Chapter 63

LAYLA

I have gathered all my things and I'm on my way to the hotel in the first van. I didn't want to leave the stage area just yet because I was hoping to run into Jake again but then something else got my attention. The deep cut on my arm is now completely healed and there is no sign that there was a cut.

I quickly make my way upstairs and luckily, I am the first one in my room. It looks like Rita is staying behind to finish up so now I get to have the room for myself. I quickly take out my laptop and open Google but as I want to type in what I'm looking for, I am at a loss for words.

What do I put in for a wound that was there and now it is not there? I take the bandage off my arm again and then look at it as if I might have missed something. I know that I didn't miss anything as there are still stitches in my arm but no cut. Is it possible that it just healed very fast?

I quickly type in "healing fast" the most ridiculous articles come up and I know that none of this is what I am looking for. I do not know what I should do now. Should I pretend as if I still have the wound because if I do not, people would start to wonder.

I close my laptop and then I decided to just crawl into bed. Maybe if I wake up tomorrow the wound will be back. I close my eyes and fall into a deep sleep.

JAKE

I do not know how to react now that Layla and I have kissed. How are we going to be around each other now and are we going to take it further? But then I remember the voice inside my head telling me that I can not be in a relationship.

I do not want to lie to her. I want her to know me for who I am but what if she does not like the wolf inside me. Maybe I can just get to know her first and then tell her all about me. I am happy about the thoughts that I am thinking and then without me knowing I make my way to the makeup room.

I knock on the door but there is no response. I open the door but then I see that everything is gone. She must have left for the hotel already and I am clearly too late. Then I turn around in disappointment because I was ready to just talk to her face to face but I know that it can not happen right now and I should wait for another opportunity.

I know that there are a few fans that I need to go and shake hands with, so I make my way to the back room. I look at myself in the mirror for a brief moment just making sure that I am still looking the way that they expect me to look. But then I see something very rare on my face which I am not used to.

I see myself smiling and I know it is not because of the reason that I am going to see the fans but because I have resolved the thoughts that are running through my mind. I am going to get to know Layla.

Without hesitation, I make my way to the back room ready to sign some posters. After a few screams and hugs and signings, I make my way back to the hotel. I know exactly where this crew's rooms are but I know if I go to her room, there will be talk among the crew.

I have once made a mistake like that and I will not do it again. I will find an opportunity and then talk to her. I think the best place will be on the plane as she has come to my room many times before. Then I fell on the bed completely exhausted and I know our flight to India tomorrow will be early.

Of course, Mark had to wake me up the following morning and I quickly put in two protein bars in my mouth. I have to get some more protein bars in India but I also know that the flight to India will be long. I walk through the airport and make my way to the plane.

I am extra excited to see Layla on the plane today because I am planning to see her and talk to her on this flight. As I get into the plane my eyes quickly search for her but she is nowhere to be found. I can feel myself being saddened again and I wonder where she can be.

LAYLA

I wake up with my stomach growling as if I have not eaten anything last night. It is almost a severe pain in my stomach and I know I better get some food in it quickly. I look at the time and I know I am better make it fast because the plane is about to leave. I quickly put on something and then make my way down to the dining room.

I ordered some food for myself and I realize when I look at the menu that I can eat almost everything on it. As I start to order what I would like to take for takeaways, I start to realize that the lady taking my order is looking at me weirdly. It is sounding like I am ordering food for an army but I'm just really hungry.

After what felt like hours I finally get my food and as I make my way back to the room I start to eat. I do not think I have ever eaten so quickly in my life before. I am almost gulping down my food straight into my stomach. I have not even reached my room yet when I realized I have eaten almost more than half of the food that I have ordered.

I can feel that I am not nearly full yet and I quickly gather my things to get to the plane. But as far as I go, I can not stop eating. We arrive at the airport and we make our way to the plane. I have finally finished eating all my takeaways and I feel almost satisfied.

As we walk through the airport I suddenly feel a sharp pain in my hand. I grabbed my hand looking at it as if I would see where the pain comes from but there is nothing. It is so severe that I have to stop dead in my tracks. Rita puts her hand on my shoulder and then looks at me concerned.

"What is going on? Are you okay?"

"Yeah I just have this pain in my hand that is almost killing me"

"Let me see"

She takes my hand and tries to examine it but I know there is nothing to see.

"How is it feeling now"

"It is fine now, thank you"

Then we continue to work on and without warning the pain shoots through my hand again. This time it is even more severe than the previous pain.

"Aahhh!"

Rita turns to me again and then I realized that she might think that I am trying to be ridiculous but I know this pain is true. Then I say to her.

"I am just going to the restroom quickly. I will catch up"

"Do you not stay away for too long, you might miss the plane"

"Yeah. I will see you now"

I quickly make my way to the restroom and look at myself in the mirror.

"What is going on with you?"

I have not even finished talking to myself when another pain radiates from my hands. This time it is not just the one hand but both of them. It feels as if somebody is taking a knife and slashing through the skin on my hands.

I look at my hand again while holding it with my other hand. I do not know which hand should hold which hand because both of them are in extreme pain. Then suddenly I see something that looks like a nail appearing through my skin.

"Aahhh! What the fuck?!"

I quickly look around me to see if there's anyone else in the restroom but it is just me. The pain is even more overwhelming now and then I see another nail appear on my other hand. Then I see another and another and another, until every last one of my fingers has now turned in what looks like an animal claw.

"Oh god!!"

Then unexpectedly everything disappears. The pain is gone. The sharp nails are gone. The fur is gone. I stare at my hands again turning them upside down making sure that it is back to normal again.

"What the hell is happening to me?!"

A thousand thoughts run through my mind. Am I hallucinating? Is the pill that I am drinking for the wound that is in there doing things to my mind? How is it possible that my hands can look like that? Then I remember that I am going to be late and missed the plane.

I run out of the restroom but stop quickly just to see if my hands are still normal. Then I start running again as I know that I am more than just late. I exit the doors to the plane and then I run up the stairs into the plane.

But then my bag falls to the ground. Everyone stares at me as I am obviously making a scene. I quickly been down and start to put back all the things in my bag. I can feel my cheeks burning up out of pure embarrassment.

"Can I help you?"

I hear that voice that seems to have hypnotized me so many times on and off the stage. I look up and see those bright blue eyes staring at me.

"Oh...uhm...I am ok thank you"

Suddenly every last memory and moment that we shared comes flooding back to me. I remember those lips on mine and how I could not stop thinking about him. I realize that I have somehow forgotten about that because of all the things that happened to me.

"I really do not mind helping"

JAKE

As I bend down to help her pick up her things and I look into her face, I realized that she is looking completely flustered. I do not know if it is because she is late or because her bag has fallen on the floor. All I know is that she looks rattled. I wish with everything in me that I can put my hand on hers and pick her up giving her a hug.

It just seems like she needs some sort of comfort but now I have to act all professional. I start to help her putting bucket things in her bag despite the fact that she said she can do it. I know that sometimes people need help even if they do not ask for it.

Then as we get up together I ask her.

"Are you going to be okay?"

"Yes, thank you"

I can not stop my heart from beating faster just looking at her. Then I nod my head and turn around walking to my room. I take a seat and fasten my seat belt. The pilot just announced that we are taking off.

LAYLA

I feel like a complete fool for dropping my bag like that but with everything that I pick up, I keep looking at my hands. I want to make sure that what I see in the restroom will only stay a hallucination.

Then I sit in the first available seat trying to avoid the People's eyes. The last thing that I need is people looking at me after what just happened. I quickly put on my seatbelt as the pilot just said we are taking off.

"Did you get enough sleep?"

Suddenly an ice cold feeling runs through my entire body. I realized that I did not even look who was sitting next to me and to my disappointment, I turn to look and I see Jason.

"Why would you say that?"

"You know for dropping the bag on the floor?"

I do not know why but it feels like I want to slap him through the face but I keep my cool and just say to him.

"Yeah, I guess I need some sleep"

"You should just let me know because I always have an available lap"

I start to feel a little bit nauseous at the thought of putting my head on his lap. That is probably the last thing that I want to do ever in my life. I wish I took another seat because this is going to be a long flight with him next to me.

"You know what maybe I should just get some sleep"

I do not give him a chance to say anything more as I put on my earphones and lay back my head closing my eyes. The last thing that I need is his non-stop talking and flirting. That is, of course, if you would call his flirting, flirting. It is feeling much more like a prison than anything else.

JAKE

I start to think about ways how I'm going to get Layla in my room again. I have to somehow get past Mark and make him believe that is work-related. Then I get a brilliant idea. I stand up and tear the side of my shirt.

I know that I need to speak to Layla because of the kiss that we had. I know that I need to work things out before our next show. Then I walk out of my room and call Mark to have a word with him.

"What is wrong?"

I show him the tear in my shirt and then I say to him.

"Can you get Layla for me? I do not want to walk with these clothes through the airport. Maybe she can help me with something different or fix it?"

"Yes, of course. You can not look like that. I will go and get it for you"

"Thanks, man"

I turn around and smile. I know that I'm going to see you Layla and I can not wait. She has changed a lot of things in my life and even though I now have a wolf counterpart, I am sure that I still can find love. I just need her to know me for me first before I can tell her my deepest and darkest secret.

I close the door behind me and quickly get myself comfortable for when she's going to be knocking at my door.