It has been hours now and Theo was still walking around his house aimlessly. He didn't know what to do, he was the only one at home. Nothing was surprising about that. His nanny had traveled to see her son and as usual, his parents weren't at home. Theo Walks around his living room to his kitchen. Sometimes he would just sit down, thoughtfully staring at the blue-painted wall in his house.
He has gotten used to living alone at home but ever since Liam's disappearance, Theo knew that being alone in his house was a terrible feeling, he always wondered how he was ever okay with it before he met Liam. Now he wishes he had never complained about Liam always being in his house. He wishes Liam was here annoying him with his presence again.
Theo couldn't understand Layla. He loves her but sometimes he thinks she's crazy. Yesterday kept replaying in his mind. Over and over. Yesterday to him was shocking and unforgettable. It was the first time in his life Layla kiss him. She asked him out on a date. but he couldn't answer the first time he heard it because he was too shocked to respond. He knew that Liam had asked her to do it but he didn't expect her to do it. He said yes. So he was supposed to be happy right? He was supposed to be filled with joy. But he couldn't understand the feeling of distress and confusion he was feeling. Maybe if Layla had kissed him in a different situation he won't have felt like this. Like he got something to be afraid of. He would have been fully sure about her feelings for him. He wanted to just disregard his feelings and be happy like an idiot all day, still, he couldn't. After trying all night, he thought that maybe he could sleep it off but he still felt the same. He kept asking himself. Did she do it because of Liam or was it because of her Dad? She had asked him to forget about the truth about her Dad when he asked her what she wanted to do.
The first thing she did was kiss him when he kept asking her, what she wanted to do about her dad. She looks uncertain. out of nowhere she just kiss him and ask him if he wanted to go out with her. It all felt like she was trying to distract him but still he felt kind of lost for a second before he was able to answer her. And when he had asked her about her Dad again she ignore it. So he kept asking until she shut him up by shouting that she doesn't know and then ran out of Theo's house. Theo could have called her, but he didn't. It felt like he was going back to being the same person he was before he met Liam. He didn't know what to do. Even if he knew that thinking about it wasn't going to help. He had already formed different conclusions in his head. Some were True, some were lies he desperately hope to believe. He had thought of the idea of just calling her or maybe going over to her house. He hope Richard wasn't around. Now that Theo thought about it he wasn't comfortable with Layla staying in the same building as her dad. Theo didn't even want to think of what her dad would do to her if he knew the truth of all Liam left behind. He had prayed that Layla wouldn't ask him any questions or in any way show that she knew the truth about him. he didn't want him to make her disappear just the way he made Liam disappear.
Theo knew that Layla was better now after reading Liam's Note. He thought. She could finally let go now. Layla had been holding on to the thought that she kill her mother and her Dad kept blaming her for it. Now, Layla knew the truth. Theo had wanted for Layla to take justice for her Mom and also for Liam. He wonder if Layla felt like she had to choose between her parents. He wonder if she was still afraid of being alone. Theo wanted to say to himself at that moment that he will always be with her. Never leaving herself. But he couldn't. He didn't have the same confidence he had the first time he had told her that he would always be there. Whenever he tried thinking about it he kept seeing the image of Layla running out of his house while he helplessly watch her without doing anything to stop her from leaving. the more he kept thinking about it, the more he realizes how he left her the time she needed him the most. The more he realizes how selfish he had been to only think of his feelings instead of hers.
*****
Theo was standing in front of Layla's house. He didn't know if her dad was around or not, he didn't care he was only interested in seeing Layla. He wanted to apologize for his behavior and tell her that he was going to do whatever she wanted, he didn't want to force any decision on her. Theo Walks up to the front porch of Layla's house and knocks at the door. He was expecting Layla's Dad to shout at him. Since he didn't hear a voice, he knew Richard wasn't at home. He use the spare key Layla had given to him to open up the door and walk into the house.
Mrs. Stella, Layla's old neighbor had been watching Theo all this time. Theo acted like he couldn't notice her even though he saw her when he drop his key as he was opening the door to Layla's house. He knew the lady had seen him before all the time around the house, so she shouldn't be worried that he was a thief.
Theo climbs upstairs to Liam's room and knocks at the door.
"Layla!" Theo called "I'm sorry, please open the door."
He kept knocking and knocking and felt that maybe Layla was still angry at him, she was ignoring him. Just when he was about to knock again he heard the doorbell ringing. He rushes downstairs to open the door. Thinking that maybe it was Rose, maybe she could help him to get Layla to open up the door.
Opening the door Theo saw Mrs. Stella smiling at him. She was a small Old lady with a creepy smile. Her smiles always gave Theo goosebumps. Even though Liam had said that her smile was refreshing. Theo had thought during that time that there was absolutely nothing refreshing about that old lady smile.
"Mrs. Stella. Good afternoon."
"Theodore right?" She asked
"Yes, ma."
"Did you come for Layla or her Dad?"
"Well, I'm looking for Layla."
"She's not around. I saw her leaving the house this morning."
"What about her Dad?"
"Her Dad hasn't been home for weeks now. I'm sure he just can't handle losing so much." The old lady said with a sad expression on her face.
"He or she." Theo whisper.