forum Next Steps [Private RP — Closed]

Started January 16, 2019 by @Imperfect_Autumn group

tune

Oof

We can do that, and then do the whole thing with Gray and Violeta.

(👍🏻
Who wants to start?)

(Oof… Okay, sure.)

Sterling’s POV:

After we had finished our game and eaten a few more snacks, Eden and I decided to head home. It was getting late, and we would need to be getting to bed soon, anyway.

Once we were home and just laying around in bed, I looked over at Eden. I had a lock of her hair twisted around my finger, which I played with as I smiled at her. A sudden thought came to my mind, and my eyebrows furrowed slightly.

“Hey, E? Can I ask you a rather personal question?” I murmured softly.

Eden's POV:

I hugged Sterling tighter, tangling our legs together as I rested my head on his arm.

"Go on," I murmured, shutting my eyes close.

Sterling’s POV:

I pressed a kiss to her forehead, stalling for a moment.

“E… Did… Did he ever do anything to you?” I wondered, my voice low and gentle.

Eden's POV:

I stiffened, my eyes opening slowly.

What…? Why was he asking me that…? I swallowed thickly, wondering how to respond.

"What… do you mean by that…?" I questioned, hoping he didn't notice the slight crack in my voice.

Sterling’s POV:

I chewed on my lip as I tried to figure out how to phrase this. I didn’t want to just assume something, but I needed to know.

“Earlier, when I was kissing you, you sort of… freak out a little… I just— I needed to know if that was because of him…”

Eden's POV:

I squeezed my eyes shut and took a deep breath.

He knows…
He doesn't, but he will if you keep this up…

"I made you think like that, huh?" I chuckled at that. "I'm sorry. I just… really don't know what happened myself. I'm just–I just got scared and reacted like that."

Sterling’s POV:

“Oh… I see. Well, I’m sorry I startled you then,” I murmured softly, kissing her forehead again. “I’ll try not to do that next time.”

(Just tell me when I can come in with Violeta
Poor Eden..)

Eden’s POV:

I pulled myself up and looked at Sterling, desperately praying my facade worked.

“The next time we do it, I’ll be ready,” I told him in determination. “Because I want this as much as you do. Now, let’s go to sleep, yeah?”

I flopped back into bed, snuggling into him.

I didn’t fall asleep for a very long time.

(Just tell me when I can come in with Violeta
Poor Eden..)

(If Autumn doesn’t want to post anything, you can come in with Violet!)

(Oh alright then
Is she just going to bump into Gray again, or is he going to seek her out?)

(Oh alright then
Is she just going to bump into Gray again, or is he going to seek her out?)

(She can bump into him. XD)

I left my morning class with flakes of paint still clinging to my arm hairs. It had been a messy morning, abstract art and expressionism, which was why I was glad for the old pair of paint-splattered skinny jeans I had dug out of my closet. Still rubbing at my forearm, I made my way to the lecture I was supposed to attend, not paying attention to where I was stepping.

Gray's POV:

I scrolled through my music, trying to find which one fit the mood I was in. I finally clicked on Lifelines by I Prevail when someone bumped into me. It wasn't a harsh bump–it barely made me stumble. I looked up to meet Violeta's eyes.

She looked messy with the paint on her arms and her jeans, but I still found her strangely adorable. I didn't know what was wrong with me. Why did I constantly think of her as pretty, even if she hated me? Was I a masochist? I didn't think so–I disliked her harsh words.

"Well," I looked at her and smiled. "It seems bumping into each other is our thing now."

I glanced up at the voice, my face falling for a split second. But he wasn’t trying to flirt or make fun— that was a start. “Hi, Gray,” I greeted, my voice a little dry.

Gray's POV:

I grinned before noticing a drop of paint on her left cheek. I almost laughed–it looked adorable.

"You have a–" I reached up to wipe it off myself before stopped myself immediately. What was I even doing? Changing my course, I pointed to my cheek. "You have paint on your cheek. Right here."

I flinched back from him, my discomfort evident in the way that I wrapped my arms around my middle. The nauseous feeling that I’d come to associate with Gray surfaced, and for once, I didn’t care that he could see exactly how he was making me feel. “I’ll get it later,” I told him, my eyes flicking away. Why wouldn’t he just leave me alone?

Gray’s POV:

I frowned at her reaction. The anxiety and fear present in her eyes made me want to hug her and tell her everything was going to be all right.

Her appearance from the party flashed in my eyes—her smiling expression to the dress she wore. I didn’t even think she tried to look pretty—it just came out, I suppose.

“Er… I wanted to tell you something…” I started, wondering if I should really say it. She was clearly self-conscious about her image, though I couldn’t tell why. She was beautiful. Why should she be anxious? I decided to go for it, because I thought if I constantly told her how good she looked, she would start to believe it. “At the party yesterday, I think you really looked good. You looked pretty.”

Something inside of me broke. Why? Why was he still doing this? Why was he so far into the act that he was even mustering a borderline sweet expression? It was so petty and stupid— I’d gotten the message that I wasn’t worth his time years ago. But he was still intent on making me feel awful? Did he really hate me that much? He was the one person who could strip away the self-confidence I’d worked so hard to build, merely from speaking a few words. And maybe I was being immature. Yes, I was being incredibly insecure. But I was so done with feeling like a worthless piece of fat. Did I not deserve to feel good about myself?

“Why are you still doing this, Gray?” I asked him, misery practically dripping from my words. “I get it. You’ve made your goddamm point.”

Gray’s POV:

It didn’t have the effect I wanted it to have. Instead of receiving a smile, or something positive, I received something harsh.

She looked hurt, that’s all I could say. Even her words were mixed with hurt and anger, but I didn’t know why. And what did she mean by that? If I had made my point across, she wouldn’t be snapping at me like this.

“What… do you mean?” I questioned slowly, trying not to anger her further.