I turned to my side and reached out to Layla and this time she was still sleeping next to me, actually more like passed out. Her lips were slightly parted as she snored softly.

I got up from the bed to take a shower and by the time I was done, she was now sleeping on top of the covers, cradling my pillow to her chest. I laughed at how adorable she looked while getting dressed and went downstairs for breakfast.

I walked back in our room with a tray in hand, bringing her breakfast in bed, and she was still sleeping soundly. I placed the tray on the bed and leaned to kiss her awake, causing her to stir in her sleep and peel one eye open.

“I bought you coffee”, I held the cup up so that she could see, and she breathed out a quiet laugh before forcing herself up

“This is why I love you”, she took the cup in her hands and started sipping from it. “Thank you”

“You look horrible”, I joked, and she tucked a few loose strands behind her ear and gave a short laugh

“I feel horrible”, she breathed out as she took yet another sip, grunting a little when she saw the breakfast I bought her. “I hope that is not for me”

“It is, I figured you must be starving”, I pushed the tray towards her, and she pushed it back

“All I really need right now is a burger and greasy fries”, she massaged her neck before throwing her head back in agony, pouting her lip a little. “My head hurts”

“That would explain the empty wine bottle I found on the floor this morning”, I chuckled, and she gave me a side eye, taking a sip of her coffee again

“Please be a darling and get me burger and some fries, please?”, she rested her head on my lap and looked at me, careful not to spill her coffee

“You sure that's all you need?”, I rose a brow, and she paused to think for a second

“And a smoothie”, she added, and I nodded my head

“Okay”, I said, and she helped herself up and pecked me fully on the lips

“Thank you”, she smiled. “And take this with you. Please tell Deniz it's not her it's me”.

“Sure thing”, I took the tray in my hands again. “You'll be okay?”

“I will be as soon as you get here with that burger and fries”, she grinned, and I smiled at her. She looked more adorable with her hair tied in a messy bun, with a few curly strands on both sides of her face. Morning weren't her best, but she still looked like a beautiful mess.

“What the lady wants, the lady shall get”, I said, and she blew me a kiss before I walked out

Layla didn't join us for breakfast and I could help but wonder why. Did she remember what happened and didn't want to even see me?

I realized that I left my phone upstairs as Adrianna, Quinton and I played a board game. Damon was also out of sight.

“I'm just going to fetch my phone upstairs”, I excused myself, but I didn't think they heard me because they were both focused on winning. The winner had to go up against me in the final to determine the final champion. I don't mean to brag, but I was a master at Snakes and Ladders.

“Don't take too long, I'm about to win this game sooner than I thought”, Quinton boasted and Adriana laughed mockingly

“Dream on, Quinny”, she said and Quinton threw her an intimidating glare before grinning again

“May the best man win”

I shook my head before walking to the bedroom and found my phone on the bed stand. I took it and checked for any missed calls and emails, finding I had none, I put it in my pockets and turned to the door.

Layla and I walked out of our bedrooms simultaneously as we closed the doors behind us. The minute we locked eyes, I felt my heartbeat quickening and I held on the door knob more tightly. She was in her casual clothes and sneakers. Casual and yet so beautiful. Their bedroom was opposite to Dylan's, and ours right next to Dylan's.

We stared at each other for about a minute or so before her lips spread into a warm smile, and she walked towards me. I froze in my spot.

“Good Morning”, she said cheerfully as she hopped to stand beside me. The look on her face, I could tell she doesn't remember.

“Good Morning”, I smiled as we started walking beside each other. “Did you sleep well?”

She shrugged her shoulders. “I think I had a little too much last night, and so I'm suffering from a mild hangover”, she gave a short laugh and I gave a little smile and nodded my head.

“I'm glad you're okay”

“Listen Troy”, she grabbed my arm just before we reached the staircase, turning me to face her. “I would like us to put what happened between us behind us”

Was she talking about last night?

“We both were under a lot of pressure and I wasn't thinking straight due to the hormones and stuff you know”, she nervously fiddled with her fingers and rose her eyes to look up to me again. “I just want us to go back to where we used to, I don't like this awkwardness between us”, she titled her head to the side and bit her lip nervously.

“I'm over that”, I lied. “Nothing would make me happier than us going back to where we were cause honestly.... I miss you Lay”, I said, and we locked eyes before she dropped her eyes.

“Um”, she tucked a few strands behind her ear.” I would like is to start over”, she regained her smile again, and I could help but to smile back.

“I'd like that too”

“So, friends?”, she extended her arm for a handshake. My eyes dropped from her eyes to her hand before taking her hand in mine then rose my eyes back to hers again whilst we shook hands.

“Friends”, I said, and she breathed out as she let out a short laugh before we broke our contact

Damon came back with a paper bag full of burgers, fries, smoothies and salads for all of us. Layla licked her plate clean within minutes before she and Damon shared his meal, she clearly was really hungry.

“Do you want mine too Layla?”, I offered my fries jokingly, and she looked at me, faking a laugh before she threw a pillow at me

“Do you remember this one time when you fainted just because the cafeteria was out of fries?”, I asked her and her eyes widened a little as she shook her head frantically to warn me to stop talking

“The 11th grade right?”, I pointed out to her, and she covered her face in embarrassment, lowering herself to the floor while laughing. The others were intrigued to know about the story, and they paid attention to me. Layla immediately bolted at me and covered my mouth with her hand to stop me from continuing, but Quinton ripped her from me and pinned her hands on the couch.

“Troy, continue”, Quinton smiled mischievously as he looked at Layla

“Troy if you say anything, I'm going to add laxatives to everything that's going into your mouth”, she threatened playfully while trying to free herself from Quinton, and we laughed

“I was the joke of the week”, she said as Quinton released her she threw herself on the couch and covered her face

“You guys were in the same class?”, Adriana inquired and both Layla and I nodded

“From the 4th grade”, we said in union, and we looked at each other and laughed

“Damn, you really go a really long way, don't you?”, Quinton rose a brow at me and me shrugged

“Yeah, you could say that”, Layla added, and we locked eyes again before she quickly looked away

“So what are we going to do today?”, Adriana asked, chipping in to change the topic. My background with Layla didn't interest her, I could tell.

“I was thinking we could have like a girls out today, do things that girls normally do”, Layla said, and I accidentally choked on my drink

“Are you okay?”, Adriana asked worriedly as she rubbed my back and I nodded, suppressing a laugh

“You might as well share the joke Troy”, Damon threw his gaze on me and I shook my head

“It's nothing”, I said, and he turned to look at Layla

“How would you know what other girls do darling?”, he stated and Layla stared at him blankly. “You're a Tomboy”

“What is this? Gang up on Layla international day or something?”, she said and the guys laughed, Adriana smiled a little.

“No, I'm just saying you'll have to be a girl in order to know what other girls do”, he elaborated, and she gave him the side eye

“Don't you think I've seen you and Lelo check other women out?”, Quinton looked at her mischievously and she grasped in surprise

“What? No!!”, she protested while folding her arms

“I was about to point out the same thing”, I chipped in and Damon chuckled

“You're checking other women out now?”, he asked her in awe, faking being offended

“No no”, she pointed out to Damon. “I don't check out other women”, she paused to think a little. “Well, not when I'm with you obviously”

She was interrupted by us bursting into laughter, so hard that Quinton started rolling on the floor

“But, listen”, she said during our laughter. “There's certainly nothing wrong with checking other woman out”, she shrugged as she rose her hands in surrender, proud of what she just said.

“Yeah, I mean you guys also do it”, Adriana added and Layla cheered her on

“It's different with us. We don't just look at women, it's a need”, Quinton stated.

“A necessity”, I added, and they laughed as Adriana pinched me on the arm

“Hey, watch it”, she warned

“Well for me, it's more like paying compliments”, Layla shrugged her shoulders a little

“So do we”, Damon chipped in defense

“Yes but with you it's with the intention to close and get laid”, Layla titled her head to the side a little, waiting patiently for our comeback, but instead we rose up from our seats

“What?!”, our jaws dropping a little, and she rolled her eyes

“Of course you all gonna act like I insulted your masculinity”

“You just did”, Quinton protested, folding his arms for a second

“You know it's true”, Layla turned to him, and he gave her an intimidating look. “But for us, it's more like empowering each other”

“More like a compliment”, Adrianna added, and we guys looked at each other in disbelief, clearly not getting what they meant

“For example, when another woman tells me I'm beautiful, or I have clear skin, it slaps different rather than if I hear it from a man”, Layla elaborated and Adriana nodded in agreement

“So, you'll prefer being told you're beautiful by another woman than me?”, Damon blinked in disbelief, and we laughed

“Don't make this about us”, Layla laughed. “The problem with you guys is that, y'all don't compliment each other so when us women do, you all act like it's out of the ordinary and stuff”

We shook our heads in disagreement

“Let's agree to disagree on this one”, I said, and she turned to me

“Okay Troy, say something nice to Quinton, compliment him”, she said and Quinton and I looked at each other. I thought long and hard about what I was going t say to him.

“Quinton, you played a really tough game this afternoon, you're a great opponent and oh by the way, I like your CD collection, it's a classic “, I said and Quinton grinned

“Thanks man, I appreciate it”, he said and both Layla and Adriana facepalmed at the same time

“It was a compliment”, Damon came to our defense and the ladies looked at us in disappointment

“Okay, Troy you sucked at that to be honest”, Layla pointed out to me and I rose my hands in surrender. What was I supposed to say?

“Damon, tell Quinton he's handsome”, Adriana instructed and Damon raised a brow

“Why?”, he questioned and Layla dared him to say it, causing to heave a really deep sigh as he looked over at Quinton

“Quinton, y-you-”, he swallowed, pausing to think for a second.” Y-you have remarkable facial features bro”.

Damon smiled nervously and the girls burst into laughter

“What?”, Damon asked dumbfounded. “I told him he's not so bad on the eyes, that's something”

“We said to tell Quinton he's handsome”, Layla correct and Damon shook his head, folding his arms in a protest

“I'm not telling another dude he's good-looking, especially not Quinton. I'll never hear the end of it”.

“You see? That's the problem with you guys. While with us ladies it's different, like this-”, she sat next to Adriana. “You're really beautiful, and I really love your dress, it brings out the colour of your eyes”

Adrianna flushed red. “Oh, thank you, Layla, I also love of your eyes and your hair my god”, she reached to feel Layla's hair texture. “What products to you use? It's so strong and shiny”.

We looked at them blankly as they exchanged compliments amongst them, empowering each other

“Great”, Damon scoffed, looking really bored as he rubbed his temple with his eyes closed. “So are y'all going to kiss now?”

“That's an idea”, Adriana wiggled her eyebrows suggestively at Layla, and she grinned

“You game?”, Layla asked and within a split second, Damon and I separated them in a swift motion, and they laughed out loud as they high-fived in the air