Eden’s POV:
I had my arms crossed when he set me down on the chair.
“That wasn’t what I had in mind, but I suppose it’ll do…” I muttered to myself before setting my head on the table. “Sterling… Um… Who was… your first girlfriend?”
I knew I was being ridiculous. I’d never been curious before—at least, not this much. I just wanted to know what type of a person Sterling dated before me. The thoughts ate at me until I couldn’t hold it in anymore. He knew about my first boyfriend. It was only fair if I did, too.
… right?
Sterling’s POV:
I paused for a moment on my way to my chair at her question. Why did she want to know that? It wasn’t important, really. I was with her, now, and I didn’t plan on leaving.
With a sigh, I sat down and looked at her across the table. I suppose it wouldn’t be a bad idea to tell her, but it was just… odd to walk about.
“Her name was… is Roseanne Fletcher. We dated for a couple of months in eighth grade. And before you ask, no, she wasn’t my first time. That was Grace Danielson, my second girlfriend. We were together for almost all of ninth and tenth grade,” I explained, running a hand through my hair. My hand rested on the back of my head when I finished, and I glanced back at Eden. “You’re my third girlfriend, and only my fourth time. In case you were wondering.”
Eden’s POV:
I took in his words, and surprisingly I wasn’t jealous. Not like I was before.
I stretched, a frown on my features.
“So then how did you end up liking me?” I frowned. “I mean, I know I had a reputation at the school, but what made you think I was… you know, the one?” I paused before quickly adding. “And in case you’re confused, I was just curious. I’m not jealous, or anything. I know you’re mine, so there’s nothing to worry about.”
Sterling's POV:
I shrugged and looked her over, simply taking her in. She was beautiful, especially with the last bit of lingering blush hanging onto her cheeks.
"You were always in the back of my mind. Like a ghost, haunting me. I met you in kindergarten and wanted to be your friend, but you didn't seem to care. Not that I minded at the time.
"And then time passed, and I watched you grow up, mature. I saw who you were before you were with him, and I liked what I saw. You were spirited, but not cruel. You might've acted it, but you never truly were.
"When he broke your heart, I noticed. And then I waited for you to go back to that amazing, spirited girl. But you never did. You were still amazing and spirited, but you weren't the same. You never laughed, rarely smiled. I think the only time I ever saw you smile was when you were with Ashley, and that was only once in a blue moon. I wanted to make you laugh and smile like you did before…"
Gray’s POV:
I sighed in relief, running fingers through my hair.
“I saw Sterling yesterday,” I explained. “He looked terrible. He told me he and Eden got into an argument, and I figured she was at your place since Sterling said she hadn’t been home. So that’s how I knew about it.”
"Oh…" I gave a nod of understanding. "I'll send Eden a text when I get home.. I really hope things went well between them. It's like they're made for each other, you know?" Slowly, my shoulders were relaxing, my smile becoming a little less forced.
Eden’s POV:
To say the least, I was speechless. Since… kindergarten? Since that long ago? And I didn’t even recognize him when he confessed… it must have felt terrible.
“I… don’t know what to say,” I confessed honestly. “I’ve been in your mind since kindergarten? That long?”
I fell silent, contemplating my words, choosing carefully. A smile broke out. A rush of happiness came over me and I smiled widely.
“Somehow, that makes me very happy,” I murmured, looking at him. “You make me smile, Sterling. Even without trying. Way more than I used to do before… he happened. So in a way, I guess I have to thank him for that. He might have wanted to cut me down, but in the end, all he did was pave the way for you. The past doesn’t matter to me anymore, you know. I don’t care anymore as long as I have you by my side. I’m fine with that even if things get rough.”
Gray’s POV:
There it was. The smile I liked to see on her face.
“I guess,” I shrugged, trying not to stare too much. “They’re madly in love. It’s funny, I guess, what it does to people.”
"Yeah…." Then, completely out of the blue, I blurted out the most idiotic I could have possibly voiced.
"Have you ever been in love?"
("People do crazy things when they're in love." — Disney's Hercules)
Sterling's POV:
I grinned across the table at her, reaching for her hand. Suddenly, I wished I had chosen to sit beside her instead of across from her, though it was probably better this way. We didn't need to let things get too heated this time, and I wasn't quite sure how well I could control myself at the moment.
"I love you, Eden Rose McArthur," I whispered before bringing her hand to my lips in a soft, lingering kiss.
(Ugh, I’d written something great, but my cousin came to me to help her with some math problems and the page reloaded. Ugh.)
Eden’s POV:
“I love you, too, Ainsley,” I squeezed his hand softly, smiling at him.
I was aware that I’d changed. A lot. Like Sterling mentioned, I was rather… aloof. Never laughed, barely smiled. Cold, treated people indifferently. Fought to cool off steam, pushed people away. Kind of like a defense mechanism, I guess, to prevent myself from getting hurt again.
And then Sterling came into my life and changed all of that. Although I was still a bit like that towards other people, I was warmer now. I smiled a lot more, laughed to my heart’s content. I felt happiness and I didn’t shy away from it. I rather enjoyed it. And I was glad I did.
“What should we do today?” I asked him, looking at him warmly.
Gray’s POV:
I blinked at Violeta’s outburst, confused. Why would she want to even know that?
“Er… not really, no,” I answered truthfully. “Never gave myself the chance to. Never will either, I guess.”
Which is why this crush on you needs to go away…
I clapped my hand over my mouth immediately, groaning. “I’m so sorry… I don’t even know where that came from. But why say that you never will?”
(Oof sorry)
I clapped my hand over my mouth immediately, groaning. “I’m so sorry… I don’t even know where that came from. But why say that you never will?”
(Oof sorry)
Gray’s POV:
I waved her off nonchalantly. It wasn’t anything I wasn’t used to.
“It’s fine,” I said casually. “You can look at other people in love and be happy for them, I guess. It’s good for them if they fall in love. I don’t believe in it. It’s not for me, so I don’t search for it. What about you?”
He didn’t…. believe in love? I found myself strangely saddened by this nugget of information— what had happened to make him feel that way?
“Maybe once. Back in high school. Didn’t get with them, of course.”
Gray’s POV:
I raised an eyebrow. Now that was surprising.
“Why not?” I asked, tilting my head. “Did they have a horrid personality?”
“What?” I blinked, tilting my head slightly to the side in a perplexed manner. “I meant that they obviously didn’t return my feelings.”
Gray’s POV:
I almost chuckled. That expression on her face was far too adorable.
Instead, I frowned.
“Surprising…” I murmured. “Now you don’t see them anymore?”
“Surprising?” I furrowed my brow in confusion. “Not really. And no, they went to England for university, so..”
Gray’s POV:
I simply grinned at her, leaning back.
“Have you decided what to eat?” I asked her instead. “I suggest the chocolate brownies, chocolate fudge cake, rice pudding, and the red velvet cake. Those are the best.”
He was dodging a lot of my questions…. why was he dodging so many of my questions?
“Oh.. that’s a lot.” I smothered a wince, thinking back to the girls from the other day. “What’s the smallest thing I can get?”
Gray’s POV:
“Don’t,” I narrowed my eyes. “Don’t even think about it. Eat what you want to eat. Don’t think about what others would think. If you like yourself the way you are, be proud of it, and don’t let others trip you.”
People were cruel. In their reality, perfect people were ‘beautiful.’ No flaws, no nothing. Rich, good-looking with an out-of-this-world figure. Average people always went to the side. That shouldn’t be reality, but it is.
And people who don’t fit in their standards of beauty always end up self-conscious about themselves.
I withdrew, angling my body as if trying to make myself smaller under his intense gaze.
“I—— Sorry. You can get whatever you want, maybe we can share instead…?”
(Ugh, I’d written something great, but my cousin came to me to help her with some math problems and the page reloaded. Ugh.)
Eden’s POV:
“I love you, too, Ainsley,” I squeezed his hand softly, smiling at him.
I was aware that I’d changed. A lot. Like Sterling mentioned, I was rather… aloof. Never laughed, barely smiled. Cold, treated people indifferently. Fought to cool off steam, pushed people away. Kind of like a defense mechanism, I guess, to prevent myself from getting hurt again.
And then Sterling came into my life and changed all of that. Although I was still a bit like that towards other people, I was warmer now. I smiled a lot more, laughed to my heart’s content. I felt happiness and I didn’t shy away from it. I rather enjoyed it. And I was glad I did.
“What should we do today?” I asked him, looking at him warmly.
Sterling’s POV:
I sighed and glanced around. “Well, seeing as my girlfriend is currently unable to go far, maybe we could watch a movie? Lay around a cuddle for the rest of the day?”
Eden's POV:
I raised my arms above me and stretched, sighing once I was done.
"Watching a movie sounds good," she mused. "Or maybe we could go to an animal shelter today?"
Gray's POV:
I immediately regretted what I said when she flinched away. C'mon, Gray, what's the matter with you?
Sighing, I called over the waitress.
"Two slices of red velvet cake, please," I said to her politely. "Small."
Eden's POV:
I raised my arms above me and stretched, sighing once I was done.
"Watching a movie sounds good," she mused. "Or maybe we could go to an animal shelter today?"
Sterling’s POV:
“That sounds fine. But how are you going to walk around if you can’t even go to your classes?” I asked, raising an eyebrow at her. I was mostly teasing her, but I did wonder if she forgot that she could hardly walk on her own…
Eden's POV:
I cleared my throat to wash away the embarrassment that suddenly came over me.
"I–I can manage that," I mumbled, looking down at my lap. "Besides, I can have you carry me around."
Sterling’s POV:
I chuckled softly and squeezed her hand. “As much as I’d love that, I do think you should stay home today. We can go tomorrow, either during lunch or after our classes. Okay?”
Eden’s POV:
I sighed, nodding at him.
“Okay…” I chewed on my bottom lip, thinking whether I should ask this question or not. Although I’d known what it was, I stayed away from it and from the people obsessed with it. As far as I was concerned, females didn’t necessarily… never mind. “Sorry, you missed school because of me.”
(And now I’m curious…)
Sterling’s POV:
“Oh, don’t worry about it. I am glad to stay home with you anytime, babe,” I said softly, smiling over at her. “Now, why don’t we finish up here so we can go back to bed and watch that movie.”
(🤣)
Eden’s POV:
I smiled at him, eating the eggs he’d made. They were fluffy and delicious to consume. I’d like to say I ate nicely.
Once we were done, I forced myself to stand up to wash the dishes.
“Which movie are we going to watch?”
Sterling’s POV:
“Well, for one: leave the dishes to me,” I said, walking up behind her and wrapping my arms around her waist. I rested my chin on her head for a moment before bending down to kiss her cheek, letting my lips hover over her skin. “And for two, what about the newer Beauty and the Beast movie? Have you seen that one, yet?”
Eden's POV:
I shivered at his kiss, closing my eyes and breathing in deeply.
"I can do the dishes. It's fine," I said breathlessly. "I can do that much. And um, the one with Emma Watson? Or did a new one come out?"
