✵ 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙮 {𝙟𝙟 𝙢𝙖𝙮𝙗𝙖𝙣𝙠} ✵

⭒❃.✮:▹ Childhood regrets ◃:✮.❃⭒

"Layla?"

My eyes widen at the sound of his voice, shock absorbing my mind, I'm scared but I can't let that show.

"Rafe, I heard you were back I had to come see you!" I smile enthusiastically to push the performance as I turn towards his direction, he is sprawled lazily across his bed as he grins at me, he walks over to me pulling me into a hug.

"It's been a while lala" he mutters into my hair using my childhood nickname.

I'm finding it impossible to see this man as the cold hearted killer that Sarah has made him out to be, he seems like the same sweet boy who I shared my first kiss with.

Tears prick my eyes as I pull away and he laughs slightly as he looks at my face and I smile back as he wipes the tears of my cheeks, "it certainly has been rara" I mutter in uncertainty and he looks at me confused.

"What's got you in such a twist?" He questions sweetly, yet again contradicting the imagery I had of him being a blood thirsty monster.

I laugh slightly to feign innocence, "just the memory's, me, you and Sarah always use to hang around in here" his eyes turn down and he swallows thickly, "yeah we did" he mutters softly his voice cracking ever so slightly. "We use to sit in the tunnel all the time, do you still have it?" I question trying to get back into my original task without raising suspicion, not because I wanted to complete the task more because I need a distraction, a slight distraction from all the thoughts that are running like a raging torrent through my mind.

"Yeah, uh, yeah, we still have it" he clears his through and smiles at me gently and I grin at him, "want to go sit in it? For old times sake" I justify and he looks like a deer caught in the headlights for a brief second, "no it's all blocked off now they bricked off both ends" he mutters.

I stare at him confused, "I thought you said it's still there" I question and he just raises his eyebrows and swallows again not looking me in the eyes as he shakes his head, "yeah, sorry about that I got caught up in my own thoughts I guess" he breathes out, looking at me after he's finished, he never could look me in the yes when he lies, anyone else he could lie to with ease, never me.

Forcing a smile I nod my head as I pretend to go along with his words, " it's cool I get it, mentioning it brought back a lot of memory's" I laugh gently and he nods his head and smiles in relief, "yeah you get it" he smiles at me and I nod my head and grin back at him.

"Anyways, I have to get back to work now" I mutter lightly and he nods his head slightly as he goes and sits back on his bed, "right yeah of course, see you around" he adds and I smile and nod as I exit out the door, "see you around" I murmur softly before I shut it.

I lean my back against the door and sigh closing my eyes in pain of how I had to act like everything was normal, tears gathering in my eyes as I inhale slowly in an attempt to regulate my breathing again, "Layla I couldn't find anything" Kie yells to me as she comes round the corner and I hold my finger to my lips looking at her in worry she stares at me in confusion, I gesture for her to get back against the wall, kicking Sarah's back of clothes towards her, she stares at me but doesn't comment on it.

I knock on the door "Rafe?" I question gently through it and I hear shuffling as he gets off his bed and come towards the door, he opens it and I smile at him, "is it just you or is there anyone else I can say hi to, Ive missed you all so much" I laugh going with the lie at ease and Rafe shakes his head softly, "just me for now, they fly out Next week" I nod my head and sigh gently under my breath.

He goes to shut the door and Kie starts to walk towards me but he stops and opens it wide again and she has to throw herself back into the wall, "Layla would you want to hang out sometime? During the week or something?" He asks nervously and I smile at him and shrug my shoulders, "I don't see why not" he laughs slightly at my answer.