✓ | BLOODY KNUCKLES.¹

𝐄𝐩𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐞.

epilogue.

ALLL YOU COULD HEAR at time of night was Arthur spluttering coughs raking his hands through his soaked ash brown hair eyes twisted shut to keep the water out and when he opened them, Lydia was pinching her nose eyes squeezed shut too. He wanted to roll his eyes at her act. "Stop pretending. I know you cheated, I seen you go up!"

"Losers repeat the same things." Lydia taunts, her ponytail swings as she bops her head trying to get the excess water out of her ears. There was nothing better than having an entire pool to yourself, especially at night under the gleaming stars and pretty moon and a prettier girl.

The recent deaths had been something neither could escape, Sheriff Stilinski managed to keep the police off their backs but it didn't stop strangers from pointing and begging them to relive what happened all over again when it already does whenever his eyes close. Spending time with friends helped, whether it was hanging out or sitting in silence the company was better than wallowing alone. He felt like Lydia had lost the most, sure Isaac is gone from Beacon Hills but he could call him whenever he wants Lydia couldn't do that with Allison or Aiden. It was almost like she blamed herself for what happened when it couldn't have been.

"I'm dating a liar. I can't believe this." Arthur sighed, shaking his head as he sinks deeper inside the crisp water stopping below his nose, his long legs fluttering beneath keeping him afloat. "But I'll make an exception because I like your voice."

"Ew." The strawberry blonde shouts, nose wrinkling moving closer poking her dripping finger on his nose looking repulsed. His mouth curved into a smile, rolling his neck back groaning despite him wanting to laugh at her childish behavior. "Let's do a competition!"

"So you cheat again?"

"You can't cheat in cannonballing the furtherest." Lydia countered in an jubilant tone, wiggling her shoulders water splashing the smell of chlorinated water in air. He blames her mood on being underwater, goosebumps rose on his skin and teeth clattered occasionally but he didn't want to ruin Lydia's thrilled mood who knows when's the next time she'll feel like this again. "Backing out, loser?"

He scoffed, his eyes glued to her as she pushes herself out of the water it drips down her lilac colored bikini it was a complemented her skin lovely. He tore his eyes away licking his dry lips and quickly followed her out, hand slips on the edge.

"Loser pays for dinner?" Arthur suggested, wiping his hands on his wet shorts dipping his head down to glimpse at the petit girl for an answer. The only reason he'd suggested that was for two reasons, he didn't want to go home straight after and he hadn't brought money along. Who knew swimming could work up an appetite.

"Great. I'm in the mood for Chinese." The strawberry blonde chimed, hands on her hips grinning at him. She fought a shiver when her feet touched the gritty concrete underfoot.

"You're too arrogant for someone lacking these." He flexed his arms crouching a little in front of her hair. "I could carry you on these bad boys, babe."

Rolling her eyes she pushed his arm away, he nearly fell sticking his butt out and clutching her wrist. She couldn't help but laugh in his face at his prettified expression. "You forget cannonballing requires physics, something one of us didn't pass, babe." She tilted her head is mock innocent bottom lip pouting.

He flicked her bottom lip. "Low blow." Arthur winced, clutching his heart by her giggling he knew his hand was on the wrong side. His stomach was beginning to hurt from the fluttering and it was all her and her stupid laugh's fault, he loved it. Arthur pushed her and she did fell straight into the swimming pool, his fist flew to his mouth grimacing. "Shit."

"Prick." She grumbled when her chin reached the surface, hair sprung out of her elastic and stuck to her face. "I don't like you at all."

He crouched in front of her keeping his distance, and rested his cheek on his fist beaming. "Have a told you you how pretty your eyes look near the water?"

"Completing my eyes won't distract me from you pushing me in." Lydia retorted, rolling her eyes and at last her hair was away from her face. "But maybe if you kiss me I'd feel a tad bit better."

"Whatever you want." He leans forth and gave her his hand so she could reach him but she tried to pull on his arms steadying him. Heart racing as he dips his face closer to hers their noses nearly touching. "Better luck next time, little red."

"You an ass." Lydia grumbled, leaping on the edge to sit besides him her feet swaying in the water, goosebumps on her skin. There was not a sound around them apart from their breathing and maybe their thumping hearts. Inclining Lydia placed her wet lips on his cold cheeks and felt it warm up. An idea pops in her mind. Arthur thought her lips were so soft and sweet it was like he was being hypnotized by her. And it broke when water smacked his face, it slipped inside his mouth and he gagged swimming to the surface to see her giggling clutching her stomach. She really is slick as fuck.

"Now who's the ass." He mumbled trying to wipe the taste of chlorinated water from his mouth. Above him her fingers found his underwater and lifted it up so she interlace them. It had been awhile since he felt like this, so happy in a moment he never wanted the night to end. "Did you have fun today?"

She was smiling at their hands like there was hidden gold between them. "Yeah, I had the greatest time with you." His hands pressed on the underfoot lifting his body up and peeked her nose, she looks even prettier up close he wants to capture her in a picture and hang it on his wall. Her wrinkled hands rubs his shoulders. "Let's go back to mind, you're freezing and I don't want you catching a cold." He nods. It always paradise when he's with Lydia Martin.