Leyla followed his lead into the spin and added a little magic of her own. "Impressive Webber, but don’t think you’re going to show me up with one move.” She pulled him the rest of the way and let go so she could stand in front of him. “You have some rhythm in you! Just feel the beat.”  Leyla showed him an easy two step and waited for him to mimic after her before she did it again. “There you go! Once more time.” Leyla loved teaching others, but that was her backup career. “Sure, whatever you say. It’s not like you make goo goo gaga eyes at everyone that’s nice to you. Let me set you up!”

“Put on some goddamn pants!” Leyla back away and shut access to the room upstairs as fast as she could, but turned to yell at the closed door. “Or get a hotel room! Are you in high school!? You can’t fuck at home!?” She was looking for her best friend and ended in an unprecedented predicament, but she knew it was a risk when looking for Hunter. They were childhood friends and she called herself his biggest fan, but he was quickly losing the podium she put him on with his Houdini act. It took two more mystery doors to finally find the guy and Leyla dramatically threw herself into his arms, slowly sliding to her knees. “The horrors I’ve seen!” She proclaimed dramatically and cued him to pick her up off the floor. “Am I old, Hunter? Tell me the truth. I used to love parties.”

Leyla realised a small crowd formed around everyone dancing to the music. The plaza was her favorite place to be on Sunday mornings for a reason and it was all of the lively things around. It felt like Fallbrook collectively breathed out all of the stress from the past week as music played and vendors worked on their food stands. She jutted her chin up to meet the firefighter’s eyes. “Just relax those hips, Webber. I know you got it in you.” Leyla reached down and grabbed her water bottle. She offered him some before she took a few big gulps. “No bigger than usual.” She looked around. “But sure, I’ll teach you some moves and maybe you can finally land a date with someone.”

Leyla got a new job at Wildflower Cafe. The cute little coffee place became her favorite go to spot the very moment those Valentine cousin’s opened it, and she quickly became one of their favorite regulars. It only took a couple of weeks for the owner to offer her a position which she gladly accepted. Leyla got into her car after her shift was over and headed downtown to the pharmacy to grab some mascara and lip gloss. She wanted to look presentable for her best friend, who she promised a fun night out to. The night’s were still cold even though winter was coming to end and the wind made Leyla hug herself  as she waited to cross the street to get back to her car. She heard someone near and turned, noticing him. Her heart sunk. Leyla almost ignored the blinking red man on the crosswalk’s sign to escape Elio, but it was too late. Their eyes locked and she shuffled awkwardly. Another one of her go to’s was to look the other way, lay low, and help him ignore her. 

Leyla walked into the gym where she knew Quinn would be. They grew up together. Went to school together. Saw each other grow into themselves. Saw each other’s families fall apart. Through all of it, Leyla still only befriended her through her cousin. If it hadn’t been for Ty she would have thought Quinn was a little unapproachable. She held a water bottle up for the blonde. “Do you know how many boxers get their noses broken? I was about to say you’re too pretty to be doing that, but I think you can handle yourself. Has anyone told you that you’re a bit scary, Quinn?” 

The best way to look like she was okay to others was by acting like she was. No one wanted to be around a heartbroken drag and Leyla had no right to be as sad as she was about her breakup with Elio when it had been months ago and her fault. She got out of the taxi and pulled her best friend by the hand. “C’mon, Anna! The party’s waiting.” She loved being able to forget about everything and have fun with Annabelle. They always had fun when they were together and if anyone other than her sister knew what she was going through it was Anna who got to see how much more reckless Leyla became post-heartbreak. She was wearing a sparkly mini dress with thin straps under a studded leather jacket and some borrowed heels from the other girl. 

Leyla was with some friends at the ice rink. The semester started back up and they were all busy so they didn’t get to hang out as much. She needed them more than ever the last couple of months since everything happened with Elio and she appreciated the support around her. They were chatting when she realized that she still needed to rent skates so she walked to the girl at the counter. Leyla didn’t live under a rock, she knew the girl’s name and that she had been in town since last year but hadn’t made too many friends yet. “Hey. I’m Ley.” She smiled and rested a hand against the counter. “Do you have any size seven left? You’re Aimee, right? You’re dating that cute blonde from the country club.” She assumed, because they were always together. “Hey so. If your shift is almost done, you should come hang with us.” She looked back at the group by the rink. 

“I just came from Downtown where I stopped by the smoothie place.” Leyla called out to her sister when she walked into her house. She welcomed herself in without more than a quick text a couple of minutes earlier to make sure she was home, they were close. Leyla sat the smoothie on the counter in the kitchen and made a face at Dilara. “Same smoothie place where Jacki Fuentes told me you’ve been hanging out with JT Morrison after hours!” Leyla slapped her hands on the counter. “Di! How many times do I have to remind you the reputation that guy has? You’re way out of his league.” JT Morrison was a sexy man, but his personality made him hideous. “You should sue. Is he even paying you for the overtime?”