Layla started to engine of her car. She ached all over, her face, he arms, her back and stomach. Mystic curled up on Layla's bag, purring softly. Layla found the purring of the kitten calming. She had no idea where she would go. She knew no one around her, except Michael. And after the way she rushed out the beach house, why should he help her? Sighing, Layla drove in the direction of Beachwood.

The looming grey clouds that had been threatening to drop a storm finally delivered. Rain pelted down on the windows of the beach house, while the four Monkees busied themselves around the living room.

Mike fiddled with the tuning of his guitar, when he heard a soft knocking on the door. He ran to get it, and opened the door to see Layla standing in the doorway, soaked to the bone, a small kitten nestled in her arms. Mike let her in right away. She was shivering violently. Makeup was running down her cheeks. Peter, Davy and Micky dropped what they were doing and ran to Layla. Her voice shook "I was just walkin' around on the beach..... It started'ta rain....."
Davy pulled a chair over for her to sit in, she gladly accepted it, putting Mystic down on the floor, who started to climatize herself to the new surroundings. Peter offered her a wet cloth, she ran it over her face. Micky placed a hand on the side of Layla's face, she flinched at the touch. His eyes went wide "Layla, what happened to you?" Tears started to flow down Layla's cheeks as rapidly as the rain pelting against the beach house "M'dad and I got into a fight......" Mike became alarmed and grasped Layla's wrist, she cried out. He let go of her "Did your dad do this to you?"
Layla nodded, brushing the tears away from her eyes with her fingers. Mike could feel the anger welling up inside his stomach, "Was it the first time, Lay?"
She shook her head sadly, he slowly too off her jacket and her blouse, not caring that she was only wearing a bra in front of Mike, Micky, Peter and Davy. Mike ran his fingers gently over Layla's back, not caring that he was seeing more of the woman he was in love than he ever had before. Bruises covered her back. He saw the same marks on her stomach. Layla's body shook violently "I hate him..... I didn't want to stay with him, but I had no where else to go."
Peter tried to smile at Layla "Well, you have somewhere to go now."

Mike sat on the winding stair case leading to the second floor of the pad. He listened to the mixture of water sounds, the rain and the shower which Layla was in. Davy laid a blanket and pillow on the couch for Layla. Mystic sauntered up to Mike, rubbing against his leg, until finally jumping into his lap. Mike stroked the cat's soft furr. He had never really been a cat person, but Mystic was an adorable little ball of black and grey furr.

Layla gently tapped Mike on the shoulder as she started her descent down the stairs.
He turned to her "Hey, you look a lot better." She smiled weakly "I feel a lot better. Thanks for puttin' up with me, Nez." Mike flashed his seldom seem, but awesome smile, at Layla. She looked incredibly beautiful. The soft red tendrils of her hair fell into wet curls on her shoulders. Her skin was milky white, with the exception of the large purple bruise on the side of her face. Her dress was simple, a long, flowing green nightgown. Mike felt his heart skip a beat as she walked down the stairs with him.

Layla felt a small moan nearly escape her lips when she saw Mike. He was so handsome. His long hair had fallen into a disarray. He wore a pair of multi-coloured pyjamas. He looked so good!! Then, Layla thought Mike looked groovy in anything he wore. But these pyjamas were definately not an exception.

Peter, Micky and Davy had already gone to bed. Layla sat down on the couch, testing the softness of it. Mystic crawled up next to her, padding her paws against the pillow, eventually curling up on it and falling asleep. Mike sat on the easy chair across from Layla. He looked her over. Gods, she was pretty. Layla ran a hand through her hair, untangling the curls. The corners of her mouth raised in a small smile.

Layla sighed, "Your friends are very nice. Especially for puttin' up with me like this."
Mike moved from the chair, next to Layla on the couch. He took her hand hesitantly "You know, they're not just my friend. They're yours too." Layla pulled her hand away from Mike. She thought for a second, before laughing softly, "Four friends. I think that's the most I've ever had at one time."
Mike frowned, Layla was serious. He wanted to pull her into a hug and tell her that he loved her, but he settled for asking, "No friends? What about a boyfriend?"
Layla smiled at Mike, trying to mask her complete distaste for the question, "No..... No boyfriend. No real friends, other than you.... And the fellas."
Layla smiled at the thought of having the Monkees as her friends. They all seemed so friendly and caring. That was the exact attitude she needed to be around right now.
She smiled at Mike "You know..... You look pretty groovy." Mike smiled back "So do you, Babe."
He wanted nothing more to just run over to her and kiss her right now........ To hold her in his arms........ To caress her.......... Mike downright WANTED her. He needed to get out of there right now.

Mike kissed Layla gently on the forehead "I better be headin' to bed. Night Lay."
She smiled "'Night Mike."
Mike went upstairs and collasped on his bed. Layla curled up on the couch. Within a few minutes she had drifted off, her thought of Mike the only thing she could dream of.

Mike flopped onto his bed. Layla was quite a girl. Micky propped himself up on his elbow so he was facing Mike from his own bed "So did you kiss her?" Micky cracked a grin "But didn't you kiss her this afternoon." Mike blushed "Well.... That wasn't the first time.... But I can't kiss her again!"
Micky covered his mouth, trying hard not to crack up. Mike and Layla were retarded for each other, why wouldn't they just admit it!

Layla moaned as she started to wake up. She had been having a dream about Mike, they had been...... doing stuff..... Nice stuff..... Three minutes in heaven stuff..... Wow, if only it would become a reality! Mystic padded her feet against Layla's leg. She pulled herself off the pillow and walked into the kitchen, her kitten in tow. Davy was in the kitchen, a pot of coffee in his hand.
He held the pot out to Layla "Coffee?"
Layla nodded her head eagerly and Davy handed her a cup. She drank it down quickly. When she was done, she reached into her bag and produced a can of cat food, which she opened and put on the floor for Mystic. She pulled out a cigartte for herself. She lit a match and took a long drag from the cigarette.
Davy smiled "I heard that's not very good for you." Layla shrugged "It could be worse." She mentally added < I've DONE worse. > Davy sat down next to Layla at the table. He sipped his coffee as he gazed at the gorgeous redhead.
He ran a hand through his chestnut hair, "So Layla...... You're going to university here?"
Layla nodded "Yep. Oh, that reminds me, I better be gettin' ready. I've got class in about an hour." Davy noticed that Layla had a similar Texas drawl to Mike's, except with a odd twang to it. Davy asked, "Layla, did you live in Texas your whole life?" Layla shook her head "Nah. I was born in Toronta, Ontaria. I moved to Texas with m'Ma when I was ten. So I kinda have a fifty-fifty accent." Layla gave Mystic an affectionate pat on the head as she got up and grabbed her bag.
She turned to Davy "Ya mind watchin' her while I'm gone?" He shook his head "I don't mind. I just hope Babbitt doesn't come by, he doesn't like pets."
Layla started to run up the stairs when she ran smack into Mike. She looked up at him innocently, her eyes wide "Sorry Mike....." The corners of his mouth raised slightly "It's s'okay Lay. Where's the fire?" She sighed "Got class in an hour. Gotta get dressed." Mike watched as Layla ran up the stairs, watching the smooth skirt of her nightgown glide with her body. Mike felt a moan start to escape from his throat. He caught himself in time. < Boy Mike, I doubt I'm going to through livin' in the same house as Layleta Williams. >

Layla slipped out of her nightgown once she reached the bathroom. She brush her hair off her shoulder, running her fingers over the small red heart tatoo which was etched on the swell of her left breast. She pulled on her favourite blue skirt and her white nerhu jacket. She added her blue love beads and pulled her hair back into a loose braid. Layla sighed, school was a stone drag. She loved studying English but sometimes it got to be a real pain. Layla started to pull her moccasins up and tied them up at her knees. She started to dust her makeup over her face. She stared at herself in the mirror < Gods I'm ugly. > She thought.

Layla slide down the staircase, her feets bumping against the ground as she jumped off. Mike and Davy sat at the table, they both turned and stared as Layla drifted towards the door. Mike ran to the door and stopped her "Say Lay, can I drive you to class?"
Layla grinned "Sure."

Mike clutched the steering wheel of the Monkee-mobile so tightly his knukles were turning white.
Layla grabbed his right hand "Mike, why you grippin' the wheel so tight?" Mike pulled into the parking lot of Layla's university. Mike turned to Layla, gently cupping her chin in his hand, a surprising act of affection between the two friends.
Mike took in a deep breath, whispering "You know you're beautiful, don't you, Layleta?"
Layla blinked. Mike must of been serious if he called her Layleta. Not many people called her that.
She shook her head "Liar. I'm not beautiful." Mike gently caressed Layla's cheek with his thumb "Layla, you're one of the most beautiful creatures I have ever seen. I......" Layla stared intently at her best friend. He whispered "I love you." But he said it so softly Layla didn't hear him.