Setting Layla Afire

Graduating Sky High with good marks was hard for me, son of a superhero Mom and a super-villain Dad. I didn't think I would be able to pull it off. But I did. It felt weird not going back there in September. Instead, I went to work during the day now, not just in the evening after school as I had before, for the last four years.

I knew something was up the first time it had been a week since Layla had been in here. She and Will always went to lunch on weekends, dinner almost three times a week, here at the Paper Lantern. Sometimes, she came in by herself when Will was off with his parents. We'd talk for hours on end. Never a dull moment. Never a silent moment.

We'd laugh while reading fortune cookies, the dumber the fortune, the more the laugh. I'd reheat her food...without a microwave of course. The first time I had even mentioned to reheat her food was before her and Stronghold ever even dated. She immediately thought I was going to use my powers. Then I told her... I was going to use the microwave.

For her freshman year, my junior, I looked at her as, Stronghold's shadow. I knew she loved him. Everyone else did too. Except her. Who was it who made her finally realize she loved Stronghold? Oh yeah, that'd be ME. Retarded idiot number one. Then she found out Stronghold was with Grayson.

To me, Gwen had always been a little....bitchy for my taste. She'd always been way too...stuck up. Hence why she hung out with Speed, Lash, and Penny. Then again, was I any better? My fire use to control me. The emotions I'd get from it... I have a temper to say the least. But ever since I helped save Sky High from falling out of the sky... Fire didn't control me anymore. I controlled it.

Layla taught me that. Layla taught me that if I didn't change, my fire was going to engulf me. Agonizingly. I changed. I no longer was as bitter or hateful as I was. Now that I didn't see Layla everyday...not at school, not at the Paper Lantern... I felt that hate coming back.

Who's the one person's face I kept seeing?

Stronghold's. I knew he'd done something to Layla. Hurt her... crushed her dreams. Killed her. Hell I didn't know. I just knew he was the one I was going to hate for not seeing her anymore. So at Christmas, I took a break from work. I didn't plan on coming back...not for a while anyway.

Just in case, during the holidays, Layla decided to come see me at work, wish me a Merry Christmas or something...I left my cell phone number with Wong. I told him specifically,

"Don't give this to anyone but Layla. You know, the beautiful auburn haired girl who comes in here three times a week, four times on good weeks.."

He knew exactly who I meant. I never expected her to actually call.

When my phone started going off at 8:56 PM at the first of January. I had no idea who it would be. I figured it was probably the restaurant. Though I did realize, it was the first day back from classes at Sky High. Maybe... maybe it would be her.

I looked at the number that was flashing, sure enough, in my brain it said Layla. At first I thought of not answering it. At first I thought of throwing the phone out the window and never buying another one.

How was I suppose to explain to her that.......I love her yet she's with him. She's always going to be with him. I don't stand a chance.

Clicking the green button, I raised the phone to my ear, saying a soft hello.

"Warren."

I heard that angelic voice of hers say, she was trying to be quiet but I could hear her enthusiasm, excitement break in her voice.

"Yeah, it's me. How are you Layla?"

"I'm better than I was.. I'm sorry I haven't been around a lot lately... I know I promised th---,"

I cut her off.

"Layla don't apologize. You've nothing to be sorry for. I'm sure you and Will just got busy, having fun together right?"

I could hear a sniffle and I knew immediately my suspicion had been correct. Stronghold did do something to her.

"What'd he do to you Layla?"

My voice was fierce sounding, I could hear her squeak slightly.

"Can I come talk to you?"

Her soft voice asked.. I wanted to stay away from everyone, be a secret in this new apartment of mine...but I couldn't say no to the girl I was beginning to love. I said yes and gave her my address...explaining to her how to get here.

She said thank you, that she would come right now.. to be watching for her even if it was twelve degrees outside. Which she apologized for several times... It was like she thought the cold would hurt me. I was made out of fire... I could warm myself up in a jiffy.

I stood out on the balcony that overlooked the street. It was a small apartment, one bedroom, but that's all I needed. I was by myself all the time. Enough room for me, my clothes, and my books. Plus my writing journals. I did a lot of both.

It was snowing, the street lights made it look so pretty out. The moon did as well. Casting like a blue color to the snow. The moment I saw the moon glint off of orange-colored hair. I knew it was her.. She was shivering, I could hear her teeth chattering from here.

"Layla,"

I said quietly but in the serenity of the snow, she'd heard me. She looked up at me on the balcony, a small tree in the front yard of the complex started to grow. Before I knew it, Layla had climbed the tree and was now sitting on the railing of my balcony.

My arms were stretched out, one hand on the rail beside her to the left. One hand on the rail beside her to the right. I looked up into her eyes, due to her being taller than me for the moment. She gazed back down into mine.

"We have a lot to talk about Warren."

Layla said quietly and I nodded, pulling back but she grabbed me. I helped her off the rail of the balcony, where she could stand on her own two feet... I thought that's what she wanted. Was for me to help her down...but apparently, she just wanted to hold me.

She had this, afraid look upon her face... I raised a brow, asking,

"what's that nervous look for?"