Theo
This man. I thought. As I kept on knocking angrily on the door.
"Go to school son." He said. "I'm sure you have been missing classes because of her. She can take care of herself so get out of here before I called the police."
"You are not allowed to lock her inside," I said "open up"
"She's not being caged in. This is her house. Get out of here Theo."
"Go away or I'm going to call the police. I mean it, Theodore."
To think he was going to do this. I wish I saw it coming. What is going to happen to Layla now? She's going to think that I have stopped coming. She's going to think that I have disappeared.
"Okay, okay I will leave." I said "but please let me just see her one last time. Just this one time and I wouldn't come back again."
"No. Just leave."
"Please sir, I'm worried about her. Just this one time."
"No Theo. I don't need you worrying about my daughter. I'm her father so I will take care of worrying about her myself."
"I will be fast. Let me see her for a little while."
"Go away, Theo."
*****
"Aren't you worried about her?" I asked Rose.
"I'm Theo," she said. "But if her Dad won't let you in, what makes you think he would let me."
"At least try. I haven't seen you visit her even once ever since Liam disappear"
"I'm busy Theo, I have got a Life of my own." She said, "it isn't like I don't care about her, I called her but she didn't answer and I was_"
"That's because she's depressed right now. You are her best friend, I shouldn't be here begging you to go see her." I said. "You should know that you are supposed to be there for her. You are her best friend for goodness sake!"
"I was there with her when the police were at her house. When she got the news about Liam missing. I tried talking to her but she ignore me. I tried calling her but she still ignore me. How do you think that makes me feel. She wants to be alone."
"So you just left her?" I asked, "you think she didn't try to push me away the first time I went to her!"
People started surrounding me and Rose in the school hallways as our voices got louder.
"But still I came back. Again and again, I came back, Until she open the door for me." I said, "Was there ever a time that you needed her, and she wasn't there for you?"
"This isn't what this is all about." Rose said "Layla is just overreacting. Liam isn't dead, he's just left the house because his mom is Dead. Layla needs to understand that Liam's life doesn't revolve around her."
"What?"
"You should listen to her Dad and come back to school. Layla is always like this, playing the pity game all the time. She isn't the only one with problems around here."
"Ros_"
"Theo I know you love her but I think you should listen to her dad and leave her alone. I'm late for class Theo, excuse me."
*****
I climb up to Layla's house later that night and got into the house through Layla's room. Carefully I checked the whole house for her Dad but he wasn't at home so I went into Liam's room to go and see Layla.
She was laying down on the floor staring at Liam's door. When she saw me her eyes brighten up a little. I went to her and help her up to Liam's bed. She didn't ask about her Dad this time. It made me wonder if she heard us this morning.
"Have you eaten?"
She shook her head. I brought out a flask full of food from my bag and gave it to her. She looks at it and then looks at me.
"I cook it at home," I said. Since my parents weren't at home most of the time since I was mostly left with an old Nanny, I got her to teach me how to cook.
"How did you get in?" She asks.
"You were awake this morning?"
"I woke up early." She said looking tired. "I don't want to see him anymore."
"You know there are times when I think about what Liam told me about him being responsible for Zoe's death. But whenever I think about it, I wish it was all a lie."
She looks like she's doubting herself. Like she knows the truth but at the same time like she wasn't sure. Layla has always believed in Liam for everything. But for the first time, she was wishing that Liam was wrong.
"How did you get in?" She asked again.
"I climb the house and got in through your window," I said. Avoiding her eyes I look up at the ceiling.
She was staring intensely at me. She put her on my cheek and brought my eyes to meet hers. Her hands were warm.
"Theo." She said.
"Yeah?" I asked blushing.
"Thank you." She smiled sweetly at me. It was the first time I have seen her smile ever since Liam's disappearance. I was so happy that she could finally smile again, so I smile right back at her. She took the flask and the spoon from my hand.
"Go to my room," she said, "there's a spare key under my table lamp. You can use that to come into the house whenever that man isn't around. I don't want to ever call him Father anymore. Don't worry I'm going to help you check whenever he's not_"
I hugged her without letting her finish her sentence. I felt so happy. This was the first time she had spoken so many words, ever since Liam disappear.
"What is this for?" She asked.
"Because you are getting better and I want to," I said.
"Finally." I said, "you are not letting your Dad hurt you anymore."
"I don't know about that. But I do know that I don't want you to ever call him my dad, ever again."
"I'm sorry," I said letting her go.
"It's alright. I will call you whenever he's not around." She said "do you want to stay tonight. I don't think he's coming back."
"I will stay for a little while."
"Okay."
She started eating while I left her room to go and collect the spare key. I stayed there for while wondering if I should tell her about the notebook. When I came back to Liam's room Layla was already asleep.