limerence | COMPLETED

13

"HEY," KAI SAYS WHEN LAYLA SWINGS HER FRONT DOOR OPEN.

"Hey, come in," she greets, a little breathless from rushing to the door. "Sorry about the mess, I was changing the lightbulb," she adds in explanation for the abandoned ladder in the middle of the room.

"It's fine," he says, quirking his lips into an amused smile as he steps inside after her. "I have a feeling you're usually fixing something whenever there's a spare moment."

Well, she can't exactly deny that.

"This is different from your usual look," he then says, gesturing curiously at her outfit.

She glances down slightly self-consciously at the black fitted cargos and pale green cami she changed into earlier when she realised her parents still weren't back from their trip.

"Oh," she says, cheeks warming, surprised he noticed. "Uh, it's more comfortable for me. I guess."

Truthfully, clothes like this are much more her style. So, whenever her parents aren't here to criticise, she enjoys her momentary freedom and wears whatever the hell she wants. But it is quite a drastic change from her usual look, so he's probably taken-aback.

"It suits you," he offers, most likely out of obligation. "The green looks good on you."

She gives an awkward smile in thanks.

"Um, do you want a drink or anything?" she asks, trying to remember how to act when someone actually comes around. That and she'll do anything she can to avoid the awkward silence that's bound to happen at some point.

"I'm okay," he declines, glancing around the kitchen with intrigue. "Is it always this quiet?"

"Yeah, usually," she answers nonchalantly. He shakes his head as she starts to lead the way up the stairs to her room.

"It's like a different planet. It's always so loud at mine."

"Loud? I would have thought your house would be fairly quiet."

Stepping into her room, Layla glances back to check that he's not somehow managed to get lost behind her and when she notices him hesitating uncertainly at the threshold, she encouragingly gestures for him to come in.

"Trust me, Aubrey is noisy enough-" He doesn't get a chance to finish his response because the second his eyes land on the view outside her bedroom window, he stops talking completely. Awe lines his features when he looks at her. "That's beautiful."

She smiles. "I had a feeling you would like it."

Kai trails over to the window like he's entranced, his eyes wide, taking in the view of the entire town laid out before him. The sun is setting right now too, which only makes the sight outside so much more beautiful.

"You can literally see everything from here," he breathes, pressing his hands into the windowsill.

The warm, orange glow from the sunset eagerly embraces his tall frame and for a second, Layla almost wonders if he'll disappear.

"I might be a little jealous. All I can see from my room is trees."

"Might?" she questions, humoured.

"No, I'm jealous," he admits as he glances over his shoulder at her, now grinning. He takes one more quick look out the window before facing her again. "So what theme did you want to do for the assignment?"

"I don't really mind, honestly. Was there anything you wanted to do?"

"I was thinking we could do the exile and homelessness theme? Since everyone else will probably do innocence or perversity."