the nymph ☼ sean diaz ✓

-fourteen .

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Lyla. Fucking. Park.

"Are you going to stand there like you saw a ghost forever?" Lyla asks sarcastically.

No. No. She's not real.

"I—uh," Sean stumbles on his sentence, not knowing what to say as his mind is racing.

Lyla glances over her shoulder. Her dark hair shoulder-length, glued to her head with water. "Can you oggle at me more inside? I'm getting wet out here."

Sean stares at Lyla. He was joking about the whole Lyla standing at the door with a smile, he didn't know if he should be excited or scared. He didn't know what to do.

"Whatever, weirdo." Lyla interrupts his thoughts and invites herself in. "It's so fucking cold in here."

She takes off her shoes and socks as they're soaked with water. "Where are the towels?" She turns to Sean, her socks in her hand.

"Oh—uh sorry they're in the washroom." Sean closes the door behind him, his heart beating so hard and loud, he was sure Lyla could hear. He makes his way to the dining room, to the small downstairs washroom.

"Thanks." Lyla says, grabbing the towel out of Sean's hands. She pats her clothes with the towels.

"H-how did you find me?" Sean asks softly, watching as Lyla dries herself with the towel.

Lyla shrugs. "You told me you'd be here." Lyla ruffles her wet hair. "Aren't you happy to see me?"

"I am." Sean sighs. "It's just—so unconventional."

Lyla smiles. "I've always been unpredictable."

Lyla throws the towel to her side, not caring where it lands. She looks at Sean.

"It's so nice to see you." Lyla says, pulling Sean into her arms. "How's Daniel?"

Does she think it's all normal?

Sean pushes Lyla away gently, as he's damp with the rain left on her clothes. Lyla smiles sheepishly.

"He's uh," Sean pauses to think of things to say. Think Sean. Think.

"He's fine." Sean says through grit teeth. It would be easier to lie to her compared to explaining the whole situation to her. He had to make sure he could trust her.

Lyla says an audible "phew" as she rubs the back of her palm across her forehead.

"Last time I saw him...was a while ago." Lyla hesitates to say to him. "He was devastated after the funeral."

"Hold on," Sean says. "What funeral?"

Lyla looks at Sean, her face twisting into a sad face filled with grief.

"Oh, Sean." Lyla says softly, pulling him into a hug. "I forgot you-"

"What funeral?" Sean asks firmly.