𝖇𝖆𝖌𝖘; 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖐𝖎𝖉 𝖑𝖆𝖗𝖔𝖎.

𝖙𝖍𝖗𝖊𝖊: 𝖆𝖑𝖑 𝖙𝖍𝖊𝖘𝖊 𝖑𝖎𝖙𝖙𝖑𝖊 𝖌𝖆𝖒𝖊𝖘.

lana's pov.

The outside air was crisp, and didn't smell completely of marijuana, in contrast to inside and the front of the house. There was only a couple of other people on the long balcony, decorated with chairs, tables, and water features. 

"This is such a beautiful house." I admitted, crossing my arms over the edge of the balcony, gazing out onto the city, "I never realised LA was this pretty."

"Yeah, I mean, at night, it's the best. When it's all calm. I'll take you for a drive along Hollywood Boulevard, if you need taking home." Laroi told me, taking a seat on one of the sun loungers behind me. I turned around to face him, frowning at the word 'home'. 

Home was definitely not the correct word for my small, barely furnished apartment, it made me depressed just thinking about it. 

"Whereabouts do you live?" Laroi asked. 

"Downtown." I frowned, "It's not that nice. It feels so lonely there." 

"Well, you could always sleep at mine?" Laroi suggested, "It's been pretty lonely there lately, too..." I smiled at the offer.

"I'd appreciate that a lot." I nodded. He grinned, before shifting his legs and patting the space between them on the sun lounger. I reluctantly went over and he pulled me in so I was snuggled against his chest, as he leaned back on the lounger. 

We sat there in silence for a few moments, apart from the indistinct chatter and the pounding music from inside, where Laroi's songs were still playing. 

"Listen..." Laroi made a move, signalling he wanted to sit up, so I sat up and turned my whole body to face him, he took one of my hands in both of his. I frowned at the sudden change of mood and shuffled a bit, "If you've been listening my music that's been playing, you'll notice there's a sort of pattern with my attitude towards relationships.."

"I... got out a relationship with someone I... thought I was in love with, a couple of months ago, and I know this sounds really strange because we met an hour ago and it sounds like I'm planning our marriage or something..."

"But I just wanted to say, just in case we were ever to... I don't know, be something more than we are now. I'm not sure if I'm like... ready to go full-on, you know? Last time I got fucked over pretty badly, so..." Laroi tried laughing it off as he hung his head. 

"No, I understand." I smiled, "I really like you so far, Laroi, and if that means waiting for you to be ready, then that's completely okay. I mean, I'm not going anywhere, I'm in no rush." Laroi gave me a grateful smile. 

"Thanks." He nodded. Then, he reached his arm out for me, and I snuggled against him, embracing the warmth he radiated. He ran his fingers along my arm, "Ah, now you're cold." I looked up at him, "Did you wanna stay or head out?" 

"I don't mind," I replied, truthfully. 

"Okay, that's an unsure answer. We'll head home." Laroi smiled, helping me up from off the sunbed and putting his arm around me, "Let me just say bye to Thomas and Dylan. Did you bring a coat?"

"No, stupidly." I sighed. Laroi pulled off his hoodie and handed it to me.

"Take it, you look freezing." He told me. So, I put it on and he put his arm around me again. We re-entered the house, weaving our way through the crowds until he spotted Thomas by the stairs. "Hey, Thomas." 

"Hey, Laroi." Thomas smiled, glancing at me, "I don't think we've met, I'm Thomas." He reached his hand out.

"I'm Lana." I smiled and politely shook his hand. 

"Do you know where Dylan is?" Laroi asked. 

"Passed out upstairs somewhere. I think he's had enough fun for tonight." Thomas sighed.

"Oh, okay. Well, Lana and I are gonna head out, she's gonna crash at mine tonight." He told him. 

"Cool. I'll tell Dylan you said bye." Thomas nodded, before turning to me. "Bye, Lana. I have a feeling I'll see you again soon." He smiled at me before nodding to Laroi, "Bye, Laroi." He clapped him on the back as he walked past us.

"Right, you ready to leave?" Laroi looked at me. 

"Mhm." I nodded. He took my hand in his and we walked through the crowd until we reached outside, where there was still a large group of people. We walked along the road until we got to his car, "Nice." I smiled to him.

"Thanks." Laroi laughed, "It's been my dream car for a long time." He opened the door for me before getting into the driver's seat and starting the car, "What do you wanna listen to?" 

"I wanna hear more of your music." I looked at him. He glanced at me and smiled, "I wanna hear the song you put the most emotion and passion into." 

"Well, I have a song in mind that I remember putting a lot of emotion into. It's uh... about my ex." He pursed his lips, looking ahead.

"Oh, I mean, you don't have to play anything if you don't want to-," I started to say.

"No, no. I want you to hear it." Laroi nodded, starting to fiddle with the radio. 

"Okay." I smiled, sitting back in my seat, looking ahead at the road. 

You cut out a piece of me, and now I bleed internally
Left here without you (no, no, no), without you (ooh, ooh)

I started the smile wider, pleasantly surprised, I could feel Laroi's eyes on me, observing my expression. 

And it hurts for me to think about what life could possibly be like
Without you (no, no, no), without you (no, no)

"It sounds like she was really special to you." I frowned, turning to look at Laroi, who had returned to keeping his eyes fixed on the road.

"She was." He nodded, chewing his tongue, "Sometimes I think it was my fault I lost her."

I can't believe that you wouldn't believe me
Fuck all of your reasons
I lost my shit, you know I didn't mean it

"Do you wanna talk about it?" I asked, keeping my eyes on him, studying his expression.