Chapter 22

                                    

                                          
Layla's POV
                          
I went home early later that day because I couldn't seem to focus in class. Luckily, the school had early leave buses for the students who have to leave early and don't have rides to get back home. I was planning to take a hot bath to destress, read some Harry Potter, and maybe take a short nap. Anything to get my mind off things for a bit. 
                          
The bus finally arrived at my stop after a few minutes, and I said goodbye to the bus driver. I walked into my house and luckily, my parents weren't home, so I wouldn't get bombarded with so many questions. 
                          
I made my way up to my room and plopped onto my bed. My head was starting to hurt and I couldn't exactly figure out why. Maybe it was from all the stress lately. I'm surprised none of the heroes who control emotion have done anything about it. I mean, it kind of is their job. 
                          
I sighed and took my hair tie out, letting my long red hair flow around me. It was getting awfully long. It almost passed down my butt. Maybe I'll get my ends trimmed soon. Before prom maybe. 
                          
Speaking of prom, it was only a few months away and I still haven't decided what I wanted to wear. I knew I wanted it to be green, because it's obviously my favorite color. But I didn't know what type of design I wanted the dress to be. Or if I had any money to buy a fancy dress. 
                          
Then again, is it really worth it to spend money on a dress that you're going to wear only once in your life for a few hours? 
                          
My thoughts were interrupted by the front door shutting. I jumped up from the sound. Could my parents be home? No. They can't be. It's too early for them to be home. 
                          
I got off the bed and slowly crept out my room. I took slow, quiet steps down the hall. I peered out from the railing of the staircase to see if I could at least see the shadow of the figure. But I couldn't see anything. I frowned and took slow steps down, but the creaking didn't help. I rolled my eyes and ran down the steps instead. Screw it. The intruder most likely didn't have super powers like I did. I had a 50-50 chance of beating him/her. 
                          
I peered out from the corner and saw the figure's shadow in the kitchen. I swallowed back the lump in my throat and slowly made my way into the kitchen. They froze in their spot and to my horror, turn towards the archway of the kitchen. I froze in place. The shadow disappeared in a flash and I gasped. They had super powers. 
                          
"Aw hell," I muttered and decided to run back up to my room to lock myself in. But I was pulled back and my mouth was covered. I screamed and thrashed around. 
                          
"Shutup!" The voice demanded. It was male. I screamed even louder and reached back, pushing my fingers into their eye sockets as hard as I can. They growled in pain and pushed me away. I fell to the floor and hit my side in the process. I groaned in pain and held my side. That would definitely leave a bruise. 
                          
I looked up at the culprit and scrunched my eyebrows in confusion. 
                          
"Who the hell are you!?" I exclaimed. 
                          
"My friend's helper! Ah! You pushed in my damn eyes! Oh God, Jeff, I think she made me blind!" The man rubbed his eyes and I couldn't help but giggle a little bit. I didn't think that would actually work. 
                          
"Well you deserved it! You don't just break into someone's house and grab them from behind as if you're going to kidnap them!" 
                          
"She has a point," the same short man who I had seen earlier appeared from the kitchen. He held an apple in his hand and wore a mischievous look on his face. 
                          
"And you take my food too? How rude!" He laughed and rolled his eyes. 
                          
"You have plenty more in your pantry, hun. I came to talk to you about earlier," he walked up to me and held a hand out to help me up. I took it and he pulled me up swiftly. For a short man, he had some muscle in him. I was at least 3 inches taller.