Hey, Chicos! Come on in!"
"Chicos?" Laylah pulled away and stared at the side door that opened. In strolled Donil and three other men she didn't recognize. Her gaze, however, returned to Donil. Her heart was racing and she smiled shyly in his direction. "Hello." She was afraid if she said more her words wouldn't come out right.
"Donil, you didn't lie when you said she was a beauty!"
She blushed and noticed the speaker was slightly shorter than Donil and broad-shouldered. His brown hair was pulled back in a ponytail.
"Matt, stop teasing her," Donil growled.
He came to Laylah and halted a few feet away. His focus was fully on her. Any other time, she would have been terrified, but she felt only respect from him. He did not impose his will on her. He always gave her time to think.
"You have to excuse my cousin, Laylah. He thinks he's a comedian."
"I don't think, I know I am. Besides, you'd be a stick in the mud if I didn't liven things up." Matt stuck his hand out. "Pleased to meet you, Laylah."
She took his hand and was surprised by Matt's gentle grip. They shook hands and he stepped back.
"This is Benji," Donil pointed to the lanky young man to his left and then to the man next to him. "And that's Leo, his brother. They are friends of mine who can't resist a damsel in distress."
"Stop it, Donil. You four are going to frighten her into not going along with the plan," Britta scolded and draped an arm across Laylah's shoulders.
"Britta, Laylah's not scared, at least not of us. I want to know, do you trust me, Laylah?"
Laylah peered into Donil's face and saw friendly concern and honesty in his blue eyes. She gulped and wavered between ingrained obedience to her father's edicts and the urge to rebel.
"Laylah, you're almost eighteen. You've never had fun with your peers or even gone to the mall by yourself. Don't you think it's time you worried about Laylah and live a little?" he urged.
"Yes, Donil." She found herself suddenly held in his strong arms. She desperately wanted his approval as much as she wanted to go to the party. Getting a hug from him was a bonus. She snuggled closer, enjoying his body's warmth. "Yes, I want to live!"
"Then live you shall. I'm going to come and get you. You have to be ready. My friends will cause a distraction so that we can sneak in and get you out. I promise, once we get you away and to the party, you'll have fun."
"I hope so." She was nervous about the plan but she trusted Donil. She hugged him and felt his arms squeeze her reassuringly.
Britta clapped her hands in glee. "It's settled then. Laylah, I got the perfect dress for you and I'll give it to you before you go home. My party starts at 7:30, so Donil and his boys will be at your house around 6:15. Understand?"
Laylah stepped away from Donil and looked at Britta. "Yes, I understand."
"You two better get going. Lunch is almost over and we have to get ready for tonight. 6:15, Laylah, don't forget," Donil warned.
"I won't. Thank you. All of you." She felt herself tearing up. "Come on, Britta, before I do something silly like cry." She gave Donil a last bashful smile and headed for the door.
Britta chuckled and followed her from the music room.