"I didnt want to ask you, but what about some of the other rumours? Like Lauren ditching David for you, and the other…not so savoury one." Ayra asked, making her way towards the house. At this point it seemed like David had noticed them because he was standing there with his arms crossed.
Steven grimaced. "I can promise you that if Lauren was pregnant, it wasn't mine." He replied, shaking his head a little bit. "I've never gotten anyone pregnant and I don't plan on doing it anytime soon. I'm not ready to be a father and I don't want to pay child support." He raked his hands through his hair. "As for cheating on David…no. There were a few…drunken encounters, but nothing substantial."
"How many…drunken encounters?" Ayra shook her head. "Nevermind, I don't want to know. If David asks me what we talk about, he'll force everything out of me and I'd rather not have him attack you." She half smiled and looked him. "Her murder isn't a normal murder though, it was done with planning because everything points to you. I want to find out who really did it, I need answers."
"If there's such a thing as a normal murder." Steve pointed out, looking down at her with a faint smile. "And yeah, I get that." He ran his hands through his hair. "I'd offer my help, but uh, my involvement might hinder more than help." He shrugged his shoulders, glancing over at David for a moment, then back down at Ayra.
"Im not about to ask David to help me, he'll call me a fool for believing you." She scoffed. "I would rather you help out, but if not then I'll go do it myself. I'd have to visit the place her body was found first, see if the killer left any clues."
"I'm pretty sure that that area has been combed over plenty." He said. "I mean, we can check, but uh, it's still technically a crime scene so I don't know if even you could get close. As the victim's family, you get more access to police stuff than the rest of us, but, getting to places like that with me in tow is going to be… difficult. I've been convicted previously, and the evidence points to me. No one's going to want to tell me anything."
"Sure but you dont have to be with me when I get information. If anyone asks why we're hanging I'll tell them that I want to know why Lauren liked you so much." She said, folding her arms together. "Qe should get back, I know my parents are probably going to call for me soon and they'll get mad if they see me with you." She sighed.
"Ah. Yes. Right." He looked vaguely embarrassed for a moment, then sighed. "I'm… guessing that means I'm not allowed in?" He questioned, glancing towards the house where David was still waiting on the porch. Steven had kind of wanted to be able to go in, but he understood that it probably wouldn't be allowed.
"I'm sorry… as much as I would love to have you come inside, my parents and David will do or say something that will hurt more than one person." Ayra looked him apologetically. She sighed and looked at the sky. It was a stressful time for everyone, but she couldn't begin to imagine what Steven might be going through. They may not be close, but Ayra knows in her gut that he couldn't possibly be the killer. No. There was someone else, and they would be sorry.
His mouth tugged in a faint, bitter smile. "Yeah. I get that." he replied, looking over at her. "I guess I'll see you at school, then." as far as he knew, she didn't have his number, though she could probably get it from any number of the kids already in the house. He didn't offer his number, not wanting to be presumptuous about any of this.
(bump?)
"Sure." Ayra started heading back to her house before stopping and coming back. "I don't think I have your number in my phone, it would be useful to have if we're going to be working together. Do you mind?" She asked, taking her phone out of her pocket hesitatantly.
(Sorry! I completely blanked and couldn't remember the name of this rp!)
(it's fine!)
"Oh. Yeah, of course." He got his phone out, reading out his number to her with a small smile. "Do I need to repeat it, or did you get it all? Just shoot me a text with your name so I know who you are. Also, uh, please don't label me as drug dealer, it won't look good if the cops end up going through your phone and I'm labeled as drug dealer." He laughed faintly.
Ayra smiled "oh no, it'll be saved as not murderer Steve." She said teasingly. "Don't worry, it'll be something normal." She sent a quick text with her name, pocketing her phone when his buzzed. "I'll assume that's me." Ayra waved as she made her way back to her house, and David.
He laughed a little. "Well. Good." he replied, pulling out his phone. He waved back, then turned and began making his way down the street, away from the house.
David looked over at her, crossing his arms. "Well. At least he didn't kill you too." he said, casting a glance at Steve's retreating form, then over at Ayra again.
Ayra rolled her eyes and walked inside without a word. She ignored all the curious glances and unasked questions, making a beeline for her safe space, the little library by the stairs on the second floor. She stayed there for a long time, going through a photo album filled with pictures of her and her twin as the grew up.
(timeskip? Or?)
Steve added her to his phone as he walked, quiet. He hoped that the police would find out who had actually done it, but…with all of the evidence piling up against him, and the police slavering at the mouth to make an arrest, well. It was only a matter of time before they brought him in. They were already sniffing around at him, and he could practically feel their noose growing tighter around his neck.
(I was hoping you'd ask, i didn't want to be rude!)
(haha it's fine! Don't worry about being rude, it's all good. Where do you want to skip to?)
(I was thinking either a moment where they're going to go to solve mysteries or they meet up elsewhere to talk about Lauren's case?)
(ooh probably the second would be better. Do you want to do it or should I?)
(I need to make a fruit salad to break my fast with, can you?)
(yeah of course!)
Steve had been in communication with Ayra for the past week, and they had talked back and forth about Lauren, and about the murder. Steve had been seeing more and more officers hanging around near his house. Watching him. But there hadn't been an arrest yet.
The wind in her hair made Ayra smile. She had been debating taking her bike or her car and was glad she chose the former one. It was a good day to bike too, the sun was shining and there was relatively no wind. Ayra was on her way to meet Steven. She stopped her bike by a food truck to get a bottle of water and to text him to let him know she was on her way.
Steven had just finished a shower when he got her text, and sent a quick reply before getting dressed, rubbing the towel over his hair in an attempt to dry it a bit more. This ended up making all his dark locks stick up all over the place, messy and untamed.
Steven's house came into view a couple minutes after she left the food truck. She sped up a little and reached his house quickly. Ayra locked her bike against his fence and knocked on the door, taking out her phone to browse whil she waited for him to open it for her.
Steven didn't exactly live in the nicest part of town, many of the houses in the neighborhood boarded up or run down. On his own house, the paint was peeling and the gutters leaky, though someone had made an effort to keep up a small garden. He answered the door after a minute, greeting her with a faint smile. "Hey." He greeted, glancing down the street and making a face at the sight of the cop car idling down the street. He flashed his middle finger at the patrol car before opening the door wider to let her in. The house was semi clean, like someone had at least made an effort to tidy up, and the paint on the walls was chipper and of a pleasant tone, if a bit old.
"Hey." She smiled back and walked into his house. It was the first time she had come to his house so she stood awkwardly in the middle of the room, waiting for him to lead her somewher. Ayra had noticed the cop car when she came in, she hoped that they didnt try to barge in and ruin their process.
"They're trying to get up enough evidence to arrest me. Otherwise all they can do is request that I come in for questioning. Which my parole officer has told me not to do unless they actually have a warrant or are arresting me." Steven said as he lead her into the living room, plopping down on the couch. "No one else is home, by the way. My mom's at work and my sister's at a friend's. And my dad is in jail, obviously."
(aahhh oops, bump)