𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑶𝑻𝑯𝑬𝑹 𝑺𝑷𝒀 - Dustin Henderson

010. The Mall Rats

CINDY AND DUSTIN WENT TO THE MALL TO SEE STEVE AS DUSTIN WAS JUST BURSTING WITH EXCITMENT TO SEE HIM. Cindy was just a little jealous of their friendship.

They walked inside Scoops Ahoy and saw Robin working, looking extremely bored. "Oh, if it isn't my favourite Harrington," Robin smirked.

"Nice to see you too Robin," Cindy smiled.

Robin turned to the kid she had never met before. "Hi," he smiled.

"Hi," she replied, half heartedly. She turned to Cindy furrowing her eyebrows.

"I'm Dustin."

"I'm Robin."

"Pleasure to meet you. Uh, is... is he here?" He asked, looking around.

"Is who here?"

Before Cindy could cut in, Steve came bumbling through the door from the back, "Henderson." He beamed, "Henderson! He's back! He's back!" He announced.

"I'm back!" Dustin chuckled. "You got the job!"

"I got the job!" He stepped closer, giving Dustin a handshake. Cindy stepped back, smiling as she watched their cute interaction. She turned to Robin who was looking at her embarrassed.

"Hey! Oh!" They then began to fight with imaginary lightsabers, Dustin hitting him in the chest.

Robin turned back to her co-worker, leaning over the counter. "How many children are you friends with?" Steve's smile fell, as he glared at Robin.

Cindy mouthed to Robin, "a lot." She snickered and turned away.

• • •

Steve and Dustin sat down at a booth, Steve had made Dustin a sundae, while Cindy chatted up Robin. The boys were talking about his camp, and then Dustin brought up Suzie and Steve began to worry he was cheating on Cindy, but Dustin reassured him that he doesn't like her like that.

"Steve come on, I'm not cheating on her. I would never! Suzie is only a friend," Dustin reassured him.

"You better be right. Otherwise you're dead."

"Steve, I love Cindy. I would never do anything to hurt her," Dustin smiled, shaking his head in disbelief that he would even assume that.

Dustin didn't even realise he just said the 'L' word for the first time and to her brother. He stuck his spoon into the ice cream, going to take another mouthful, until it hit him. Steve had been waiting for him to realise as he noticed immediately and was quite taken back.

Dustin looked up at Steve slowly, his eyes wide and pink staining his cheeks. "I... Please don't say anything," he whispered quickly, just as Cindy plopped herself down onto the seat next to Dustin.

She licked her mint choc chip ice cream Robin had given her for free for being her favourite Harrington. There totally wasn't any bribing going on.

She looked over at the boys, they looked like stunned mullets. Her eyes snapped between the two, "what did I miss?"

"Cindy, would you be so kind as to go and grab my water bottle from the break room?" Steve asked, batting his eyelashes. She groaned and stood up, walking away.

"I just sat down," she mumbled.

"Have you not told her?" Steve whispered as soon as she was out of ear shot.

"No. I was planning on it but something happened last night," he responded, looking away.

"What did I tell you about falling in love? It's dangerous!" Steve warned him.