jacket over hoodie over shirt | dreamwastaken

three.

if you had to describe clay in one word, it would be beautiful.

he is beautiful inside and out.

he is more beautiful than the sunset you watch from the plane window and more beautiful than the night sky.

his smile is like the sun (or the moon in a night sky) and his laugh is bright and ringing, like the sound of a bell.

you find yourself thinking of his golden waves as you are blinded by the sun in the early morning. they'd shine in this early morning light. it'd be beautiful.

you sigh, staring down at the cup of hot chocolate that you're not sure why you got. you're too nervous to eat or drink, just picking at some pastry.

every time the bell rings, you look up. it's a constant cycle of looking up, expecting to see that familiar face, not seeing him, then looking back down at your phone. it's 9:49 a.m. by the time the bell rings again. you look up. it isn't him. you look back down.

he said he would be here around 9:30, and it's drawing closer to 10. you're beginning to worry he chickened out or stood you up. (stood you up? it wasn't even a date!-)

"waiting on someone?" the barista asks. you nod with a halfhearted smile.

"a good friend of mine. i haven't seen him in a while."

the man behind the counter eyes you for a moment, then smiles knowingly. "sure he's not an ex? you seem awfully anxious about seeing your friend."

"okay, fine, a good ex." you laugh a little. he nods.

"good luck."

"thank you."

and he leaves you be.

then, something occurs to you. why did clay invite you here? he can't stand the smell of coffee, so why? maybe for the cliche? the thought makes you laugh. he would do that.

right as your phone switches to 10:00, you hear the bell. you look up, frowning as you see it's some woman who looks as giddy as you had felt. a date, likely. anyone could guess.

you want to wait, but you don't want to disappoint yourself. so you get your drink in a to-go cup and a small box for the pastry and step out. the combination of a cool breeze and the warmth of the sun's rays brush over your face and you briefly close your eyes and take it in.

you've missed florida. the smell of palm trees and the ocean everywhere, even if you never lived close to it. the warmth, which also kind of sucked.

after a moment, you decide to get walking. you're spaced out, eyes focused forward, until you hear something.

"y/n!" 

you blink and glance around. you don't see anyone. so you continue. but you hear it again. louder, this time. maybe closer?

"y/n!"

the voice is closer and familiar. you look around again, seeing nothing once more. you furrow your brows, then continue walking. but then there's a sound. footsteps, this time.

you flinch and turn. what you expect is a creepy middle aged man, but realize it isn't even close.

it's clay.

(besides, how would it be a stranger? the only people you know from here are clay, nick, and maybe some other locals.)

"oh- clay! hi!" you smile easily, as if things are the same. as if you two never split.

for a moment, you are whole again.

--

"you seem better off than me." he comments as you two sit side by side in the car.