The Night I Fell In Love

There was something about Robby Keene that drew Layla's eye from the very beginning of their relationship. He was a troubled teen who was incredibly stoic and unexpressive outside of a frown that constantly marred his lips paired with furrowed brows in an attempt to scare off potential threats, and by extension, potential friends. She could gauge it stemmed from his strained relationship with his father, her former sensei. 

Perhaps it was her innate intuition to mother him surging deep down in her genes as a woman, or it was her physical attraction to him, but she craved to break through that cracked facade and expose his inner depths. Robby Keene was an enigma wrapped in beautifully torn wrapping paper, and Layla was the one to release him.

The summer heat was sweltering, a faint breeze tickled the sun-kissed skin of Layla's shoulders while the cicadas sung a melodious song, the sun setting down in the distance to cast a warm glow across the Los Angeles beach. The gaggle of obnoxiously drunk teenagers fell on deaf ears, Layla's hazel gaze flickering upwards at the figure that loomed beside her seated figure.

Robby Keene, the man himself.

"Ah, fancy seeing you here," Layla teased, a lopsided smile on her lips, patting the sand beside her. "I hadn't pegged you as the social type." True to his nature, the pensive frown stayed etched on his face.

"I'm not." His hoarse voice broke through the idle chatter as he shifted into a seated position next to her, hands inches from one another. A laugh bubbled up in Layla's chest, falling past parted rose-tinted lips as her eyes fluttered at Robby over her shoulder. 

"You have a pretty laugh." Robby stated, his gaze softening on her as a smile replaced the permanent frown that marred his features. Layla's eyes widened, cheeks tuning a vibrant shade of melot as a laugh seeped past his mouth at her numbed expression. She could feel her heart skip a beat at the lovely sight before her, memorizing his laugh in her mental rolodex.