Chapter 4 A Nicer Side

"Watch my ass move" Chrissy screamed twerking infront of her two friends in Amy's room. Laura had to admit Chrissy was a really good twerker.

" You should be a stripper" Amy jeered throwing a ball of popcorn at Chrissy's butt. Laura , after knowing Chrissy for a week had made up her mind that she was one crazy soul, if everyone was walking Chrissy'ld want to fly , she and her project partner weren't getting along because Chrissy kept on calling Spencer Baron " Sarah's sidekick" yet he was the one carrying out the bulk of the work . When Laura asked why she called him Sarah's side kick , Chrissy had shrugged then replied " she uses him for his dirty work so what does that make him?".

Laura's phone rang and the caller ID said " jerk" which was what she'd saved Steve's number as. She reached for Laura's phone and turned down the volume.

" Hey! I was just getting to the best part " Chrissy said accusingly her permanently red coloured lips formed into an ugly pout . Laura waved her phone at Chrissy and picked the call .

" H -" Laura was about to say hi when Steve cut her out.

" Hurry up .I have places to be " Steve said sounding irritated and hung up before she could say anything.

" Arrgh!" Laura screamed slapping her forehead while Chrissy and Amy munched their popcorn and stared at her wide eyed.

" Tell me about it " Chrissy snorted, grabbing another hand full of pop corn and stuffing it into her mouth.

" Does he have to always cut me off? I mean he just called and then before I could say anything he says " Laura changed her voice to Steve's. " Hurry up I have places to be " . Really?" Laura sighed feeling defeated .

" You sounded alot like him back there " Chrissy nodded, swallowing her popcorn.

" Yeah. That was a real voice impression. Could you do Mr Prowse' ? Amy asked laughing, Chrissy joined in rolling on Amy's bed. It was funny but not at the moment. Not when Steve was bossing her around.

Laura looked at her supposed friends who hadn't stopped laughing. When they eventually stopped Amy cleared her throat and held her nose.

" I'm not yet out students. . ." Amy said sounding very much like Mr Prowse , this time it was actually funny and Laura couldn't help but chuckle a bit.

" Oh lemme try another-" Chrissy began, wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes.

" I've got a Steve situation here . Remember?"

Laura asked placing her hands on her waist , glaring at the two clowns infront of her.

" Oh," Chrissy said slapping the pillow on her legs.

" You're so boring" .

" Whatever . I'm going now ,so that someone doesn't " Laura made an air quote "run late to the places he's supposed to be".

When she arrived at Steve's she found him infront of his tv screen playing his PS5 .

" I'm here " Laura said fiddling with her fingers .

" I'm not deaf" Steve sighed and turned to Laura , the corners of his mouth tugged upward ,forming a small smile.

" You look good Halliday" he smirked, eyeing her slowly .

" I thought you had places to be " Laura replied dully , adjusting her bag.

" Yeah whate-" He smiled again which made him appear calmer than he was most of the time.

" I see whatcha doing " Steve said sounding amused .

" Looks like someone woke up on the right side of his bed today ! " Laura chirped . She contemplated saying more . Would he go back to his sour mood or eagerly respond ?

"Why're you grumpy most of the time ?" She asked taking her eyes away from him and placing it on his bookshelf. Did he actually read or those were just for the aesthetics? He seemed different from the Steve Way at school she knew. But wasn't she too?

" Cause I easily get irritated?" He answered her, his chair was turned to face her now . Laura was a bit taken back . She was expecting a sarky comment from him if he even bothered to answer, or maybe a diversion from the topic.

" What about your verbal bullying ? I guess you can't beat me cause of my height " Laura said lightly.

" I'll beat you if I want to but luckily for you I don't beat girls , I'm decent ." Steve said smirking.

" But not decent enough to apologize for what happened at the cafeteria?" Laura asked him. She knew she was pushing her luck too far but then he owed her an apology .

" Those were new Nike's" Steve said sounding upset .

" I didn't realize but you pushed me after all" She shot back at him , her eyes narrowed into slits .

" I didn't have a choice . You were in my way . You're from CA".

That was it . No apology .

" Yeah I am" Laura said hoping he won't ask more about her.

" Nice drawl by the way . Y'all. . ." Laura said rolling her eyes.

" Hey we like our drawl ! " Steve placed his hands on his chest as if offended which made Laura laugh louder this time .

" Nice set of teeth" Steve said walking up to were Laura stood , he placed his hands on his waist and stared down at Laura.

She could feel the warmth of his body close to her and as he came closer she could perceive the sweet rich scent of vanilla mixed subtly with the rich fragrance of his rose wood in his cologne .

" You look better with you hair up " Steve said packing up her hair and wrapping it with her hair ruffle.

"There now." His hands went down to Laura's cheeking , cupping her face gently. " For someone who talks alot you've got real small lips . Almost lipless" He frowned.

Laura stared at him wide eyed , too speechless to utter a single sound . She rubbed the spot on her cheeks where he'd touched as she felt colour rise up her neck .

" And for someone who oozes alot of testerone you really aren't that intimidating" she scoffed , tipping her head back .

" Change of plans for today . Call it an apology. Let's grab some snacks at Macdonald's" Steve said .

" Why're you nice all of a sudden?"Laura asked weighing his unexpected offer skeptically.