Chapter 220
"The second one," I leaned my forehead against the bars, looking down at her as she continued.
"Um, well on the bright side you look really hot beat up," she tried to crack a smile, and I tried to laugh. But it was a bit too hard to.
"What's the cheesy option?" I asked. She reached through the bars again to hold both of my hands.
"That I love you... that's it. I was just gonna say it a few times in a row," she answered, and I cracked a small smile at that one.
Trying to fit it in before the officer came back, she leaned up and our lips connected. We couldn't move our heads too much, but the kiss was still warm and golden. We both knew how much this kiss meant to us, and that made it feel even more like a remedy.
• • •
Layla's POV
When I pulled over along the side of Jessica's street, I looked over to him a bit worried.
"It'll be fine," he assured me, but I didn't quite believe him.
"Are you sure I shouldn't do it?" I asked, but he shook his head.
"I'm just gonna sneak in through my window, I used to do it all the time in high school, it's fine," he replied, "be right back."
When he got out of the car and started jogging over to the side of the house, it was quiet for a few moments. But then Jake spoke, the quietist I'd ever heard him do so.
"I shouldn't have asked to go to that stupid movie," his voice was small and fragile. It made my heart sink as I looked over at him. He had silent tears streaking down his face.
"Jakey," I started, not quite knowing what to say, but wishing with everything in my being that I could make him feel better. "None of this is your fault. Not even in the slightest."
It was quiet for another few moments.
"Why do people hurt people so much?" He looked up at me, another tear falling down his small cheeks.
Not being able to help myself, I reached back and lifted Jake over to me- him assisting me by crawling over the center console. Once he was on my lap, I hugged him to me. Tight. He shook a bit as he looped his arms around my neck and brought his face into my shoulder.
"I don't know," I said into his hair. "The guy Asmodeus hurt deserved it, though. He hurt a lot of other people," I added.
"I didn't like it," he told me, pulling away to wipe his eyes. "He didn't look like Asmodeus." I frowned at him and brought him in for a hug again.
"We'll all be back home and safe in no time. It'll be okay," I told him, trying to convince myself more than him.
My phone started ringing, and I picked it up quickly when I saw the name was 'Jessica ;)'.
"Hey," I nervously answered.
"I can't find any of my fking money," he whispered, clearly distraught.
"What??"
"It's not where I left it," he explained frantically. I could hear the muffled sounds of him looking through stuff.
"Well, um, maybe me and Carla can pay it together-"
"You can't afford that. I have it covered, just get Jake some food to eat or something then come back- I might take a little bit."
"Be fking careful, Jessica. Don't go getting yourself hurt right now," I told him intently, apologizing to Jake after for swearing.
"I won't. Let me know when you're on your way back here," he responded, and I sighed.
"Fine. I love you, you du-m-b-as-s," I said and helped Jake into the backseat.
"I love you, too," he replied, and we hung up. I glanced up at the huge house as I drove away, sending out a silent prayer that his dad wasn't home.