𝐒𝐇𝐘 | 𝖠𝖼𝗍𝗎𝖺𝗅𝗅𝗒 𝖲𝗍𝖾𝗉𝗁𝖾𝗇 𝖷 𝖱𝖾𝖺𝖽𝖾𝗋

seven

𝘆/𝗻'𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝘃.
the drive is silent. it wasn't awkward, it was more of a peaceful one. I stare out of the window trying to look for hints to where we are going but I'm totally baffled "hey ste where are you taking me?" his gaze safely moves from the road ahead to me for a couple of seconds before looking back "you'll soon see. I think you'll like it".

eventually the scenery changes to an array of brightly coloured flowers and stunning trees that have lights dangling from the branches. I gape at the sight. I can see stephen smile from the corner of my eye and my heart can't help but flutter. at the end of the road there is this magnificent, posh looking building that is definitely expensive. stephen parks up the car before we step out of the vehicle "shall we?" he holds his arm out for me to hold onto "we shall".

he's acting like such a gentleman, which is something I never expected from him, he always seems so goofy and seeing him act all serious is kind of amusing. steadily we strut through the entrance and are instantly greeted by a man in a suit who clasps his hands together before speaking "you must be y/n and stephen?" we nod our heads "it's nice of you to join us! follow me this way and I will lead you to your table". as we walk through the halls of the manor I notice that the walls of are decorated with antique paintings... this place is going to be expensive.

finally we arrive at our table that is positioned in the middle of a rather large room that has many couples scattered around on various other tables. I feel so out of place right now. my eyes scan the menu once I'm settled and I almost instantly see what I want "why did you bring me somewhere this fancy?" I question over the bustle of other people's conversations. the man sat opposite me chuckles "I thought it would be a nice treat". in a hushed tone I hum my own song as I place my elbow on the table and my head in my hand, daydreaming, whilst staring in stephen's direction. "are you staring at how dashing I look?" "hellooo... y/nnn" "y/n?" stephen snaps his fingers in front of my face, forcing me out of my daze "huh?". "were you daydreaming about me?" his eyebrows raise "of course I was" I sarcastically say even though it is half true but I don't have to let him know that, right? "I knew it!" the boy yells drawing attention to himself making me feel butterflies in my stomach for a second time today.

-

not too long after ordering our food arrives and it smells delicious. "I bet you can't finish yours before I finish mine" stephen proposes making me stare at him with a 'seriously' expression "how old are you again? seven?" "maybe stephen is seven mentally" there he goes again talking about himself in the third person, he's so confusing but I love it. "c'mon it'll be fun" he persuades. my eyes dart around the room, this place is fancy but where's the harm in having a little bit of fun "fine then, you're on mr". unfortunately I lose the little race we were competing in. I ask for the bill and I am soon given it. I look down at what my food costs and pull out my card to cover the expenses but I see stephen staring at me with a suspicious smirk "what? is there something on my face?" my hand reaches up and wipes my cheeks just to be sure "no..." he laughs "then what?" "I've already paid so put that away" he points towards my card and purse "you did what? when? but that was far too expensive" "my idea y/n so I'll pay, anyways what kind of guy would I be if I didn't pay for a gorgeous woman's food" there he goes again with that phrase he used when we went to get ice cream, his flattery make my cheeks flame up quickly, he's too good at teasing me.

"I hope you're ready for destination number two!" stephen happily proposes, pulling me towards him as we walk back to his car "we're going somewhere else?" "of course we are and I think you'll enjoy it even more than the food!". "actually before we leave this place wanna walk around and look at the gardens?" he stares at me and I nod approvingly. the pair of us could have been mistaken for being a couple and we were. the label came from an old woman who stopped us to chat "young love is sweet isn't it?" she beams making the two of us blush, she is holding onto who I assume is her husband's arm in a similar way that I am holding onto stephen's. the discussion ends between us and we continue our small journey, stopping again at a gorgeous fountain that has koi fish in the water "they're so cute!" I excitedly point at one as it passes by "you're cute" stephen murmurs softly under his breath "hmm" I tilt my head at him "they're cute" he changes what he says this time saying it loud enough so I can hear. "can we take a picture? so I can remember this moment?" I feebly question holding up my phone and shaking it in my grasp "sure thing". I place my phone in front of us and hold it up, our faces are smushed together and his arm is wrapped around my waist whilst I snap the photo. we take a nice one before taking a few silly ones "thank you stephen".

eventually we decide to make our way back to the car. stephen grabs my hand and begins to run "woah I'm in heels this is harder than it looks" I squeal with a giggle "you seem to be managing just fine" he claims, peeking over his shoulder to see me "yeah but that won't last long". as I say this he stops "okay we'll slow down" so we do exactly as he says but as we do so neither one of us let go of each other's hand, it was almost as if we both forgot that they are laced together.

———
𝙝𝙞 𝙞 𝙝𝙤𝙥𝙚 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩 𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙖𝙮 𝙖 𝙗𝙞𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝙞 𝙖𝙢 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠! 𝙞 𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙞𝙩 𝙨𝙤 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝!
𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘨𝘶𝘺𝘴!!
-𝙘𝙝𝙡𝙤𝙚 <3