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🌺Layla🌺

I went back towards the room, but I was pulled back again. Daniel seemed reluctant to bug me today.

"Ah, hey! Daniel, let go!" I say, irritated, but he just wouldn't budge. He pulls me by my arm and drags me into a different room. The place was empty and dark, but I could still see the lights coming in through the glass wall on the other side.

He closed the door after him and ran his hands through his hair. He looked absolutely charming; I won't lie. He wore black dress pants and a fitted buttoned-up dress shirt in gray. His hair was slick back like always. One thing that had never changed was his haircut.

I remember when I met him, he was going through his bad-boy greaser look; with the denim jeans, the leather jacket, and t-shirts. He was much more sophisticated now. It was rare to see him in anything else other than business clothes.

"Why are you still being so complicated with me, Layla? How many times do I have to apologize to you for what happened five years ago?" he says, making me back up to the wall as he places his right hand on the wall over my shoulder.

"What? This has nothing to do with five years ago, Daniel. I'm over it. I'm over you." I say, looking sternly in his eyes. The dark room made his grey eyes seem darker, but they still made me feel intimidated.

I don't know what the hell is it about his eyes. They had a way of making me feel vulnerable. "Really? Because you sure as hell tend to run the other way each time you see me." he clenches his jaw as he gets closer to me.

"I'm not running. But I have nothing to talk to you about either. Now, if you excuse me, I'd like to leave." I say, looking up and squinting my eyes.

He gazes down at my lips and sighs. "Layla, I mean it. I'm really sorry. I never meant to hurt you." he gets closer, tilting his head to the side as he gets closer and closer. His words almost came out in a whisper, making me shiver as my stomach filled with butterflies.

He closes the gap between us, and our lips meet in a soft kiss. I don't know how I lose myself, but his tongue swiftly invades my mouth; in seconds, we're making out, and it's as if I'm nineteen again, allowing him to take control over me.

His hands grip my waist, pulling me against him as he lifts me up and makes me wrap my legs around his waist. He sits me gently on a tabletop and parts my legs. He feels like the perfect fit for me, but I can't. This can't be happening.

My breath is erratic, and he's turning me on. His hands grip my waist, pulling me closer as he presses himself against me. I can feel he's aroused, and I need to stop before I'm stupid enough to go any further.

I push him away. I'm left panting, breathing heavily as he is. Our lips are swollen, and his eyes look dark, filled with lust.

"No. No, Daniel. This... I can't. It's not gonna happen, understand? Not today, not ever." I say through each breath as I'm staggering to breathe.

I get off the table, fix my dress and fight back my tears. I just got out of a relationship, for fucks sake. What was I thinking?

"Layla," he whispers my name in a pain-filled voice. He tries to reach out to me, but I move away.

"No! Daniel. I can't do this. I'm sorry." my voice breaks as I say the last words.

I'm so confused right now. A part of me feels like going back into his arms to give in. I mean, I'm not with Trevor anymore, right? But I know Daniel far too well. He has never been serious with a girl, and though a part of me sometimes wished I was the one, I know it will never...ever happen.

He's dated supermodels, girls far more beautiful, wealthier, and girls with more power than me. Why would he ever want to date me? I was nothing but a one-night stand. That's all I will ever be.

This time, I make it to the bathroom. I'm glad the bathroom upstairs was empty. I wipe away my tears, holding back the rest of my tears as I wipe my eyes and cheeks. I take a long deep sigh and hold my head up high.

The last I need is to let my friends see that I was crying. I take one last look in the mirror and sigh, "Suck it up, Layla. You've gone through worse shit than this. We got this." I say to myself. I throw my hair back, straighten myself up and walk around.

The whole night felt awkward. Daniel kept glancing my way, and I tried my hardest to avoid him. By around midnight, everyone was beginning to get intoxicated except me. I wouldn't say I liked drinking much, so I pretty much kept myself under three drinks.

Daniel, on the other hand, was utterly intoxicated. He kept taking shots and drinking beer as if it was water. It was bothering me to see him this way, to be honest.

We all decided to dance for a while until we left the club and walked toward the beach. It was only five minutes of walking distance, so we walked there, leaving the cars where they were parked.

There was a full moon in the sky, illuminating the night so beautifully. We decide to take our shoes off and walk barefooted on the sand.

Brenda and I walked together with our hands looped together. Nico and Daniel decided to take their shoes off and their shirts and splash in the water like little kids. My sister and her boyfriend walked together all lovey-dovey.

I couldn't help but laugh as I saw them play. Grown-ass men still having fun like kids.

"Come on, get in the water, guys. The water is warm." Nico yells out for us. Brenda and I look at each other, nodding in disagreement, and look back at them with our noses scrunched up. "Nope. We're good right here, thank you."

Before I knew it, my sister us was thrown into the water by her boyfriend, Shawn, who ideally happens to be Daniel's best friend.

"Shawn! That's it, you asked for it!" she yells as she gets up completely soaked and pulls him down with him. They both chuckle as they hug each other and play in the water. Brenda and I can't help but laugh along, but it serves them as a distraction.

Nico grabs Brendan, dragging her in and making her fall in the water as well, and Daniel comes behind me, pulling me into his arms as he holds me bridal style and launches himself with me into the water.

I can't help but brace myself for it; I wrap my arms tightly around his neck and close my eyes as I take a deep breath right before we hit the water.

We come back up, and he's still holding me tight. I gasp for air, but he is thrilled as he throws his head back, laughing. "Danny!" I yell his name out, holding him tightly. The water feels a little cold at first, bet then it feels warm.

He pauses for a second and smiles, "I love when you call me like that. You don't sound so pissed off at me." he says, making me feel bad.

"I'm not pissed off, Danny," I answer, making him put me down slowly and holding my waist as the water moves around us in small waves.

"But you do hate me, don't you?"

"No," I reply, closing my eyes.

"Danny, I don't hate you. It's just that... I'm going through a lot right now, ok? It has nothing to do with you."

"Is it because of what he did to you?" my eyes widen as I look into his eyes. They go from pity to merciless.

He clenches his jaw, and his hands tighten around my waist. "Trevor, I mean. Shawn told me what happened. I'm really sorry, ladybug." he adds, calling me by his nickname for me.

I close my eyes and sigh, pushing myself away. "Is there anyone in all of California that doesn't know?" I ask, irritated, as I get out of the water. "Ladybug, wait."

"And don't call me ladybug. It's Layla." I respond in an annoyed tone. I grab my shoes and begin walking away. Daniel runs after me, reaching out and holding my waist, making us fall to the ground.

I squeal as I feel myself fall down, Daniel hovering over me. My body and hair were covered in sand. "Layla, I'm so...so sorry," he whispers the last words as he closes the gap between us, claiming my lips.

"Danny, no. Not now. Please." I whisper as I push slightly on his chest.

He sighs, closing his eyes and slowly getting up. "Ok. Sorry, lady-, I mean, Layla." he holds his hand out and pulls me up.

We sit in silence until everyone gets out of the water. Nico, out of nowhere, runs off and comes back minutes later with another bottle of tequila.

Everyone joins in, taking turns to drink, but I wave it off.

If anything, someone might need to make sure everyone gets home safely, and by the looks, it'll have to be me. Daniel downs the rest of the bottle as if he's drinking water, and he has a hard time getting up by the time we decide to call it a night.

Shawn and Nico help him walk to his car, but since Shawn had arrived in Danny's car, he's also unable to drive. They had both drank a lot; even if he could walk more than Danny, it wasn't convenient for him to drive.

"Well, I'm still sober, I can drive you guys home. But, if you guys leave his car here, it can get impounded. Someone needs to drive it home." Nico says as I stand with my arms crossed over my chest, looking at a sleeping Danny.

Brenda and Karla both look at me. They know I haven't drank more than one drink tonight. I uncross my hands, looking between everyone.

"No. No."

"Oh, come on, Layla. Be a sport, will you? Danny is passed out, and the only two that can drive right now are you and me." Nico begs, making me whine.

"Please? Layla." Shawn says, giving me his big brown puppy eyes.

I groan as I look at a sleeping Daniel in his passenger's seat.

"Fine. But only this time. Next time he takes a taxi." they all cheer as I hold my hand out for the keys.

"Hey, buddy. Where're your keys?" Shawn asks a sleeping Danny, patting his pants. Danny groans as he feels being moved. Shawn goes around and goes through Danny's jacket and sees his keys and wallet, taking both out. "Here. I'll go with you in case you need help carrying him in."

"Shawn! I thought you were sleeping over?" my sister whispers, but I can still hear her.

I know she rarely has time to spend with him as well. I felt terrible that she had to change her plans, "I'll manage. You guys go ahead. Karly, tell dad I'll be home later, ok? I'll see you guys." I say as I hug them and get in the car.

Shawn quickly fastens Danny's seatbelt and closes the door. "Thanks, Layla. I owe you one," he says, bending down by my window.

"Yeah, yeah. Good night, guys. Bye Nico, bye Brenda." I turn the car on and drive away.

Now the question is, how the hell am I going to get this man into his damn house without having him fall or make me fall on my face?

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