The first day back at school after the break always carried a strange energy. The remnants of holiday cheer were gone, replaced by the buzz of exams and routines creeping back in. Layla walked into the schoolyard, her leather jacket shielding her from the crisp morning air, her bag slung carelessly over one shoulder. She took a deep breath, bracing herself for the day ahead.
The courtyard was alive with chatter. Groups of students huddled together, some groaning about being back and others already diving into last-minute homework. Layla spotted Jace near the bike racks, balancing on one foot and tossing a crumpled piece of paper into the air like a makeshift soccer ball.
"Lay!" Jace called, waving her over.
Layla smirked and made her way to him, her boots crunching against the frosty pavement. "Morning, Jace. Practicing for the circus?"
He grinned. "Always. How was your weekend?"
"Chaotic but decent," Layla replied, shrugging. "You?"
"Uneventful," Jace said with an exaggerated yawn. "I'm telling you, we need to find something to shake things up around here."
Layla chuckled. "You mean something borderline illegal."
He winked. "Is there any other kind of fun?"
The bell rang, cutting their conversation short. Jace tossed the paper ball into a trash can with a perfect arc and flashed a grin. "Catch you at lunch."
"See you," Layla said, heading inside.
By lunchtime, the cafeteria was buzzing with energy. Layla joined Jace at their usual table near the windows. The sunlight streaming through made the frost-covered grass outside sparkle like a field of tiny diamonds.
"So," Jace started, stabbing a fork into his salad, "when are we planning our next graffiti session?"
Layla smirked, biting into her sandwich. "Eager much?"
"Art waits for no one," Jace replied dramatically, earning a laugh from Layla.
"Well Aaron's dad just caught us other day. So can't risk it for a while"
"you are getting boring Lay"
The banter continued, light and easy, until Layla's gaze drifted toward a table on the far side of the cafeteria. Aaron sat with a few of his soccer teammates, laughing at something one of them said. He looked relaxed, but there was an air of quiet confidence about him that made him stand out—even when he wasn't trying.
Jace followed her line of sight and smirked. "You've been staring at him a lot lately. Ever since he bailed us that day to be exact"
Layla rolled her eyes. "I have not. Stop being weird."
"Sure, sure," Jace said, holding up his hands in mock surrender. "Just saying, if you're going to keep leaving him umbrellas, maybe you should tell him it's you."
Layla shot him a warning look. "Not happening."
Jace shrugged, clearly amused, but he let it drop. The rest of lunch passed in easy conversation, their laughter mingling with the hum of the cafeteria.
The final bell rang, and Layla walked to her locker, weaving through the throng of students. As she opened it, a familiar voice called out behind her.
"Layla," Aaron said, his tone casual but with an underlying warmth.
She turned, leaning against the locker door. "Hey, soccer star. What's up?"
Aaron shrugged, his bag slung loosely over one shoulder. "Nothing much. Just trying to get back into the swing of things. You?"
"Same," she replied with a small laugh. "Didn't think you'd still be here. Practice not starting today?"
"Coach pushed it to tomorrow," Aaron said, a teasing glint in his eyes. "Figured I'd take the extra time to relax."
"Bet you're loving that," Layla said with a smirk.
Aaron chuckled, and for a moment, the hallway noise seemed to fade into the background. Then, a teacher passed by, snapping them out of their bubble with a pointed glance.
"Catch you later," Aaron said, turning toward his own class.
"Later," Layla echoed, watching him disappear into the crowd.
After school, Layla grabbed her helmet from her locker and headed to the parking lot. As she reached her bike, Jace appeared beside her, munching on an apple.
"Ready to hit the road?" he asked.
"Always," Layla said, strapping on her helmet. "You following me?"
Jace grinned. "Wouldn't miss it."
The two of them revved their engines and sped out of the parking lot, the wind whipping against their faces as they tore down the open road. For Layla, the thrill of the ride was the perfect way to shake off the weight of the day.
As they pulled up to a quiet spot overlooking the city, Jace parked his bike and stretched. "So, you gonna tell me what's up with you and Aaron?"
Layla sighed, leaning against her bike. "There's nothing to tell, Jace. We're just… friends."
"Friends who leave each other umbrellas," he said, smirking.
She rolled her eyes. "Drop it, Jace."
He laughed, holding up his hands. "Alright, alright. But if you ever want to talk about it…"
"I know where to find you," Layla finished, a small smile tugging at her lips.
For now, the open road and the city lights were enough to keep her grounded. Whatever was happening with Aaron could wait until another day.