chapter seven; operation child endagerment

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꒰꒰・┄┄・𓆩♡𓆪・┄┄・꒱꒱

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꒰꒰・┄┄・𓆩♡𓆪・┄┄・꒱꒱


"THAT KEYCARD OPENS THE DOOR," Dustin explains. "but unfortunately, the Russian with the keycard also has a massive gun."

"So, whatever is in that room, in those boxes, they really don't want anybody finding out." Summer adds as she leans against the counter, arms crossed over her chest.

Robin shakes her head. "But there's gotta be a way in."

"Well, you know...." Steve begins, grasping everyone's attention. He blows into his sailor hat and sets it down on the table before leaning forward with a slightly intimidating demeanour. "I could just take him out."

"Take who out?" Robin asks.

"The Russian guard." He answers almost mockingly as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, but the faces of those around him say otherwise. "What? I sneak up behind him, I knock him out, and I take his keycard. It's easy."

"Sweetie, did you not hear the part about the massive guns?" Summer smiles lopsidedly.

"Yes, I did. And that's why I would be sneaking."

"Well, tell me this and please be honest..." Dustin steps forward. "Have you ever actually... won a fight?"

"That was one time!" Steve scoffs.

"Twice. Jonathan. Year prior?" Summer goes quiet at the mention of Steve's fight with Jonathan and the bickering of the two boys is drowned out by her thoughts.

That was the first time Summer had ever told Steve she was in love with him. It was also a time when she truly believed that she had lost him forever. He'd become a bully, an evil shell of the person he used to be.

Though the fight was mostly caused by her and the only reason Jonathan stepped in was because Steve was bad-mouthing his family, knowing that they held a very important place in the girl's heart.

Summer tries not to remind herself of those times, repressing the heartache she went through because at the end of the day Steve was no longer that person. He had grown and evolved into a truly remarkable guy. No longer did he care about the judgment of others, nor did he feel forced to live up to anyone's expectations. Getting the job at Scoops was just the first step to his independence and Summer was glad that she was able to share it all with him.

"Robin? Hey, Robin!" Steve calls after the girl, pulling Summer out of her little trance, as he and Dustin both rush through the side door. "Hey, what are you doing?"

"I need cash."

"Half of that's mine. Where're you going?"

"To find us a way into that room, a safe way, and in the meantime, sling ice-cream, behave and don't get beat up." She laughs before rushing off through the crowded mall.

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