Free Bayward Street by Addison Jane Page A

are in a different league. They aren’t just regular kids with minimum wage earning parents.”
    “But they make you want something more, don’t they?”
    We lay in silence for a while.
    Eazy was right. They had money, but it wasn’t that, that I found myself being pulled toward. I’d spent my whole life being broken down and treated like trash. Yes, I’d found these people that had become like family, they’d shown me love and friendship like I’d never had before. But the reality was, the streets weren’t really all that different to what I was living in before. It was a weird comfort zone.
    I’d just traded my dad in for a different kind of devil. Where I knew what to expect from him, the darkness out here was disguised in so many different forms and hid in the shadows.
    “Do you want more?” I asked softly.
    “So much more.”
    “Night Anton,” I joked as I crawled for the exit.
    He laughed, but it wasn’t the same laugh I remembered. I knew there was something wrong, I just didn’t know what to do about it.
    It was early morning by the time I dragged my ass out of my tent. I could hear the gentle pluck of guitar strings, the sound literally music to my ears. Layla sat on the log outside my tent, and a new guitar in her arms as she strummed and hummed along quietly.
    “You got a new guitar.”
    She spun around to face me, as I sat at my doorway rubbing at my tired eyes.
    “You know the band that was there last night? This is the lead singer’s guitar.” She looked down at it in awe, like she couldn’t believe for a second that it was in her hands. “Braydon got them all to sign it for me, and then he said I could have it.”
    Staring at her with my mouth hanging open, I couldn’t even form words.
    “I know right.” Her head bobbed in agreement to my silence. “That’s exactly what I said.”
    I stepped out in my track pants and hoodie, the air was cooler today. Brisk, but with no breeze. “What time did you guys get back?”
    “Just after one, I think. I tried to sleep, but my body was just itching to play.” She continued to strum away, I don’t know if she was just feeling the instrument or if she was playing a song, but either way it always sounded beautiful. I think we’d all missed having Layla sit around and just play for no reason. It was strangely calming and normal to hear some kind of music while we were home.
    “So Braydon pulled through, huh,” I commented, sitting on the ground next to her legs and leaning my head against her as I stifled a yawn.
    “I’ve gotta give him props, he really is the life of the party. Everyone wanted to talk to him and say hi. Girls rubbed up against him for no reason, and guys would say anything to start a conversation.”
    I nodded, knowing exactly what she was talking about. “Was Heath there?” I knew the casual tone in my voice wasn’t so casual, but I tried anyway.
    “For a second. There was some chick following him around like a lost puppy, he kept trying to brush her off, but I think he ended up getting so annoyed he told Braydon he was heading to bed and took off, leaving her looking furious.” Layla giggled a little before she continued, “There something you want to tell me?”
    I knew exactly what chick she was talking about without even having to ask for a description of her. Jay had eyeballed me the whole time I sat with Heath, and she didn’t feel the need to hide it. Knowing that she’d attempted to seduce him again after I was gone, left a sour taste in my mouth and annoyance to spike inside. Was it jealousy?
    I looked around at the tents, soft snoring filled the air. Looking up at Lay, I lowered my voice to barely a whisper, “Heath kissed me.” My hand went straight to cover my mouth as if I couldn’t believe I’d just admitted to someone what had happened. It felt good, though.
    “I thought something had gone down.” She gasped, and I slapped her leg, shushing her. “He was wandering around with Braydon, it was