Chapter Six

The wall was painted minty green and the air smelt like a bakery, a cake bakery.

"My Dad is at work and my brother is at school" Layla said, throwing her bag on one of the couches.

"Minaret?"

"Yes. He's the quarterback, so he is most definitely at practice"

"Oh... Okay", I trailed off watching her pour us two glasses of water.

"What about you?"

"Huh? What"

"Parents? Siblings? We should know about each other since we are friends now, right?" She enquired handing me a cup of water.

The only reason I'm not being weary of Layla is the fact that her smile looked so innocent, but that would be weird too. I shrugged it off and gave her my usual reply.

"My Mom is a single mom. Works at a clothing company as a marketing director " That's the lie Mom told me to use.

"A clothing company? A well-known one, right?"

"I don't know the name of the company and I didn't bother to ask". I knew she was going to ask the name next and took a nervous sip of my water.

"So no siblings? "

I paused, thinking of a certain good-looking face, but brushed it off immediately. No one in school must know that we lived in the same house, not to talk of the fact that we are step-siblings.

"No"

"Oh, it must be lonely for you. I can relate too, even though I have an elder brother. He is a popular kid in school that I'm only know as a sister and not just Layla" She chatted on with a down-cast look that went as soon as it came.

"Ashley?" I remembered the handsome person that shared similar facial features with her.

"Yeah..." she trailed off with a pout.

"Why?"

"You know him, but you don't even know my name, and we have been attending classes together for three years" She complained, looking aggrieved.

"Oh! I'm truly sorry. It is just..."

"I got you! I was just joking. Jayden is always in the spotlight and I have gotten used to it". She busted into loud laughter.

" You got me for real."

"Let's go. My studio is on the rooftop."

The space was small but well arranged, a canvas was facing the only window in the room. Layla walked to it and turned it to face me.

I gasped at the artwork starting back at me. Layla was not exaggerating when she said it was a realistic picture of me.

I was staring back at the colored painting of me with wet hair that was dripping with water. The painting stopped at my exposed shoulders, which were glistening under the sun or light.

"This is stunning!' I exclaimed, going closer for a better view.

She got the perfect shade of my blue orbs. In fact, she got a perfect share of everything.

"You are so good. I wasn't even present while you were painting..." I trailed off, unable to take my eyes off the perfection she painted.

"You want me to have this?" I asked unable to believe it, now that I saw the artwork she was referring to so casually earlier.

"Take it as a bribe for drawing your picture without your permission " She grinned at me, unable to hide how happy she was that I loved the painting.

"Thank you so much" I have never had another friend apart from Brenda in years. It felt all new to me.

"Come, let's take a picture for Brenda", Layla suggested, to my surprise.

"I don't know why she's not in school today, but we should share this with her" She added on seeing my surprised expression.

Okay, Layla took my phone saying the camera was better than hers and took numerous pictures of me beside the painting and a selfie of us laughing at a goofy thing she said.

"You are funny."

It was true, she managed to dispel the little suspicion I had towards her with her lighthearted humor.

She wrapped the painting up and packaged it in a paper bag before handing it to me. I texted my chauffeur to come pick me up.

"See you at school tomorrow" Layla bade me goodbye as the car trailed away.

Today went well after starting off lonely and i was grateful to Layla for that.

I smiled at the paper bag beside me, feeling all giddy. I'm going to hang this over my headboard! No, my study desk? Whatever, I'm going to hang it at a noticeable angle.

It is not like I will invite someone over to admire it anyway, I sighed. Thinking about why I never asked Brenda over to my house killed my good mood. I even had to lie to my new friend.

Maybe someday, if I'm sure that she can be trusted, I will tell her that my Mom doesn't work. We both leached of rich men she dates.

I walked into the living room to meet three pairs of eyes staring expectantly at the door. Archer sighed in relief as soon as I walked in. My Mom was spotting a large scowl on her face while Lucian's face was stern.

"What is wrong? Why are you...?"

"You got us worried! Why will you stay out for so long", Mom nagged, cutting off my question.

"I was at a friend's house. The chauffeur took me there so..."

"You never stay at a friend's place for so long" She cut in again, eyeing me sternly.

"Mom! It is just past eight."

Yeah, I spent another hour at a fast food restaurant and told my chauffeur to sit with me until j get my good mood back. He did, and also obeyed the order I gave him about not picking my calls.

I guess I didn't do a good job getting my good mood back.

"Yes, it is past eight, and you wandered off!" She scoffed.

"Alia, it's okay. She is back now."

"Indulge her because you don't know how rebelling she can be. She never listens to me."

"Of course I have never listened to you. I have been a very bad child, even when you change my..." I bit my lip to stop life from blurting out the word 'Dads' and gave the clueless Archer an apologetic glance before walking off towards the stairs.

I need to get away from this woman called mum before she drives me insane.

"Violet, come back here! I'm not done talking to you! "

I plopped on my bed with a loud sigh. I still don't understand why my coming home by eight pm riled my Mom up.

I pulled my bra to free my breasts from their long day of being caged. I needed a cold shower to sooth my scald and lull me to sleep.

My phone pinged, taking me out of my thoughts. It was Layla.

"Have you arrived home? I'm sorry I didn't text earlier, I had to deliver a painting. Don't forget to send me a picture when you hang the painting"

"I have arrived. I will, Goodnight". I texted back and got another notification.

It was from Brenda.

"Biatch! You ditched me for that hyper girl?! How dare you visit her house when you never visited mine!!"

It was then I noticed that Layla had posted a goofy selfie of us on her timeline.

"You ditched me first. See you tomorrow sweetheart", I replied with a lot of kisses emojis.

Brenda:"Avoid me!!!"

Layla:"Brenda threatened to stop talking to you, right? You have me girl!"

I chuckled as the two girls' messages came in at the same time. Maybe they are what I need right now.

We chatted until eleven, mostly Brenda and Layla bashing each other after creating a group for the three of us to chat together. I dozed off reading and chuckling at their chats.

I don't need Mom's nagging to pull me down. I don't need Lucian's words to make me think less of myself.

I have these two who would make me happy without trying.