“Are you waiting for me to offer an arm as well?” her question snapped him out of his daze, and Angel grinned, a faint look of amusement lighting his eyes,
“Did you just crack a joke?” he asked instead and saw her grimace in response, shaking her head. Those slight emotions, that crack in that exterior, built his confidence. All of a sudden, all he could think of was how he could make that raw annoyance visible in her eyes again.
“Is that where we are now?” he asked and took a step forward, sweeping his phone off the counter and putting it in his pocket just as Raylene scoffed and turned her head away. Her hair swept over her shoulder with the sudden movement, but she didn’t respond, “Are we best friends, Ray?”
“Ray?”she scoffed and turned in his direction, “What makes you think you can call me Ray?”
Angel smirked, he couldn’t help it, “Alright,” he conceded, and saw her eyes widen in surprise.
“Whatever.” She murmured and turned to walk out of the doors, “Let’s move.”
Angel hummed under his breath, taking a few steps forward to stand beside her.
His body angled in her direction and he saw as she remained motionless, waiting for him to move out.
“After you,” he said and chuckled softly when she huffed in annoyance and crossed her arms but didn’t move. His amusement only heightened as she nudged her chin in the door’s direction,
“Go.”
This was going to be a long day.
* *
It hurt when she talked. Her voice was so hoarse and she tried so terribly hard to conceal its dryness that it hurt even more in the process. To make it worse, Kyle had stuck her with explaining duty. Ray had gotten used to the sense of security this place provided. A foolish move really, she reprimanded herself as she tried to keep her expressions in check. Last night had been a mistake on her part.
A warning.
From whose end, she did not know.
Now, Ray angled her head sideways and looked at Angel De Santos. His amber eyes shone under the sunlight as they walked on the bustling streets of the island. She was leading him to the venue of the banquet. It was a beautiful beachfront that hosted over a hundred guests. The beach would be reserved from the rest of the public for today and would be used to host their welcoming event today. The first time she’d been there, Ray hadn’t been impressed. The place was like any other beach, and apart from its rushing waves and serene air, nothing had been different.
But then Kyle had laughed and had patted her head softly, “The real beauty of this place, you’ll see it at night.” He’d said and that was that.
“How’s this going to work?” Angel’s voice drew her out of her memory, and she blinked up at him. He looked so at peace here, amongst people he did not know and conversations he couldn’t hear. Ray breathed out, forcing herself to not get too attached to that vulnerable expression on his face.
“What do you mean?” she asked, clearing her throat to get rid of her rasp. Angel’s eyes snapped down to hers then, his brows furrowing as he stopped in his tracks,
“Why do you sound like that?” he asked, but Ray hadn’t stopped walking. She strode ahead, her eyes cast upwards in the illuminated sky.
“Hey!” he called out from behind her, but she didn’t pause. Was trying to come up with an appropriate response to ward him off when she heard the echoing of his footsteps hurry behind her. Ray rolled her eyes as his fingers brushed her upper arm and stopped her in her tracks. She snatched her hand out of his reach and turned swiftly on her heels, her eyes narrowing,
“What?” she snapped and Angel reared back at the bite in her tone. Their easy-going atmosphere lost, Angel scoffed and ran an annoyed hand through his hair,
“Your voice, what’s wrong?” He asked again and Ray shook her head, forcing herself to calm.Maybe she had anger issues, she thought wretchedly as she averted her gaze,
“It’s nothing. I always sound like this.” She started and saw as Angel stepped forward, looking as though he wasn’t going to stop asking. She moved away from him, her eyes cast ahead as she continued to answer his previous question, “We’re heading to the venue right now. There’s a change of clothes there for everyone–”
“I know,” he snapped, and Ray sighed, “Kyle told me to select something for today. I wasn’t asking you about me. I was asking about you.”
“Sure,” she murmured and started walking ahead, her eyes cast upwards just as she heard a bunch of profanities leave Angel’s tongue. Despite the irritation burning in her veins, Ray asked softly, “Do you swear that often?”
Angel didn’t respond for an entire minute. Ray frowned and turned her head over her shoulder to see him walking right behind her.
Their eyes clashed suddenly, and a scowl shaped his face as he responded,
“Do you evade answers that often?” he shot back.
Ray laughed in surprise, looking back ahead as she weaved her hands behind her back, “No,” she said, “It’s just a coping mechanism–”
