iridescent ↠ grayson dolan ✓

↠ e i g h t

{ c h a p t e r e i g h t }
lauren's pov ;

The dark twilight from the previous night had melted into smudges of soothing lavender and a brilliant amber. Sunlight soon brought more colors from their sleepy monochrome, the sky already more bluish than the far ocean in the distance. Soft morning light formed a halo over Grayson's hair as they walked hand in hand, exploring the tiny town.

It was a quaint little place, with white cobblestone sidewalks and green vines snaking across scattered Victorian houses. The town was a twenty minute walk from their motel, but it was worth every step. The two stopped at little destinations on the way through the town, old antique shops and libraries that smelt of fresh ink and paper. The town was so tranquil that it seemed as though they could almost hear the heartbeat of the town, quiet, like the ticking of an old grandfather clock.

After weaving through the labyrinth of ivory pebbled roads, the paths eventually converged and unveiled a café. It's royal blue paint glistened in the first golden rays of the day, and morning dew clung to it's sign like sparkling jewels. Gloria's, it read in sprawled cursive. Flower pots with vibrant flowers hung from the wall. Grayson looked around before discreetly picking one of the flowers and tucking it behind Lauren's ear.

Lauren covered her face a little with her hands as heat rise to her cheeks. She couldn't help the idiotic smile that spread across her face.

Jazz poured out of the open doors of the café and as they walked in they were greeted with warm, colorful walls and the smell of coffee beans and fresh pastries. There was an elderly man at the entrance. His calloused, wrinkled skin contrasted to the crispness of his formal attire. His eyes lit up when he saw the two walking in, as though customers there were a rare occurrence.

"Good morning sir." The man said, greeting Grayson first with a polite smile. "How may I help you?"

Grayson managed a tight lipped smile but refused to look at the man in the eyes. Lauren stepped in front of Grayson without hesitation, squeezing his hand in reassurance.

"Hi. Table for two please." She said, her bright smile never faltering.

The man glanced at Grayson questioningly before nodding. "Right this way."

He led them to a wooden table that overlooked the almost empty sidewalks of the town. A warm beacon of light embraced them through the panes of glass, bathing the checkered floors in a cross-cross of iridescent colors. It was almost as bright as Grayson's eyes.

"I'm sorry." Grayson said softly once the man was gone.

"What for?"

"What happened over there." He said, beginning to ramble. "I should've tried at least, but sometimes it feels like I'm paralyzed for a second, like I can't do or say anything. My chest tightens and I barely remember to breathe and--"

"Grayson." Lauren said firmly, shutting him up. "You're doing great."

"I am?" Surprise is evident in his tone.

"Of course you are. Look at how far you've come. Two months ago, I simply walked in your room and you had an anxiety attack."

"Only because you scared the living crap out of me." He mumbled.

Lauren laughed. "I know I did. But now look at you, you're here you're perfectly fine."

"I wouldn't exactly explain that situation there as perfectly fine." He said, not meeting her eyes.

"Hey." She said, touching his hand. "I promise you, you'll be completely better before you know it."

"You don't know that, Lauren."

"Look, I know that this is hard and it's going to take some time adjusting to this, but you will get through this. I know you will."

Before giving Grayson a chance to speak, she rummaged through her backpack, furrowing her eyebrows in concentration as she looked through the endless miscellaneous goods she had brought with on her trips. When she finally found what she was looking for, she took it out with a sly smile on her face.

"My journal?"

Lauren shrugged. "You left it in the motel and I thought you might want it."

"Why do I have a feeling that you're planning something?"

Lauren shot him a sideways grin. "Maybe because I am."

Grayson raised an eyebrow as Lauren flipped open to a page in his journal. Before them was a list, in bold, hurriedly scribbled font.

Grayson's eyes widened. His eyes filled with dread. "No. Lauren, we can't-"

"Why not?"

"Because . . . " He hesitated, biting his lip. "We just can't."

"I'm not taking that for an answer."

"You're impossible." He sighed. "You're not going to let me get out of this, aren't you?"

She shook her head with smirk. "Unfortunately not."

He threw his head back and groaned. "Please?" He pouted with large eyes. Lauren laughed, punching him playfully on the shoulder but still stuck to her word.

"Tonight." Lauren said, with an ear splitting smile. Her insides swelled with excitement. She was deliriously happy, giddy even. She could've sworn she too saw the corner's of Grayson's mouth twitch upwards ever so slightly.

"Tonight, Grayson Dolan, will be a night you'll never forget."

* * *

I know this chapter is short and a filler and also sucks ass but I have literally mountains of homework and assignments to do and I'm trying to keep to my updating schedule as best as possible so I'm really sorry if this chapter makes your eyes bleed. There's also probably a lot of errors so I'm sorry for those too.

Dedicated to highkiisavage bc her books are the shit and make me laugh a lot.