Shadow Under the Starlight

11. Anywhere but home

Isla stared at the building head empty. Her companion beside her wore a wide grin, it was stupid of her not to suspect a thing when Eda literally said they had a place to be.

She should know better by now.

Slightly Isla turned her head intensely staring at her. She knew sooner or later she had to face the woman but like now was not a great time, she wasn't ready.

"Eda!" Isla shouted as calmly as she could under her breath while she tried freeing her arm, that Eda had held tightly and she knew any moment now Eda would drag her through those doors.

"I might have opened my mouth a little too much."

Isla stopped her struggle, her hands went over face she shook her head. "Eda." She breathed out, hands falling once again to her side she glanced at Eda then the watch on her wrist.

4:15. That would be the first time she ever came early to Layla's cafe, which as well meant it wouldn't be as empty as it usually was after 5.

Isla darted her eyes at the doors a few feet from her taking a few breaths in then out, she glared at Eda one more time before picking up her pace, walking towards the door.

The first thing Isla did as soon as she clasped the door handle pushing it open, as soon as the lively scent of freshly baked goods and brewing hot coffee was order herself a cup of what the barista was brewing — she was sure it would be heavenly.

Isla waited a bit before she had her hot coffee in hand, walking over to the empty table.

Isla knew Layla was waiting for her but not the fact the girl was stalking her because as soon as Isla pulled out the chair, not even placing her cup down on the table — Layla was pulling the chair on the other side, welcoming herself to comfort before Isla even got to do that.

Isla was a bit startled, her hand slipped and her lovely cup of coffee spilled down on the table — a few drops but it was still such a shame she lost a bit of it.

Isla sat finally placing her cup down. Layla had already wiped off the small droplets of coffee, her arms rested on the surface intensely staring at Isla.

"Hey—" Isla closed her mouth as soon as her voice cracked, her gaze fell from Layla to the couple a few tables away — she cleared her throat, reaching over she pulled the cup of coffee to her lips and instantly regretted it.

Isla hissed suddenly staring at the cup she was holding immediately she placed the cup down again, she totally forgot it was hot and she had to blow on it.

Layla let out a light chuckled, when Isla's gaze fell on her she had a hand over her mouth pretending to cough — she was supposed to hold up a serious face not be a giggly.

"Hey Isla, it's been a while." Layla said with a straight face staring at Isla.

"Not really." A voice said beside them very cheerful. Isla had a glare pointed at Eda who shrugged, she wasn't exactly lying.

"Right!" Layla agreed glancing at Eda briefly before she turned her gaze back on Isla, she right now was her main focus. "What are you?" She asked straight to the point.

"Like you but a bit experienced." A lot more experienced and very far from 'like' Layla but that was the best way she could describe it.

"You can see her and others too?"

"Yeah, it's sort of my job." Isla added briefly glaring at Eda who found it funny, she wasn't exactly helping but then again she was the reason she ended up in this situation.

"What job?"

"Umm" she paused glancing over at Eda for assistance and what a surprise it was when Eda was not of any assistance, quite shocking. Isla turned back to Layla and mumbled the first thing that crossed her mind, "An exorcist and spiritual guide."

Eda broke out laughing as soon the words left her lips she found it ridiculous, Isla however found it fitting. She did do all those to the extreme but to down play her role those were a perfect fit, and Eda was just being annoying.

"In a suit?" was the first thing that left Layla's lips, her eyes studied her outfit and it seemed more of a dress code for a desk job.

"I'm not wearing a suit." Isla pointed out, staring at her black dress pants and dress shirt, along with the gloves and coat — it wasn't a suit, she did not have a jacket and tie. "But it's for professionalism."

"You handle ghosts!" Layla pointed out, a bit high pitched earning a glance or two from the people around them.

Ignoring them Isla shrugged. "Still go be presentable." She said leaning back, Isla place her right leg over her left, crossing them. Digging into her pocket she pulled out the necklace Sage gave her earlier, holding it out in front of Layla she spoke. "On the topic of my job, you should always wear this."

"It will keep you safe." Isla explained as Layla took the beautiful necklace, studying it up close it was beautiful but.

"You don't have one and I don't need it." She spoke handing the necklace back, she as well leaned back into the chair but with her arms crossed unlike Isla who had them resting on her thigh.

"I have it, it's just different from yours." Isla eyed the necklace resting between the two on the table briefly, her gaze fell back on Layla. "And you do unless you'd love to have front row seats to your exorcism." Isla leaned forward, her left hand still resting on thighs she lowly pushed the necklace towards Layla.

"I feel like you're lying." Layla leaned forward glaring at the Isla's actions rather than her — okay, maybe her too.

"And why would I lie?" Isla asked letting the necklace go as it reached the edge table, that was close enough.

Layla held Isla's stare down, neither wanted to back down and it seemed it wouldn't end soon either.

So being the only reasonable person, Eda stood and poked both of them in the eye.

Just like that, the stare down ended as they were both aiding to their wronged eyes — Eda was definitely proud as she smirked.

Layla's eye felt better a bit after attending to it, with a sigh she held out her hand staring at Isla.

"Shake on it."

For a second, she stared at the hand in front of her a bit puzzled. Layla stared at her suspicious, "You are not lying right?"

Oh that. Isla shook her head immediately — she wasn't lying about it all, she just down played the delivery and how Layla was to perceive it.

"Without the gloves."

Isla retreated her hand and shook her head in disapproval. "Not gonna do that." She mumbled earning a glare from the woman. "A skin condition, very bad." She whispered reaching out for the cup of coffee.

Layla turned to Eda who only shrugged before adding. "Give her the benefit of the doubt."

"Fine—"

"Boss can you come over for a second." Layla was interrupted by one of her male employee, turning over to the counter she noticed the commotion then sighed.

Layla turned to Isla, "Don't you think of leaving." She got up from the seat walking over to the commotion.

"Not until I get my money's worth." Isla mumbled bring her now warmish coffee to her lips. Isla sighed her face carrying disappointment, it didn't taste the same anymore.

Placing it back down she stared at the empty seat Eda was on before, searching for her in the café she noticed her standing beside Layla who was trying to calmly explain something to the two girls.

Eda was smiling widely, her eyes traveling back and forth. Isla shook her head, "So nosy."