•Secret•Conor Maynard•

•1•

I could hear our feet pounding and echoing around the nearly empty London street. Our ragged breaths tearing in and out of our bodies. I look over at Julia and see the utter fear in her face. We continue running, wanting to escape the man in quick persuit of us. My nose was bleeding from our earlier encounter. I could feel the black eye forming. My whole body aches inside and out. I see three men approaching us. I look at Julia, as I feel my body collapse onto the ground.

I slowly open my eyes. The harsh light stung my sensitive eyes. My mind flashed back to last nights events and I jolted upright.
"Julia!" I called out, my raspy voice failing me.
My whole body aches. It hurts to move breathe and exist. I figure she wouldn't leave me alone. I reach out around me to find something to make noise with, as my voice was nothing but a scratchy whisper. I hear the low hum of voices in the room nearby. I take in my surroundings, I'm in a familiar place, but I can't pinpoint where I know it from. My clumsy, bruised hands stumble upon my phone, I drop it onto the floor. It obviously has the desired affect. I hear the voices in the next room stop completely.

There's a scrambling at the door as 4 figures slam into the room. I wince internally as the slam creates ripples of pain inside my head. I hear harsh whispers. And I feel a hand on mine. My eyes, that were previously screwed shut from the pain, open slightly, and I lock eyes with the one person I want to see.

"Julia," I manage to choke the word out through my sobs.
"I know nows not the time, but Layla you look rough. You should probably get an ice pack on that" she says, concern laced through her features.
"Alright julia pipe down, you don't look too great either," I say with a joking smile. I see her swollen eye and my thoughts flash back to last night. I feel my whole body being hit by a wave of nausea.
"Shit Julia, gonna vom" I say, panicking.
I try to haul myself up to get to a bathroom or something but it's impossible, and my body is overcome with harsh stabs of pain.

I shut my eyes, to try and help myself pass the sick feeling, when I feel myself being picked up. I panic and try to get them to put me down. At this point it's stupid even trying, I'm too broken.

I feel myself get placed down onto the floor, next to a toilet. I feel another wave of nausea heave through my body as I throw up. I feel someone holding my hair away from my face and comfortingly rubbing my back. Once I'm finished being sick I turned towards my help. I let out a started squeak when I realised who it was.

Mikey pierce.

I feel another ripple of sickness run through me as I'm violently sick again.

I hear a soft chuckle from behind me, followed by a "I know love, his face makes me ill too"

"Cor bloody hell mate cut it out" Mikey whinges.

I smile weakly and turn around to find the speaker and my eyes settle on the startling blue ones of Jack Maynard. I then of course notice the vomit dribbling down my chin. I curse under my breath and turn back to the toilet blushing violently. What a brilliant first impression Layla. Fan fucking tastic. I hear him giggle softly again.

I now try to stand up, but hit my shin on the toilet seat.
"Fuck me!" I yell, in both surprise and pain
"I volunteer!" I hear someone yell from the living room, followed by a smacking noise and Julia shouting "inappropriate!" I roll my eyes and laugh quietly.

Jack grabs one of my arm, and Mikey the other, and helps carry/ drag me into the living room. I see Julia sprawled across the sofa, on her phone, probably reading BTS fanfiction knowing her. My eyes wonder across to the sofa where I see the one and only Conor Maynard. I'm pretty sure my jaw drops to the floor. I'm so shook.
I involuntarily mutter a "oh for the love of god" under my breath. Praying that it went unnoticed. Of course it didn't. Jack looked at me and raised his eyebrows and nudged me with a giggle. I roll my eyes and stick my tongue out at him.
"Bloody bell Jack getting in there already" mikey shouted extremely loudly. He was met with a smack to the back of the head from Jack.

Mikey lets go and Jack leads me to another bedroom, presumably his. He sits me on the bed, and throws a pair of jogging bottoms and a top. Both oversized on me, but very comfortable. He leaves the room with a "shout me if you need me"

I get changed slowly as movement is painful. Once I'm dressed, I shuffle into the living room and plonk myself next to Julia on the sofa. Conor looks at me and raises his eyebrows. I immediately looked away. I'm not good with confrontation okay? Especially not with fit guys... anyway, he clears his throat, everyone turns to look at him.
"Last time I checked, those were my clothes, huh," he says with a small smile. I didn't know what to say, so I just sat there like a frigid potato. I look over to Julia, who is resting her feet on jack, and is leaning against the arm of the sofa. She looks very amused at my discomfort. I made a mental note to be mad at her later.
"I-uh-um jack gave them to me" I stuttered. For gods sake Layla get a hold of yourself.
"Oh don't worry love I was only joking. Besides, they look good on you" he says with a sly wink. I look away and flush a deep shade of scarlet.

"Okay, so, on another note, where is everyone sleeping to tonight?" Jack said.
"Umm I'm not sure?" I replied
"Well there's my room, Conor's room and the spare room. Mikey is already in the spare room, so if you two want to take my bed, then I can sleep on the sofa. " he replied. How sweet!  "Nope. There will be no need for that. I can share with you and Layla can bunk with conor. It's no issue, is it Layla?" Julia cuts in before I can speak.
"Uh yeah okay that's fine, if conor and jack are okay with it?" I say. But the truth is NO ITS NOT OKAY JULIA IM SO MAD RIGHT NOW.
"Sounds good to me. Conor?" Jack says. Conor replies with a nod of the head.

"Well I'm actually shattered guys so I think we should all head to bed. " Julia suggests.
"Okay mother" I say with a roll of the eyes. I then realise that I'm stuck I need help getting up from the sofa, as I hurt my back. I put my hand out for Julia to take, but she turns her back, not noticing. I roll my eyes and send her back a dirty look. Conor notices and laughs at me, getting up to give me a hand.

I gladly accepted the offer and hauled myself off the sofa. I made my way towards the other bedroom, which I assumed was Conor's. He opened the door for me and dramatically led me inside. I let out a small laugh, even just watching him had me entertained. He gave me  some oversized pajama bottoms and one of his tshirts to sleep in. I found this slightly odd, considering I had just got changed, but hey, I'm not complaining.

I stood awkwardly, not knowing what to do. I really didn't want to get changed infront of him. He looked at me with confusion, and then realisation washed over his features.
"Ooh yeah, sorry, um, the en-suite is over there" he said, slightly flustered, pointing towards the other door. I thanked him, and headed inside.

I quickly got changed, and put the old clothes in the laundry hamper in the corner. Now, because I'm way too nosey for my own good, I had a nosey around his bathroom. Not all that interesting. Apart from you know, the pair of gross female underwear next to the hamper. Now, I'm no judgmental person, but I'm really preying they aren't his. They're literally so tiny, I doubt even Julia could fit in them. I shudder slightly, imagining Conor in the skimpy underwear and cringe internally.

I walk back into the room, and I see conor sat on the edge of my bed, holding my phone and laughing hysterically. I lunge towards him, trying to grab the small device from his hands. Now I know what kind of conversations me and Julia have, and I am NOT okay with him reading them. I throw my full force of my body towards the small man. I land in his chest with a thump, my hands trying to claw the phone from out of his strong grip. But then I realise I have a password. Whatever he was laughing at must have been on the lockscreen.

He reluctantly hands me it back, still shaking with laughter, chuckles still coming from those pretty lips of his. I gratefully snatch it and my eyes catch the message on the screen. It read:
Julia Brystal: So how's sharing a bed with your year 10 crush? God Layla I hope you don't be having and funny business! Btw jack said to tell you to use protection! ❤️❤️❤️

Once I've read the message my hands fly to my face. I'm that embarrassed my cheeks are literally burning. I can sense his eyes on me and I reluctantly meet his eyes. I could tell he was struggling to keep a serious face.
"Soooo... year 10 crush then?" He said with a small smirk.
"You were everyone's year ten crush, don't flatter yourself conor." I said with an eye roll.
"I say we get revenge on them," he said with a devious glint in his eye. Now, I knew this was going to be a terrible idea, but whatever. I was bored, and mad at Julia.
"What's the plan then?" I reply. He talks through the details of the plan with me and I have to say, it was a very good plan. I can already tell how Julia will react.