Arcade | s.m (✔️)

Seven

"She hates me."

"She doesn't hate you!"

"She totally hates you." Ellie tells me bluntly after Shawn's response, her head rested on Ryan's shoulder.

"What Ellie means, is that it may or may not take a little longer for Vic to warm up to you." Harper interprets, and I frown.

"How long do I have to live, exactly?" I ask.

"Two days." Theo tells me, before coming close and whispering.

"If you're lucky."

"If only you had picked someone else to like instead of Shawn. For example, I am an eligible bachelor." Connor says, earning a swat from Kate and an eye roll from me.

"I don't like him!" I claim, and instantly watch Shawn's face drop before I take back my words.

"I mean, I do like him. Just not like that." I say, not sure of my self and hoping no one else can tell.

"Ouch." Ryan whispers in a low voice, and before I can feel any worse about myself, Kate interrupts.

"Moving on, Tory will get over it. Just give it some time."

"Yeah, and I'll tell her that nothing even happened between you two, and it was all a misunderstanding." Harper assures me, and I smile gratefully before sneaking a glance at Shawn to find him staring at me, both of us looking away instantly.

"Hey, Rose, you never answered. Are you coming tonight?" Ellie asks, referring to the "friendly campfire" they would be doing. At least, that's what they called it when convincing my mom to let me come.

"Yeah, my mom finally caved in." I answer.

"Well, until then, what do you guys want to do?" Harper questions, and all of us shrug before I check the time and get up.

"Wish I could stay, but I've got to go help my mom with the house."

"You've lived in there for almost two weeks, what else do you need to do?" Theo asks curiously, not suggesting that I didn't want to hang out with them.

"The walls are still swamp green, and I can't stand it." I tell him, and the whole group shudders.

"Gross. See you tonight, Rose!" Kate says, waving goodbye to me with everyone else before I walk out of Ellie's house and start to go home, before stopping and realizing something, then walking back to the house.

"Um, guys? I kind don't know how to get home from here. Left or right once I get to the stop sign?" I ask sheepishly, and everyone laughs at my cluelessness.

"I'll help. I'm leaving anyways." Shawn says, putting his other shoe on, and I thank him before saying goodbye once again and walking out the door.

"So, why did you have to leave?" I ask Shawn once we're at the stop sign, and he shrugs.

"I didn't. I just knew you wouldn't have a clue how to get home so I thought I would catch you before you wandered around."

"Oh." I say, staring at the ground as I walk. "Well, thanks."

Shawn smirks at me, but says nothing in return. We walk for a few moments longer before I begin to speak.

"I'm not gonna lie, I don't think I can go tonight." I tell Shawn, and he raises an eyebrow.

"Why?"

"Um, well, besides the fact that Victoria might throw me in the fire and roast marshmallows on top of me? We're planning on painting half the house today, and I would hate to leave my mom painting by herself while I go hang out with you guys."

"You don't think you'll be able to do it in time?"

"Well, we're done with the dining room already, but still need to do a little bit more work to complete half the house. It's just two people painting a house." I answer.

"It could be three." Shawn answers, and I look at him confused.

"Explain?"

"Well, you and your mom are two, right?" Shawn asks me, and I roll my eyes at him.

"Just a little more explaining would be good." I tell him, a smile on my face.

"If we add me to your mom and you, I'm pretty sure that would make three. Then again, I flunked basic addition in second grade, so don't completely trust me on that."

"You want to help?" I ask, surprised, and he laughs lightly.

"Well, yeah. That's kind of what I was suggesting." He says, and I grin.

"Shawn, its kind of hard work. And the only payment we would do is dinner, which will be pizza tonight."

"I love pizza." He tells me, and I look at him confused.

"Why exactly do you want to do this? You're just going to be painting a house with me, nothing cool." I say, and he shrugs.

"As long as it's with you." He replies, his eyes looking at the pavement as we walk past his house, and I grab his wrist, stopping him.

The moment he turns around, his eyes glistening, I let go of my grip as if his arm was blazing coal, and stumble back a little.

"You might want to change your clothes to something you won't mind paint on." I tell him, and he stares at me for a second before nodding and walking into his house.

"You can come in if you want." He offers, and I shake my head.

"No, I'll just wait outside." I reply, staring at his driveway as he shuts the door and I take a seat at his doorstep.

I was not going to catch feelings for Shawn. Unless I wanted my head in Victoria's collection, I knew that I should either stay away, or keep things in complete friendship mode with him. No matter how much I ever wanted to do otherwise.

Interrupting my thoughts, the door opens and Shawn comes outside, wearing a shirt that looked like it was from a run, and basketball shorts.

"Ready?" I ask, and he nods his head with a smile.

As we begin the walk to my house, I can't help but think about what things would be like in Victoria wasn't in the picture.

a/n
yo yo yo it's me and I'm sick af so I stayed home but on the bright side that gave me time for an update so here u go!