#lainey|interaction.

“i think it’s time you met my parents.” as casual as she was trying to play it, this was a pretty big deal. everything lainey did in her life was for the approval of her parents and she needed them to approve here. it wasn’t necessarily much of a time sensitive thing but it had been on her mind a lot lately. to the point where she had to bring it up. “what do you think?”

“so. last night. wild, huh?” the laughter that fell from lainey’s lips was forced at best, disingenuous at worst. she knew they’d have to talk about the kiss at some point and she’d never really been very good at dealing with awkward situations so now seemed as good a time as any to face the music. “anything about it... stand out to you?”

"i was looking for you tonight..." she pauses, long enough for them to explain that she must've only missed them or at the very least offer up an excuse.

“you look good,” lainey commented, trying to soften the smile on her lips to something a little less tense. it shouldn’t have been as awkward as it was. she’d complimented them plenty before. however, those tended to be in more natural circumstances. not because they were accompanying her to her family’s annual holiday party despite the fact they’d split up a few weeks ago.

“i trust that you’ll be on your best behaviour tonight?”

“the storm is getting worse.” lainey had been staring out of the window for the better part of an hour now watching as the rain came down harder. she’d only come over here to grab some of her things and now she was stuck with the last person she wanted to be around right now. it was pretty weird how quick the weather had turned given the beautiful sunshine earlier that day. with a sigh, she turned to face them and nearly jumped out of her skin when the power shut out. “you’ve got to be kidding me!”

the first aid kit was already open on the kitchen counter, lainey’s elbows joining it as her body hunched over the counter and she stared down at her phone. with every minute that passed a fresh wave of anxiety filled her until finally she heard the lock of her apartment door click and then steps padding through her hallway. “how bad is it tonight?” she asked as she straightened up, turning her head to look at them as they stepped past the kitchen doorway. she didn’t comment on how bad she deemed it to be and instead pulled out a stool from the breakfast bar. “sit.”

from the age of about sixteen lainey had never been single for more than a couple of months. her last relationship had been on the lengthier side and so she wasn’t entirely comfortable with dating right away. that gave her more time to spend with one of her friends who she’d kind of been neglecting as things took a downturn in her life. “i’ve missed hanging out with you,” she sighed as she flopped back onto their couch. “breakups are so much work. it’s almost a little annoying.”