#chatzy ftw

[harrystylesshi]

are u with demi right now?

She's next to me. 

[silentium--amorisxx]

Return The Favor | Steve and Layla

Layla had finally managed to piss him off to the point he walked away. Part of her was thrilled with that fact. Then there was another part that felt bad. It was like hurting Noah all over again. She'd tossed and turned in JD's bed before pushing the covers off and throwing shoes on, making her way out the door in her Jack Skellington pajama pants and a oversized t-shirt with her hoodie tossed over the top of it. She walked through the streets, straight towards the ranch. She didn't bother going to the house, just went straight for the horses. Stepping in, she glanced around before quietly making her way towards Amber's stall. So far there no sign of Steve. She'd just wait here. He'd eventually wander out, if she was right about how he handled shit. Steve never liked being called Stephen. He hated it when he was younger, he absolutely loathed it by now. She finally had gotten her wish. He wasn't going to bother her anymore, especially that she knew his weakness. Sighing, he ran his long fingers through his pale hair. He was really pissed at this point. Instead of doing something that could potentially wake up his sister, he would just go out an ride Midnight for a bit. She usually relieved him of his stress. He grabbed his hoodie and cut through the back, striding towards the stables. When he entered, he took no time petting the other horses, he walked over to his beloved Midnight. He stopped a few feet short, promising himself his temper wouldn't get the best of him. "What are you doing here?" He snarled, raising an eyebrow. Layla sighed the moment she heard his voice. She was still high and had actually contemplated popping another pill but didn't. Something stopped her. She didn't even look up, just shrugged and stepped back, shoving her hands into her pockets. "I only came to say goodbye to her, don't get your boxers in a fucking twist." Finally glancing over, she looked him over quickly before starting towards him. "Don't worry, I'm leaving now." It was in that moment that she decided against apologizing. There was no use anyway. If she did that then he'd either scream at her or he'd just take that as a indication that she still wanted him around. Steve looked at her questioningly. She looked miserable. "You are one strange girl. You always ask me to leave and when I do, you come to me." He shook his head, his voice much calmer. "Why do you even care to say goodbye? You hate me." He always knew she did, but he still spoke to her because she kept a pretty decent conversation. He never hated her though. Maybe that was another reason he spoke to her. He began to unlock Midnight when he stopped himself short, turning back to her just in time to catch her glancing at him. He slid on his hoodie, trying not to look at her again. Why bother? This was the end, wasn't it? Layla rolled her eyes and stopped, scoffing and stopping by him and Midnight. "I said I came to say goodbye to /her/, not you. I may hate you but I don't hate her. Difference." She rolled her eyes and clenched her jaw a bit. "I'm relieved that you finally gave up. You took longer than most." Running a hand through her messy, unbrushed hair she just sighed and went to apologize but stopped short. "Never mind. Have fun riding." She grumbled, giving a frustrated huff, she shoved her hands in her pockets and started walking away as quickly as she could. Finally stopping at the doors, she turned around. "By the way, I'm fucking sorry alright? I didn't meant to actually hurt you." Steve stopped her. "You can still visit my horses, they have nothing against you." He understood she and Amber got along better than he did with either of them. Just because she angered him meant he was going to take that from either of them. "Oh yeah? I feel honoured. You know, you took fairly short to figure out why I hated my name so much." He studied her for a brief moment before she turned away. He stood there, shocked. "I have a hard time believing that, sweetheart." He spat out the name. "If you knew why I hated my name, you wouldn't have brought it up. I don't care at this point. You got what you wanted, shouldn't you be happy?" He asked, his voice cool. He had forgotten Midnight at this point and he was staring at her, waiting for a response with his arms crossed against his chest. "But I appreciate the apology." He added as an after thought. Layla grit her teeth at that name. Sweetheart. There was a reason she hated being called that. Pride got in her way of walking out that door. Or maybe it was just anger. Storming back over to him, she just pushed him against the stable door as hard as she could muster right now. "I figured it was because of daddy dearest from the get go when you got on the one person's case for calling you that. I'm not dumb. I am happy, excuse me for fucking having a heart for five seconds and apologizing to your sorry ass." She bit back, even if it was a little weak right now. "I thought I told you what I was going to do if you called me sweetheart." Steve watched as she stormed back to her. On a normal night he'd be horrified by the look on her face but not tonight. Tonight he didn't care. His eyes were ablaze as he stared at her, pressed against the stable. It took him so off guard he actually moved. "Do you want a fucking cookie for being a bloody genius?" He hissed sarcastically, not bothering to even struggle. "I just figured you were smart enough to not even try calling me that. I don't understand why either, you knew it would piss me off. I've done nothing to you to get you that angry. All I was was being a friend." The words flew from his mouth before he could stop them. He rolled his eyes. "Layla, do your worst. I honestly don't give a flying shit anymore. Get high. Fuck your ex boyfriend. I'm done caring." His words were harsh and he knew it. There was a reason all of this just made him angrier and she'd never see it. Layla snorted a bit, wincing though because she'd managed to slam her burnt hand against the stable door, ignoring the whinnying being done by Midnight. "It was the last thing I could do that I knew would finally push you the fuck away. Worked didn't it?" When he mentioned the word friend, her face scrunched up and stepped back once. It wasn't until he talked about getting high and fucking her ex, that her hand came up and slapped him, not hard though since it was her weak hand and she yelped a bit. Finally drawing back. "Too late about the getting high thing. As for the fucking my ex, don't worry, I plan to. Have the fucking time of your life too Steve." Steve scoffed, "And yet who came here tonight?" He drawled, glancing over at his stallion who was watching them carefully. "Easy Midnight." He said in a much softer tone. His face lit up at the opportunity, a light bulb going off in his head. "That's it. The friend thing. You don't like me because I was your friend." He muttered to himself, almost amused at the thought. He barely grimaced as her palm connected with his cheek. He'd felt tons worse before. He leaned in closer, a smirk resting on his lips. "I can see that. Have fun. I hope he's worth it, because if I were you, he sure wouldn't be. I was, until you had to interrupt me." Grabbing her shoulders, he stepped aside. She didn't care for him and his care was slowly slipping away. Layla growled, that smirk setting her off even more. "You were /never/ my friend." The slap would have been worse if she hadn't hurt her one good hand. When he leaned in closer, her eyes went to his lips before she pulled them back up, glaring at him. "He's worth nothing, which is exactly the point in getting together every now and then. No feelings, nothing to give a damn about and when it's done, it's done. I really, honestly don't even know what the fuck you expected from me. I told you from the beginning, I don't do friends. I came here to - I don't know why the fuck I came here. Probably to annoy you one last fucking time because you're a stubborn little bitch that didn't give up." While his back was turned she just gave him a light shove, not hard enough to make him fall over but more so one in frustration. Steve rolled his eyes, the smirk still high an mighty on his face. "You were mine." He shrugged. "And as much as it pains you to think it, I was yours too. You may claim to have none, and maybe you didn't before I came, but I was definitely your friend." He payed all his attention on looking in her eyes than anywhere else. He just wanted - no needed - to see that she alright. "And what happens if you develop feelings? What happens if he takes advantage of you?" His voice kept raising as he thought a little fearfully of her falling in love with him. "I don't know why you came here either, but if it's to annoy me one last time, then just leave." He stumbled a little, turning back around, acting faster than she thought he could by grabbing her wrist. "Well congrats, I've given up officially on you." He flung her hand away. Layla wasn't alright. She hadn't been alright in a while. "You were just someone to kill the time with, I told you that. If I was your friend then you definitely need to learn to pick better ones." Her voice was a little shaky, and she tried to keep it under control. "There's no chance in hell of any feelings happening between us. I can't get hurt by him, I've already /been/ hurt by him a dozen other times. I loved him, must be a big shock, but I did." She just glared at him before closing the distance and grabbing his shirt, tugging him forward and pulling her to him by putting her good hand on the back of his neck as she kissed him. "Good." She muttered before pulling back and turning and starting to walk away. Fuck. That was a mistake. Steve couldn't believe she was that stubborn. "That is basically what a friend is, Layla. You aren't convincing me." He threw his head back and groaned. "You keep saying this but guess what, I picked a pretty damn good one. You were alright up until tonight." He practically growled, his voice husky and annoyed. "And that right there is why I don't like him. It obviously must take a lot for you to love someone and he didn't appreciate it. Chances are he never will and you deserve a hell of a lot better. Stop trying to act like you don't." His eyes widened, he stood still for a moment, stunned that she would even do such a thing. After a second or two, he returned her kiss, deciding that he wanted too. He raised an eyebrow, scratching the back of his neck while he thought. "I wasn't expecting that." He admitted quietly, not looking at her. Layla stopped momentarily, but didn't look back. "I'm never alright Steve. I keep trying to tell you that. Yeah, it does take me a lot to fall for someone and Cillian? Wasn't the only person I fell for, I fell for someone pretty recently too and that was the biggest mistake I made since moving to London." Glancing behind her, she gave a shrug and threw her hands up. "Neither was I. I don't know why I did it either. Just chalk it up to me being insane. I have to go," she grumbled. Now she did what she does best. She was going to run. "For the record? I am sorry." Steve didn't know what to do, so he wanted. What would the consequences be? "You're more than alright. I keep trying to tell you that. He was your childhood enemy, shit like that happens." He had caught up to her, his face inches from hers. "Yeah? Well, I fell for someone too. Not my brightest idea, but I don't think it's a mistake." He told her, his words back to calm. He shook his head. He was just going to let her go this way. He didn't want to, but he watched as she left and the minute she did he felt like an idiot. He sprinted after her, somehow able to catch her in the middle of the ranch. He managed to turn her around, "I'm not sorry for this." He pressed his lips to her, not caring what happened. He liked Layla. He was finally able to admit it to himself. Layla just wanted to get as far away from him as possible. Stupid. Stupid girl. That was Layla. No, falling for Silas had been a mistake. She'd let that need to be wanted overtake her and she told herself that she was never going to let that happen again. She thought she was in the clear when she made a good deal of distance between her and the stables. Until she was turned around and she went to respond to him, some smart quip that she had on the tip of her tongue. That didn't happen though when she felt him kiss her and for a moment she allowed herself the satisfaction in returning it. It didn't last long though as she pulled back and damn near stumbled backwards. Shaking her head, Layla licked her lips and then started off again. "Just let me go," she hollered back towards him again. "Go back to your horses." Steve didn't get it. He really and truly didn't understand. Why did he like her? What was so great about her? She treated him awfully, just like she did with everyone else. He was no different to her. But she was to him. And that wasn't fucking fair. Part of him understood where she was coming from, but that didn't ease the fact he didn't listen and was the one paying the price, not her. He let her go, standing there, with is hands tucked into his pockets. "What was the real reason you came tonight? Don't say to apologise. Because you don't do that." He called after her, turning back around. So much for that. He was the idiot in this equation. Layla actually thought about answering him, giving a sigh and pushing her hand through her hair again. "To see you," she stopped, turning around. "And I don't even fucking know why. There are you happy?" Yeah, she looked a little more than confused right now and she just rolled her eyes, turning back around and actually running to the gate and through it and back out onto the streets. Steve didn't completely understand why, but a foolish grin returned to his face, he was glad she couldn't see it. "Then why do you need to leave?" He arched an eyebrow, trying to understand her logic. "I'm confused. You make no sense." He felt bad, a small part of him. He knew she'd be pissed with him, but sighing to himself, he followed her, at a much slower pace. She was just standing in one spot, making no indication. "I have one more question, then I'll leave you alone." He promised. "That guy you fell for after moving here, was it Silas of me?" Layla was having a hard enough time trying to piece things together in her head, and he was just there making it worse. Her hand hurt. Her head hurt and she just felt like she could curl up in the grass and probably go to sleep. Lay didn't make sense half the time, it was just who she was. When he asked the question, she was just quiet for at least a minute. "Silas. There's your answer." Steve nodded painfully, knowing that was most likely the answer due to the silence. He sighed. "Get home safe, Lay." He murmured, beginning to walk back to the ranch. He still wanted to ride. He wanted to clear his mind. He needed to clear his mind. He had told her he liked her, she didn't return the feelings, and it fucking sucked. But it shouldn't matter, because they probably weren't going to ever talk after this. Layla watched him start walking away and she frowned a bit. She didn't know how she felt. She was just a ticking time bomb that's who she's used to being. "Be careful Stevie," she muttered, sniffling because yes, Layla Stone had cracked and was crying, which she was trying to cover up the best she could as she traveled down the road back towards the city. Steve was halfway to the ranch when he realized that the numbness wasn't going to go away. He knew he had to go back, he didn't like how things ended. They fought, they kissed, and now they were going their separate ways like they'd never see each other again. And he wasn't going to accept that. The two of them deserved better than such an ending. Not even halfway back, he turned around, heading back out to the city. But it was too late. She was gone. He sat himself down on a bench, pulling out his phone, figuring before he'd delete her number, he'd tell her one last thing. 'I didn't regret anything.' Layla wasn't watching where she was going. She had actually started to run as soon as he was out of view and didn't bother to look back once. She didn't stop until she was out of breath and in Hyde Park, beneath that stupid tree they'd wound up under a few days ago. Hearing her phone beep, she figured that it was JD calling to find out where she was. When she saw it was Steve, she just stared at the message, her finger hovering over delete. She found herself replying though. 'Neither do I. I'm sorry.' Steve didn't expect a reply, but when he got one, a very small hint of a smile tugged on his lips. 'Don't be. I'm the sorry one.' He didn't remove himself from the bench. Staring down at his phone, he composed another one. 'I know you don't like me the way I do with you, but can you consider just one date to prove I can be less annoying?' he smirked at his choice of words, hitting the send button. Leaning against the bench, he waited patiently for a reply. He knew the answer would most likely be no, but it was worth one last shot. She was worth the fight. Layla just sighed when she read the second message. 'I thought u gave up? I don't go on dates.' For someone that said they were done he didn't really seem to be doing that.' Steve he laughed. 'I'm a shitty liar. What do you go on?' She obviously didn't get the memo that he rarely ever gave up. Layla rolled her eyes, but that was a bad idea, wincing at the pain. 'Obviously. I go on adventures.' Steve chuckled. Maybe the text wasn't a bad one. 'Then can I take you on one?' Layla sighed, debating how to answer it. 'Go ride Midnight, clear ur head. Text me later and I'll give you an answer.' Steve He stood up, dusting off his pants. Midnight was waiting for him. 'I'll do just that. Expect a text.' And with that, he began to walk back to his ranch.