7       

         I wake up with the bright, morning sun shining in my eyes. I close them and move my hand. Soft. Soft? I open my eyes and look over at my hand. Layla? She’s so cute when she’s sleeping. She’s so close to me, and I feel like my head’s gonna explode. She has herself wrapped around me and under my left arm. Her hair is so soft in my hands. I feel like this is all a dream. I close my eyes again to enjoy the moment. My hand goes down to her bare shoulder. Her skin is smooth as satin and softer than a bunny. I feel myself smiling. This is nice. 

    Next thing I know I hear a snapping sound. I open my eyes to Jax and Cas smiling at me with a camera. Layla moves and looks up at me. 

    “Hey,” I grin. 

     Her face turns red and I slowly sit up. Cas and Jax start to walk away snickering. 

    “We’ll make breakfast.” 

   She unwraps herself to a failed attempt to sit up right and ends up on my lap somehow. This is the first time I’ve seen her like this. Her face is all red like a strawberry. She then stood up, and I did too after her. I folded the blankets as she started to walk to the direction of the kitchen. Whenever I turn to walk with her,  she is right behind me. I almost ran into her by accident. 

    “Can I talk to you later,” she said as she looked down at the floor. 

     “Sure.” 

     She gives me a smile and then we both go to the kitchen. It smells rather nice here. There was a pastry, buttery smell, that reminded me of the bakery.   

     “Waffles and chocolate milk.” Jax looked back at us. 

     I can’t help but smile. Waffles were always my favorite breakfast food, along with a fresh ,cold glass of chocolate milk. 

    After we finished eating that amazing breakfast Caspian, and Jax prepared we all went back to the living room. We all helped put the blankets and pillows back where they belong. We put them neatly on the top shelf of a small closet in the hall. When we were done we decided we would just relax until we could decide what we wanted to do next. So, we all sat in a circle on the floor, still stuffed from the amazing breakfast we had. 

   “I might head home to grab something,”I sighed, standing up. 

   “Will you come back?” Caspian asked with a slight smile. 

   “Yes, I will.”

   “Where do you live, Asheem?” Jax asked.  

   “Out in the woods,” I sigh, as I look down. 

   Their eyes widened with shock. 

   “Can we come with you?” Caspian suggested. 

    I couldn’t turn them down. Besides, how bad can it be? I mean, sure I live in an abandoned mansion in the woods, but I fixed it up, so it doesn’t look that bad. So, sure, why not. “Sure.” I walk towards the door as the rest follow. I hope they don’t judge me too badly ,however,; I doubt they will. 

  “It’s not as bad as you probably think,”I sigh, as I lead the way. 

     They seem just as worried as curious. What if they think I’m homeless? Someone that is poor or that can’t take care of themselves? I doubt it. I have too. They’re my friends. They’re all I have now, and besides I have fallen for one of them, Layla.  She is just so beautiful, and her personality is wondrous.  She must be my purpose. No, she is my purpose. I must commit myself to protecting her. That’s it. She is too precious to get hurt. She is mine. I’ll keep her safe.  I must.