On the walk to Sadie's house, Larsteven began to think aloud, "I've been thinking. I know. You know? We're fused, Remember? Right. So you know what we're thinking? Yeah, it's a good idea. I like it. So that's that. That's that." Larsteven takes a sigh.
Sadie passed her time playing her hand-me-down guitar. She wasn't the best at it, but it sounded better after Larsteven spent a little bit tuning it before singing. But she didn't care if she was good, she was just learning and knew she'd get better. She started to play when she received a knock at her door. She made her way to the entrance and opened it expressionless.
It's Lars.
She shut the door in his face.
He faced Steven, who was outside beside him, "That's it Steven. She's given up on me... I don't blame her."
Steven shook his head, "She hasn't, Lars. She's just angry with us. Which is understandable."
He pressed against the door, "Sadie please open the door for Lars."
She shouted from inside, "If Lars wants to say something he'll say it himself. No help from you. No possessing him or melding with him. Just him. And I don't think he can do that."
"Sadie. Please let me in." She heard.
"Why?"
Lars sighed, "Because I'm sorry."
"We're sorry." Steven added.
Lars shook his head. "No Steven. This ones on me. I'm sorry."
She opened the door and stood in the doorway. "So what now?"
Lars smiled, "We can come in?"
"For a second." Sadie crossed her arms.
"That's all Lars needs." Steven hands him the uke.
Lars clearly had no idea what to do when it was in his hands.
Sadie grumbled, "Well?"
Lars began to strum a tune that felt… right. He had no idea how to play but he managed to figure out a few strings that didn't sound awful. But it was obvious he was a beginner.
And he began to sing, "Um
I'm not so good at singing
I don't really know what to do
I'm not so good at singing
But I like singing to you
Oh Sa-a-a-a-die
Whenever you are with me
Oh Sa-a-a-adie
Isn't it nice to be
Look at this place
Look at your face
Isn't it nice to be
Whenever you are with me
Oh, Sadie" He finished, and awaited Sadie's reply.
She shook her head, "Do you think you can lie to me again and say sorry then expect me to forgive you after a song?"
"Sadie, Lars didn't lie to you before, that was me, remember?" Steven reminded.
"No, Steven. I've lied to her before and she knows it. We should just leave." Lars turned to go.
Steven mumbled, "But... this isn't how it's supposed to be."
Sadie asked, "What do you mean?"
"You two are best friends. You can't be mad forever." The boy muttered.
"I'll stop being mad when Lars admits I'm his best friend." Sadie crossed her arms again.
Lars was taken aback, "What? Sadie, of course you are!"
She exclaimed, "Then why don't you treat me like I am!"
He yelled back, "I don't know why! Because I know you like me but have no idea why. Because if I reach for something unobtainable like the cool kids, I can't get hurt by someone who actually accepts me. Because I think if I let my guard down I'll get hurt. Because... I'm not good enough for you and I've been trying to get you to realize that before you realize it over time."
A deadpan response from Sadie, "What?"
He explained, "Ditching work all the time, ditching you, cancelling movie plans at the last minute, lying to you. Why haven't you realized I'm no good! Why are you still here!"
She yelled, "Because I like you Lars!"
"Why!"
"I don't know!"
Steven said, "Well, there's gotta be some reason."
Sadie sighed, "Steven. Sometimes people just like people. No matter how much they ignore their friends, or lie, or bail. There's something about that person. But... that only lasts so long. This is getting bad for my health. I can't worry if you like me back or not. You give me mixed signals all the time. You just said you want me to realize how terrible you are, well guess what, I realized that ages ago! And for some reason, I still like you! I just... I'm not some doll in a toy chest that you only pay attention to when convenient."
"That's how you feel?" Lars asked in an uncharacteristically serious way.
"Yeah."
"I've made you feel like that?" He replied.
"Yeah."
Lars stood, blinking, mind blank. "But... I... didnt think I could make anyone feel like that."
She rubbed the back of her arm. "Well, maybe I put you on a higher pedestal than you put yourself."
"You… have me on a pedestal?" He continued to be dumbfounded.
She smiled, "It's a metaphorical pedestal you goof. But, yeah. Why else do you think I put chocolate chips on your donuts?"
"Because you like me?"
She placed a hand on his arm. "Because you deserve it. At least, I think you do. You're always too hard on yourself. And you don't need to be. You're… You're Player 1. I know Player 2 could be anyone. But… there's only one Player 1."
As the two leaned closer, an uncomfortable (yet ecstatic that they're gonna kiss) Steven politely said "I'll just leave you two alone."
Sadie pulled away "Actually!"
"Aw, man." Lars grumbled.
"We never finished the movie!" Sadie reminded them. "Do you both still remember what happened?"
"Oh yeah!" Steven exclaimed "The foot was stomping on the Mayor who had cut the funding for his lab!"
"Sweet, we still got a little time left. Wait until you see the foot climb the empire state building." Sadie smiled.
"Does that mean we're okay?" Lars asked.
Sadie nodded.
"And us too? I'm sorry I lied to you again." Steven looked down.
"Just… don't make a habit out of it anymore, okay, Universe?" She asked.
Steven chuckled.
The three of them spent a good part of that day finishing Attack Of The Forty Ton Foot 3. With Steven covering his eyes at the scary parts, and crying when the foot sacrificed itself to save the woman it loved. Lars and Sadie were into the movie too, exchanging glances at eachother to make sure the other was enjoying their time. And of course, they held eachothers hand through all of it. You know, in case one of them got scared.
That's what they told Steven, at least. But he knew better. After all, he saw them holding hands even after the movie was over. In fact, that was the last thing he saw before he left Sadie's house.
When he was out of the house and the door closed behind him, he smiled. "Yes! Larsadie! Finally!"
And he went along his way, grinning all the way home.
