💫Still Not Giving Up💫

Chapter Eight

you only invited Steven inside in hopes that Lindsay hadn't seen him, lest she start plotting a way to seduce him and turn him against you.

you shut the door behind him. "um, watch where you step, and if you hear my parents... hide." you knew they should be at work, but sometimes your mother came home on a lunch break, or your father got sent home early because of his 'behavior'.

Steven looked confused, if not a little concerned. "...okay." as to not look distrusting, he waited until he heard your bedroom door shut to look around.

there were shards of glass buried in the carpet from a broken photo frame, and a hole in the wall that had never been patched up. there was a blue ceramic vase that had been frantically glued back together on the coffee table, and a very dirty couch.

you put on your bathing suit, pulling your original clothes over it so you could stay warm. you grabbed your phone, then joined Steven in the living room.

he was looking around with a frown that made you self conscious, but he lit up when he saw you. you drove him out of the house before he could ask any questions, and locked the front door behind you.

he skipped down the sidewalk and followed you between a few houses to get to the beach. "you could've invited your friends to the beach too, if you wanted."

"oh no, they're going to Empire City." you said quietly.

Steven sat the beach bag down in the sand and laid out a towel for the two of you to sit on. "why didn't you go with them?" he was beginning to worry.

am i the reason she didn't go? she suggested this, though. if she wanted to cancel she would've... right?

you shrugged and dropped down onto the towel. "i wasn't invited. but even if i was, i would much rather do this than shop with them."

Steven sat down beside you. "your friends sound kind of mean." he dared to say.

"yeah, they are." you buried your toes in the sand and listened to the waves crashing a few feet in front of you.

"why are you friends with them, then?"

it was quiet. you didn't have an answer for him. they were terrible towards you so... why were you friends with them? is this what you think you deserve? shitty friends who make you feel the way you think you should feel?

"i'm non-confrontational, i guess. i don't want to start anything." you chuckled dryly.

Steven handed you a juice box, and you couldn't help but laugh. some of the things he did were so... childish. after a few minutes of silence, Steven jumped up with a grin. "let's swim!"

you couldn't have exactly refused if you wanted to, as Steven had already yanked you up and pulled you towards the water before you could get a word out. you managed to pull your overclothes off just before you hit the water. when you were both knee deep Steven paused and turned to you. "you can swim, right?"

you scoffed. "of course i can swim, who would live by the ocean and not be able to swim?"

Steven wordlessly scooped you up, and before you knew what was happening you were underwater.

you broke through the surface with a gasp and wiped salt water from your eyes. you splashed Steven in anger and he laughed at you. "i can't believe you!" with a sigh you held out your hand. "can you help me up?" you asked, tone laced with defeat.

he looked only a little regretful as grabbed your hand, and you used all your strength to pull him towards you. he landed on top of you, pushing you back underwater by accident. when you stood up he splashed you, and vice versa.

"wait!" he paused scooping water into his hands and looked at you as you shouted. "i have to tell you something." your face became deathly serious.

"what? are you okay?" he lowered his arms. you motioned for him to come closer, and leaned towards him as if you were going to whisper something. when he got close enough you splashed water up into his eyes and nose, making him jump back in surprise. "i can't believe i fell for that," he muttered.

(edited!!) ((again))