Layla

Chapter Twelve: Out of Control

After what happened last night, Layla didn't get much sleep. Actually, she didn't sleep, and as she looked back at her reflection in the mirror it was clear that she did not sleep. Dark circles were painted underneath her eyes with small wrinkles crinkled in the corners. Her face was flushed of its color, looking rather pale instead of her natural olive skin tone. For a split second her eyes changed to a dull purple before switching back to brown. Layla felt emotionally tired, especially after last night's events. With Peter gone she began to wonder if not telling him had been the right decision. She made a promise she would never lie to him, yet here she was lying to him. But she wasn't planning on keeping it hidden, she was just waiting, but was hiding this worth it? She and Peter were both supposed to visit his family before the test, but instead he left. She didn't blame him, but she felt guilty. All of this only seemed to be tearing them apart, and it was because she couldn't tell him. 

Slipping her green denim jacket on over her red crop top, Layla ran her hands down her face letting out a frustrated sigh. Taking one last glance in the mirror to check her outfit, she turned sharply on her heels and fast walked out of her room. Her mind was churning over everything that had been happening, and she needed to cease those thoughts. For now, at least. Right now she had training in five minutes, which she was running late for, and she needed to keep things normal. Obviously, everyone in training would know Peter was gone, and she would receive those questioning glances. She needed to keep things normal, and pretend all was okay. How hard could that be? 

As Layla rounded the corner to the last set of stairs, she was greeted by Charles who sat there as if he were waiting for her. She made eye contact and a small smile lifted the corners of her mouth. Meanwhile, she was cussing repeatedly in her mind, wishing she had super speed like Peter or invisibility like some of the students here. She knew what this was about, and she really didn't want to talk about this. 

"Hey, Charles." Layla greeted casually in a friendly tone. She placed her hands in the back of her pockets, tilting her hips to one side. 

"Hi, Layla. Could I talk to you for a minute?" Charles asked lifting a brow. 

"Well," Layla began as she looked down the hall where the elevator was to training. "I would love to but I'm going to be late for training." 

"It'll be fine. I've already let Hank know, and it's only a few minutes then you can go." Charles smiled, but Layla could see the truth behind those blue eyes. 

Reaching out she read Charles's mind, which surprisingly was open and he allowed her to read his thoughts. 

"You know what this is about, Layla." Charles communicated to her via telepathy.

"I'm fine, Charles." Layla said irritatingly as she bit the inside of her cheek. 

"Come on." Charles ordered as he turned around in his wheelchair and made his way to his office. 

Layla huffed as she removed her hands from her pant pockets, trudging behind Charles. Immediately, she put her walls up in her mind knowing Charles would try to read her, and right now she didn't want that. When they arrived, she shut the doors behind her using her powers, all while keeping her eyes on Charles as he wheeled behind his desk. 

"You can sit if you would like." Charles offered in a friendly tone. 

"I'm good." Layla declined. 

Placing her hands firmly on her hips, she leaned back on her sneakers balancing on her heels as she waited for Charles to speak. There was a long stretch of silence that filled the room while Charles tried to read her mind, but to her advantage she blocked him. Seeing that he would get nowhere, he finally spoke.