;; phoenix

true, it’s a taxing task to carry on with a study session so casually, as if they weren’t all about to half-freeze to death just a few days ago. on the other hand, as far as lizzie’s bucket list of nonsense is concerned  —   it’s not even anywhere near the top. ( is this the right time to start being concerned, maybe? ) “ a wise vote, if i do say so myself, ” she agrees, dragging the notebook along the table and slipping it into her bag. there’s a moment of silence as she settles her palms on her knees, in a display of slight hesitance. “ i don’t know, isn’t it just your usual tuesday by now? the city is crazy. we’re aware of this. what’s the point in …  you know, overthinking it? ”

it was easy to forget lizzie was so popular. not that the fact itself was surprising. she was lizzie, a presence that couldn’t be ignored (and he couldn’t imagine ignoring her, something so bright). still, it slipped his mind from time to time that that meant more people knew of him. “yeah, i could do that. you got a name to go with it?” 

“oh, yeah. sorry, it’s aiyla. i’m helping her with spanish.” she smiled. “i- she’s showed me photos of you so i recognised your face.” giving him a little shrug, she pocketed her hands and tilted her head towards him. “are you okay?” she asked again, if only with the expectation of a lie. it wasn’t as though he would tell a stranger his troubles. “would a coffee help, i ordered two because i’m greedy but...” picking it out the box, she held it out for him to take if he wanted. 

aiyla. dylan wasn’t too good at remembering names, but she’d make the effort this time. after all, they had met quite a few times. “dylan.” she introduced, giving a soft salute. she did consider, for a moment, rejecting the other. no, you can’t sit with me. but the truth was she welcomed the company. “go for it.” she replied.

“i’m glad you’re okay. i think everyone in the school got out fine.” in truth though, she didn’t stick around to find out. as soon as the doors were open she was out and gone. “what’s your poison today?” she asked, picking up a menu list to have a brief look. “i’ve never been here before, what’s good? anything sweet.”

“ugh. no thank you. i’m on bumble and hinge, thank you. everyone is super good looking, but no one is worth talking to long term yet.” she shrugged. “i’m not into casual.. fornication, as dad so subtly put it.” eve tossed her phone on the couch rather than against the wall like she kind of wanted to. 

“sorry. i… its my roommate. i haven’t heard from or seen her since everything happened and its not like her. i mean… maybe she’s holed up with family, too, but she’s freaking me out.” she made a mental note to hug and swat that girl. “but you didn’t come in here to listen to me worry. “

“long term? maybe you should try one of those face to face speed dating things.” she suggested. “i could sit in the corner and stalk because i can spot a creep from a mile away. i’ll cough as a signal.” chuckling, she only laughed louder and slapped a hand over her face. “he’ll appreciate that. but remember, murder is acceptable.” 

“not exactly my kind of thing, aiyla,” she snorted softly, frown passing over her features for a second as she yet again checked her phone. still no word from her roommate. she was worried but trying to bury it. “besides there was the whole freezing crisis. i’m just glad everyone is okay.”

“no, i wasn’t ignoring you. i didn’t hear you.” will snapped, regretting it a moment afterward. he sighed. “i have a lot on my mind is all.”

“sorry,” she blinked. a soft shrug of her shoulders and she held out a small note book. “i was just wondering if you can pass this to lizzie, i can’t make our study session later so these are the notes she needs.” though looking at him, maybe it was better that she hadn’t bothered him at all. “is everything okay?”

“hey... again.” what was this, the third time now? and she’d only just realized... “i don’t think i ever caught your name? i’m aiyla.” a polite smile, she gestured to the seat opposite. “do you mind if i sit with you? i’ll shout for the drinks.”