WHEN THE RAIN STOPS- Scrutinized [TANNER x LUNA] 2 IN 1

SIDE STORY PT. TWENTY EIGHT

|LUNA|

Tanner and I had been driving for at least an hour. He wanted to surprise me so I just let him drive. We only stopped once and it was to get gas and snacks. I got a cherry coke while Tanner got another pack of cigarettes. I hadn't really talked to him about that. It's not like it bothered me that much, I mean he never smoked when I was around so I kinda forgot about it. He doesn't seem attached or addicted to it though, it's more of a hobby I guess. We paid for our items and went back on the road. The radio filled our ears as we got closer and closer to the destination. "I think you're gonna like this. We're even staying in a good place, nice and relaxing. The perfect vacation." I huffed a smile and got excited. Sooner or later in the night, Tanner had parked in the parking lot of a beach, next to a house. "This is where we're staying?" He nodded. It looked like a motel but he reassured me it wasn't. "It's a modern beach house that my family owns. So we'll be alone." "Ok." We walked in the house and placed down our luggage. Tomorrow we would have to drive into town and get swim suits to actually enjoy the beach. It was kind of Tanner to drop everything and take me somewhere, but then again he was bored too so it wasn't much of a surprise when he said yes. I took our luggage and put it in the room he told me was ours. He was grabbed the last bag when I was admiring the view from the window. It felt like I was on the moon and looking down at earth. But in reality I was just standing in front of a big ass window in our room. It's weird saying our all the time. Like our relationship, our love, our future and our...life. I couldn't see me getting married, or in better terms I couldn't imagine myself getting married to a worthy man. Tanner was more than worthy but I feared he would leave me in the end. Some people, when they feel that way, try to make the other person stay by any means necessary. They cook, clean and even beg sometimes. But not me, not yet. I wanted him to leave. To leave me before I got attached. The thing Is... I feared that I was already attached to him. At first I was willing to let him in and to keep him but over time with tear and wear I felt like I was an old pair of shoes. That he just kept for nostalgia or mental value.

Maybe even as a trophy, like many other serial killers. Was I thinking too much into this? He did bite me a while back.. 'great, now I'm on edge.' I thought. I was pulled out of my thinking by Tanner plopping his hands down onto my shoulders. "Nice view huh?" "Jesus Tanner!" He chuckled and I slowed my breathing back to normal after being startled. "Sorry Love, you just looked so at peace and I wanted to join." He moved his hands to wrap around me instead of on me for a while as we watched the sun go down. "Look, the Luna is coming out." I casually scoffed a soft laugh at his pun. He noticed my face turn and moved a strand of hair out of my face. "What's wrong Flower?" I shrugged, "I don't know. I miss Lavanda. And yea I know she's better off now, but I can't help but feel sad. Ya know?" He nodded "I miss her too." He kissed my cheek and led me by my hand away, changing the subject. "Cmon, let's go get food before we sleep."
I smiled and let him take me to wherever he wanted.
"I have some friends in the area I want you to meet." He was excited and dragging me to the car at this point. "Do they know you're back?" He nodded, "they always know before I even tell them. Something about the water or something." I nodded and started to stare out the window for a while. The waves became lighter and the moon came out over us. I remember when I was little I would tell my mom and dad, 'look! The moon is following us mom!' She would always giggle and agree with me. Now all I can do is remember the times. I never noticed how sad she was.. she was alone most of the time and wouldn't come out besides from the casual food grabs. Once I noticed that I was about to drag down the mood I shook away the thought. "So how are your friends like?" "They're a bit loud but overall pretty good people, they're very...passionate about they're home." I smiled and turned to face forward.

~Time Skip~

The drive wasn't long and the restaurant was a beach one. We climbed up the stairs and to the table where he told me that his friends booked. "Tanner!" A male yelled out with a huge smile. "Cole!" Tanner ran up to hug him as they greeted each other with on of the most friendliest hugs. Cole was dressed in a black over coat and some black jeans and white dress shirt that was Untucked. It looked nice and fancy but the others didn't match their aesthetic, instead they were dressed casual like me. Tanner greeted the rest of his friends and then introduced me. "And, This is Luna. My girl-." "OMG!!" A girl screened, then tackled me to a hug. "YESS, YOU FINALLY GOT A GIRLFRIEND!" We both laughed together as she helped me back up. "Hello, I'm Luna." I smiled. She bit her lip in anticipation. "She's sooo pretty!! How'd you even land her?!" The rest of his friends laughed and Tanner casually said. "Oh ya know, I have some moves." I laughed at his response and leaned against the girl who tackled me. Later on I found out her name was Jessie. I spent the night talking to them and listening to the stories they had of Tanner from when he was younger. Apparently he did a lot of stupid shit, break his arm from falling out a tree, cartwheel off a wall into the ocean, and even stole a boat once. "And THATS not even the worst thing! Remember when..." they kept talking to each other, as I noticed Cole wasn't there anymore. "Hey I'll be back." I whispered to Tanner. He nodded and kept talking. I walked down to the beach and walked along the shore for a while til I looked up to find Cole. Dangling his feet off a tall cliff. I furrowed my brows and yelled to him. "Hey! What are you doing?!" He looked down but couldn't hear me. He motioned for me to come up. I looked around and with the moonlight lighting my pale skin I walked up the cliff. Once I got to the top I found him. Fixing bandages on his forearms, that were formally hidden by his over coat. "Where did those come from?" I asked. He smiled and patted the floor next to him. I sat down and daggers my feet with his. "I was just curious, and now I have to hide them from children."