Laine and Lyla [Lyle][Leina][/tlvg/][R63]

>”G-give it back!” Lyla yelled as the boys played keep away with her backpack.
>”Oh, now she sounds like a girl!” One of boys chides.
>”Haha, she’s such a loser!” Another says.
>”Give it back!” She says again as she chases another toss, her cheeks are red and the tears sting.
>”Hey!” Laine says as he appears behind one of the boys. “What the fuck are doing with my sister!?”
>”W-we were just teasing, man. No need to take it seriously.” One of them says, Lyla can’t say which because the tears are blurring her vision. “Here. We’ll give it back.”
>Lyla feels the bag get pushed into her chest. She hears footsteps come near her and she shrinks away a little.
>”Lyla?” It’s her brother. “Are you okay?”
>She nods and wipes her eyes.
>”Good. Now, go wait by my car. Green suv, right?” He says to her.
>”But-“ Lyla looks up at her brother. He has that scary look on his face, that ‘I’m getting suspended’ look, that ‘no tv for a week’ look.
>”Wait. By the. Car.” He says again and pats her on the back, pushing her on her way.
>Lyla jogs off a bit, just past the ring of boys.
>”Okay.” She hears her brother say. “I just want the leader. Whoever thought this was good idea. The rest can go.”
>Lyla hears the boys start yelling, that’s a bad choice.

>Laine is driving back home.
>His lip is busted and cheek is bruised, his pants are torn and his shirt covered in blood splatter.
>”You want to get slurpees?” He says. “You’re gonna have to get them, but I’ll give you money. I can’t go in looking like this.”
>Lyla just sits there.
>”Did you hear me?” Laine says.
>”Yeah.” She spits back.
>”So, do you-“
>”It’s because of you.” She interjects.
>”They’re just a bunch of assholes. They’ll leave you alone now.”
>”No. No! They always come back and then more join them because they want to beat you up! It’s your fault!”
>”What am I supposed to do, Lyla? Let them get away with it? They made you cry!” Laine says.
>”And what’re they gonna do next time? Something worse! They’re gonna grab me or something and then what? Are you gonna kill them? Throw your life away? Grow up!” Lyla shouts.
>The car is quiet then, save for the slow refrains of Neil Young on the radio.
>Lyla looks out the window.
>”Aunt Linka is gonna be mad that you got in a fight again...” Lyla says.
>”Let her be mad. I’m more worried about Dad, he’ll freak when he sees my jeans.”
>”You can just say they’re distressed. It’s trendy again.”
>They share a laugh.
>”I care about you, Lyla. Okay? I want to protect you, I take that too far.”
>”No. That was about you. Getting my backpack back? Helping me out? Good. Fighting five guys? Stupid. That was about you.” She says.
>”Yeah... I think you’re right.” He’s quiet for another moment. “So, stupid-brother-smart-sister slurpees?”
>”You just want a slurpee, don’t you?”
>”Yeah...”
>”Okay. Fine. What flavor?”