almost.

i think i t a l k too much i need to listen baby i need to listen! baby ( i need to listen good ) i think i t r y too hard --- how i look / what i do / what im sayin' ! i spend too much time explaining myself i hope there's time to change it ; i can t a s t e it my heart's breaking please don't say that you know when you know im impatient tell me baby !

[laylamrks]

walsh-miles‌:

“I think of it as t-taking one for the team. It’s a s-solid list. Would have been a l-little better if Elf was on it, but I’m s-still impressed.” Miles smiled, knocking his foot against hers playfully. “What’s wrong with those? Everyone likes a f-feel good movie, and it’s a n-nice change from everything we usually s-see with all the complex themes. Hey, m-maybe if you s-start singing we can get you the next leading lady in a Christmas movie slow. It’s about t-time they add a f-fresh face.  ”

“I don’t like Elf, okay, unpopular opinion,” she laughed. “The acting’s usually terrible, the plot’s always super predictable.. But I guess i like the predictability. Its nice to know how things are gonna turn out sometimes, y’know. Even just in a movie. Oh no no, I can’t sing, and I don’t think I’d want to do one of those. Mostly because if I did one, I’d probably get stuck only doing those.”

[laylamrks]

walsh-miles‌:

“I’m s-sorry. I’ll s-sit through it with you if you p-promise not to tease me if I f-fall asleep. With it this c-cold outside but cozy in here I’m s-struggling to keep my eyes open as it is. Uh, it’s in my top f-five but the number one s-slot will always go to A Charlie Brown Christmas.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, I’m not making you watch a movie you hate. A Charlie Brown Christmas I can respect. I think my favorites might have to be A Christmas Story, the Santa Clause movies, Home Alone... but not necessarily in that order. Oh and I know I’m supposed to hate them as an actress but I kinda really like all the Hallmark-y movies Netflix has been putting out.”

[laylamrks]

walsh-miles‌:

“I think I can officially mark The P-polar Express down as my least f-favorite Christmas movie of all time. And that’s including K-krampus. I never thought I would s-say it but I guess there are s-some things even Tom Hanks can’t s-save.”

“Hey, I happen to like The Polar Express. Don’t tell me your favorite Christmas movie is like, Elf or something.”

[laylamrks]

montclifton‌:

“Neither,” Monty said with a slight shake after smelling both candles. “Maybe investing in an essential oil diffuser would be a better idea? ”

“Oh-- I have one of those. You think they have pine scented oils?” She set both candles down, then started looking around for where the essential oils may be. “Thats probably a better idea, anyway. I’m way too clumsy to leave an open flame around.”

[laylamrks]

“Which one smells more like a real Christmas tree to you?,” Layla asked, holding up two pine needed scented candles. While she hated the hassle of getting a real tree, she did miss the smell.

[laylamrks]

walsh-miles‌:

Miles chewed on his bottom lip, keeping his eyes trained on the small tv instead of actually looking Layla’s way. “He made my life miserable. I l-literally never said a word to the guy and I was his t-target all through high school, and I d-don’t even know why.” His eyebrows furrowed. “The only thing that m-made things a little better was Agnes s-standing up for me, b-but even that didn’t stop him from tossing milkshakes at me or his friends from calling me S-stutters.” He rolled his eyes, laughing softly under his breath before his gaze finally shifted towards Layla. “I would r-rather work 12 hours a d-day for the rest of my life than ask s-someone like that for help.”

“Well, fuck him. And I’m sorry, that that happened to you, I don’t know where people get off being mean like that for no reason.” She wanted to say people like that never got far in life, but she knew that wasn’t always true, unfortunately. “So you don’t ask for his help, understandable. Any idea what you’re gonna do now?”

[laylamrks]

walsh-miles‌:

Miles wasn’t sure if he was impressed or relieved that she didn’t seem to think his line of thinking was crazy. He’d always thought she was understanding, but this felt different for some reason he couldn’t place. Knowing she believed him was enough to give him the confidence he needed to speak openly. “There are keys. A lot of them, but we have the m-majority already. The only p-problem is the last one ended up with one of the f-few people in town I hate and he thinks he d-deserves a portion of everything. It’s not that I mind sharing, I just want enough to help my f-family get by, but… I don’t know if I could share with him.” His nose scrunched in distaste, though once he realized he was doing it he shot a smile in Layla’s direction. “I don’t think I c-could look at myself everyday. M-maybe it’s a pride thing.”

“Multiple keys, got it.” Her brows furrowed together slightly as she tried to picture the treasure, still listening to him though. While she couldn’t picture Miles hating anybody, she figured they had be really awful for that to be the case. “No, no, I get that. Its just on principle. Why do you hate this person, if you don’t mind me asking? Did he do something to you?”

[laylamrks]

walsh-miles‌:

“I’m waiting for the day you b-blow up and get t-too busy for s-stuff like this.” Miles opened his mouth to jump into the story- the legend that had been his driving factor over the past few years but hesitated before a word escaped. He’d seen the look on Braxton’s face when he talked about the treasure, and the skepticism on Serena’s. He wasn’t really sure he wanted to chance Layla looking at him like he was losing it given just how much he was beginning to like the way she already looked at him. But hiding it felt like pretending a part of himself wasn’t there. “There was this s-story I used to hear all the t-time about treasure hidden somewhere in town that no one had ever f-found. This was back when all anyone c-could ever talk about was the S-soWood project and how a-awesome it could be to bring in more money even though it meant d-demolishing a neighborhood. My neighborhood. My p-parents were already having a hard enough time keeping up with everything, but that… it s-seemed like it would take a miracle to keep us in our house, so I wanted to pull one off by finding the treasure. My friend- we were working on it together until he left and after that I t-tried to convince everyone else that it was real. It is real. I just… I’m s-still a little stuck on getting it.”

“That won’t happen anytime soon,” she assured him with a smile. Or maybe ever, she couldn’t know for sure. Layla listened as Miles spoke, the story about treasure keeping her interest. And, she didn’t know if she’d ever heard him talk this much, so she thought she’d just let him keep going. “Treasure in Rosewood? I believe it. And obviously,  if it could help your family...” She trailed off, pausing in thought for a second with a purse of lips. “What are you stuck on, like a dead end?”

[laylamrks]

walsh-miles‌:

Hearing Layla’s optimism in contrast to the look of horror on Agnes’ face when she’d first seen it made him think maybe things weren’t as bad as he’d thought. It would grow back. Besides, he’d never dwelled on his appearance the way some people did anyways. Hearing someone outside his family felt the same way was a relief. “Yeah. I l-like spending time with you. If we d-do it enough m-maybe I’ll s-stop wondering if you’ll say no. Uh, yeah they usually are. I think they’re s-supportive in their own way. They j-just want what’s best for me. The only p-problem is they usually think they know what that is m-more than I do. But that d-doesn’t bother me. Honestly. I’m usually a g-go with the f-flow type fo guy anyways. And when I’m r-really set on something they’re usually behind me, even if it does s-sound a little crazy.”

“Wait, you really think I’ll say no? I mean, maybe if I’m busy, but thats more like a rain check. I like hanging out with you too, for the record.” Layla felt she’d always been able to get along with just about anyone, even people that didn’t like her all that much. And it was nice to have friends outside her direct friend group too, since they always seemed to have something going on between them. She nodded, understanding. “People definitely have different ways of showing they care. Oh you had me at crazy. Please, go on.”

[laylamrks]

walsh-miles‌:

“Yeah.  It’s this thing that g-goes on with my f-family every October. R-radley would prank everyone and eventually everyone else s-started pranking back. That’s how he ended up with p-purple hair and mine ended up… gone.” His nose scrunched up at the thought but it wasn’t something he was going to dwell on. He’d never been that superficial to begin with. “Awesome.” Miles had always been an open book so it was obvious how pleased with himself he was in the moment. “Maybe we c-can do this more. If you want. My f-friends are always on my b-back about working on my s-social game.”

“Oh I could see how that could be kinda... stressful. But at least hair always grows back, right.” Thats how she saw it, at least, but she may have been a bit of an optimist. Layla liked hanging out with Miles, and didn’t always understand he was so hard on himself or let himself become embarrassed so easily. Then again, she could understand the stress of having siblings sometimes, even if she wasn’t the youngest of her’s. “What, like hang out? Yeah, of course. But question.. and sorry if this is invasive, it sounds like your friends are always on your back about something --Which I get, my friends push me out of my comfort zone, too. But are they ever... I don’t know, supportive?”

[laylamrks]

walsh-miles‌:

Miles pursed his lips thoughtfully before he eventually shrugged. “Everything. If I had to p-pick one this would be it. Every year the s-stupid prank war p-puts me on edge for a solid month s-so this is a nice change.” His mouth twitched as he fought the urge to laugh. “I didn’t know he had a Christmas album. Wh- no! There w-wasn’t anything you would need to w-worry about. I haven’t d-done anything. Aside from s-sleeping which is probably obvious.” His cheeks flared as he crossed the room to sit at his desk, mentally cursing himself for allowing a joke to make him publicly embarrass himself in front of one of the few people who actually seemed to think he was cool. “Are you hot or? I’m used to everyone who c-comes in taking things over without asking. P-perks of having two older brothers.”

“There’s a prank war? Sorry, I’m clearly oblivious. To well, everything.” She laughed, unsure if he meant something between his friends, or a Ravenwood tradition she’d been completely unaware of while she was there. “Uh, yeah, dude, Mistletoe. Okay, okay, I’m just messing with you.” She laughed again. “I trust the cleanliness of your sheets, okay. I’m fine, don’t worry. You’re being an excellent host, though.”

[laylamrks]

day-farell‌:

“Look, I don’t want to brag but like, I’m kind of the queen of gift giving in this group of friends,” Day raised her hands up innocently, because she was just taking facts. “So really, you don’t have to rack your brains getting Leo something cause… mine is gonna be the best.” @yourluckyray​ @haileyvb​ @laylamrks​

“Really, I think I’m pretty good at giving gifts.” Not that Layla would ever call herself the queen of just about anything, but she did at the very least enjoy giving gifts. “Leo might be.. a little harder to shop for, though. Do you know what you’re getting him yet?”

[laylamrks]

walsh-miles‌:

“It’s probably not that s-surprising that I’m more of a Christmas person.” Miles subconsciously ran his hand over his head (something he’d made efforts to cover ever since his ‘haircut’) before he motioned towards the lights he’d already strung up around. Bringing Layla to his actual house was one thing, but his dorm felt safe enough. At least there he wouldn’t have to worry about the heating working a little worse than it probably should have given the new chill in the air. “But I p-promise I’m not about to t-turn on The Grinch. I have s-some chill. I’m not s-sure there are many Thanksgiving movies on Netflix though, s-so we might have to veer away from holiday movies. For now. But, uh, my room is your room s-so… don’t be shy. I j-just washed the sheets.”  @laylamrks​

“More than what, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Groundhog Day?,” Layla joked as she looked up at the lights hanging around his room. “Kidding, I know what you mean. I really like Christmas too.” Not that she’d called herself one kind of person over the other though, because she liked dressing up for Halloween too. They were just different holidays. “Oh you’re fine, I may or may not have already been listening Justin Bieber’s Christmas album. As thrilled as I am that you actually wash your sheets, was there something on them before, should I be concerned?” She raised a brow at him, jokingly, then sat on his bed, clearly not having an actual issue with the matter.

[laylamrks]

haileyvb‌:

“I swear, if you’re not old enough to understand what shut the fuck up means, you shouldn’t be on a plane,” Layla grumbled while rubbing her tired eyes. “Ezra’s Saturday Night Live appearances had me thinking that I could sleep through anything, but god I was wrong.”

“You know I can hear you right? And I can’t believe you sleep through my sets, rude.” Ezra frowned and shook his head, then perked up again, because, well, Layla was in his presence was she not. “Anyway, tell me more about this little bitch on the plane.”

[laylamrks]

walsh-miles‌:

Miles instantly smiled as his eyes landed on Layla. “Depends on how hungry you are.” He shrugged his shoulders, pushing the pan in her direction as much as he could without burning the tips of his fingers. “What? If you d-don’t like s-supreme I think I have enough money to get s-something else.” Miles instinctively dug into his pocket for his wallet, fishing out a few random bills. “Or breadsticks. I wasn’t s-sure what you might want.”

“Careful,” she told him, instantly going into mom mode as she saw how close his fingers were to the hot pan. “Shush, I’m messing with you. I’ll eat anything. Well, besides shellfish but thats because I’m allergic. Anyway though... whats up, how’ve you been?”

[laylamrks]

“You think thats going to be enough pizza for both of us?,” Layla joked as she approached Miles, finding him just where he said he’d be. She took the seat across from him. “Your choice in toppings is a little questionable though.” @walsh-miles

[laylamrks]

[text] And you are not a bad friend. I wouldn't want to risk anyone getting ideas and sticking that label on you.

[text] exactly so I’ll see you soon??