Heart Of Glass

Get Out Of My Head

Layla's POV

"Okay, okay, okay Layla, you got this." I breathe in the mirror. "You went to highschool filled with boys, you're okay."

Taking another deep breath, I throw my bag over my shoulder, and shove my phone in my back pocket.

I was a little wary walking out of room, and I had right since once again it was filled.

"Good morning." Ethan pipes up, as I walk into the kitchen.

"Hey." I murmur to him, giving the others a wave to who only Tristan replied to.

Ethan walked towards me and I frown at him since Dray scowled fiercely at me.

"How did you sleep?" He grins cheekily, revealing a dimple on his left cheek, that I could help but ogle at.

"Fine." I lied. "You?"

"Same." I grab a cartoon of orange juice pouring it into a glass and drinking it down. "What time are your classes?"

"Nine to twelve then twelve to one." I explain and he nods.

"I have classes only three times a week. Tuesday, Thursday and Fridays. All at 8-12." I wondered why he was telling me this but I nodded nonetheless to be polite.

"Would you like me to walk you to class?"

"But yoy were going to walk me to class Ethan." Dray stands quickly and my eyes widen as she approaches. Ethan sighs, rolling his eyes to the ceiling before meeting mine.

"Actually its okay, I'll find my way." I give him a small smile before maneuvering myself around to leave.

"Later Layla." Tristan calls.

"Bye. ."

Now, where the heck is my class.

× × ×

I was late to class but the teacher was different from stereotypical, understanding.

I sat at the back as eyes from everywhere stayed on me. I could already hear the whispers as my hands started feeling all prickly again. I was unsure of which facial expression to put on and they made it hard for me to look at the board.

The lustful stares were there and I could feel it by the way my skin begged to crawl.

This wasn't going good.

× × ×

By the end of it all I was ready to crawl under the bed and just close my eyes.

It was too much.

My highschool had boys sure, but they didn't look at me all the time, or send me crumbled notes with their numbers or things they wanted to do to me and I'd enjoy.

They were subtle but these people. . as soon as the bell run I was out.

I walked quickly towards where I saw the bathroom early, throwing myself on the toilet cover, I needed to calm my breathing.

The tears pricked my eyes as everything came rushing back.

"I will ruin you."

"You'll be afraid to even look at another male."

"You will be so broken you won't be able to utter a word."

And then the walls started closing in.

"You will remember me with everything you do."

"And dont even try to run. I will find you."

× × ×

By the time I got home I was an uneasy mess. I sat on my bed, sniffing I tried desperately to control the tears.

I grabbed my phone,ignoring the messages and quick dialing a familiar number.

"Hel—"

"Grandma." I croak out, and as soon as she sighs I start sobbing.

"Layla honey you need to breathe."

"I can't do it. I—"

"Listen to me." I pressed my palm against my thighs, shaking my head as I closed my eyes tightly. "What did I tell you before you left? Don't make him control you life Layla, stop it."

"He's everywhere. He's in my mind, blinding everything that could be good. I can't. . I'm so afraid." I shove my hand in my hair.

"You can't make him do this to you Layla, don't. You're strong, you're strong." She tried to reassure but I was too busy dropping the phone as everything crashes down on me heavily. My sobs were uncontrollable and I silently hoped that no one would come in right now.

I retreated to the corner of my bed laying on my side as I clutched my chest.

× × ×

I felt numb as I stared at the bathroom door, coaxing me to go in and swallow some of its tiny content.

It was so. . .tempting.

"Fight temptation Layla, or one day it may completely take over." I shut my eyes again and the door swung open. I was facing the wall so I pretended to sleep.

"Layla?" Tristan whispers. "Are you asleep? Ethan wants to see you. . " After a few moments he shuts the door softly. At the mention if his name my heartbeat had sped up. But I looked a mess. It would be a sight of too many questions,

Too many questions that I wouldn't be able to answer.

#

Layla's POV

The thing with this college is that it's education level was a bit lower than others.

Students came here for two reasons:

1) They can't afford anything higher.

2) the just want to slack off and get easy grades.

I didn't have classes the next day so I took my time, staying in bed and wallowing in my sorrow. My eyes remained shut even as the breeze brushed against my face from the nearby window.

"Layla are you sick?" Came a voice as the door opens and I clear my throat.

"No, I'm all good Tristan." My voice was rough and raspy from the overuse last night.

"Okay well we're off to class."

"Cool." I murmur and it takes a moment before the door closes. I sigh, reopening my eyes and swinging my foot over the bed.

I have a trip to make.

× × ×

"You said it was going to be easy." My leg bounced frantically as I rested my chin on my palm staring at the lady with strawberry blonde hair, crossed legs and a cool demeanor.

"Now, those weren't exactly my words." She says.

"I dont care, the point is you painted it out to be the most acceptable thing yet I always feel like my lungs are going to collapse as they stare at me."

"Who stares at you?"

"The boys!" I exclaim at her stupidity.

"Layla, people will always look—"

"Its not just that. They look like. . they look how he looked at me." My voice became small and she nodded.

"You understand that not all men are the same?" My mind subconsciously drifted to Ethan and it took me a moment before I snapped back.

"But how do I know that?"

"Have you made any friends?"

"My roommate is a male." I bite my fingernails, this place always made me feel wary.

"Excellent!" She grins and I scrunch my face. "So he's your friend?"

"I suppose. . .and there's this guy—"

"This is perfect Layla!" She stands and I can't help but snort. "Two male friends already? You must be recovering quickly —"

"That not true. Just because I'm dealing with two doesn't mean I can handle twenty staring at me like I'm some piece of meat." I snap and she sighs.

"Layla, sooner or later you'll have to realize that not all men want to—"

"Stop." I growl. "Don't go there."

"I apologize." She sits back down, staring at that deeply and I groan bouncing my leg again.

"What do I do?"

"What do you want to do?"

"Give up, run away,—"

"Fight back?"

"Are you crazy?" I deadpan. "I fought back, that's exactly why I'm here."

"You have to keep fighting. Tell them exactly what you don't like and put your foot down, or else they're just going to see you as the girl who enjoy their stares because she doesn't say anything about it."

× × ×

You know what's better than walking home to meet your dorm empty?

Realizing that there's leftover pizza.

Taking off my clothes, I take a quick shower before changing into a grey tshirt and sleep pants.

I was on my second slice when the door swung open. Ethan froze when he saw me, but soon a grin spread onto his face.

"Hey there sweetheart." He greets walking towards me and I smile. My nerves didn't spike up, and I didn't feel like there was a tsunami coming towards me and there was nothing I could do about it.

What?

Is that too much of an exaggeration?

"What was up last night?" He questions my lack of appearance and I shrug it off.

"I was just tired." I answer simply and he nods.

"Sadly, I can't stare just grabbing something for Tristan." I hide my disappointment as he walks into the dorm only to come out minutes later with a first aid kit.

"Is everything okay?" I query.

"Yup." He gives no further explanation. "Do you have class tomorrow?"

'No, till Thursday."

"Be ready for 10."

"Why?"

"I'm taking you out of course." He grins, showing off his dimples, but I was too busy being frozen. 'No! Don't worry its not a date." He laughs it off as if going on a date with me would be absurd.

Clearing my throat I nod. 'Okay. See you tomorrow. "

"Bye sweetheart." He winks before disappearing while I place my hand on my chest, willing it to calm down.