Unbreakable Soldier

Coming Home

Hey, I’m Layla Maretti. I’m 25 and returning to my hometown after being away for 7 years.

I left town when I was 18 not just running away from a f****d up family nut a f****d up situation.

I wanted more from my life, I wanted to be strong, and I needed to be unbreakable! So I enlisted right out of school. I paid my dues and defended my country in three different tours in places I’m not at liberty to discuss, doing things that keep me awake most nights.

I’m no longer that fragile little girl!

I arrive in town to the house I bought with my own money and in the car I built with my own hands.

“Well here we are jax” I say rubbing the dash of my car. I named my car jax because it’s a hot name and my car is HOT!

I unload my car lock him up and settle into my new home. I thought it would take a while for me to sleep but as soon as I laid my head on my pillow I was out.

I slept right through the night which is a first for me in many years. I wake up and stretch. Make my bed and go jump in the shower.

I spend the rest of the day unpacking my things and rearranging the furniture. Its 5pm when I stop and realize I’m hungry. I throw on more presentable clothes and head into town.

I park my car and step out onto the sidewalk and start walking down the main strip.

This place hasn’t changed all that much, same buildings, same shops even the same faces just slightly older. I wonder if Al’s diner is still on the corner. And as soon as I approach the corner I see the neon lights with the same retro 60’s theme diner and I instantly feel like a big greasy burger with cheesy fries and a coke. I walk through the door when I hear a high pitched squeal.

“EEEEE OMG is that you OH MY GODDDDDD LAYLA” That’s Madz my high school bestie! She runs over to me overly excited wraps her arms around me and begins jumping up and down.

“OMG Layla you haven’t changed a bit your still a FOX!” Her smile is big and genuine she steps back a little just to take me in.

“Madz hey! b***h I missed you” I look at her with a warm smile. “I gotta eat babes I’m so hungry join me?” I ask. She looks from me to the group of guys in the corner then back to me. “f**k it yes!” she exclaims. We head to the other end corner booth and slide in opposite each other when she yells “HEY AL TWO LAYLA-MARREES STAT!!” “Layla-marrees?” I look at her asking when I hear a familiar voice.

“Layla-MARREES Maddy-Lyn?” I see his silver hair, that same warm smile. Then his eyes land on me.  He bounds over pulling me into a warm hug. “Layla Maretti! It’s so good to have you home angel.”

You see Al was more like a dad to me than my biological father he took me in often. Gave me a job, hell he even attended my graduation and cried with happiness. My parents never showed to my graduation or my anything really.

“Al I’ve missed you so much!” I smile up at the man who was more of a dad than my real dad. I feel a pang of guilt in my chest. “It’s been so long Al I’m sorry I never wrote or called.” I look down feeling ashamed. He placed his arm around me pulling me into his side. “Never mind that sweet pea your home now and safe.” His smile is so genuine I visibly relax in his embrace.”I should’ve at least checked in with you Al and I’m sorry. I did think about you often,” I look up at him and he smiles.”Two Layla-marrees coming right up” he kisses my forehead and heads out the back.

“So how was the army soldier?” Madz giggles giving me a mock salute. I smile back but it doesn’t quiet reach my eyes and she reaches for my hands across the table. I flinch away for a brief minute then realize where I am and I hold her hands back. She looks into my eyes “Sorry babes” she said, “its fine, I’m fine I’m more than fine” I say with a smile. We sit back chatting some more when the server brings over two plates with big greasy beef and bacon burgers with everything. Some cheesy fries and two large cokes. My eyes go wide.

“Fucken missed this!” I say with a huge smile as we dig in. reminiscing and laughing between bites.

“Jesus Layla how do you still manage to look like that!  When you eat like an animal? Not to mention still get the looks from the guys?” she giggles as I take massive bites exaggerating a little.

“mmmmm f**k me sooooo f*****g good!” I say with a mouthful of greasy burger shoving in some cheesy fries. We both laugh our asses off hysterically till Madz leans in “SHHHHH Lala!” She looks nervously at the back corner again. “Did you just call me Lala?” I say with a smirk. She starts laughing again and smiles. “Do you still like to sing? Remember I used to always call you that because of how much you’d sing?”  “Shhh keep that s**t to yourself Madz!” I exclaim. We laugh again quietly this time. I glance behind me to the corner she keeps looking at. “What’s up Madz you in trouble?” I look at her concerned. “No no nothing like that but I am curious, who else knows your back in town?” she raised a questioning eyebrow. I answer her “well there are you and now Al……and I guess who ever is here that remembers me! Why do you ask?” I eye her curiously.  “You haven’t seen Beau?” she looks shocked.

Now that name takes me back. My boyfriend.  Well my first and only boyfriend. He was tough and sexy and oh so bad. I sigh. He never did understand why I left; I never really gave him that closure. Selfish I know! But I was young and needed to escape if he knew what happened the night of my graduation he’d never see me the same way I know it… would he have let it happen ? Could he have made a decision like that? He thought I was so tough back then but I wasn’t. I wasn’t strong enough to tell him everything id been going through before my graduation let alone the events of that night. I couldn’t face him after that night so I left.

I’m broken from my thoughts by Madz “Earth to layla ……helloooooo?”

“What! No I didn’t think he’d still be around to be honest” I look down.

“Well he is. But he is different now Lala he isn’t a good guy” Madz eyes look sad. She looks down shifting in her seat.

“He was never a ‘good guy’ Madz” I laugh and madz starts to look really uncomfortable. “Madz what the f**k is up with you?” I ask. I turn my head slightly and see we are being watched by two Caucasian men covered to tattoos wearing leathers clearly members of the douche club. I roll my eyes as I reach for madz arm slowly. “Look at me Madz. Who the f**k are they?” I see her internal struggle before she whispers “They are the beasts’ men.”  Argh! “I don’t give a s**t who they are! If you need help I can help you babes” I say trying to comfort her. She looks back at me with a small smile.

“Look I gotta go Lala but it has been such a blast seeing you again. You’re still the hottest around this town” she stands.

“Madz where are you going?” I ask.

“I gotta go to work babes it’s my shift at the bar!” She hands me her phone and smiles. “Hey gimme your number I can’t speak about things here with them!” She nods her head to those men in the corner again. I start laughing quietly knowing she is referring to the douche bags in the back.  Then it dawns on me she isn’t scared of them I think she is trying to protect me! So I ask “hey which bar are you working at? Can I come down for a drink sometime?” She stumbles at first “Ahhhh I don’t think that’s a great idea Lala……but hey what are you doing tomorrow night? I’m off work and there’s a real good beer garden at the other end of town with a live band?” she sounds nervous at first then excited. “Tomorrow night it is then Madz. I’ll be waiting on your text.” I wink at her and smile warmly before deciding it was time to pay and go home.

I head up to the counter with my purse in hand. Al sees me from the back and comes rushing out. “Oh no you don’t missy! I won’t accept any money from you sweet pea now go enjoy your night” I protest “Al please let me pay?” he smiles sweetly before saying “ok ill take a big hug” he smiles at me with open arms and I walk into his embrace. I suddenly feel like a teen ager again. “Thanks papa it’s good to be home.” “It’s good to have you home “he smiles and strokes me cheek.

As I’m walking to the door I feel eyes on me at my 6, I see the two men from earlier stand and slowly walk behind me after paying.

I’m walking back towards my car very aware of my surroundings and the two douche bags who think they are being stealthy. I smirk to myself. “Dickheads” I mutter under my breath.

Then I hear one of them call out to me “OI YOU!”

I keep walking the same pace unfazed.

“HEY SEXY b***h IM TALKING TO YOU!!’ He continues to yell.

I start to smile and slow my pace slightly; oh this is going to be good! I continue to walk but slow a little so these idiots can catch up. I sigh to myself and roll my eyes “these douche bags are soo slow”. Just as I’m reaching my car I hear D bag Number 2 “OOOOO sweet ride baby I just may take her out of a spin!”

I open the door and drop my purse in as I feel a strong hand on my shoulder. GAME ON FUCKERS!

I grab his hand turning towards him , with as much force as I can muster I turn his hand palm up and snap it down with such precision I break his wrist and I know it. I stomp the spike of my boot heel into his foot bringing his face closer as I head butt his nose causing it to instantly break. It’s a sickening crunch but it only fuels my adrenalin. I smile as douchbag number one is down and out of the fight. I turn to douchbag number two in my fight stance fists up smiling wickedly. “This is going to be fun big boy!” He approaches me fast slamming me into my car, with a swift hard knee to the crutch he goes down but not before receiving the second and final knee to his face breaking his nose with that sickening crunch I love to hear. I speak directly to douchbag two “it’s been fun boys but I like more of a challenge” I smirk at them both as they are on the ground and get into my car and head home.