First Love

<10> Erratic

"We're here," Toni muttered softly as they've reached her home.

Steven offered to take her home.

After the sudden breakdown, Toni didn't have the courage to look at Steven straight through his eyes. She was embarrassed.

"Hey, Toni. Look at me," Steven whispered.

She closed her eyes tight quickly before looking at him. Steven smiled at her which made her embarrassment fade away in an instant. "It's fine, you don't have to be embarrassed about it. It's fine," he stated with a slight chuckle which made Toni chuckle as well.

She didn't get how and why but, somehow, he manages to erase all the negative feelings she would feel with just his existence in front of her. Weird but, she felt kinda thankful for it.

"Thank you and sorry for what happened earlier. I was just-"

"Hey, I told you that it's fine. You don't have to apologize to me. I'd do it anytime for you." he stated as he didn't even let her continue what she was about to say.

Steven ruffled her hair a bit and smiled softly. "You should head inside, it's getting a bit cold"

Toni couldn't get to say anything else when he gently pushed her inside, signaling her to enter.

She smiled at him one last time before heading in.

Before closing the door, Toni looked at Steven one last time and saw him waiting.

He tilted his head a bit to the side that made her giggle a bit. "Thank you" she mouthed to which he returned with a wide smile and a small wave.

Next Day

Toni woke up feeling her eyes were a bit swollen and her head kinda aching.

'Dang, I cried that much huh?'  she asked herself with a chuckle.

She sighed and decide to get ready for school.

Toni was lucky enough to eat breakfast without her parents asking or noticing her eyes.

She didn't want them to worry too much about her.

~~~~

"We'll be going now!!" Toni shouted as she got her siblings' bags. "Bye, mom! Bye, dad!" her siblings bid their goodbyes before leaving.

"Oh! It's Steven!! Sis! Steven is here!" Sophie excitedly exclaimed as she rushed towards Steven who was outside their gate, waiting for them.

She unconsciously froze on her spot upon seeing Steven smiling at her siblings who were rushing towards him. 

'I missed this..' she suddenly thought.

Her eyes widen in shock. "Wait what?..."

Toni immediately shook her head to remove that thought. 'What the heck?'

"Where have you been? My sister had been sad when you weren't with us every morning. Did you guys fight?" Xander asked Steven as he was getting their bags.

Steven and Toni looked at each other. 

'Great. You just had to, Xander' she mentally rolled her eyes and looked away as she felt her cheeks were getting hot. 

"We didn't fight. We just had a.. uhm" he paused. "A bit of a misunderstanding but, we're okay now. Right, Toni?" Steven looked at her with a smile.

Toni suddenly felt her heartbeat fast. 'What the...'

"O-oh. Uhm, yeah. We're okay now," she replied and looked away again.

She felt her heart was beating at an abnormal speed right after Steven looked at her.