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

SIDE STORY PT. FIFTY SEVEN

|LUNA|

I've never been to a place like this.. hell I've never even had an IV stuck in me before, but here I was, sitting in a chair getting iron injected into me with Tanner taking a nap on my shoulder. I wanted to leave but it would at least take another 20 minutes. So I decided to email that girl back or send her information to the police. "Leslie Puritin.." I whispered while looking at the poster. She seemed like a nice girl. One you could eat dinner with when you were a bad mood, but i couldn't shake the feeling i knew her from somewhere... a neighbor perhaps? I decided I would start my search on her social media accounts. Sooner or later I was hooked. I needed to know what happened that night, but in a matter of seconds it was already time to leave. "Luna." Tanner said in a sleepy voice. I looked over to find him stretching. "Cmon, let's go home." I nodded and got out of the chair. I was happy I only had to come here one time but I was still focused on the case. I started walking out with him. He was sleepy so I decided to drive. Which was a good call, halfway to the house he fell asleep again. I decided I would surprise him so I stopped by a ice cream place. Asking for the sweetest drink before driving home. "Tanner," I shook him "hun wake up," he startled himself awake before groggily standing up. "Why are you so tired all of a sudden?" I asked while he shrugged. "It was so quiet at the office that I just got sleepy. But don't worry, I can stay awake now." I reached for the doorknob as I decided on taking an all nighter. Sure it was only 2 but I really wanted to know. 'Maybe I could go to the library.' When we go inside, I went straight to my room and started packing my laptop and notepad. Tanner followed and started asking where I was going. "I'm going to the library. I need to work." "Who are you going with?" "No one. Why?" He smiled. "Just wondering." He scanned me up and down before going to the dresser. "Lift your arms up." "Why?" "Just do it." I groaned and put them up. Only to have a hoodie crash down on me in response. "There." He patted my shoulders and kissed my forehead. "I have to run errands so I'll see you when I get home." I nodded and just like that I was off for the public library.

It was oddly relaxing to be alone. I guess being overwhelmed does that to some people. I put down my things at a table and started working. I was right! She did live close by. Maybe I could request a wellness check.. I sent the request to Travis and went back to basically stalking Leslie. By 8 I was done with my two coffees and was ready to start the all nighter. The library I was at was open til 11 so I chose to get one more coffee at the cafe before working straight through the 2 and half hour session.

|LAYLA: DAY OF THE PARK INCIDENT|

I was infuriated. Boiling with anger. Why the hell would he do that?! I thought as I dragged Laurence into his room like a mom mad at her kid. "Ow! What the hell Lay-!" "What was that?!" "What was wha-?!" "That!- That scene at the park!" I exclaimed while pointing at the door. He stood in silence. Clearly as mad as me. "Laurence, Why are you torturing that poor girl?!" "Who?! Luna?! I though you said you wanted us together!" "I do! But not like that! Jeez you're making the literal murderer look like the better option!" "Then what do you want me to do?! I've tried making moments! I've tried being friends! I've tried-!" "I want you to stop. She's made her choice.." Laurence looked down at me with sadness in his eyes. I spoke again. "Tanner's a good guy. He'll take care of her. Hell he's done a better job than you so far." He stood in silence for a second before shoving the air and turning around. Throwing books off his bookshelf and onto the floor before I stomped over. "What are you doing?! The baby's trying to sle-!" I stopped with the sight of a little white book. He pleaded with me. "Pleaseee Layla. Let me at least pull this! And I promise this time it'll work!" We stood there. Testing each other's stubbornness. "You're a fucking pervert." His eyes widened when I yanked the book out of his hand and into the fireplace. "NOO!" He ran to the fireplace but the book was already ash. "That was my ticket out of here Layla! I-." He whimpered and crouched down to almost a fetal position. Then with a punch to the ground and a groan he stood back up. He went to speak but I interrupted. "Don't even say anything Laurence. You know this is the right choice-." "Right choice?! Lay! He's gonna kill her!"