Chapter 7:
STEVE'S POV:
I hear booming music from down the road, and I instantly think of the girl supposedly coming home tonight. The thought of a drunken Luna stumbling through my house wasn't necessarily the thought I'd like to have of her. I slipped into jeans and a white t-shirt and jogged down to where the lights shone bright and the music was the loudest. The side gate was propped open, and I could see young kids kissing in dark corners of the yard.
"This should be fun." I whisper to no one in particular, and then step inside cautiously.
The first person I see is Jaden, dancing with James, the ever popular boyfriend. The town was small, and all the members know of Jaden's dating life, because she tells them all when they shop at One of a Kind. For a second, I think that there wouldn't be drinking, then I saw the kegs. Great. I scan the yard for familiar faces, and it takes me a second to recognize Luna, made to look like a model. Her blue dress was most likely chosen by Luna herself, but the outrageous neon heels were the work of Jaden. Luna looked downright beautiful, and everyone else seemed to think so too.
A black haired boy has her in his arms, and they're dancing like they're both twenty and have known each other forever. My fists clench in anger, a fatherly instinct kicking in despite the fact that she's not my daughter, and I barely know her. I slip into the chaos and find Jaden.
"Jaden, how many drinks has Luna had?"
"That's none of your business, Steve." She giggles, drunk and stupid.
"Helpful. I'm taking her home now."
"Oh but her and Calum are hitting it off! Don't interrupt, the poor girl has NO social life, Steve. Let her have this." I consider, but I can't take Jaden seriously as she fumbles over me, trying to stand up.
I walk towards the "lovebirds". Luna doesn't notice me until I pull her away from the boy. She screeches for me to stop, and squeals for Calum to get her from the monster. I can smell the alcohol on her breath, on her dress, and in her hair, leading me to wonder what she's been up to. The Calum guy jumps at me, and I grab his arm and push him to the ground as gently as I can, then make a break for it, dragging Luna behind me.
"Steve! I can't run! Let go!" she screams.
I feel her arms ripple in my hold, and she seems furious. For the first time, I notice how muscled she is. Her fist swings at me and knocks the wind out of me. I hunch over, gasping for breath as she stomps away. I can't let her go poison herself more, so I stick my foot on one of the heels and she face plants into the grass.
I lift her up and carry her home, apologizing the whole way and wiping the tears off of her face. She's kicking and screaming, but I get her back to the house and inside. Once inside, she springs out of my arms and lands in a heap on the hardwood floor. She's crying, and she looks so miserable that I can't look at her. I leave her there, lock the door and go downstairs.
"I hate you." She yells.
The words ring through my ears and pierce in a way they shouldn't. It's not possible to love someone after knowing them for a day and a night, but I at least wanted her to like me, considering she was living here. I thought she has been drunk, but obviously she was somewhat sober because she hitched herself up, straightened her dress, brushed the grass from everywhere, and fixed herself. Then she just marched out the door, and I didn't expect her to come back.
LUNA'S POV:
I can't believe Steve. He's not my father, or my boyfriend, what's his right to do what he did to me!? When I run in through the gate, Calum was standing alone in a corner of the yard where nobody danced or drank, or even stood for that matter. I smiled and dashed over to him, finally finding my confidence in these heels.
"Quite the exit Moon." Calum barks sarcastically.
"I'm sorry, he's quite awful. He didn't hurt you did he?"
"No, what about you?" He asked, even though the scuffs on my hands and knees were very visible.
"Nah. So where were we?" I smile.
Calum says nothing, but places his hands on my hips and guides them closer to his. Our bodies were close enough that I could feel his warmth radiating through me. When I was back at S.H.I.E.L.D., I promised Natasha that I'd never kiss a boy I didn't know or care about. I was eleven then, and now I'm seventeen, and free. The chances of me even seeing Natasha anytime soon was low, and so I didn't heed her advice. Calum kisses me gently, my hands finding a comfortable position around his neck.
"I told you he doesn't always get the girl." I say.
Calum's smile releases butterflies deep inside me, and I feel like squealing and dancing and twirling, but I don't. I have new friends, a possible boyfriend, and a job. Life back in prison seemed ages ago and far off, so when I saw none other than Natasha Romanoff standing by the gate, my heart lurched.
"Calum you see that girl? You can't let her see me." I whisper worriedly.
Calum doesn't ask, he just pulls me away. We weave through the crowd, eventually finding our way inside the house. We sit on the couch, watching Natasha look for me. I guess Calum felt my heart beat somehow, because he told me everything would be fine. And for some reason, I believed him.
