Layla stepped out of Annie's car, tugging her cream sweater down as the cool evening air greeted her. Annie's house stood warm and inviting, with lights glowing softly against the dusk. The front porch was a chaotic mix of shoes and jackets, a sign of a house filled with life and laughter.
As they entered, Annie tossed her bag onto the coat rack and called out, "We're here!"
From the living room, Jace's familiar voice rang out. "About time!" He appeared in the doorway, grinning widely.
"Traffic," Annie said, rolling her eyes before heading to the kitchen. Layla hung back for a moment, studying Jace. He was holding a soda can and leaning casually against the doorframe, his signature mischievous glint in his eyes.
"So," Jace said, turning his attention to Layla, "you gonna tell me how Saint Aaron West ended up bailing both of us out that night?"
Layla smirked, stepping past him. "I knew this was coming. but didn't think this was the first thing you'll ask. Anyways, there is not much to tell. He's a good person, Jace. Let it go."
Jace followed her into the kitchen, laughing. "Oh, come on, Layla. Aaron West doesn't just bail people out of lockup for fun. What's the story?"
Layla opened the fridge, grabbing a soda. She turned to face him, her expression flat. "He happened to be there. He helped. End of story."
Jace leaned against the counter, still grinning. "You're no fun, you know that?"
"And yet you hangout with me during classes," she replied, popping the soda open and taking a sip.
Before Jace could press further, Annie reappeared, holding a tray of snacks. She set it down on the counter and waved a dismissive hand at her brother. "Jace, stop interrogating her and go set the table or something."
"Fine, fine," Jace said, holding up his hands in mock surrender. He grabbed a handful of chips from the tray and retreated back to the living room.
By the time everyone settled in the living room, the holiday atmosphere was in full swing. Annie's parents were bustling in the kitchen, preparing for the Thanksgiving feast, while Annie, Jace, and Layla sprawled on the couches, flipping through movie options.
As the opening credits of a cheesy rom-com rolled, the doorbell rang. Annie jumped up to answer it, returning moments later with Ethan in tow.
"Hey, everyone!" Ethan said, his easy grin lighting up the room.
Layla raised an eyebrow as Ethan, the soccer captain from a rival school, plopped down beside Annie. He greeted her with a quick kiss before turning to Jace.
"Did you hear?" Ethan asked, leaning forward. "West scored two goals in the last game. Your school's lucky to have him."
Jace rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, West is amazing. We get it."
Layla said nothing, keeping her attention on the screen. She could feel Jace's eyes on her, but thankfully, he didn't bring up Aaron again.
Thanksgiving dinner was a lively affair. The dining table groaned under the weight of roasted turkey, creamy mashed potatoes, stuffing, and an assortment of pies. Annie's parents took turns sharing funny stories, while Jace and Ethan launched into a spirited debate about soccer.
"Pass the cranberry sauce," Jace said, nudging Layla's arm.
She handed it to him without looking, her thoughts drifting. The warmth and chaos of the meal reminded her of what she used to imagine holidays could be. But her reality had always been different—quieter, lonelier.
"You okay, Layla?" Annie's voice broke through her thoughts.
Layla blinked, forcing a smile. "Yeah, I'm good."
"You're unusually quiet," Ethan remarked, raising an eyebrow.
Layla shrugged, grabbing her fork. "Just enjoying the food."
Ethan grinned. "Can't argue with that."
The conversation moved on, but Layla stayed quiet, content to listen and observe. She caught herself smiling more than once at the banter and jokes that flew across the table.
After dinner, the group gathered in the living room, the lights dimmed, and the coffee table littered with the remains of pie and whipped cream. Annie tossed a blanket over Layla, pulling one over herself as well.
"See? This isn't so bad, right?" Annie whispered.
Layla smiled faintly. "Not bad at all."
Jace and Ethan were locked in a heated debate about which was better: action or sci-fi movies. Annie rolled her eyes and nudged Layla.
"They've been having the same argument for months," she said.
Layla laughed softly. "Sounds about right."
As the night wore on, the group grew quieter, their conversations fading into the background as exhaustion set in. Jace was the first to doze off, his head tilted back against the couch. Ethan followed soon after, his arm draped around Annie.
Layla sat awake for a while, staring at the soft glow of the television. Annie leaned her head against Layla's shoulder.
"Thanks for coming," Annie murmured sleepily.
"Thanks for having me," Layla replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
For the first time in a long time, she felt a sense of belonging she couldn't quite put into words. As she finally drifted off to sleep, her walls felt just a little bit lower.