Arranged

Chapter Three : Stay Here For A While

A/N : So, here's another chapter! Please review! It means a lot!

Chapter Three : Stay Here for a While

Arthur

"I guess, I'll see you later?" Arthur said as he playfully poked Verona's side. The two were walking along the dock of town, recently coming back from hanging out at the local hang out spot of the Jazz Club and decided to take a stroll by the beach. 

Verona, laughed as she shoved him off, "Yeah, don't stay around all night. Or else they're actually going to think that you're a bum." She teased, sticking out her tongue for a moment before taking in another laugh, "Besides, I have a finance that probably doesn't want me out late with another man." She said with a snort before pinching his cheek playfully and scurrying off the dock. 

Arthur, waved with a wide grin at his friend as he watched her. Shaking his head with a small laugh as he walked along the beach. Hearing the crashing waves spilling upon the shore. The night was warm with a chilly hint to it. Stars were sprinkled on the black velvet sky and easily looked as if you could reach and grasp for it. 

As a child with his father, he'd count stars with him. Simply laying out on the backyard with cookies in Ireland and counting the stars. Catching fireflies that flew on by. That all ended when his father died of terminal cancer only when they recently came to America. He'd constantly remember his father and missed him dearly. Often he'd need to understand that his father greeted death as an old friend. And that he needed to deal with it. 

Arthur, ran a hand through his messy blonde hair as he continued to walk, looking ahead and spotting a person sitting with their knees to their chest. There was sparkles on them, getting closer he saw that it was a woman. Dressed in a red gown that looked quite fancy but was spoiling it on the sand. Her hair was a messy tousle of caramel girls and the moonlight seemed to live on her skin. Favor her. She was breathtaking and he knew that it was, Layla. Was it fate that brought them together again? He wasn't sure. He'd only think about her all day. 

"Layla?" He called with blinks as he approached her with his hands perched into his pocket trousers. 

Layla, sniffed quickly as she blinked, squinting her eyes to get better sight from the dark night. Easily, spotting Arthur, and feeling a smile crawl on her lips. "Arthur?"  

Arthur, smiled as he sat down beside her, up close, she was even more beautiful. The moon definitely favored her. The glow of the ocean seemed to sparkle and live in her eyes. 

"What are you doing out here, this late?" He asked with a small crooked grin. 

His smile made, Layla's heart skip a beat as she brushed a loose curl behind her ear, "Just an escape..." She said quietly, easily in her tone he could read that something was wrong. 

"What's wrong?" He asked with knitted brows in concern, his eyes searching hers as she looked ahead. 

Layla, shrugged gently, "Just parents, they can be demanding and... controllable." 

Arthur, nodded slowly as he looked ahead. Watching the swaying ocean for a moment before speaking, "I understand.. They can... make you feel overly sheltered and clustered. To the point where claustrophobia, isn't just in a box or in tight places." He chuckled, "Perhaps, they feel the same way as well. Cluttered with the fear of something happening to us. Clustered with emotion. It's hard to please them and it must be hard for them to understand us or at least try. Probably even more hard for them to let us out into the world. They've carried us through good and bad and we've put them in good and bad situations... It must be difficult for them and yet it's difficult for us to. We're both claustrophobic with fear of growing."