ain't nothin' like the love of a small town girl

“My own slip up aside, because truth be told, my mind’s just been pulled in a million different directions lately – what makes you think no one else cares?” Lyla held her glass as she waited for a response. She thrived on confidence even when it was misplaced, she hated to see anyone else not do the same. “Tell me about your day, I’m listenin’.”

 She shrugged lamely. “Because Easton’s the popular one out of the two of us. I’m just Easton’s little sister. But it’s fine. It just means no one is payin’ attention to me, so I get away with a lot more.” The blonde winked at the other as she poured. “I was just early to my shift. Nothin’ too excitin’. What about you? What’s goin’ on that’s got you so distracted?”

Daniel was looking through the lunch menu, so he was only half listening to whatever Emily was rambling on about. That last bit caught his attention, Daniel slowly lifting his gaze to look at her over the top of his menu. “Sorry…” he started slowly, trying to piece together what was said. “What I heard is that you’re late… so you think we should have sex… but I don’t wanna be a dad, Emily, so I’m gonna have to pass on that. Thanks though.” He glanced back at his menu. “I think I’m getting the fish. What’re you thinking?” 

Well, he was half listening. “I don’t think I’d pick you to be the father of my baby anyway, Daniel. Somethin’ tells me we would not make good parents.” She furrowed her eyebrows looking at him. “We’re at Shula’s. It’s all fish.” She laughed shaking her head at him. “I’m thinkin’ shrimp and grits. Or maybe the seafood broil because I can just take the leftovers home.”

“It was, yeah!” She smiled, “Definitely excited to be done for a couple months though. You still doing the…. twitch thing? Is that what it was called? Steaming the video games? I’m fine, thanks. Sarah’s excited to have a break from her classes, that much I know.”

“That’s a good point. Though, now I’m curious on where would you go if you could?” Shaking her head with a small laugh, “No, no, it’s fine. You didn’t bore me and my lack of sleep is not your fault so no sorry needed. I’m glad you weren’t late for work, by the way.”

Kaleigh’s jaw dropped at Emily’s response. She really didn’t see that coming from the girl. “I…no?” She laughed, awkwardly. “Easton is your brother! I don’t think I need to explain how anything happening between us, even just a little kiss would be super weird.” She loved Emily but she was not the Williams sibling that Kaleigh wanted, unfortunately. “I…nothing. It’s not important.” 

As if she could forget Easton was her brother! Emily giggled at Kaleigh’s reaction. “Would it be weird? Friends kiss friends all the time around these parts,” she teased the blonde. She kinked up an eyebrow at the other. “Are you sure? I’m a good listener.”

“Right? Those stupid tip articles are written by people who probably make ten times as much as we do. But alright, I’ll try. What’s the thing you waste your money on the most and about how much of it goes to that?” She asked, actually trying to think of a way to be helpful. “Why don’t you look into getting a roommate? You can spread your whatever but cut the costs in half?” 

“still younger.”

He ran his hand through his hair, offering an apologetic smile. “Something’s got us all distracted out here today, doesn’t it?” He raised his brows a little confused as he completely forgot what he had been listening to for a moment. “Um, I’m pretty sure it was like Tom Tom Club or something. Y’know how Genius of Love can become a song you just randomly listen to on repeat?”

Emily smiled slightly back at him nodding her head. “Yeah, I should have been looking where I was going. I don’t need my nose in my phone when I’m walking down the street anyway.” She wrinkled her nose up at him in confusion. “I’m not even sure I know that song, so I don’t think I know how you can put it on repeat.”

“flattery,” she chuckles. “i wish i was still twenty-seven.”

her brows raised. “Are you not? Could have fooled me. Age is just a number, isn’t it?”

“For me, maybe! But not until that morning, so I don’t regret it until my alarm goes off at six.” He kept telling himself to go to bed at a normal hour, but everything interesting always happened after midnight. Nathan lead the way, taking them directly to the aisle with the hair gel. He grabbed a random one off the shelf, turning it over to read the back. “You think so?” He ran his fingers through his hair and up, judging the length. “It says to squirt a quarter size of product onto your hand and work it into your hair. I’m not gonna go bald from using more than that, am I?” He chuckled, setting the gel back on the shelf. “Which one do you use?”

Emily was thankful she hardly had morning shifts like Nathan considering how late she could stay up when she was streaming. She followed him to the gel aisle looking over the different brands trying to find the one she used. She looked over at him as he examined his own hair. “Even if we don’t use the whole bottle, I can take the rest for myself.” She chuckled. “You won’t go bald. Your hair will just be gross and crunchy, but that’s what we’re going for anyway, right?” She gave him a grin before turning back to the selections. “I use...” she trailed off until she found it. “This one!” She grabbed the sports gel. “It’s the cheapest one, but it works so well.” Her eyes lit up as another idea came to her. “Should we get snacks?”

“Why would your friends kiss each other when they could kiss you instead?” She asked, kinking and eyebrow up before a smile cross her face. A laugh leaving her lips, “Well, if George is short for Gorgeous than Em must be shower to Immaculate.” She paused before shaking her head, “Sorry, that starts with an I not an E.” Biting down on her bottom lip as her eyes connected with Emily’s, shrugging before adding, “I’d kiss you.”