underwater || outer banks- jj maybank

thirty - wheeze

thirty - wheeze

Lunch with Rafe had turned into hanging out into the afternoon, which turned into Rafe coming back to her house to spend more time together.

Layla wasn't entirely sure why she even trusted Rafe. While he had been nothing but nice to her, it definitely wasn't always the case; hell, even a few weeks ago he seemed annoyed to see her at the pizza place.

To her, whether she was aware of it or not, it was more about proving something. She wanted to be less predictable. She wasn't going to be the type of girl who just rolled over and took everything the world gave her. This was due to the way JJ treated her, as well as the entire looming situation with her father. By involving herself with Rafe, she was showing that she was capable of doing what everyone else didn't expect.

Besides, she was trying to push herself away from JJ. She was trying to distance herself from him so she wouldn't fall back into his behaviors.

Currently, Layla was sitting on the couch with her back against the arm and her legs outstretched. She had changed into an oversized hoodie, as well as a pair of shorts.

Rafe sat in the chair in the living area, adjacent from Layla. She had scooped them both ice cream from a tub into small bowls and topped them with whipped cream. Layla wasn't in the mood for dinner, but rather for a sweet treat.

It was about six in the evening.

"Are you going to Midsummers this year?" Rafe questioned, his eyes locked on the red bowl that held the ice cream.

Layla laughed. "God, I haven't even thought about that."

Rafe shrugged. "Sarah's been picking out her dress for months," he explained, reflecting for a moment and then laughing. "She keeps buying more, and every time she buys another one, she doesn't return the other ones. So she has about six dresses."

Layla laughed. "I hate the whole thing. My grandmother usually brings me a dress home at the last minute and that's what I wear."

"Why do you hate it?" Rafe questioned. "It's a nice event."

Layla laughed. "It's all so showy. What's the point? To drink with your parents?" She shrugged. "I just don't get it."

"Do you wanna go back to my house?"

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Layla woke up on Rafe's sofa. The couch was rather large, wrapping around most of the sitting area. The windows were open, the wind from the rain blowing in. Her back was pressed against the sofa, her feet extending towards the end of the couch. Rafe was laying on the couch similarly, his legs hanging half off the couch. Their feet were facing each other's.

After yawning, Layla sat up on the couch. She adjusted her body so that her back was against the sofa and she was sitting upright.

She got up from the couch, her socks making contact with the flooring. She attempted to be as quiet as possible as to not wake Rafe.

She needed to find a bathroom in the large home. As she walked across the chilled floor, she spotted a hallway which led to various doors. She peaked into the first one that was cracked open to reveal a brunette girl sitting on her bed with her phone in her palm.

Layla attempted to move away from it quickly in hopes she wouldn't be seen, but the girl popped her head up. "Hi," she called, watching Layla through the crack.

She contemplated running away from the girl's door for just a moment, deciding in her better nature that she should speak the girl who addressed her. "Um, hi."

"So are you here for my sister or my brother?" the small, brunette girl inquired.

Layla pushed the door open more, placing her body in the door way. She recognized the girl vaguely. "Um, I'm gonna say brother, but I guess it could go either way. I'm Layla." She smiled at the girl who sat crisscross in leggings and a white t-shirt.

"Wheezie." She smiled curtly, most likely not expecting Layla to even sort of give her the time of day.

"What are you doing?" Layla questioned, in reference to the phone.

Wheezie flashed it in her direction, the screen revealing an episode of something paused. "I don't know, I just started it. Some show about a treasure hunt."

"Is it good?" Layla questioned in reply to the girl's brief summary.

Wheezie nodded nonchalantly. "You're the girl who was here the other night."

Layla's eyebrows scrunched together. "I'm, yeah, I guess that was me."

Wheezie nodded, when suddenly, someone came up behind Layla. A cold hand touched the side of her neck as he walked by, quickly removing it and placing himself on the side next to the door frame Layla was standing in. His eyebrows came together, as if he was confused as to why she was talking to the girl.

Layla just gave a soft smile and shrugged. Her few sun freckles were extremely apparent in the soft light coming through Wheezie's bedroom window.

"Rafe!" Wheezie called out, "Did you take my phone charger?"

Rafe simply popped his head in the doorway. "And so what if I did?"

Wheezie rolled her eyes. "I was going to tell you to keep it because dad bought me a new one, but not with that attitude," she snapped at him.

It was now Rafe's turn to roll his eyes. "Alright, Wheeze. If you'll be excusing us."

Rafe then grabbed Layla's arm, beginning to pull her from the door. "It was nice to meet you," Layla stated, smiling at Wheezie. "Enjoy your show."

Wheezie nodded. "I like this one," she said to Rafe, Rafe rolling his eyes again.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───