never alone

[five]

sasha had a shorter day than usual after midterms were handed in and she was going to celebrate by eating at her favorite diner. she sat in her usual booth and ordered her usual meal; cheeseburger, fries and a milkshake.

she wore a black nike tracksuit with white air force ones with her tied into a tight bun. she was feeling good because after all that had happened to her in los angeles, things in portland were finally starting to look up.

sasha didn't look up as someone slid into the booth seat beside her. she likes to think that by now she can sense when seth is around. he spread his arm out leaving it behind her head as he sat close beside her.

"how was your day?" he smiled as he looked down at her. this was the first time seth had sat down beside her instead of across from her.

"it was great, you?" she asked as she looked up at him. she noticed he was in his letter jacket again which meant he just came from practice.

"pretty good too, coach gave us the week off, so i can finally rest." he said as he took a bite of her burger.

"you really need to start buying your own food."

"or i can just eat a little of yours." he shrugged and at the fry out of her hand. "you've got good taste in food, banks."

"shut up." she rolled her eyes with a small smile as she watched him drink her milkshake. she soon took it from him.

"you look good today, bestie."

"thanks, it's probably because i am less stressed."

"or maybe it's because i'm here." he smiled as he stole the drink back away from her.

"jerk." she said as she shoved him and took her drink back. he slid back even closer to her this time and ate more of her fries.

"i know." he smiled as she rolled her eyes. this was how it was for them. playful banter until they parted ways and now it's even become a thing for them to share food at the diner.

"hello, my friends." randy and roman say as they slide into the booth chair in front of them.

"hey."

"hi." sasha smiles as she grabs her burger back from seth.

"so, classes were cancelled for the week too. they say it's some kind of learning seminar for the teachers." randy explains with a huge smile on his face. "i'm planning on taking renee to meet my mom, roman's doing the same with charlotte. what do yous got planned?"

"oh, we're not-" sasha explains before seth cut her off by shoving a fry into her mouth. "hey!" she shouted as she punched him in the ribs.

"oh, sethie boy just got rejected." randy chuckles making roman chuckle too.

"i did not-"

"you totally did." sasha smiles as she looks up at him. he looks back down at her and rolls his eyes.

"shut up, banks."

"y'all would make a cute couple though." roman suggests making seth smile brightly.

"wipe that smile of your face, loser." sasha says as she takes the last bite of the burger. 

"hey! i wanted that!"

"snooze, you lose." she said as she stuck her tongue out at him. she then turned her attention back to the boys. "for this break i wanted to go somewhere hot, my tan is fading, i'm paling out."

"you are so not paling out." roman says with a little laugh.

"trust us." randy adds.

"you still look as hot as the day i met you." seth explains as sasha rolls her eyes.

"shut up, seth!" she says as buries her flushed face in her hands. roman and randy chuckle as charlotte and renee approach the table. "guys, do you think i am paling out?"

"just a little bit." renee shrugs

"yeah, but nothing tanning lotion couldn't fix." charlotte says as they both pull up a chair.

"tanning what-"

"you don't know what tanning lotion is?" randy asked.

"no?"

"where exactly are you from?"

"la, but like the rural area, where there are cows and horses." sasha explains with a small smile as she remembers her childhood. she misses it. "but anyways, i need to fix this."

"well, i am going to florida with roman, you can come if you want." charlotte explains.

"yeah, there are beaches, sash." roman adds.

"yes! i am so in."

"wait, what about me?" seth asks with a frown.

"stay here and freeze." sasha smiles as she pats his chest and eats the last fry out of his hand.

"mean."

the group of friends part ways as they all head back to their homes for the night. seth follows sasha back to her apartment.

"seth, your place is so much further."

"i don't care, i don't want you walking in the dark."

"well, i don't want you walking in the dark either."

"so come sleep at mine."

"what?" she asks as she stops walking in the middle of the field. she was happy she had friends, but she didn't know if she was ready for a sleepover just yet. it was all too much.

"i have an extra room."

"so do i."

"so.." he trailed off as sasha leaned her head back and looked up at the stars. maybe she was ready for this. after all, it was seth. she could trust him. he wasn't going to hurt her.

"you know what i am getting at, loser."

"if you keep talking to me like that, i am going to leave and never come back." he smiled as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder and the pair walked towards her apartment.

a/n sleepovers, what can go wrong? right?