forum Under The Painted Sky (O/O CLOSED)

Started March 18, 2019 by Deleted user

tune

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Sterling hummed as he glanced over the menu, just glancing through it. “A double cheeseburger. Without pickles. And some fries and a strawberry milkshake.”

“You don’t like pickles?” Eden tilted her head to the side, quirking an eyebrow. “And um… I guess I’ll get chicken wings and a mango milkshake. And if I want fries, I’ll steal yours.”

Sterling laughed and looked over at her with a smile. “Of course you will. That’s what girlfriends are for, right? Stealing their boyfriend’s things. And no, I don’t like pickles. Not dill pickles, anyway.”

Girlfriend. Boyfriend. Eden couldn't help but smile a little at those words, biting down on her lip to keep it from taking over her face. "So… does that include clothes as well?" she inquired quietly. "Or just strictly food?"

Sterling blinked, raising his eyebrows. “If you want to steal my clothes, go ahead. I can’t promise that you won’t find my lips on yours while you’re wearing them, though.”

Eden's cheeks flushed despite herself, clearing her throat and rubbing the back of her neck. Why on Earth was she blushing so much? Couldn't she control herself at least that much? It was so confusing how he could get her flustered this easily when everyone else–or almost everyone else–had failed terribly.

"Ri–right," she stammered, eyes on the table. "How can you say those things so easily?"

“Say what things? The way I feel? The way you make me feel?” Sterling questioned, a soft smile working its way onto his lips. He chuckled and shook his head, amused by his girlfriend. “I can say them because that’s what I’m thinking, because it’s the truth.”

Eden fumbled with her fingers, keeping her eyes on her hands. Why was she suddenly getting a bad feeling, as if something was about to happen? Was it because she was finally starting to feel happy and it felt unreal? She unconsciously touched her neck over the collar of her shirt, rubbing her finger over it absently.

“Sorry, I’m just—“ she shook her head. “I’m just not used to it yet, I guess.”

“That’s okay. We haven’t been together for very long, so I get it,” Sterling assured with with a shrug. “But just know that I sometimes forget that what I’m saying might make you uncomfortable, so just let me know if it does.”

“No—I meant, I’m not used to this… affection. It’s not you,” Eden shook her head before shooting him a small smile. “Yeah. Thank you. I will.”

“Well, I’m sure you get used to it pretty quickly. As you’ve seen, I’m a pretty affectionate person,” Sterling chuckled. “Now… Let’s order our food, shall we?”

Could she ever? Could she ever push the thoughts of that man away from her mind? Could she ever get used to the affection when she had all but been exposed to anger and the abuse? Eden didn’t know, but what she did know was that she would be hard to love. As all broken things should be.

“Yeah,” Eden forced the smile on her features, twirling a strand of her hair around her finger. “Let’s order.”

After dinner was over, Sterling drove Eden home, so now here they were, in front of her apartment. Eden smiled at him softly.

“Thank you,” she said gently, looping their fingers together. “I had fun.”

“So did I,” Sterling agreed with a soft smile. “I’m really glad you had fun. And I hope Lucas and Ashley like their cookies.”

“They will,” Eden assured him, squeezing his hand lightly. She really didn’t want him to leave, but unfortunately he had to. It was getting late, after all. “Don’t worry about it.”

Sterling smiled and swept a strand of hair behind her ear. “Thanks for coming out with me today,” he murmured before leaning forward and pressing their lips together softly.

Eden hummed in reply, wrapping her arms around his neck and standing on her toes to kiss him back. “You’re my boyfriend,” she murmured. “Of course I’d go out with you.”

“Mm, but you don’t have to,” Sterling chuckled softly, looping his arms around her waist and holding her closer.

“I don’t,” Eden felt a shiver run through her at his chuckle. “I need to. I like spending time with you.”

“I like spending time with you, too,” Sterling said softly, kissing her again.

Just as Eden kissed him back, the door to the apartment opened.

“Hey, E—“ Eden pulled away in surprise, looking back to find her brother staring at them with an unreadable expression on his face. “I didn’t need to see that, but okay. I will wait for you inside.”

Sterling pulled back with a snort, looking up at Lucas with and eyebrow raised in amusement. Ashley was behind him, too, her mouth covered. Probably to hold back a laugh, if the look in her eyes was any indication.

“Sorry, Lucas, I didn’t think you would be coming out. If I had, I would have just kiss her in the car,” he said, a slightly mischievous look in his eyes.

Lucas snorted. “See, no one wants the mental image of someone kissing their little sister,” Eden scowled at that. “But do continue. I will get out of your way.” Lucas turned around with that, shutting the door behind them.

Eden turned back to Sterling with flushed cheeks, hand reaching up to rub the back of her neck in awkwardness.

“Sorry about that,” she apologized. “He’s… he’s like dad. Annoying and irritating.”

Sterling chuckled and looked back down at his girlfriend. He blinked when his gaze caught on a dark spot on her neck, and he gently caught her hand. With a careful touch, he pushed the collar of her shirt further down, eyes flashing in worry.

“Eden… What happened?” he whispered, brushing his thumb over the bruises.

At first, Eden was confused at how he looked at her. Then he had her hand in his hold and was pushing down her collar, touching what she had been trying to hide.

Eden’s heart nearly stopped in her chest.

No. Shit.

She immediately slipped her hand out of his hold to press it against her neck, panic taking over her.

“It’s—it’s nothing,” she breathed, trying to force a nonchalant smile on her features. “It’s nothing to worry about.”