just a number || s.s [editing]

[thirteen] real life

just a pre warning to all of you, this chapter is most likely going to talk about very triggering topics for some people, so if that's not for you, feel free to skip this one. lots of love -r x 

For as long as anyone who knew her could remember, Layla's always been a rather cheerful, happy, 'smiley' girl. People who would meet her would talk about how even just for a quick hello, hug, and a picture, you could easily tell she was the sweetest and happiest young woman. 

But, just like most people, she grew up hiding how she truly felt from the world. 

The only people to really know everything about her past problems being her father, mother, Elizabeth, Scarlett, and her ex, Matthew. Matthew, of course, knew from living with the girl for the majority of their relationship, and the two women knowing as they had grown so close over the years of her father working with Marvel. As everyone knew, her father Robert had a terrible past with drugs and alcohol and that was no exception for his oldest daughter. In fact, some people spread rumors on how "Layla always wanted to be just like her dad".  

Back when Layla and her now-ex, Matthew Gray Gubler were together, Layla had severe depression after losing her childhood best friend who had gotten into a major car crash. 

She would sleep for hours on end, only coming out of their shared room to go to the bathroom or to get something to eat, which the girl didn't do often. She had gotten so bad that her parents had to admit her to the hospital. It wasn't until a month and a half later that she was released but under her parent's watch, and she'd be living with them in their home for another 2 months to make sure she was truly okay. So, it didn't come as a shock to Elizabeth, Scarlett, and her parents when, after the whole Chris and Sebastian situation took place, she started acting up. As for the blonde-haired actor who adored the girl, well, he had no clue. It worried him once Layla started showing signs after signs of deep depression. She wouldn't answer her phone, she'd sit in silence for hours, staring at the wall. The list went on and on of reasons as to why the actor was scared for the girl. He had never seen this side of her before.

He noticed the sparkle in her eyes starting to disappear, her smile hadn't been present on her light pink lips since the incident. 

It had been a week since the ordeal, and since that night, Chris stayed at the Downey residence, trying to cheer the girl up. The pair had only been in contact with Layla's best friends, Scarlett and Elizabeth, and her parents, Robert and Susan, mainly Chris' doing as Layla spent most of her time in her room, wrapped up in her comforter, staring at either the wall or the ceiling. Chris' heart broke for the girl. Since he's been staying with her, he's slept on the couch, hearing her cry herself to sleep at night or hearing her constant nagging at herself in the mirror. After about the 5th day, Chris finally made a real attempt to speak with her, to see her, to get something out of the girl who he adored so much. 

 "Sweetheart, I made you some pancakes. Will you please eat?" 

He had gently knocked on her door before walking in, seeing the same sight that broke his heart into pieces. Layla laid there, her hair a mess, wearing one of her dad's old hoodies, blankets draped over her. A blank expression planted onto her face. "I'm not hungry.." She mumbled. Chris sighed and turned to walk out of the door. "Wait, Chris.." She sat up, looking at him, her brown eyes never leaving his figure. 

"Can you, uh, come and lay with me?" 

He quickly set the plate down on the dresser and walked to the bed. "Sure, angel, just move over a bit." Layla moved to the left slightly, making room for him on the bed. He slowly laid down next to the smaller girl, her arms instinctively wrapping around him and her head going on his chest near his shoulder. "I'm scared, Chris..." She mumbled, her voice becoming quieter as she looked down at her hands that were playing with the hem of Chris' black sweatshirt he was wearing. 

He didn't even need to ask why the girl was scared to know what she was talking about. I mean, after all, he was there the last time. He had never even left the side of her hospital bed unless it was to go ask the doctors when she would be released and back into his care. Chris blinked, the thoughts that were distracting him going away reminding him that he needed to answer her. He took a gentle breath, his hand lying on the small of the girl's back, his thumb rubbing circles into her soft skin. 

"I know, Lay. I know, but you know what? This isn't like last time. I'm never  going to let you go through that again, especially not alone." 

Chris spoke, his blue eyes never leaving her brown ones. She looked up at him, her eyes becoming tear-filled. Chris was quick to wrap the girl up tighter in his arms, placing a few gentle kisses on her forehead. "P-Pinky p-p-promise?" Layla hiccupped, holding her small pinky up in the air as she looked at him with hope, her eyes still glistening from the tears. "I promise, sweet girl. I'll do everything in my power to put you back together." 

The pair continued to lay in each other's warm embrace for hours on end, Chris' arms never leaving the place around Layla's body, and her head never leaving the spot on his chest that she found comfortable. 

What the pair didn't know was that things were about to get a whole lot messier. 

hi everyone! hope you liked this chapter, i know it was a little different, but I felt the need to add backstory into Layla and her struggles as well as just a little about what she's been going through! 

anyways, hope you enjoyed and don't forget to vote and comment! 

i would love some ideas and insight into what you all wanna see happen!

it seems like Chris and Layla are getting close, so tell me below, are you team Laybastian or Layla and Chris? (definitely need a ship name for them so comment some ideas as well! 

with love

r x