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Layla

"To what do I owe the honor of this second call of the day?" I asked cheerfully, making dad's laughter resonate on the other side of the line.

"Well, I know I called you earlier today, and you're probably busy and all, but-"

"Dad, I can never get tired of talking to you, you know that," I said, sitting on my window sill. I looked out smiling as I saw kids running and playing with a soccer ball in the courtyard.

"Your mom begged me to call you back and remind you of your sister's birthday. You are coming home, right?" he asks, making me groan internally. I had no desire to go. We have been so busy, and I don't think taking a few days off will help our situation.

My sister always goes all out for her birthday, and honestly, she deserves it since she is such a hard worker, but I hate that it gets swarmed with paparazzi and social media everywhere. Being the daughter of a big-shot fashion designer means going off the grid, like me, to avoid being harassed by the media, or being the center of attention, like my sister.

She doesn't complain, she loves the attention, but I wouldn't say I like it. There's no privacy. You can't go to a restaurant without getting your picture taken. You have to watch your every move and what you say, or you'll be the laughing stock and talk of the tabloids—the perfect life for people-pleasers like my sister.

"I know... I know. I'll be there." I said, annoyed, though I was still trying to swindle my way out of it.

"Layla!" he dragged my name worriedly.

"Daddy-" I closed my eyes and sighed.

"Promise me you'll come home, Layla. You have to come. Your mom and sister will hang me if I don't have you home for her birthday. At least cone home for a few days, please, baby?" he says, complaining like a little kid.

I chuckled and nodded my head. He has a way of talking to me. He always gets his way, and he knows it. "Fine. Fine, I promise. I will be there. Ok?" I won't lie, I was excited to see them, but a big party also meant one thing; The main reason I hated coming home was Daniel Halloway.

My stomach churned as I thought of seeing him again. The last time did not end well as he tried to corner me into an empty room while Trevor was getting drinks for us. I almost fell for his charm as he seduced me and began to kiss me on my neck, but I couldn't possibly be unfaithful to Trevor. He's such a good man, and he doesn't deserve me being unfaithful.

I kneed him in his jewels and ran away. I returned to Mexico the next day without a word since it was the beginning of our expedition here.

I couldn't shake off my stomach ache. I ended the call with dad and laid for a while, but it was not getting any better. By eight, Stacy came by to see if I was ready, but she was upset when she saw I wasn't feeling well and was not prepared.

"Are you sure you can't go? You're going to miss the whole fun," she asks as she sits by the edge of my bed as I curled up in my blanket.

"Stace, I would love to go. Believe me, I do, but I feel like vile rises in my stomach each time I try and get up. You guys go ahead and go without me. I'll be fine. Besides, they'll be plenty of years to come, and I'm not planning on leaving you guys." I say, getting a smile from her.

She sighs and kisses the top of my head. "Ok, get some rest. I'll come by and check on you later, ok?"

"Thanks, Stace. You're the best. Hey..." I say as she gets up and takes a step away.

"Tell Trevor I'm sorry. He texted me earlier, saying he wanted to give me something. I guess he'll just have to wait until tomorrow when I see him at work." I say as I feel my stomach gurgling again.

"You poor thing. Get some rest, honey. I'll let him know. But believe me. Knowing him, he'll probably come to check on you before heading back to his room." she says as she winks and closes the door.

Ten minutes later, I'm groaning, and the pain has me rushing to the bathroom to throw up. "Layla, oh God, sweety, what's wrong?" Carmen, an elderly lady that I hold dear and who helps us in the clinic, comes in. She soothes my back and holds my hair as I continue to regurgitate the vile that's left in my stomach.

"Looks like you may have a bad bacteria stuck in there. Hold on, honey, let me see if I can get you something," she says as she gets up and runs out of my room.

When she's back, I feel like I have already regurgitated half of my stomach and lungs. I feel horrible. She helps me up and gets me in bed. She goes to my small desk and starts mixing something, coming back with one of her home remedies and making me scrunch my face.

"No, Carmen, not that. It tastes so gross." I complain, making her chuckle. "You want to get better, don't you? Now come on, open up!" I shake my head, making her chuckle.

"Don't make me tackle you like I do, my little Juanito," she says, making me whine like a little kid. But I take it anyway and shake as I feel the nasty taste of instant coffee mixed with lemon juice.

"That's my girl. Now, drink some water and rest. I'll get rid of this and be back soon." she says, getting her tray and walking out.

It doesn't take long for her remedies to take effect as it plunges me back into the bathroom, but this time, I throw up again, and then... Nothing.

I feel perfectly fine. It's as if I had never had a pain or any virus.

She sits with me, singing and playing with my hair. I love Carmenita. She's like a grandma to me.

"You know, it's not too late to join them. I can have my son take you if you want?"

"No. I'll just see them tomorrow," I say, though inside, I kind of do want to go and meet my crew to celebrate.

"Layla, I know you. You're feeling bad that you're missing out. You should go, sweety. It's only nine-thirty. They are just getting started. Go, get ready. I'll tell my boy to take you." she says, making me smile.

She's right. I do want to be there. I was looking forward to it, and most importantly, I was looking forward to seeing what Trevor had for me.

I get up and get ready in a blue floral summer dress with a sweetheart neckline and a blue denim jacket. I placed light make-up on and was out the door in less than twenty minutes.

Carmen's son drove me there, and it took only three minutes to get there.

"Thank you," I say as I close the door and wave at him with a smile. "Anytime, Layla," he says as he drives off.

I make my way inside and see everyone having a good time. Loud music is playing, and people are drinking and dancing everywhere.

A few people glanced my way with a weird expression, almost as if they were surprised I was there. I shake it off. Maybe it's just me and my nerves.

"Layla, hi honey. I thought you weren't going to make it?" doctor Sherley, one of the senior doctors, says. "I wasn't, but I'm here now. Have you guys seen Trevor it, Stacy?" I say as I look around for them.

They stare at each other, giving me a weird vibe. "N-no honey, I haven't. " that's odd. They should both be here. Stacy left a long time ago.

"Ok, thanks. I'll keep looking." I say as I walk away.

I kept looking around with no luck. I decided to go to the restroom and then call Trevor. Maybe they left to go see me. I didn't call Stacy or him to let them know I was feeling better and on my way here.

My heart sank as I came to the small hallway to the restroom. The lights were dim, but I could tell my best friend and boyfriend even in the dark. Trevor had Stacy backed into a corner, sitting with her legs open with him in between.

They both kissed passionately and the worst. Her dress was up to her waist, his pants unzipped to the middle of his butt as he pounded into her.

Into her...my so-called best friend and my boyfriend. My heart felt as if it would pop out of my chest.

My eyes watered, and the pain in my chest kept me from uttering a single word.

I stepped back just to crash onto a waitress holding a tray with glasses. The door to the back of the bar was just behind me.

The sound of glass breaking made them break apart, and they both looked at me in horror.

"Layla." they both said in unison. I couldn't take it anymore. I turned on my heel and left the bar.

"Layla...Layla, please. Let me explain. Baby, I swear it's not how it looks." Trevor ran soon after as I walked back to the building I was staying in.

"Layla, I'm sorry. I swear I never meant for this to happen. We just... We had too many drinks, and we started talking and dancing. I swear...it just happened. Layla, I'm sorry." Stacy cried as she followed.

My blood boiled. I was a mess. I was mad. I was hurt, enraged. I stopped in my tracks, turning to face them. I struck her across her face without thought.

"How could you? You're my best friend, for fucks sake. WHY? If you wanted him so bad, you could have just told me."

"Layla, no. Baby, I love you."

"Oh, save it. You don't love someone one minute and then go and fuck their best friend."

"But it's true, baby, please. I..." he stutters, then reaches into his pocket, bringing a small red box, and opens it. He gets down on one knee as if it's going to help his verdict.

A golden ring with a huge diamond sits in the middle, making me cry out more. "I was going to propose to you, Layla. I want to marry you."

I chuckle at his audacity. I take a step closer and wipe away my tears, "Well, I guess now you can marry my ex-backstabbing best friend. I'm sure you two will love to continue fucking each other and live happily ever after." I turn on my heel and leave.

I ignore their calls as they try and walk behind me, but I begin to sprint and refuse to look back.

My phone rings endlessly soon after, but I ignore their calls. I refuse to read their text, and by midnight, Carmen warns them to leave, or she'll have security escort them.

My heart can't comprehend... How could they do this to me? I trusted her as if she was my sister. And I loved him with everything I had in me.

I'm not sure when I finally fall asleep, but by the time my alarm goes off, I'm left with not only a broken heart but a throbbing head and an empty feeling in my soul.

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