SHINING DIAMOND | SEVENTEEN

6

✧·ﾟ: *✧·ﾟ:*

Stella groaned out loud as she kept repeating the same dance steps again and again. No matter how many times she went over it and monitored herself, she just couldn't find herself matching the same tone and sharpness as the other members.

"you're overthinking it" Vernon says watching her from the door entry. All the other members had already left and she thought Vernon had left too. Hoshi and Jun had offered to stay back and help but she wanted to work on it for herself until she fully memorised the choreography and found her own rhythm to it

"well how can i not? the MAMA's are like a week away" Stella says going over her recording of herself and looks displeased

"i know that but there's no point in over exerting yourself right now and you're not going to get it  in this state. You need to rest, let's go rest" Vernon says going over to her and wrapping his arms around her so that she wouldn't run away

"i can't rest" Stella quietly says not wanting to move and found herself relaxing in his arms

"yes you can" he says softly back

Stella shakes her head "i won't be able to sleep knowing that i can't get it right"

"you have gotten it right, you've memorised the the choreo, that's enough for today. And then tomorrow you can work on it so that it's more synchronised with us. You just need a break from it, you've been at it for hours so of course you don't think it's any good. You'll see the difference tomorrow, i promise" Vernon tells her gently, his arms still around her and could see from their reflection in the opposing mirror that she looked very defeated

"i am very tired" She says and then turns to face him "but i don't think i'll be able to get any sleep tonight"

"then sleep with me, you always sleep better with me when you're feeling restless" Vernon suggests casually and Stella feels her heart rate quickening. She hasn't slept in the same bed as Vernon ever since her and Namjoon became official, feeling like it was crossing a line. She knew she wouldn't feel comfortable if Namjoon slept in another's girl bed even if she was his best friend. Vernon seemed to get the idea "but i get if you're not comfortable with that, i doubt Namjoon would be okay with that"

"you're right" she says not being able to look at him now

"have you not spoken to him since?" Vernon then asks not being able to help himself, he told himself from the start he would distance himself from their relationship and never wanted to seem too invested, it would cause too much pain. he couldn't be around her. But how could he tell her that without hurting her? that being with her was too much, that her touch was too much, that  he was scared of what he would do if he was around her too much, that he couldn't be with her but yet he still wanted more, but he couldn't afford to be with her, that he loves her so much that it drove him absolutely insane. No he couldn't risk their friendship for his selfish thoughts

"no, he seemed pretty mad and i don't blame him, i shouldn't have snapped at him like that" Stella answers, the guilt finally catching up with her

"i understand why you did though, you bottle your emotions too much, Yona" Vernon says playing with the ends of her hair

'Yona', Stella felt a hitch in her throat at that. His pet name for her, he was the only one that called her that, a name he only called her by when they were alone together, scared that someone might steal it and use it on her when it was simply reserved for him, he was the only person that was allowed to call her that. When they were kids he use to call her by 'Yona' all the time but it died down as they got older, a name he only used when he felt most vulnerable and close to her.