Driven To You

"Layla," the teacher's voice echoes throughout the classroom.

"Here," I reply, barely looking up from my seat at the back of the room. Even though I have perfect grades, they are making me attend class because of my lack of attendance. Ugh, boring. I know.

I sit near the window and doodle absentmindedly in my notebook. My pencil dances across the page, sketching random shapes that slowly take the form of a motorcycle surrounded by flames. The hum of the teacher's voice fades into the background until…

"Yoo, Lay!" I glance up to see my best friend Jace standing near my desk, grinning from ear to ear.

"Hey, Jace," I say, smiling back.

"You up for tonight?" he asks, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

"I most definitely am," I reply, my grin matching his.

Well, Jace and I have a thing—something that might be borderline illegal. We do graffiti on abandoned walls. I love to draw, and the adrenaline rush of sneaking around under cover of darkness makes it all the more thrilling.

The rest of the class drags on without anything noteworthy happening. I doodle, tune out, and count the minutes until freedom. Finally, the bell rings, signaling lunch. Grabbing my bag, I head to the parking lot where my friends usually gather.

It's not much, but this is my escape. A little rebellion, a little art, and a whole lot of not caring what anyone thinks. It's just another day in the life of Layla, Kingston High's outcast queen.

As I finish eating and head back to class, I notice the first drops of rain splattering against the window. The drizzle quickly turns into a steady downpour. I glance at Aaron's desk instinctively. Of course, he hasn't brought an umbrella. Again.

Sighing, I walk to my locker and pull out my umbrella. Without much thought, I leave it on his desk before heading out. This isn't new; I've been doing this since middle school, long before he got popular. Why do I keep doing this? I have no idea. Does he know? Probably not.

Grabbing my keys, I step into the rain and make my way to the parking lot. The cool droplets on my skin feel refreshing as I straddle my motorcycle. The engine roars to life, and I speed off, leaving thoughts of Aaron's cluelessness behind me. The road stretches out ahead, and for now, it's just me and the open air.

As I reach home, my best friend Annie is waiting on my doorstep. "There you are!" she exclaims, hands on her hips. "How many times do I have to tell you not to ride in the rain? Look at you!"

I chuckle, brushing past her mock scolding. "Annie, we've been over this. Now, just say you brought my favorite hot chocolate... pleaseee?"

Annie sighs dramatically, but her lips twitch with a smile. "Yes, I did. Now go get changed first."

I quickly change into my pajamas and settle on the couch, wrapping my hands around the warm mug she hands me. I take a sip and let out a satisfied sigh. "Annie, this is sooo good."

"Shut up," she grins, playfully smacking my arm. Then, she pulls out a stack of assignments from her bag and hands me my set. "Up for our weekly assignment date, love?"

I grin and take the stack from her. "Always."

For the next few hours, we work through the sheets together, bouncing ideas off each other and laughing at random jokes. As the clock ticks past ten, Annie stretches and starts packing her things.

"Alright, I'm heading home," she says, ruffling my hair as she walks to the door.

"Night, Annie," I call after her, already thinking about what's next on my agenda. As soon as she's gone, I grab my hoodie and bag, my heart picking up a familiar rhythm. It's time for my graffiti session with Jace.