Chapter 2: Chapter 2 (updated)
Lyla stood in the bathroom, examining herself in the mirror.
Who knew it would be so bothersome to see her own reflection.
Not because of insecurity, but, because it left a deep gaping hole in her chest. A hole that seemed to be growing wider and the depth was as substantial as a canyon.
Seeing her mother live in her features was bittersweet. It was like poison and honey mixed together in a lethal cocktail.
She had her mother's emerald eyes, her dark auburn hair, even her lightly dimpled smile.
Lyla touched her hand to the reflective glass and imagined she was touching her, and for a moment she almost believed she was.
"We're going to be late. Are you ready?" Rick said through the door of the bathroom.
She wanted to answer no. She could never be ready to say goodbye to her Mother for the last time.
It was too soon.
She was gone far too soon.
Lyla looked at the little black dress that embraced her body. Her mother had worn this exact dress on her first date with Rick.
She lacked the curves to fully fill it out, but other than that it fit her like a glove.
She closed her eyes and forced a scorching gulp of air in to her lungs.
As her hand reached for the door she exhaled and mentally prepared herself for the ceremony.
When the service ended Lyla found herself visiting her Mother's gave.
"Here lies Rebecca Daniels, a beloved Mother and Friend." Was engraved on her tombstone.
Even though she had witnessed the day she died and knew the horrible truth of her death, she still couldn't wrap her head around it.
She was caught in between a nightmare and some twisted reality.
The more she thought about it, the more it didn't make sense.
Why did this happen?
Why was she robbed of memories that every young woman deserved to have.
Her mother wouldn't be there for her graduation. She wouldn't
be there to help her plan her wedding...
She won't be there to welcome her grandchildren in to the world.
Lyla slumped her shoulders, the weight of them felt unbearable. She exhaled as if she could force the pain out of her chest.
A hand lay gently on her shoulder.
She didn't have to turn to see whom it was. She already knew it was Rick.
"Are you ready to go?" He said with a heavy heart.
"Yes." She replied as she looked over the gravestone one last time.
For the next two nights
Lyla tossed and turned restlessly.
Every time she would drift into the realm of unconsciousness, she was greeted by the same haunting creature that possessed her dreams the first night she spent at Rick's.
She finally gave up when she saw that it was four in the morning.
She changed into a simple red shirt and black shorts than began to pack her things in a green and yellow striped suitcase that laid unused in the spare bedroom closet.
When she was finished she drug the suitcase to the living room and planted herself on the couch waiting for Rick to wake-up.
She watched the sun rise through the window. She always loved the early morning when the sky exploded with different shades of gold, yellow, purple and red.
It was a good distraction, something she desperately needed.
Rick stumbled into the kitchen after he had finally switched his blaring alarm clock off.
His morning routine consisted of a fresh pot of coffee and a bagel with cream cheese.
She took in the sight of him, remembering each detail of his face because she knew today would be the last day she would see him.
Rick and her had decided that the best solution for the both of them would be Lyla attending a boarding school.
He didn't know the first thing about parenting, and she was desperate to put distance between herself and this vile town that had taken the only person she had ever loved.
"Are you nervous?" Rick attempted small conversation as they began their hour and a half journey to Point Reyes.
"Actually, I'm excited."
She manufactured a smile. She had a theory that if she had said it enough, it would slowly become true.
His soft smirk revealed a barely defined set of crow's feet.
She could see why her mother was so smitten with him.
He was charming in a goofy kind of way.
She assumed he only half started a conversation for her benefit.
Once he realized she wasn't that interested in speaking he ceased his rambling.
She thought perhaps they both had enough things bouncing around in their minds to keep them occupied.
Lyla slid her mp3 player out of her front pocket and pressed her earphones into her ears. The soothing sounds of nature was sure to untie the gigantic knot that formed inside of her stomach.
Her favorite sound was a mixture of a thunderstorm with a waterfall.
She was unaware that she had fallen asleep until she was awakened by Rick gently jiggling her knee.
She rubbed the sleep out of her eyes and searched the surrounding area that was foreign to her.
Rick pointed to a sign that said, "Welcome to Point Reyes."
And for the first time Lyla didn't have to force a smile, she was genuinely pleased.
She rolled down the window letting the damp air fill the car.
She noted that the atmosphere tasted different than San Francisco.
A strange warmth spread through her body.
She couldn't be sure but she had a feeling this new passage in her life would change everything.
She of course was hoping it would anyways.
The school was a-good-ways out of the city limits.
They passed through countless trees and patches of greenery before they reached the road that led to the school.
It was a dirt road filled with a thick mist. Lyla had no doubt in her mind that if it were night time their arrival would be tricky.
The trees on both sides of it were decorated with green moss wrapping around them. The limbs curled in striking pattern like swirls with vines dripping from their branches.
It looked like it belonged in a fairy tale.
It was eerily beautiful.
A few moments later Lyla and Rick pulled up to two large Victorian style buildings encased by a wrought iron fence with sharp points on the ends.
Ivy crept up both sides of the buildings, hiding the grey paint that was peeling off of the exterior walls.
There were students lingering all over the campus. Lyla smiled to herself as she imagined the students as ants traveling around their hive.
One particular student however, had captured Lyla's attention immediately.
The young man was walking out of the building on the left with his hands in his pockets and his head lowered.
She gasped when he suddenly stopped and turned his head in the direction of Rick's car.
It was almost like he could feel her stare.
Judging by his expression he wasn't too pleased to have an audience.
She could have sworn she saw him narrow his eyes at her.
She flushed and looked away.
Her eyes found a large sign with bold black letters that was perched next to the main building.
It read, "Wickerland High."
Lyla knocked on the large wooden door that was only a few feet beyond the entrance of the school.
A golden name plate fastened beside it caught her eye.
It said,"Regina Masters, Headmistress."
"Come in." A sweet as honey voice said from behind the door.
Lyla grabbed the handle of her suitcase and towed it through the threshold with her.
"You must be Ms. Daniel's." The woman said as she walked toward Lyla and extended her hand.
Lyla took her gesture with a sheepish smile.
Regina was dressed in a professional suit that fit her small frame just right.
Her grey hair was pinned into a tight bun displaying her pronounced cheek bones underneath her ivory skin.
She wore a welcoming smile that made Lyla feel strangely at ease.
"Yes." Lyla answered.
She had no social skills and steered clear of awkward introductions much like this one.
She swallowed her nerves as her eyes settled on a small picture frame that sat on Regina's desk.
She wanted to look anywhere but at the Headmistress.
"Please. Take a seat." Regina slightly turned and gestured toward a tasteful oak-wood chair that was placed in front of the matching desk.
"Give me one moment to get your file." Regina said with a gentle smile that made her hooded pale green eyes crinkle.
Lyla fiddled with her fingers anxiously as Regina rummaged through her drawers and pulled out a large yellow envelope.
Lyla's last name was written on it in dark bold letters.
"Inside is your dorm room key, class schedule and a map of the campus."
Regina slid the large envelope across her desk to Lyla.
"If you have any questions please do not hesitate to come to me."
She folded her hands in to a steeple on her desk and watched Lyla with what she thought was fascination.
Lyla wanted to sink into her chair, her fingers gripped into the wooden arms of the chair and she sucked on her lower lip.
Regina seemed like a kind woman, but she couldn't comprehend why she was looking at her the way a scientist would look at a lab rat that had shown significant positive signs to a formula.
Lyla cleared her throat and stood up. She rubbed her arm awkwardly as she thanked her.
Even as she turned around to exit Regina's office, she could feel the woman's stare searing the back of her head.
As Lyla walked down the hallway she appreciated the antique look of the school.
The brown paint warped in some areas from the moisture that the atmosphere outside the walls held.
Soon she found herself in a large circular room with old oil paintings.
The structure resembled an art museum.
In the center of the room was a wide spiral staircase. It led to the second and third floor.
Her eyes trailed upward toward the ceiling that was illuminated by a breath taking chandelier.
The light reflected off it's pieces making it glimmer on the walls with a disco ball effect.
She planted her hand on the rail of the stairs to steady herself.
When her eyes met the number, "34" plastered beside a beige door,
She whispered to herself, "This is it."
Her hand hovered above the door handle.
She nearly jumped out of her own skin when she entered and saw that the room wasn't empty.
There was a girl with fiery red curls perched on a bed painting her fingernails.
Lyla had been startled to such an extent she had to force the oxygen back into her lungs to restart the pumping of her heart.
She had no clue that she would have a room-mate. Regina hadn't mentioned it.
"You got a staring problem?" The porcelain skinned girl said as she examined her freshly painted paws.
Lyla winced like she had just been struck across her cheek.
"Sorry." The words gushed out of her mouth as she stumbled to the twin size bed across from the other girl's bed.
She hastily dumped her things on to the springy mattress before she whipped around to face the girl.
Her throat tightened and she brushed her hair out of her face. Her relentless twisting nerves quaked through her body like electricity. "You must be the newbie." The girl's eyes rolled as she huffed.
"Yes. I'm Lyla." She frowned.
She had barely been on the campus for a day and has already managed to make a less than friendly encounter.
The girl arched her thin copper brow then jumped off of her bed.
She crossed her arms and began circling around Lyla like a vulture spotting a dead carcass.
After a few moments the girl stopped in front of her. Her severe mask ruptured, leaving Lyla gaping with wide eyes as the girl was over taken with laughter that made her body convulse.
Lyla was bemused. Did her new room-mate suffer from a personality disorder?
The girl shoved her hand out causing Lyla to flinch. Only afterward Lyla realized the girl was only trying to shake her hand.
"I'm Denise. You can call me Dee." A set of pearls for teeth curled the corners of her lips up.
"Okay..."Lyla said suspiciously eyeing the pale white hand that had been extended toward her.
"I was just yanking your chain." Dee explained with a touch of playfulness dancing inside of her grey-blue eyes.
Lyla forced her uneasiness down her throat and mustered a halfhearted smirk.
"Well, since your new here, why don't I give you a tour of the campus?" Dee chirped.
Before Lyla could give an answer Dee tucked her arm around her's and heaved her out of the door.
In just an hour Dee had showed her the dilapidated library that had cob webs for decorations and a few shelves that displayed a less than impressive collection of books, a cafeteria that was just around the corner of the library that was much smaller than she had anticipated, and a lovely withered garden that was nearly hidden behind the girls dormitory that Lyla had automatically fell in love with.
Along their adventure Lyla had wondered how old the buildings were. She was dying to research the charming old-style school. Her inquisitive nature was buzzing with glee.
"Well, now all that's left to show you is the rec hall, then you'll know where everything is."
Dee said as she turned around to face the identical building across from the girls dwelling area. Dee had informed her that it was the Boy's dormitory.
"Yeah. Now I just have to cram it into my memory." Lyla groaned.
Along the way to their destination they had to walk through a large square of tiling that had a beautiful three tiered water fountain in the center of it.
There were four Toscana designed marble statues with lovely green ivy wrapping around them at each corner of the tiling.
The statues were old and disintegrating, but they were beautiful in a ruined kind of way.
Once inside of the Boy's building, Dee heaved open the double doors of the rec hall for the both of them to walk through.
The air seemed electrically charged, it was filled with the promise of change.
Lyla turned her head to the left and her heart began to throb uncontrollably.
A dark haired work of art stole the air right out of her lungs.
There was this magnetic force that seemed to pull her toward him even though she had not moved an inch.
Her skin was saturated with goosebumps.
A peculiar realization, one that was buried in the depth of her bones over took her senses even though she didn't quite understand what the sense of recognition was.
She was as aware of him as she was aware of her own shadow.
She couldn't help but wonder if that was the boy she had seen earlier when Rick had dropped her off.
He was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed and head lowered.
A white baseball cap shadowed his features and a white v-neck shirt clung to his sculpted chest and abdomen.
Her eyes traveled up his flexed forearms.
She couldn't stop herself from blushing at the sensation that was pulsing through her veins.
She sucked on her lower lip as she marveled at his perfection.
"I wouldn't if I were you." Dee said into her ear, abruptly disturbing her chain of thought.
"Wouldn't what?" Lyla shifted her view to her feet as if they suddenly fascinated her.
Fiddling with a strand of hair to hide her heated cheeks, she felt her heart beat off rhythm.
"That-." Dee grabbed Lyla's chin in her dainty hand and raised her face to look at the gem once again.
"Is Jesse Tyler." She stated with a knowing smile.
"Even Stacy Brinkley hasn't been able to sink her teeth into him." She beamed with satisfaction.
"Oh?" Lyla murmured with an arched brow.
"Trust me, Its for your own good. He's completely unavailable. I've never even seen him speak to a girl."
Lyla stole another quick glance, her palms sweated, there was an all consuming fire that filled her chest at the sight of him.
It made her dizzy.
She forced herself to steer the conversation in a different direction.
"Whose Stacy Brinkley?" She inquired.
She tried not to sound as eager as she felt to change the subject.
She was pleased when Dee did a gagging gesture then nodded toward a small group of giggling girls that sat in an area with folding chairs.
Lyla assumed Stacy was the one in the middle.
All Queen bees had a need to be the center of their girlfriend's world.
Stacy had platinum blonde ringlets that framed her heart shaped face perfectly, her skin was tan and glowed with irritating flawlessness, and her legs went on for days.
Lyla was certain Stacy owned the jealousy of most of the girls' in Wickerland.
"Oh..." Lyla muttered with her face screwed into a grimace. She was all too familiar with her type.
High school just wouldn't be High school if it didn't have a self centered character such as Stacy.
Dee bit back laughter at Lyla's clear revulsion.
"I knew we were going to be great friends!" Dee squealed latching onto Lyla in an uncomfortable hug.
She cringed on the inside at the contact.
She would have to let Dee know later that she wasn't much for physical contact.
"So, what do we do? Just sit here and gossip?" Lyla said recoiling slowly from Dee's embrace.
"Pretty much." Dee giggled as she led Lyla to a section that was on the opposite side of the room to the Malibu Barbie.
The night had turned out to be quite uneventful. Dee eventually excused herself leaving Lyla to fend for herself.
She had decided to retreat to her room, but, before she made it to the door she heard an annoying high pitch voice speak.
The unflattering sound made her ears scream in terror.
"So, you're the one everyone's been talking about?" Stacy said stopping her in her tracks.
Lyla turned and wasn't surprised to see a malicious glare set on her.
"I don't see what the fuss is about." The bottle blonde let her eyes probe every inch of Lyla, her arms were crossed as she scrutinized her.
A girl like Stacy wore her self confidence like a weapon. She most likely adored the fact that she was threatening to her own gender.
She flipped her hair back with a catty grin. Her two minions followed suit, standing beside her eyeing Lyla up and down searching for a weak spot they could attack.
She of course was under no illusion.
She had plenty of flaws.
She was short, small boned and slight but unlike other girls she was not ashamed of it.
She embraced her imperfections.
The girl on Stacy's right had short black hair that was styled in a classic bob with dark luscious skin. Her features mimicked the sharp tight-lipped smile Stacy had plastered to her face.
The girl on Stacy's left seemed out of her element.
She anxiously rubbed her arms as her eyes darted back and forth between Lyla and Stacy.
She had long brown hair with a full round face and a creamy taupe complexion.
The look in her eyes seemed to beg Lyla for her forgiveness.
She had to wonder. How does a gentle lamb get pulled into a pack of wolves?
Lyla wasn't sure what to say, but there is one thing she couldn't stand, and that was an egotistical fashionista.
"I guess so." Lyla countered. She crossed her arms over her chest. A cascading wave of defiance flooded over her, drenching her under a waterfall of self-assurance.
Stacy's eyes narrowed and she stepped closer and closer until she was only a few inches away from Lyla's face.
"This is my school. I own it." Stacy said grabbing a lock of her brilliant blonde hair and twirling it around her finger.
"I just thought you should be put in your place before you get any ideas." She leered with a victorious smile.
Lyla leaned back.
She smiled inwardly as she thought of different ways of damaging Stacy's greatly inflated ego.
"Wow... you should really get some breath mints." Lyla fanned her hand in front of her nose, pretending her breath smelled.
Stacy's face sagged a few inches lower than normal.
She looked older and wicked as a flash of hatred ignited in her eyes.
She narrowed her eyes and slung her hand over her mouth with a muffled scream before she stomped out of the rec hall.
Lyla laughed to herself as the sound of Stacy's heels grew fainter and fainter.
Involuntarily Lyla's eyes swept over the room, stopping on Jesse whose head was still lowered.
She was surprised to see a ghost of a smile embellish his lips.
It was gone almost as fast as it had appeared.
She twisted her lips in thought.
There was no possible way he could have heard their confrontation. He was all the way across the room!
She shrugged the incident off and retreated to her dorm.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone