A/N: 2nd Day of Rayllum: Turtled Love. Of course, I GOTTA treat ya with a College AU in the middle of all this! Fun fact, this is also inspired by 2nd Rayllum Month's prompt "Domesticity."

Chapter Summary: Turtled; Capsized, turned on its side. Love works in weird ways. A complete 180. College AU.

Word Count: 3,905

Turtled Love

"Yoo! Cal?" Rayla called as she knocked on his dorm's door. "Clauds and I were wondering if ya're up for some pizza? Her treat!"

Claudia gasped. "What? I didn't agree to—"

"Cal?" the jock ignored, rapping another knock on his door. "Ya up?"

Claudia rolled her eyes. She had no idea why they were even here. She just had a craving for some Hawaiian pizza and bumped into Rayla in the quad. She saw it as an opportunity to get to know the English Lass more, one-on-one. Yet, the second she offered, the girl extended her invitation to Callum, wondering if he would like to join them. Claudia wasn't sure if that meant Rayla wasn't comfortable being alone with her or if she was just that inseparable with him—or if she just figured he would've liked some pizza. Regardless, Claudia felt as if they could've at least made their order by now instead of having to drop by the boy's dorms.

She even suggested just texting or calling, but according to Rayla, she "hadn't seen him today yet" and so she wanted to make it an in-person conversation. But by the third knocking, Claudia had enough.

"Rayla, I'm pretty sure he's not there. Maybe he's in his art studio," she suggested.

Rayla shook her head. "Nah, he's gotta be passed out. He doesn't drop by his studio on Tuesday afternoons anymore, his neighbour blasts MarianasTrench in his studio all afternoon and it echoes non-stop, he can't focus," she explained as she dug into her letterman jacket pockets.

Claudia raised a brow at that. "Is Marianas Trench that bad? I thought I've heard him listen to it before?"

Rayla shrugged as she pulled out a set of keys. "Probably. Cal's not good at rememberin' artists' names sometimes. Or rather, can't be bothered to search 'em up. It's just that Beatles is his mood music and if somethin' playing over it it messes his flow and he can't get into the zone as much, least for his school projects that is."

Claudia blinked at the new information. She hadn't really noticed that about Callum. The times where she and Soren did stop by his studio she recalled Beatles playing in the background, but she hadn't really noticed how focused he was because of that. She blinked out of her thoughts once again as she realized what Rayla was doing. "Wait. Why do you have a key to Callum's dorm?"

Rayla shrugged the door unlocked. "He lost it once and asked me to search my dorm for it. Couldn't find it at all 'til I shook it outta my jacket by accident. Dunno how it ended up there but he already got a new one by then, so he said I can keep it." She opened the door and stepped in, and much to Claudia's surprise, a look of disappointment overtook her face. His room was empty. A half made bed, some scattered pants and shirts, and a cluttered desk of art supplies and papers. "Darn, he isn't here. Hmm, maybe he had to visit home real quick."

"Hang on, back up," Claudia quickly said. "Does he have a spare key to your dorm?" she inquired.

Rayla nodded. "Yeah? Seemed only fair." Claudia couldn't believe it. Callum didn't even let her and Soren into his bedroom when they all went to high school together. He was always private about his things, it took a long time for them to wear him down just to let them into his dorm room. Heck, she didn't even have time to process the fact that she was planning on entering his room while he was sleeping to ask him if he wanted pizza! Claudia's thoughts couldn't even keep up as Rayla continued to shock her with her next action: she walked over to Callum's bed and began making his bed.

"Rayla…"

"Yeah?"

"What are you doing…"

She stopped herself mid fold, blinking out of her trance and smiling sheepishly. "Oh sorry right! Pizza! Uhh, ya go on ahead. I'll catch up! I'm just gonna clean up real quick!" Claudia blinked once again in disbelief as she watched Rayla fold Callum's blankets.

"Clean up… Callum's bed…?"

"Uhh well, his room too obviously," Rayla answered as she folded the blanket once more and neatly placed it at the end of his bed. Before Claudia could even inquire anything else, Rayla crouched down and began picking up his scattered shirts and pants. She folded his sweaters neatly, and tucked his pants into nice piles onto his bed.

"Do… you often clean up after him?"

She snorted at that. "Pfft, he's not a slob Clauds. Sometimes he just gets so wrapped up in his art he forgets! No biggie," she shrugged as she walked over to his desk. "I help when I can."

Claudia watched as Rayla neatly placed Callum's art supplies in their respective places. His pencils in empty mugs, erasers in another, his pens tucked away in small neat cases. She was even more amazed with what happened next. His desk had a couple of papers laid out, all filled with sketches, and Rayla picked them up. Claudia would've warned anyone else—herself included—that Callum was protective of his sketches. He let Soren and her see them, sure, but he rarely ever let them touch any.

But Rayla carried it with care, holding the edges like it was a fragile bird as she smiled fondly at the drawing. Claudia stepped forward and of course, it was Rayla. Her in her football uniform, with a hardened face and her helmet in her hands. Like, it was really her. It looked so vivid and real, it kind amazed Claudia. Rayla chuckled to herself as she shook her head, gently putting the paper away into some folder that was on his shelf. "What a dork."

"He really likes drawing you, huh?"

"Drawin' me wrong, if ya mean," she laughed as she pulled the paper out and showed it to Claudia, "He drew me with four fingers again."

Claudia stared and was surprised to see, that for the amount of detail he went through with drawing her hair and it's purple streaks and even her lashes, he messed that up.

"He's been doing that ever since he messed up that one time. Now it's sorta his inside joke." She tucked it back in before placing the folder back on the shelf. "Got him in trouble once too! He handed in a model sketch for class and his prof left a note sayin', 'Humans have four hands.'" She burst into a fit of giggles that honestly shocked Claudia.

Rayla always acted more tough jock-like around her, she rarely ever sounded so bubbly.

She knew Callum and her were close. But, from the general teasing and obliviousness they had, Claudia never thought they would just… suddenly click. It seemed like an endless hopeless case. The way Rayla acted about him, it was so personable and sweet, she understood him and was comfortable with him. It was domestic. The perfect word for the two's relationship. The way they just did things that seemed too intimate or flirty or just downright personal—they just felt that comfortable with each other. It was pure and genuine and just made sense. They just get one another.

Claudia smiled at her, fondly staring before asking, "You really care about him, don't you?"

Rayla scoffed like it was the easiest answer in the world. "Duh. 'Course I care." She raised her head and looked as if she finally clicked out of her maid mode. "What is it?"

She shook her head. "Nothing. Now you done cleaning his room or you wanna get a pizza?"

The football player laughed as she pushed Callum's office chair into the desk. "Yeah, yeah, c'mon," she pulled out her keys and tossed them up and down, "I'll just get my own pizza and we'll split it later."

Claudia shook her head once again, as she followed the woman out the room, because of course she would think about saving him some. She smiled to herself, knowing that a certain bet with her brother would be won this coming Christmas party this Friday.

::::

Christmas Eve was a particularly stressful affair for Harrow. As preparations of baked goods to gifts and relative residency were what had him running ragged all day. His youngest son, Ezran preferred to be extra persistent in finding his presents so he could unwrap them early. Even the threats of no jelly tarts was not enough to stop his determination. Why he wanted to find them the day before? Harrow had no clue, but his wife tasked him with keeping him in check as she prepped the food. And while most Christmases the big meal prep was for the morning breakfast, a good portion was being saved for their dinner party later that night at Viren's place, as they all had been invited to celebrate together.

Sarai suspected Viren made another purchase to his mansion and wanted to show off to Harrow, but he wasn't complaining.

Still, that meant Christmas Eve this time of year was even more exhausting than most. His sister in-law and her girlfriend preferred to sit and eat in the living room together, occasionally helping Ezran with hints in finding his present's hiding spot. Ezran's pet toad had now joined, released from his habitat, and now Harrow had to be mindful of where he stepped. Then there was the taste testing for Sarai's food and helping her in the kitchen, of course Amaya would've liked to help, but she enjoyed his suffering far more. And of course, Callum was holed up in his old bedroom, claiming to have been, "struck with inspiration" and hadn't come down all morning.

"It's under the bathroom sink in your bedroom again, isn't it?" Ezran's voice echoed as Harrow collapsed onto the sofa, much to the amusement of Amaya and her girlfriend, Janai.

Before he could even deny it, their doorbell went off. He immediately shot up to his feet. "I'll get it! Dibs!" he rushed over the door, "Please, be Santa here to give me the gift of a moment to breathe!"

"I don't believe in him anymore!" Ezran shouted as Harrow opened the door.

Much to his surprise, it was his star Quarterback of Katolis College, standing out on his front porch with a bright smile. Even more surprisingly, she wasn't wearing her trademark letterman jacket, but instead the Katolis sweater hoodie, which was sort of tight on her and not at all warm from what he knew of its material. Sure, it wasn't snowing and there were only a few mounds of snow on their green grass, but it was fairly breezy out.

"Um, hiya Coach?" she threw up a two finger salute.

"R-Rayla!" he greeted, "Sorry, I was just—it's chilly out, are you not cold?"

She laughed as she offered a very shivered shrug. "That's actually why I'm here."

"Oh? Why, what can we do for you on this fine Christmas Eve?"

"Is Cal down yet?" she shot back.

Harrow blinked. "Oh um, sorry he's busy—come in! Come in!" He motioned her inside and she accepted, stomping her boots out on the porch first to rid herself of tracking in any snow beforehand.

He then heard his wife's voice call from the kitchen, "Harrow, honey? Who is it!"

He smiled. "It's Rayla, sweetheart!"

"Really?" A clattering sounded off and a sink began running. Harrow laughed at that.

"I-I really won't be stayin' long, I'm afraid," Rayla spoke up. She looked as if she was about to elaborate further, but her attention drew to the living room, where she noticed Amaya, Janai, and Ezran staring at her. She waved. "Uhhh, hi!"

The three waved. It must've been the way Amaya waved, but Rayla's eyes lit up at that as she took a step forward, motioning her hands as she spoke, "You're Amaya?" Harrow recognized—from his severely limited knowledge of the language—that she was fingerspelling his sister in-law's name. When she nodded, Rayla continued signing, My name's Rayla. Callum's friend.

Amaya threw her head back in understanding as she nodded. She signed back as Janai translated, "So I've heard. He talks a lot about you when we FaceTime."

A flush appeared on the Quarterback's face. I hope so, she signed back.

The two looked amused at that. "My wife does not mind if you speak and sign at the same time," Janai chimed in, also signing, "She's not particular about that sort of thing." Amaya nodded in agreement.

Rayla nodded as she replied, "Aye, Cal told me. But he's been teachin' me sign and said it's bad habits to learn while speakin'."

Amaya grinned at that. "Good advice. Good teacher," Janai commented.

"Best there is," Rayla smirked.

"Oh and speaking of," Harro remembered, "He's currently in the zone, so I have no faith he'll be coming down anytime soon Rayla. He's been at it since breakfast—didn't even finish."

"Is Rayla still there!" Sarai shouted as another clang echoed.

"Yes!" he shouted back.

Rayla laughed and shook her head. "No worries Coach, I'm all aware of his 'zone.' He must've been inspired for his next art showcase project," she explained, "But I texted him when I arrived outside, so he'll be down soon."

Before Harrow could argue the likelihood of that happening, Sarai entered the room and rushed to hug Rayla. "Rayla! We weren't expecting to see you until tomorrow night! At Viren's party!"

Rayla embraced the older woman as she replied, "That's why I'm here actually. I needed—"

"Sorry!" Callum's voice suddenly appeared as he came rushing down the steps. His hair was a mess still—he hadn't brushed it even for breakfast—and his eyes were baggy. "I got caught up."

Harrow was amazed that someone actually managed to get his son out of the art zone for once. He never came out of it, not even with the threat of punishment for his evasion of chores on the line. But he was also amazed he greeted his friend looking like a slob… and she didn't care. She beamed, "Do ya have it?"

Callum nodded as he pulled out Rayla's letterman jacket, shaking it with excitement. "Lemony fresh."

She grinned at that. "Aww, thanks!" She then proceeded to pull off her Katolis sweater, revealing her black tank top, Food, No Business, and traded it with Callum. She slipped the jacket on and looked as if she melted inside it. "Ahhh, much better." She sniffed it as she hugged herself.

Harrow was tempted to argue how the sweater—which was apparently Callum's—was actually warmer to wear outside, but he had to ask, "What just happened?"

Rayla's face flushed once again as she realized everyone was staring at her. "Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry! Th-That was inappropriate—I just, I really wanted to wear it right away and—"

"Ray wanted her jacket so she could wear it for tomorrow's party," Callum casually explained.

A smug smirk appeared on Sarai as she inquired, "But why did you have it?"

"Oh, right, because I did her laundry here," he casually answered. Again, casually, like that wasn't strange.

Even his wife had no clever retort to that because that clearly wasn't a response one would expect. "You… did her laundry here?"

"Yeah! The campus washing machines and laundromat near campus are kinda expensive when you total it up over the months so I offered. We've been doing it for like a month now, I just do it with my load." He shrugged like it was no big deal. Then proceeded to throw on his sweater, which Rayla had just been wearing, like that was no big deal. "You're getting the rest Monday right?"

Rayla nodded as she turned to the door.

"Wait!" Sarai eagerly shouted, far too excited about the revelations brought forward. "Can-Can you not stay for a bit?"

Rayla seethed, looking apologetic. "Sorry Sarai," Harrow rolled his eyes as he felt his wife happily vibrate that she called her by her first name, "but my folks and I are FaceTiming all afternoon. Like a holiday dinner. With the time difference in Scotland I gotta hurry before it gets too late for 'em."

"Give Runaan and Ethari my wishes!" Callum waved as she moved to the door.

"I will, see ya tomorrow!" she said as she opened the door.

"See you!"

She stopped and turned, narrowing her eyes at him. "Finish your breakfast too. And bring a snack up for later. Then get back into your zone. Or ya're toast, aye?"

Callum saluted her as he firmly nodded. "Yes ma'am," he said with a wink.

A wink.

Harrow's son was winking at a girl.

She snorted and closed the door behind her.

Callum released a fond sigh as he walked passed the living room and into the dining room, picking up his unfinished plate of waffles. It was astounding. His son actually, finally managed it. He scored himself a girl and was doing right by her. He had heard from Soren during their practices that Rayla and Callum had been dancing around for a while, but it was too good to be true. Someone who finally understood him too: his quirks, his art, his passion, his humour. Rayla got all of that. And he knew her too. He covered for her to save the embarrassment and knew what scent she'd like in her clothes coming out of a dryer?

He chuckled to himself.

"Why are you laughing?" Sarai whispered, "I won the bet! Tomorrow we're cashing in the spoils."

Harrow rolled his eyes as Callum walked by, heading up the stairs with his plate of food. He couldn't help but notice he also had an apple, a snack no doubt he would be saving for later.

::::

"Look at them," Claudia swooned.

"I'm looking," Soren dryly replied as he busied himself with the plate of jelly tarts on the food table.

"Look how happy they are."

"They are happy indeed." Claudia smacked her brother's arm, instigating a gasp. "You almost made me drop my tarts! What do you want?"

"Take this seriously!" she spat out. "You're just being mopey because you guys lost the bet." She stuck her tongue out at him, and he rolled his eyes.

"Real mature—"

"Oh you're mature—"

"That doesn't even make sense!"

"You don't make sense."

"Both of you, enough," their father's voice appeared as he approached them, walking cane in hand as he dusted off his coattails. "We have guests, and making a fool of ourselves is not what I asked of you," he tiredly spoke.

Soren snorted. "Dad, you just wanted to impress Coach Harrow with your new surround system." Their father turned his attention to the balcony, choosing not to answer that, though both his children knew the answer. They watched as their father smiled at the sight out on the balcony.

Right outside, in the brisque cold, lying on a long wicker chair was none other than the couple of the hour. The two were sharing the seat, soaking up in each other's body warmth, though Rayla was shivering more on account of her stubbornly taking her letterman jacket instead of an actual winter jacket. They couldn't see their faces, or anything really except the backs of their heads, but Claudia figured they were holding hands. They couldn't hear anything either, but the cold mist emitting from their mouths each time they spoke told her they were whispering, intimately and quietly.

"It's adorable, isn't it?" Harrow addressed as he and his wife joined the conversation.

Viren chuckled. "Indeed. I'm happy for him, I figured he was a lost cause when he hopelessly crushed on Claudia," he mused as he turned away, moving toward Ezran and their cousin Gren, who were attempting to change the music to Christmas songs.

Claudia chuckled at that. "No way," she dismissed, "when did that happen?"

"Grade 9, when we all first met. It was only for a few months but it felt like ages," Soren casually explained before wolfing down a jelly tart.

"Nevermind that," Sarai spoke, "can we just be proud of him? I'm getting a daughter!"

Claudia gasped. "And what am I to you?"

"Ehh, a packaged deal," Sarai joked. The group laughed.

It was just perfect. None of them could care less about how Christmas went because this was the biggest anticipated highlight of the evening. Ever since the two met and everyone learned about their interactions, synergies, shared interests—they waited with baited breath after realizing prompting them together meant pushing an immovable object in line of an unstoppable force. But, the fact that they did it all on their own? His son finally found his love.

"Who do you think made the first move?" Soren said through his mouthful.

"Callum," his parents answered together, confidently.

Claudia shrugged, seeming more skeptical. "I dunno, seeing how Rayla acts about him, I feel like it was her."

Soren grinned, "Wanna wager again?"

Before any of them could pool in on that, they watched as the two rose from their seat, stretching in their place before reentering the building. Sarai instantly shushed everyone and pointed at the. Rayla was wearing Callum's red scarf. The one he never took off even during the summer. Soren had to physically stop Claudia from vibrating with excitement on the spot as Callum approached them while Rayla made her way over to Amaya and Viren. They shot happy smiles as Callum walked over with a sheepish look.

"Hey guys, sorry 'bout this, but Rayla's kinda feeling drained so she's gonna head home." He shrugged, seeming to make no fuss of it. "I'm gonna walk her back to campus. I'll probably crash at the dorms too."

"Hers or yours," Soren coughed, though was quickly met with an elbow from Claudia.

Harrow decided to take the initiative. "That's fine son. You take good care of her." He turned to Rayla and watched as she walked by, waving at the group and bidding quick farewells and holiday greetings before heading out to the foyer. Once she was out of the room, Harrow stepped forward and placed his hand on his son's shoulder, startling him with his stern face. "Callum… I'm proud you finally took action."

He stared at him, confused as he laughed. "Of course Dad! What kind of best friend would I be if I let her walk home alone right?" He gave his father a quick hug then kissed his mother on the cheek before making his way out of the room shouting a goodbye to a passed out Ezran on the sofa.

The group watched the two in the foyer, laughing as Callum wrapped his scarf more firmly around Rayla, whispering something that elicited a louder laugh from her. She gave him a playful punch to the shoulder before following him out the door, taking their joy and laughter with them.

"Did… did I hear that right…?" Harrow asked aloud.

"That he said he was her best friend?" Soren said.

"Yeah?"

"Yup," Soren confirmed.

"They… they could still be best friends and dating!" Sarai weakly offered.

Claudia sighed, shaking her head. "No… it was too good to be true… those two idiots are still just friends."

Harrow palmed at his face as he groaned in disappointment. It was too good to be true.

Soren chuckled. "Does this mean Coach and I get our money back?"

A/N: In case it wasn't clear? No. They are STILL not dating. You think I'd make them get together without you all knowing! Pfffft. pfft. pffffft. Not much to say, except thanks for all the love! A little teaser? Tomorrow's one is a NEW AU. Also, might take awhile.

Until next time,

- Bleh