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Chapter 22, The Mall Stakeout (Ep. 3: The Case of the Missing Lifeguard)
Dustin once again visited Scoops Ahoy.
Instead of spending time with Gwen, Robin, and Daphne to try and crack the code, he dragged Steve during his lunch break out on a stakeout. It actually worked out for them, especially for Daphne since she was offering to work for free just to impress Robin and spend time with her.
It was safe to say things were going well between them. Without even realizing it, they had become best friends overnight, leaving Gwen behind as their third wheel.
Gwen was sitting on one of the booths having a slice of pizza. She observed the girls as they laughed at whatever it is they were talking about. Since Daphne didn't have many friends and based on what Robin told her on how she has a hard time socializing, she was proud of how easy it was for them to bond.
To try to make the time go faster, she put on her headphones and listened to her favorite song. She was always reminded of dancing with Steve at the Miss Hawkins Ball, but it was now reminding her of their unresolved tension that occurred due to his avoidance in discussing New York.
Steve was pretty much avoiding her since this morning. He felt like he disappointed her by not having a conversation about it, but he was certain once he started voicing his actual thoughts, she would be even more upset at his response.
Which was why he eagerly agreed to this stakeout with Dustin.
It was much easier to avoid disappointing her if he wasn't with her.
Now the two of them were hidden behind some bushes around the food court. He looked through Dustin's binoculars in search of any suspicious looking person, (according to Dustin, he should be wearing sunglasses, camo, an earpiece and be carrying an overly large duffel bag).
He should be focusing, but instead of searching, he became focused on Anna Jacobi and Mark Lewinsky (a couple that reminded him of the tension between him and Gwen).
"See anything?" Dustin narrowed his eyes and tried searching with his naked eye, but none of the mall rats fit his profile.
"Just Anna officially confirming that she's with that meathead Mark. He never even came off the bench," Steve suddenly felt a hard whack on the back of his head. He lowered his binoculars to then be met by a threatening looking Dustin.
"Are you seriously looking at another girl when you're with my sister?"
Steve's gaze darkened, appalled he was being accused of the impossible, "I would never have eyes for anyone except for my Gwen. That is a promise I will always keep."
"You better," Dustin warned, but hit him on the back of his head once more. "Then stop looking at them! You're being the worst spy in history. Give me that." He harshly yanked the binoculars from him, forcing Steve to accept defeat unless he wanted to be choked. "I don't even get why you're looking at couples when you're in a relationship."
