Chapter 16: An Almost Full Disclosure

The Backroom, Earl's Diner, Temperance, South Dakota....

Layla moved as slow as ever when her shift at Earl's Diner had at last winded down. She had not been feeling to enthusiastic about her day ever since a strange feeling washed over her and she felt as if she'd been losing something. Her young heart seemed to ache for something she couldn't fathom and try as she might, the sadness only continued to build as the day passed and she settled back into her familiar routine. Phoebe entered the back room confused as to why Layla had seen sop out of sorts as of late. She deduced it had something to do with the previous day and had been quite adamant about hounding her for the answers to the numerous questions she had about what transpired.

Layla had been in less of a mood to answer them as she had previously, but knew Phoebe wouldn't let up until she told her.

"So..." said Phoebe, as of this were a casual conversation, as she walked over to her coworker. "About yesterday, you were acting weird and left in a hurry once quitting time came around."

Layla sighed.

Realizing that there was no getting around this.

"It was just bad nerves." she replied.

Phoebe didn't appear to be buying it.

"Sure, right after the almost half hour of you making goo-goo eyes at the big bad biker man at the front counter." she said.

Layla briefly recalled how strange it had been to feel the sudden onset of compulsion to be near Brick Kenneally, despite his more advanced age and rugged appearance. Something inside her had known all too well that he would never hurt her. In fact it screamed at her, despite her fear of the odd sensation of longing that filled her young body that Brick would die a thousand times over before he let anyone bring harm to her.

"Enough stalling...spill it...what was it about Mr. Big Bad Biker that got you so hot and bothered?" asked Phoebe wanting to hear the details.

Layla arched a brow at this trying her best to deny her physical attraction to the strange man when all she could do was recalled their rather spirited kiss following his interference when the junkie held her at knife point.

"It...wasn't like that." she replied trying to downplay the events lest Phoebe get the wrong idea. "He wasn't....When I went out back for a breather...he saved me from some random junkie that wandered into town and held a knife to my throat."

Phoebe seemed to be caught off guard via the admission despite knowing all too well that she'd seen something akin to fireworks transpire between them beforehand.

"A junkie?" she asked. "Gotta tell Earl those bums are prowling around again...can't believe we gotta add another safety hazard to our work cycle."

"Apparently." replied Layla. "If Brick hadn't come along I don't know what would have happened...I mean I'm no damsel in distress, but the knife being at my throat was a bit difficult to work around."

"Not to mention your father would have had Earl's hide and forbid you to continue working here." added Phoebe making it clear that she was well aware of Layla's overbearing yet often absentee father.

"Yeah there is that." replied Layla a bit nervously.

She had completely forgotten about what her father might do if he ever found out that she had kissed a man half her age for the first time. It wasn't as if she'd set out to make out with the strange biker whom had barely blown into town and from the looks of it, blew out again.

It was something of a spur of the moment thing and she just couldn't help herself. His hypnotic grey eyes seemed to draw her closer and closer and before she could take a moment to assess the situation, they were locking lips and she despite being inexperienced had not wished to truly stop herself.

"You've got it bad for the bad boys." said Phoebe with a knowing smirk.

"What?" asked Layla shaking herself from her memory of the event.

"Like I said, I've seen it one too many times, girls like you...I use to be one of them." said Phoebe. "Mister big bad biker man was too hot to handel wasn't he?"

"Shut up Phoebe." replied Layla turning her attention toward ignoring her coworker whom had been giggling in the process.

"And that just speaks volumes." she said with a knowing smirk. "Don't worry I won't tell your Daddy or your friends you have more mature tastes when it comes to men, to tell you the truth it was bound to happen sooner or later."

"You'd better not tell Jill either." added Layla realizing the rouse was over.

"Like we need her throwing herself at your biker man the moment he returns." said Phoebe. "Made the mistake of telling her about mine and she was much too eager to meet him."

"At least there's that." replied Layla changing back into her school clothes before tossing her apron and work shoes in a nearby plain metal locker.

"See you next shift." said Phoebe amused about Layla's crush on the biker man.

Layla rolled her eyes not even sure if she had even come to terms with liking Brick in her own right. He was a good kisser but, she hardly knew him and the odd pang of sadness that filled her seemed to protest her thoughts and she gathered her backpack and exited the backdoor after putting on her school shoes.

It was going to be a long ride back toward the house and it left her plenty of time to wonder what happened to the obnoxious group of bikers whom had seemingly breezed through Temperance as if on a random whim.

Layla reached the bus stop where she sat alone as the sun continued to set dreading the moment she'd arrive home to find her father Jarrett possibly in the throes of yet another drunken stupor and the hound drooling all over the floor while being surrounded by a half a dozen empty beer bottles and folded cans tossed about in the mix.

She was glad that at least her long work day had been over and was actually looking forward to having a free weekend. She hadn't decided if she was going to venture over to Derrick or Amy's house for the day and see what kind of trouble they could get into with school out of the way and her off day allowing her newfound freedom and plenty of cash to spend when they needed something.

Layla made up her mind to phone Derrick to see if he could come up with a plan for the evening and hoped as the bus pulled up to take her home that her father had managed to stay out for another full night and give her some much needed peace on her off day. The last thing she needed was another day of clashing with the drunkard about her whereabouts on a weekend.