Chapter 51

LAYLA

I get all settled in on the plane after I just watched Jake walking past me making sure that his leg touches my arm. I do not know what is going on between us but it is as if after this morning's encounter that something has changed between us.

There has always been this sexual tension between us that I do not want to acknowledge. But now it is almost like we have an appreciation for each other. I do not know where this is going to take us but I must say deep in my heart I want to see where it goes.

I know that it can not happen and that he definitely must have someone or someones that he enjoys more. I make myself comfortable in my seat as I know we are going to have to sleep for the night. We have a tight schedule when we land because the show will already happen tomorrow night.

I can only imagine how much stress must be on his shoulders. I know each and every one of us has a part to play in making this a successful concert but he is the one that everything depends on. If he does not deliver, the rest of us will pay for it.

I can see that he is still clearly exhausted as he walked past me and I can only hope that he will sleep on the plane. Then I find the right music to put in my ears and fall asleep. After what seems like minutes, I wake up hearing.

"Please put on your seat belts as we are about to land..."

I am so glad that I got some sleep in because sleep is an expensive commodity on this tour. I thought that the time to do sightseeing will be valuable but now, I get that sleep is more important. Then everyone stands up and gets their luggage and makes their way out of the plane.

JAKE

As I get to my seat in my room on the plane, I fall asleep almost immediately. I have had a tough day and for that matter, a tough night. I know that when the wolf comes out to play and I do not get enough time to rest, things are usually almost impossible to cope with.

As we land Mark knocks on my door to wake me up. I gather my things and I put on my hoodie as always. Then my sunglasses and my backpack. I quickly devour a protein bar as I can feel I am feeling very hungry. Then I make my way out of the room and my bodyguards are waiting for me.

They walk out the door and I follow.

LAYLA

Just as I am heading down the path out of the plane and I have just exited the door, I suddenly remember my bag is still on the plane. I put it under my seat and that was my first mistake. So, I quickly make my way back into the plane and I have to push through everyone to get back.

Everyone is walking in the opposite direction and I am basically going against the traffic now. I finally got onto the plane and then I see Jake. I realize the people that I was walking past were his bodyguards and I did not even notice.

I stand right in the middle of the aisle which he must pass through and so I quickly make way and say.

"I am so sorry, I did not see you there. Please go ahead"

JAKE

As I am heading for the door I am pleasantly surprised by Layla walking back into the plane. I can not stop myself from just standing still and staring at her. This is not a stare of disgust but of awe. It seems like she has me wrapped around her finger and my world stops when I see her.

Then suddenly, I see the shock on her face and she quickly moves out of the way. She then apologizes that she was in my way and unexpectedly it does not feel right somehow. I am the one that is supposed to make way for her not the other way around.

I move a bit closer to her as I want her to hear what I have to say.

"Please, do not apologize, I promise you I am not a King. Right now and right here it is only me, Jake, a man, that is probably in the way of a woman. As far as I know, a man should make way for a woman"

LAYLA

I am completely flabbergasted by what he just said. Usually, celebrities like to be treated this way but right now he is bringing himself down to my level. I just stand there in front of him with my mouth hanging open, not believing what I just heard.

I am just about to say something when I see him grabbing his ears and falling down on his knees on the ground. I can not help stop myself from running to him and putting my hand on his back. I can see that he is in severe pain and then let a small moan escape his mouth.

"Aahh...fuck!"

"Are you okay?!"

Then he removes his hands from his ears and it seems like the pain has stopped.

"I am so sorry. I do not know what just happened..."

He is apologizing to me for what just happened to him? What kind of a man is he? I feel my hand is still on his back and then I quickly remove my hand. I watch him standing up and then I say to him.

"Are you sure you are okay? You really do not have to apologize"

"Yeah, I think I am okay, thank you"

JAKE

The same sound that I heard when I was in the hotel yesterday. I heard again but this time it was much more painful. I need to figure out what is going on with me. I start to wonder if this has something to do with the wolf inside me.

But then I feel Layla's hand on my back and when the sound stopped I almost wanted to keep on acting as if something is wrong because I wanted her hand to stay there. I love how she immediately came to my side but I realized that I saw concern on her face.

I do not want her to worry about me as I do not like to see her any other way except smiling. She has this way of infecting me with her smile. Every time when I see her, I can not help but smile. It is strange how I do not want anyone to touch me but when she does, I just want her to do it always.

Then I see my bodyguards coming back into the plane and Layla quickly steps away from me. It is almost as if I am something that she is not allowed to be around.

"Sir, are you coming?"

I want to tell them to go away and just give me a moment with Layla but then it is as if a voice inside me reminds me that if I want to be with her I am going to have to lie and hide. So, I give her a smile and say.

"Thank you for your concern. I will see you at the stage?"

"Yes, definitely. Look after yourself okay?"

It is as if she is speaking right into my heart. Then I nod my head and make my way out of the plane. I wish I can tell her to walk with me but if I do that people will start to wonder who she is. She will probably be plastered over the news as being my new girlfriend.

I know this all too well and even though I would like that. I know that she would not. The press has been looking for someone to be my girlfriend and they can not believe that I am alone. Ever since Madeline, I have not seen another woman again. I prefer to be alone.

I guess it is hard for them to believe that I can be alone. If I could have my way, I would let Layla be the woman that I see. Once again, I walk through the airport and there are crowds to meet me. Suddenly a flashback shoots through my mind about that one fan that almost tried to attack me.

I do not want to see every fan as a warning sign but then again it is a reality. I start to wonder if Layla has already left the plane but my attention is quickly drawn back to the crowds. They are now chanting my name and so I decided to wave to them. They are the ones that I am here for anyway.

LAYLA

I quickly grab my bag and then make my way out of the plane. I hope that the van will still be waiting for me as usually, Jake is the last one to drive away. So, I start to walk as fast as I can so that I can pass them.

I have always heard the crowds only in the background as we would be far ahead of Jake. But today, I hear them right next to me. I see Jake walking in front of me and I know that every girl wants to touch him. It is strange how I also fall in that category.

I am just about to pass them when I see a fan crossing the lines. It looks like he has a cooldrink of sorts in his hand and he is heading straight for Jake. I scream to the bodyguards that someone is coming but the crowd is so loud that they can not hear me.

Then I decide to take matters into my own hands without realizing what I am doing. I run straight for Jake and get in between him and the fan just in time so that the drink is spilled in my face. Immediately I fall to the ground because I can not see anything and is probably in shock.

JAKE

As I try to walk as fast as I can through the crowds, I suddenly hear the screaming changing to something different. You get the screaming about me and then you get screaming out of pure horror. It changed instantly into horror and then just as I turn, I see Layla right next to me.

She falls to the ground and I see my bodyguards running to a fan. I can not stop myself from bending down and when I see her face it is filled with a red, what looks like, a slushy. Her entire face is soaked with it and that includes her eyes.

I immediately use the sleeves of my shirt to wipe the slushy from her face. I feel anger and hatred but at the same time concern and confusion filling my heart. I do not know what happened but then I feel her hand on my arm holding me tight and I immediately turn to her saying.

"Are you okay?"