(no subject)

[prettydamngood]

Steve loves the beach. He loves it in all weathers but he particularly loves it when it's hot, when he can spend the whole day there, with a magazine, with soda. He spends most of the day sprawled out on a blanket on the sand reading or napping but, when he wakes up, he feels hot and sweaty, hectic, and it's definitely time for a swim. He leaves the majority of his stuff on the sand and he plunges into the water, submerging and swimming until he starts to feel comfortable in his skin again.

He wades out, shaking water from his hair as he goes, only realising after he's done it that that's potentially antisocial. He pushes the heavy weight of his hair back from his face and grins at whoever he just splashed.

"Shit, man," he says. "Sorry."

Comments

[americanexcess]

Veronica laughs, rolling her eyes. It's just like a teenage boy to make a mess and then apologize.

Scratch that. Half the guys she knows don't think to apologize, so he's already one up. And it doesn't hurt that he's cute and she recognizes him — from the sleepover at Ellie's, she's pretty sure.

"It's fine," she says, propping herself up where she's been lying back and sunbathing. "Actually, it felt good. Maybe it's time I got in the water."

[prettydamngood]

He's definitely seen her around, somewhere. Probably at Ellie's, or somewhere he's been hanging out with Lois. He pushes his hair back from his face and grins down at her. "I wouldn't be adverse to going back in, if you wanted to..."

[americanexcess]

"Well, I could use the company," Veronica says. She takes a sip of her water and then gets to her feet. What good is a cute bathing suit if she's just going to stay on dry land? She offers her hand, a playful smile on her lips. "I'm Veronica."

[prettydamngood]

Steve takes her hand, giving her his best winning smile. It feels weird to just shake her hand, especially since he's wearing swimming shorts, so he shakes it but also tugs her a little closer to the water. Yeah, he's flirting. Maybe he's tired of being hung up on a girl who doesn't like him back. Again.

"Steve," he says. "Harrington. I've seen you before somewhere."

[americanexcess]

Veronica giggles, letting herself be led and charmed both, stepping toward the water. She's spent the last few months missing Archie with all her heart, no matter how hard she flirts with other boys. That won't stop her from continuing to try.

"I get around," she says, shrugging. "But no, I remember you. Ellie's party, right?"

[prettydamngood]

He'd mostly hung out with Elio and Lois at the party, but he definitely remembers her. He keeps hold of her hand, drawing her into the water with him.

"That was a fun night."

[americanexcess]

"Very," Veronica says, grinning, following him out into the water. It's bracingly cold when she first steps in, but after all this summer heat, that's refreshing. She huffs out a laugh. "Honestly, I wasn't sure there was fun to be had here before that party. I live in an orphanage, and it's so dreary."

[prettydamngood]

Once they're both in the water, Steve lets go of her - he doesn't want her to think that he's a creep, after all. He sinks down in the water, letting it lap around his chest, his breath catching a little bit.

"Oh, you're at the home, too?" he says, thinking of Jamie. "That's...yeah. I'm sorry. That's got to suck." Steve is more than grateful for having his own apartment.

[americanexcess]

Veronica ducks under the water for a moment, letting the cold water sweep over her, and smooths her hair back as she resurfaces. "Oh, that feels so good," she says. "Yeah, it's... I mean, they're nice and all, but it's a children's home. I might try to get emancipated, if I can talk my bestie into doing it, too."

Betty has been totally weird and spacey lately, but it'd be fun to share an apartment.

[prettydamngood]

Steve does his best not to stare, he really does, but that mermaid thing? Totally, ridiculously hot. He does the same, though, ducking back under the water and slicking his hair back. "I've got an apartment. I was lucky enough to be the right side of eighteen when I showed up, I guess."

[americanexcess]

"Lucky you," Veronica says, and she means it sincerely, even if her mind is already working away. Eighteen isn't bad. There's not a big difference between eighteen and sixteen. And she's only flirting a little bit, wading closer to him. "Must be nice, having all that privacy and space to yourself."

[prettydamngood]

Steve sinks down a little in the water and he definitely doesn't pull away when she moves closer through the water.

"Yeah, it's pretty nice," he says, bobbing, tipping his head back to feel the sun on his face. "Especially after living at home."

[americanexcess]

"I'm guessing you're not from around here either," Veronica says, idly flicking water at him, smiling playfully. "So your parents aren't here?" She misses hers. She misses her own room, too, but mostly her parents, in spite of how damn complicated they made everything. It makes her wonder if Steve misses his, too, or if he's too busy enjoying being all but grown-up here. Close enough to it, at least, and she's determined to pretend that she's an adult too.

[prettydamngood]

"No parents," says Steve, pretending to dodge the water that she flicks at him. "I mean...Hopper...he's the sheriff back home, and he sort of treats me like he's my dad, so...Like half a parent, maybe?" He slicks his hair back from his face. "It's kind of weird, honestly. Being on my own."