underwater || outer banks- jj maybank

twenty-nine - lunch

twenty-nine - lunch

Layla laid in her bed, her eyes transfixed on the ceiling. She wasn't quite sure what she wanted to do. She couldn't go to John B's since it was only JJ there. Kie and Pope were busy working for their dad's, and John B was at work.

Her brainstorming was interrupted by her phone ringing. It was a FaceTime call. From Rafe.

Layla sat up in her bed, glancing at herself in her vanity across from her bed. Her heart raced for a moment, as she decided to turn and prop the phone up on her pillow. She sat on her bed with her legs crossed, her hoodie sleeves overtaking her hand. She pressed the green button the answer the call, quickly brushing her waves out of her face.

"Hi," she said into the phone, Rafe glancing down at it as he held it near his leg. He was obviously driving. "Why are you calling me and driving?" she scolded.

  Rafe simply laughed. "You're at home, right?"

"Yeah," Layla replied, glancing down at her fingernails while she spoke to the boy. She needed to paint them.

"Good," Rafe answered, picking up the phone from his thigh. He appeared to be at a stoplight. "You look cute," he said quickly and quietly, before moving over it. "Anyway, I'll be there in about ten minutes. I'm taking you out for lunch, Layla Arden."

Layla's eyebrows came together. "Uh, okay." She shrugged. "Do you need my address?"

Rafe rolled his eyes. "See you soon." He then ended the call.

Layla was a bit thrown off. Rafe not only invited her to lunch (rather, instructed her to lunch), complimented the way she looked (which seemed subconscious), and knows where she lives. After processing for a moment, Layla headed to her closet to find a much cuter outfit than the one she wore (which was a black zip-up hoodie and loose-fitting gray shorts).

She found a loose pair of dark jeans, as well as a cropped, tightly fitting, lavender tank top. The top had stitching where her breasts sat, as well as a lettuce trim on the straps. She changed quickly, slipping on a pair of flip flops. She then put on chapstick and another coat of mascara, before grabbing her lanyard that contained her keys and wallet.

As she slipped her phone in her back pocket, she saw Rafe's car pull up.

She locked her front door behind her, heading out to the vehicle. Rafe smiled at her, as she climbed in to the car. "Hey."

"Hey, Rafe," she greeted, sliding herself into the passenger seat. She buckled her seatbelt, Rafe shifting the car into park after she was safely in. "What's the occasion?"

Rafe chuckled. "What do you mean?" he questioned, slight confusion in his voice.

Layla shrugged. "It's not everyday I get invited out to lunch with Rafe Cameron." She glanced over at him, his eyes focused on the road. His music was playing over the car stereo from his phone.

Rafe shrugged. "I was bored. You look tan." It seemed as though he wanted to change the topic.

"I was boating with my friends," Layla explained. "Seriously, though, why did you pick me up?"

"I haven't seen you," he stated, his tone light and joking. "Now, what's for lunch?"

Layla shrugged. "I don't care." She pulled one leg up onto the set, it turned to side. She kept her flip flop on the mats instead of leaving it on her foot and placing it on the seat.

"No, you have to decide." Rafe just glanced at her, pulling into the main area of the strip. Many restaurants were localized in the area.

"Wanna just go get sandwiches and sit on the beach?" Layla questioned, glancing over at him. He wore a polo shirt and khaki shorts, which was pretty in character for him. His hair wasn't slicked back like usual; Layla honestly liked it better like this.

Rafe shrugged. "I'm down. Are you okay? You look upset."

Layla nodded. She was caught off guard by his asking. "Yeah, I'm good."

Rafe glanced over at her doubtfully. "Real convincing."

"It's just been a rough few days," she confessed. She wasn't sure why she was opening up to Rafe, but he seemed trustworthy enough. She figured he took care of her the night at his house, she could trust him with a few feelings.

"Come on, spill," he encouraged, pulling into the lot at the sandwich shop. He placed the car in park, glancing over at her.

Layla sighed, contemplating for a moment. "Okay," she sighed, running a hand through her hair to push it out of her face. She then turned, angling her body to Rafe. "So I go to John B's the other day and- You don't have to listen to this."

"Continue" Rafe stated.

Layla nodded. "So I pull up and JJ is there with this girl. And mind you, I was with JJ and had a run-in with her. She insulted us both and I almost fought her. Like, deadass. And JJ brought her onto the boat! And as soon as I pulled in, she said I gained weight which is so rude and inappropriate. And if I did, I would admit it. And I didn't even gain weight!"

Layla shook her head, taking a breath.

"And then, and then, I confront him about it. Because of all the girls, he chooses this bitch? Like, come on. And I knew what it was about."

"What was it about?" Rafe questioned, appearing engaged in her story.

"He thinks I slept with you," Layla confessed.

Rafe's eyebrows came together. "He can't be mad about that, he cheated on you."

"Exactly! And even if we did, it has nothing to do with him. But we didn't. And I told him that. And I don't even know if he believed me." Layla took a deep inhale. "And all he does is stare at me all weird most of the time."

"What does everyone else do?"

Layla sighed. "They just ignore it. He makes everything so weird." She ran her hand though her hair. "Sorry. I know it's stupid."

Rafe shook his head. "It's not stupid at all. He's stupid. Why do you even bother?"

Layla laughed bitterly. "Good question." Layla then reached for the door handle, letting herself out the car to head into the sub shop.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───