leylayilmz

[leylayilmz]

[leylayilmz]

Leyla startled at the sound of her name, the urgency in Benny's voice slicing clean through the soft hum of music and the quiet rustle of pages. She'd been sitting on the floor in the back corner of the store, halfway through re-categorising the romantasy shelf, blissfully unaware of what was about to happen. Benny never shouted — not unless something was genuinely on fire or about to be. She sprang up and jogged toward the sound of his voice within an insant, the cold air hitting her face before she even stepped inside. "What's u—" she started, before her eyes landed on him, arms raised like he was bracing for impact, white dust already blooming in the air like a warning. She didn't laugh—yet. Instead, she lunged forward, grabbing the edge of the bin just as it tilted, helping him steady it back onto the rack. Her fingers brushed his, cold from the freezer air.

Once the bin was safely back in place, Leyla let out a breath she hadn’t realised she’d been holding. Her eyes flicked down to the thin layer of flour dusting Benny’s shirt and chest, her mouth tugging into something of a smile. She pulled her hand back, swiping some flour from her arm, then gave a quick glance around the freezer. The cold crept under her sleeves, prompting a small shiver. “Are you okay?" she asked, eyes scanning him in a once over—checking for bruises or injuries. Behind them, a soft click echoed, muffled by the thick insulation of the freezer walls. Leyla barely registered the sound, her focus still on Benny as she waited for his answer, unaware that anything had changed.

WHERE: Everything Goes... after closing!

@leylayilmz

Benny chewed on the inside of his lip and let out a deep sigh as he squatted down, pen in hand, noting inventory in their walk-in freezer. The door was slightly ajar, a result of his stubbornness about fixing the door handle, which he had been neglecting in favor of other tasks. He knew that by the time he had to do inventory like this, it would be a hassle, so he accepted the inconvenience and focused on his work. There was no point in huffing and puffing. He would take the loss and get things done quickly.

Music from his phone played softly on the wooden work table just outside the door, the muffled sounds of Billy Joel accompanying Benny's late-night work. He assumed Leyla was somewhere in the store, either tending to the front or sorting through the books. Benny hummed contentedly, unconcerned by the cold, as he moved to his left to begin jotting down the frozen dough that had been set aside for a large order for a party in a few days.

Just as he attempted to climb higher for a better view of the middle rack, Benny's footing unexpectedly slipped. Catching himself on the frame, the sudden jolt shook the entire rack, causing a large bin filled to the brim with white flour to begin tipping from the top. “Oh shit—” In a desperate bid to prevent disaster, Benny raised his arms instinctively, abandoning his clipboard as it hit the ground with a loud clatter. The lid, precariously balanced, tilted dangerously, and flour threatened to cascade out like an avalanche. “Ley!” he shouted, urgency ringing in his voice. The last thing he wanted was to waste precious flour. “Leyla!”

[leylayilmz]

Leyla caught Elena's playful challenge with a grin, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Don't they say sometimes things need to fall apart in order to be put back together? Or something like that." She slipped beneath the surface, the cool rush of water enveloping her for a moment before she emerged again, slick hair clinging to her skin. With a quick sweep of her hand, she pushed it back from her face, blinking the salt from her lashes as her gaze found Elena—tracing the lines of her face with quiet curiousity. "Oh, you're going all in, huh?" She cast her a teasing glance over her shoulder, realising that she was in playful and chaotic enough a mood that she just might be impulsive enough to literally go and get a tattoo. "Sounds like we're making some unforgettable memories today. What would we get if we did?"

Elena huffed a quiet laugh. “Give it ten more minutes and I’ll probably join you. Matching chaos tattoos. Very us.” But when Leyla said safe space, something in her softened. She held her gaze, steady, the words landing somewhere deep. “Careful,” she said, quieter now. “Tell me that and I might actually fall apart.” It wasn’t a warning—just the truth, laid bare between waves and familiar silence.

Leyla’s nudge drew a small smile from her, and Elena let the water carry her a little closer, brushing past her shoulder as she moved. “Messy looks good on both of us,” she murmured, voice warm. “And I’m glad I could return the favor.” She lingered a beat longer, then tilted her head, playful again. “So? We swimming more, or am I dragging you to a tattoo shop before you come to your senses?”

[leylayilmz]

Leyla listened, her expression softening as Genesis spoke. The flicker of humour faded, replaced by something a little quieter, a little softer. "God, Gen," she said gently, nudging her shoulder with a light bump as a sympathetic expression coloured her features. "That sounds like a hell of a month. I would've lost it at the forks alone, let alone the nightlight situation. I'm sorry it's been so much all at once." She glanced down, brushing her hand across the water's surface, knowing everything Gen would be sacrificing as a mom. "It's hard when you're supposed to be the calm one, the strong one.. for them. —Did everything turn out okay?" Leyla looked at Genesis again, her gaze steady. “I just want to say, you don’t have to hold it all by yourself. If you ever need help or anything, I just hope you know I'm here."

"Billie's definitely been keeping me busy," she added with a small smile. "She's deep into her 'why' phase, which is fun until she asks why the moon doesn't fall out of the sky at bedtime. And she's got this new obsession with becoing a magician-slash-popstar, so there's been a lot of glitter. Everywhere." Amusement coloured her features again as a grin tugged at her lips, thinking of her daughter. "And.. you're the first one I'm.. actually admitting this to, but, I've been thinking about writing again."

Genesis let out a breath somewhere between a laugh and a sigh as the water cooled her skin. “Honestly? It’s been chaos,” she admitted, wading in closer until the water hugged her hips. “Apartment hunting nearly broke me. Juliana and I toured like eight places before finding one that checked most of our boxes. The move was a disaster too. Our movers were late, I somehow lost every single one of our forks, and Juliana had a meltdown because I lost track of her nightlight somewhere between the boxes.” A soft smile tugged at her lips, though her voice was edged with fatigue.

Gently, Genesis combed the wet ringlets away from her face, eyes squinting against the sunlight as she gazed over at Leyla. “Other than that, it’s been all the usual mom stuff and admittedly, a few personal roadblocks I didn't expect to pop up. I’ve been trying to remain calm and collected for Juliana’s sake, but it’s definitely felt like I’m treading water just to stay afloat.” Between the move, typical family chaos and everything that had happened between her and Alex, Genesis had been feeling rather overwhelmed and unprepared. Sure, this was what she had always wanted. But it had all come at a cost. “I’m tired, but I’m getting there. How about you? Has Billie been keeping you busy?”

[leylayilmz]

"You're telling me. It's like the sahara desert in my life.. well, since New Years anyway." Leyla burst out laughing, bright and unfiltered as she grinned over at Elsie. "Single as a pringle, my friend," she confirmed, wiping the water from her face. "Though, if we're being technical, that expression makes zero sense. Pringles literally come stacked in a tube with a bunch of other pringles. It's kind of a scam." She floated backward a little, arms outstretched, letting the saltwater carry her as her legs treaded lazily beneath her. The sun hit her face just right, and for a moment, she just tilted her head back and soaked it all in—the water, the light, the easy company. It felt like exhaling. "But yeah," she added, glancing back over at Elsie with a smirk. "So if you need a wingwoman, you should know you've got one in me. I fully support hot lifeguard summer."

"Something like that." Elsie said with a laugh, already walking in despite having sent Leyla in first. It was cold, she was right, but she wasn't so sure about the whole getting used to it at first. "It's actually frigid." She peered down at her toes before venturing further and then settling in at waist level. It had warmed up some, or maybe she'd officially lost some circulation to her lower extremities. "It's a shame because I haven't made out with someone in months, it feels like." She was teasing— in no way stupid enough to fake an urgency just to get their attention. After a deep breath, Elsie nodded her head and waited to count to ten in her head before she dove in. The bandaid needed to be pulled off quick and fast or she'd second guess. "It's not bad— but if the sun stays behind a cloud too long I don't know that I'll be able to stay in." It was bearable now that it was nice and sunny. "So, are you single or am I going to have to go speak to the lifeguards alone once we get out?"

[leylayilmz]

She made a noise somewhere between a scoff and a laugh at the "mindreader" comment, shaking her head as she turned a page in her book — not that she was reading a single word of it anymore. Not with him beside her, pastry in hand, grinning like that. That grin had always been trouble. Still, her tone somehow remained casual, breezy, as she flicked another page of the book with words that were merely decorative at this point. "God, you're such a menace," she muttered, unable to help the grin that was now tugging at her lips.

Beck had that way of saying things that made everything feel like it mattered a little more than it should. It was annoying, really — how he could go from teasing her to casually dropping a line that made her chest flutter without even looking at her properly. She could feel the warmth of his gaze even if he wasn't quite looking at her. It crept in slowly, like the sun on her skin. "Wow," she said finally, brows lifting some as the mulled over his words. "And here I was thinking you'd just come over for the pastries." Then she finally looked over at him, amusement colouring her features as she added, "Careful. Keep saying things like that and I might start thinking you're enjoying the view."

Leyla lifted the pastry halfway to her mouth but paused, her eyes flickering up to meet his with a playful spark. She held it there for a moment, as if weighing the moment before letting her grin widen. "Jealous, Beck?" Nudging him with his knee, she took a bite of her pastry, chewing thoughtfully before adding, "Didn't peg you for the jealous type. Or maybe you're just scared the handsome regulars are stealing your spotlight." She watched him a moment as he looked up at the gulls, totally distracted by those freakin' arms literally sculpted from the gods, then looked away quickly before she got caught staring. "I assumed you just have an uncanny ability to sense when something’s falling apart at the café. —Speaking of, you'll never guess what happened this morning.."

Beck grins. It's slow and a little lopsided. It's the kind of grin that starts more in his eyes than anywhere else. Which means, it's real. Like her smile flips a switch in him he didn’t realize was missing.

He steps forward, closing the last bit of space between them, before taking the offered bag with a small, exaggerated bow. “Payment accepted,” he says, tone mock-formal but the glance he gives her is far too fond to be anything but sincere. “Though I gotta admit, I was hoping for the smile and the pastry. Guess I got lucky. Or, you're now a mindreader.”

He sinks down onto the bench beside her without waiting for an invite, careful not to jostle her book in the process, one knee bouncing loosely as he opens the bag and peeks inside. “You always make too many,” he says, even as he pulls one out and takes a bite like it’s a small miracle. It kind of is.

They sit in easy silence for a moment, the kind that only exists between two people who’ve shared enough of it to make them comfortable. Beck leans back, glancing out toward the water, chewing slowly as the ocean laps against the pier below them.

“You look like you belong here by the way,” he says after a beat, not quite looking at her. “Right here. Book in one hand, future diabetes in the other, toes aimed at the horizon like you’re not afraid of where it’s going. I admire that. It's a nice sight.”

When he does glance at her—it's briefly, like if he looks at her too long he’ll say more than he means to. His voice softens again, barely above the hush of the waves. “Kind of makes it hard to stay away from you for too long, too. Now, I get it why you have so many handsome regulars.”

He tears another piece from the pastry, more distracted now, eyes on the gulls circling overhead. “Just sayin’. In case you were ever wondering why I always show up the minute you stop looking for me.”

[leylayilmz]

Leyla drew a quiet breath, a small huff of a laugh soon slipping out as she shook her head. "It's a lot alright, I'm glad you acknowledge that," she echoed, her tone warm but carrying that tired kind of hoensty that only people in their position could understand. Perhaps it was the years of friendship, and mutual understanding given their situations were relatable. Her eyes flicked toward the truck where she heard Billie's laugh ring out, mixing with Elijah's. "Funny, huh? How we end up managing everyone else's feelings while ours just.. kind of sit there, waiting their turn," she said, glancing up at him with a small, knowing smirk. "Parenting's a real bitch sometimes."

A breeze rolled past, rustling her curly hair across her cheek before she tucked it back, lost in thought for a moment. "I can only imagine how you're feeling. If Billie's dad came back into the picture... I can only imagine how hard it would be to juggle everything." She glanced up at him now, concern etched across her features — though she did her best to hide it. Being a parent was the hardest freakin' job in the world, and she didn't envy the situation he was in right now. "But, I think you have a right to your feelings about it, and.. you have a right to protect Eli whilst also doing what's best for him. And that might take a little time to work out, and that's okay."

"I hope you know you're an amazing dad, Shane. Elijah's so lucky to have you." Truly, she'd never doubted it. In all the years she'd known Shane growing up, in the years they'd developed a friendship, raising kids of a similar age.. she knew it to be true. He was a good person, and he loved his son more than anything, and boy could she relate. "Have you.. heard her out at all yet?" If one thing was for certain, knowing all the people she'd come across in her lifetime, knowing the stories she'd enveloped herself in.. knowing the decisions she had had to make in regards to her own daughter. Everyone had a story. Everyone had a reason.

He nodded at her surprise. "Can I just say, how shocked I am that the rumor mill hasn't passed that juicy tidbit your way yet? I woulda thought it'd be headline news by now." With a roll of his eyes, he continued walking. At the same time, it was nice to be able to talk to someone about it who didn't have an opinion on the situation already thanks to what they'd heard from the rumors.

Obviously, Leyla knew the situation. But he didn't have to worry about the town's consensus creeping in on her opinion about it all. As she nudged him back, he felt himself begin to relax already. He wasn't always the most forthcoming about his feelings, but with Leyla, he felt like he could open up. "It's a fuckin' lot," he admitted after a beat. "I have to deal with the emotional aspect of it while also juggling the fact she's Eli's mom. You know, as well as I do that I can't just make a decision based on what I want, I have to deal with the whole thing in a way that's best for Elijah." He let out a huff of air. "I'm grateful she's okay, don't get me wrong. But it's a lot to fuckin' deal with."

[leylayilmz]

"Honestly, with the mood I'm in? I'd get a tattoo right now." No, but seriously.. what in the actual hell was wrong with her? Leyla's grin softened, her gaze holding steady on Elena as she listened, and related to every damn thing she said. She pushed a strand of wet hair back, letting her hand linger at the back of her neck for a moment, noting the tension lingering in her frame. "Well, you don't have to hold it together here. Consider this a safe space," she said, a quiet promise in the way she said it. She meant every word. The words hung in the air there for a beat, before her grin slipped back into place, winking at Elena now. "Besides, I liked you messy. Makes me feel less alone in the chaos." She nudged her ightly with her foot under the water, letting a small laugh slip out, easing the heaviness without dismissing it. “If anything, you’ve made me forget all of my problems. You, and this ocean. So.. thank you.”

Elena let out a low breath of a laugh, the sound curling around her like the tide itself. “Chaos is your natural habitat,” she agreed, her voice soft, a little wry, but undeniably fond. “Honestly shocked you don’t have it tattooed somewhere by now.”

But then Leyla was saying that—you being here makes it feel a little less drowning—and Elena felt it hit like a wave to the ribs. She didn’t flinch. She just held her gaze, steady and full of something quiet and unspoken. There’d never been any pretending with Leyla, and maybe that’s why Elena always found her way back to her, even when things inside her got messy and hard to name.

The water lapped gently between them, and Elena dipped a hand beneath the surface, like she needed something to anchor her. She opened her mouth to answer—then paused when Leyla disappeared beneath the water.

When she surfaced again, grinning and blinking seawater from her lashes, Elena just shook her head and smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes yet. Not all the way.

“What am I running from?” she echoed, brushing a wet strand of hair behind her ear as she stared out toward the horizon. “Mm. Expectations. Guilt. The usual greatest hits.”

She looked back at Leyla then, a small smile flickering at the corner of her mouth.

“But mostly I just needed a place where I didn’t have to hold it all together. Where I could be a mess and not owe anyone an explanation.”

Her shoulders rolled back, loose now, not quite at ease—but getting there.

“So thanks for the chaos. It’s strangely therapeutic.”

[leylayilmz]

most perfect face card there is.

[leylayilmz]

Leyla let out a quiet breath, relishing the feel of the sun on her skin and how suddenly, the surrounding water no longer felt cold. Elena's words settled somewhere deep in her chest in that quiet, heavy way that truths did. "Yeah," she ageed, her eyes studying the woman's features. Damn, she was pretty. "Kinda feels like the only place you can breathe sometimes, huh? When you feel like you're getting away from everything." The breeze tugged at a few wet strands of hair, and she pushed them back, a small grin tugging at her lips as Elena's tease landed. "On brand?" she scoffed lightly, shaking her head with mock offence, though her eyes glinted with warmth. "Please, chaos is my natural habitat." And that it truly was. It might as well have been her middle name. She let herself look at Elena fully then, the space between them charged, the tide pushing and pulling but never quite managing to separate them. "But hey, you being here makes it feel a little less drowning. —And, I've got you too." She offered her a soft, shy smile before dipping her head under water briefly. When she surfaced again, water dripping down her face, Leyla wiped her eyes and blinked at Elena, grin slipping back into place. “So what about you, huh? What are you running from today?”

Elena’s smile curved slow and lopsided as Leyla tossed that grin back at her, something about it tugging at the corners of her chest—familiar in a way that only people who’d seen you at your worst could be. “Guess we’ll both find out the hard way,” she said, voice low with amusement, the water curling up around her waist now.

She stopped beside Leyla, just far enough that the waves rolled between them but close enough that the space still felt intentional. The question didn’t catch her off guard—not really. It just settled into her, quiet and true.

“Yeah,” she said after a beat. “Sometimes the only way to shut everything up is to be somewhere it doesn’t matter. Where you don’t matter, at least not in the way that burns.”

Her fingers trailed briefly through the water, catching sunlight and letting it go. Then her gaze lifted, locking with Leyla’s, steady. “So. Existential crisis with a dash of chaos, then,” she said, voice lighter now, with just enough bite to tease. “On brand.”

She let the silence stretch for a moment before adding, softer, “I’ve got you. However the tide pulls.”

[leylayilmz]

There was something about sunshine, the ocean, and a good book that really calmed Leyla to the point of feeling like every single worry and concern just.. no longer existed. At least, while those three things existed in unison together. Oh, and the pastry. Who could forget the pastry? It was something that, although she loved New York for it's own vibes, the city could never offer her. The one thing she'd missed when living away from home for so long. Though completely immersed in one of the most pivotal points of the book in her hand, Leyla glanced up at the sound of his voice, a smile tugging at her lips before she could even pretend otherwise. The breeze ruffled her wavy hair, sun catching on the strands as she lifted her gaze to meet his, eyes squinting just a bit from the glare of the sun.

She rolled her eyes when he teased her about the oven knob, something of a laugh escaping her. "First of all, that oven knob was being dramatic, not rogue," she shot back, feigning indignation while her heart picked up its pace. She shifted slightly on the bench, tucking one bare foot underneath her thigh as she looked at him, the sun outlining him in that annoyingly pretty way it always did. "And second—maybe I just like having you around because you're the only person who doesn't complain about my coffee being too strong."

"Oh, so now you're charging in smiles?" Leyla teased, shifting the pastry in her hand before tearing off a piece and popping it into her mouth to buy herself a second as she pretended to think about it. "—Hmm. If a smile is the price, I guess I can afford that." She let a genuine smile tug at her lips, unable to help herself, before picking up the small bag of pastries and holding it out to him, her gaze meeting his once more. "Payment in advance. Take it before I change my mind."

status — closed for @leylayilmz

location — the pier

He spots her before she spots him—curled up on a sun-bleached bench near the pier. A pastry in one hand (likely one of hers) and a paperback in the other, her feet kicked up and ankles crossed like she owns the coastline. To Beck, she just might.

Eventually, he slows his walk without meaning to. Pulls the hoodie sleeves he's wearing back over his hands, thumb absently grazing the edge of a bracelet he always fidgets with whenever she’s around. A nervous habit.

“Let me guess,” he calls out, voice low and amused as he approaches her, “one of the oven knobs went rogue again and now you're hoping the sea breeze will teach it some manners.”

He stops a few feet away from her, hands tucked into his pockets, the scent of salt and sun-warmed wood hanging around them like an old song. His hair's still damp from the water. There's a grease smudge on his forearm from whatever he was fixing earlier on Loretta.

He nods toward the pastry. “That for me? Or are we still in the phase where you bribe me with coffee and pretend it's not because you just like having me around?”

His smile is crooked, and a little too easy—but his eyes linger a beat too long all the same. Like he’s memorizing something without meaning to. Which is her. Always her.

“You know I don’t mind fixing things for you, right, Ley?” he adds, tone softening just slightly. “But I've been grappling with the idea of charging a fee now. Someone informed me recently that I should know my worth.” He pauses, as if waiting for her reaction. “That just means, you gotta smile at me first before you ask me next time.”

[leylayilmz]

Leyla caught the towel mid-air, the motion clean and well practised like she'd done it a hundred times before in another life. She let his words sink in, her eyes flicking over to him when he spoke about numb and new, about the silence after the noise, something sharp in her gaze softening for just a second. She let out a breath that almost felt similar to a laugh, but it came out quieter. "Yeah," she said finally, rolling the towel between her hands. "Like.. your body's waiting for the next hit, even when it's done. Brain doesn't trust the quiet just yet?" Felt similar to life, really.. the way she'd felt about it, anyway. Always quietly waiting for the next blow, and in a state of defence in the meantime. She moved to sit by him now, quietly catching her breath for a moment before continuing. "Makes you wonder, doesn't it?" She liked talking to Travis. He was one of, if not the most honest people she'd ever met. And that kind of honesty made her feel safe. LIke she wasn't having to brace herself for the worst. "Thanks, by the way. For the boxing tips," she grins, glancing over to him. "And the chat."

Travis watches the second jab land, and this time, he lets the pride in him show. It’s subtle—just a slow nod, a lift of his brow—but it’s there all the same. The strike’s got purpose now, not just heat. And, that matters more than she probably knows. It counts.

After a beat, Trav lets out a quiet breath, something resembling a chuckle but without the sound. “There it is,” he says finally, eyes flicking from the bag back to her face. “That’s the difference between swinging wild and showing up.” The way she repeats his words back to herself doesn’t go unnoticed to him. It’s not performative. It’s lived-in. Travis knows what it means to fight for control when all you’ve ever known is the spiral. “New ain’t bad. Just means you’re learning. Hell, I’d take new over numb any day.” He shifts his weight this time, arms folding across his chest, the soft squeak of his boots grounding him in their shared space.

When she lands that grin—sharp and bright, and a little bit reckless, it catches him off guard. Not because of the tease, but because it feels earned. Like she’s starting to come back to herself. He huffs out a dry laugh at the thought, shaking his head. “Careful?” he echoes, a grin now tugging at the corners of his mouth. “I’m the one standing in front of the bag, remember? I should be worried about your ego and my ribs.” He steps back slightly, giving her room, nodding toward the bag like he’s inviting her to hit it again if she wants to. In the meantime, he grabs the towel slung over a nearby hook and tosses it her way. “Here. Before you start bleeding all over the mat and I gotta explain it to the boss.” There’s a lightness to his tone now, but his eyes linger on her a beat longer than they should—measuring, maybe. Or perhaps, just seeing her.

He drops down onto a nearby bench just then, stretching out his legs with a wince before releasing a quiet sigh. “You ever notice how hittin' something can make the silence feel louder after? Like, your body’s fine but your brain’s still catching up.”

He scrubs a hand over the back of his neck before glancing up at her again. “Ah sorry, that sounded more profound in my head. Probably just the dehydration talkin’.” A small smirk creeps in again, yet it fades just enough for something else to surface too—curiosity, maybe? or the kind of recognition that only comes when pain meets pain.

[leylayilmz]

Leyla surfaced from a quick dip, water dripping from her lashes as she caught the blonde's grin. She smirked, wiping a stray lock of wet hair behind her ear. “Honestly? It’s too soon to tell. Could go either way — healing or self-sabotage, but either way, it’s exactly what I needed.” And it really was.. the beach was the one thing she loved about the Summer. She treaded the water carefully, eyes locking with Whitney's as a flicker of challenge sparked in her gaze. "And you? You look like you know your way around these waves. What's your verdict on the ocean's mood today?"

If there was one place that Whitney loved more than the racetrack, it was the beach. The water was her safe space. She understood how beautiful and how dangerous the ocean could be. She had just finished a surf session, and she was sitting on her towel, about to enjoy her book and the high UV when she heard a voice. Her hazel hues looked up from the pages only to watch the woman walk straight into the water. A soft laugh escaped her lips at the confidence this stranger had. Without a doubt, she shoved her book back into her bag before jumping up and running into the water. Whitney dove right in, only to emerge a few seconds later as her hands slicked back her blonde hair. She looked at the dark haired beauty and offered her a charming grin. "Any inklings on if this is healing or sabotage after your first few minutes in the water?"

[leylayilmz]

Leyla's grin cracked wide at that, the water lapping around her waist as she turned back to face Elsie, popping a hand up on her forehead to shield her eyes from the sun. "Oh, I see how it is. I'm the guinea pig?" Laughter spilled from her lips, before waving her hand over at Elsie. "Nope, it's perfect. I mean, it's always cold for the first few seconds, but I promise it's beautiful after." Her body already felt adjusted enough that when the waves hit her body, she barely flinched. "Oh god honey, no.. we're not going to let that happen. Lifeguard is kinda cute.. but we're going to have to get their attention another way. Shall we dive in?" A grin spread across her features, already feeling healed by her little trip to the beach. She really needed to find time for it more often.

Elsie had been looking at the water for a little too long. "I was going to let you go in first and then see how you did before I came in after you." There were lifeguards in place and she was more worried by making a fool of herself if she went too deep in the water. Despite loving to swim, she'd had a scare when she was a child that made her uneasy to go past a certain point. "Is it cold?" She asked as she slid a little closer, allowing her toes to dip into the edge of the shoreline. It was hard to tell if it was cold or not with the sun warming her up. After a few deep breaths, she threw caution to the wind and stepped forward with determination until she was hip depth. "You have to hold onto me if I go under 'cause I can't have my first introduction with the hot lifeguard be him giving me chest compressions."

[leylayilmz]

Leyla's mouth twitched, something caught between a smirk and a grimace as she rolled out her shoulders, eyes still on the bag. What Travis was doing right now, distracting her, teaching her.. that was exactly what she'd needed that afternoon, and didn't even realise it. "Honest, huh?" she echoed, almost like she was tasting the word, unsure if it felt like praise or exposure on her tongue. "That's one way to put it." She didn’t say anything for a moment, her jaw ticking as she settled back into her stance, letting his words land and linger. Knowing your pain’s got a name. Yeah, she knew it. Too well. And maybe it scared her how fast that pain came to mind. When he stepped closer, voice dropping, she didn't flinch — her head tilted just enough to show she was listening, even if her gaze stayed fixed forward, lashes dropping for a beat. “Control, not chaos,” she muttered under her breath, like she was repeating it to herself, before shooting him a quick glance, eyes bright with something restless. “That’s new for me.” She took a breath, grounding herself before letting another jab fly—cleaner this time, tighter, her wrist aligned, the impact sharp without the overkill. It felt better, and it showed in the way her shoulders loosened, in the small huff of air that slipped out, almost like relief. She turned to look at him, an easy, lopsided grin cracking through the focus as she dropped her hands. “Silver, huh?” she teased, holding his gaze for a moment longer than she needed to before shaking out her hands, looking back at the bag like she was ready for another go. “Careful, ranch boy, you’re gonna inflate my ego.”

Travis watches the jab land with a quiet sort of approval—doesn’t say much at first, just gives a single nod like her instinct spoke louder than any form could’ve. There’s something in the way she moves that draws a flicker of memory in him: the grit before the game, the way someone steels themselves before the world sees the cracks. He recognizes it. Probably too well.

He scratches at the stubble along his jaw, smirking again—but it’s softer now, laced with something closer to respect. “I’d say it means you’re a whole lot more honest than most people,” he replies, voice low, like the truth deserves that kind of reverence. “Most folks spend half their life pretending there’s no face. You? You found yours before the sentence even finished.”

He steps a little closer—not close enough to crowd, but enough that his voice drops a register. “That’s not weakness. That’s knowing your pain’s got a name. It’s when you don’t that it creeps in from all sides.”

He gestures to the bag again. “Now do it again. But this time? Less force. More control. You’re not trying to kill the bastard—you’re trying to remind them you’re still standing.”

The corners of his mouth twitch, like the smirk wants to widen but he reins it in. “Besides,” he adds, glancing at her sidelong, “you throw like that, and you might just upgrade to silver.”

[leylayilmz]

Leyla shot her a look, one brow arched, water swirling around her hips now as she kept moving, undeterred by the cold that suddenly nipped at her skin. The water always felt so healing for her, like it might solve all her life problems.. or at least distract her enough from them. "Oh, so you're my hero today?" she called back, her grin flashing, teeth white against the sun. "Cute. Let's see who's rescuing who." She watched as Elena waded in, her question making her pause, just for a moment, before she smirked, shifting her weight against the push of the water. "You ever just need to feel small for a minute?" she asked, a chuckle soon escaping her parted lips as she met Elena's gaze. "Could be an existential crisis, could be just me craving some chaos. Take your pick."

Elena had already shed her sandals somewhere near a driftwood log, toes curling into warm sand as she watched Leyla’s determined march toward the water. The sea breeze toyed with the hem of her loose tank, the edge of her denim shorts, and the sun caught the glint of a silver ring on her thumb. That grin tugged at the corner of her mouth—fond, amused, maybe a little resigned. Leyla in chaos mode was familiar ground.

“Pretty and patient,” she called out, shading her eyes with one hand. “Somebody’s gotta be ready to rescue your ass.”

But she didn’t linger. With a soft laugh, she padded after her, the sand hot enough to hurry her steps. “Healing or self-sabotage—guess I’m about to find out.” The first bite of cool water made her suck in a breath, but she waded deeper, falling into step beside Leyla. Her voice dropped lower, easy. “You wanna tell me what kind of swim this is, or are we just seeing where the tide takes us?”

[leylayilmz]

Leyla tipped her head back, laughing as the water reached her waist. She twisted around, walking backwards now with her arms out, hair already sticking to her shoulders. "Me? Girl, what are you even talking about?" Leyla's brows shot up, playful disbelief dancing across her face. "Have you even seen yourself? You're out here looking like a whole Sports Illustrated cover. Don't even." She grinned, shaking her head, water flicking from her hair. As Gen came closer, the joy in her face slipped into something of a softer smile, her eyes dropping briefly before looking back over at her, blinking against the bright blue sky. The last time they'd talked properly felt like a lifetime ago, the shadow of Cameron's name still hanging somewhere between them, unspoken but very much there. "How have you been, by the way? I know we haven't really caught up in a minute.." She hesitated, like she might say more, then just held Genesis’s gaze, letting the sound of the waves fill the silence while she waited, ready to listen if Gen needed her to.

Despite the million things on her to-do list, a beach day seemed like the perfect excuse to get out of the house and soak up some much-needed vitamin d. While Genesis was used to seeing Leyla at Everything Goes, it had been months since the friends had made any formal plans and the invite had come as a welcome but unexpected surprise.

Pushing herself up from where she'd been lounging, Genesis dusted the sand off her skin and followed Leyla towards the water. That first dip was always the hardest part, but luckily for them both, the sun was shining and the water felt warm as it splashed at her feet. "I'm coming, I'm coming! Jeez, it's clear which one of us has been working on their bikini body. I don't know how you manage to look that good after childbirth, but you need to teach me your secrets!"