ethan's pov :
grayson rubs my back, trying to calm me down and i clear my throat, looking around the airport to try to distract myself.
"ethan, calm down man. perla says she's gonna be here in a little-"
"holy shit! it's really you guys!"
i tug onto my beanie before looking up but grayson leaves my side, running towards whoever screamed for us.
my jaw drops and i drop my bags when i adjust my eyes at the view in front of me. i then quickly run towards the tiny figure in front of me.
"perla!" i yell
she let's go of grayson's embrace and starts running towards me with her arms wide open.
she jumps into my arms and shoves her face into my neck while i spin her around. she kicks her legs, begging for me to put her down and i chuckle, letting her go.
"y-you." she stutters
she grabs ahold of my stubble and rubs it back and forth in shock.
"you have a... beard." she gasps
i wack her hand away but nod, agreeing.
"yes perla. i do." i chuckle
grayson runs back to my side and grabs his bags that he dropped and smiles at both of us.
"so who's the asshole?" i slyly smirk
perla punches my arm and chuckles, staring down at the glossy ground of the airport.
"his name's hayes." she blushes
grayson pinches her cheeks and she slaps his hands away, sticking her tongue out at him.
"you really haven't changed have you?" i ask in awe
"don't get soft on me grant." she points
i shake my head and point at the doors of the airport, indicating we should start walking. grayson and perla nod and perla tries to grab a bag from me; trying to help but i shake my head and grasp it away before she could get ahold of it.
"didn't know you got manners since time has passed." i teased
she scoffs and starts walking faster, leaving grayson and i behind. i chuckle, urging for grayson to walk faster and catch up with perla.
—
"gosh! the dolans!"
perla's dad engulfs grayson and i into a hug and i look at grayson over his shoulder and he flashes me a huge smile.
"how've you been richard?" i ask, letting go from his embrace
"oh, i've been great ethan! but you know... katie really has been a pain in the ass." he whispers
"oh shut up richard!" perla's mom yells from up the stairs
"come up boys. i have your rooms ready." she grins
i look over to perla and raise my eyebrows and she gives me a smirk, urging for us to go upstairs.
"i told you not to tell them we're staying here. we feel bad perla." grayson whispers harshly
she kicks his ankle harshly and points up the stairs, complying ignoring his statement.
grayson growls and gives her a glare before grabbing my wrist and dragging us towards katie.
—
"you guys already know where everything is. nothing has changed." katie smiles warmly
"thank you katie." grayson smiles
"oh it's no problem. you boys are like my son's. and remember, ask for anything at all if you need anything!"
once she shuts the door, grayson lets out a deep sigh and fall back onto our bed.
"i'm tired." he whines
"you sleep and i'll talk to perla and catch up."
he whines lazily and wraps himself in the cotton blanket, shoving his face into the pillow set on his head. i chuckle and frizzle up his hair before shutting our door quietly.
"perla!"
she stops running towards her room and smiles hearing my voice.
"hey eth." she smiles
"can we catch up?" i ask, rubbing the back of my neck
she points at my arm and chuckles slightly.
"you still do that?"
i nod and drop my arm. she nods, walking back towards her room.
"w-why?" i ask with furrowed eyebrows, running behind her trying to catch up to her
"just... reminds me of memories."
