A/N: Alright! time for me to honor you with another chapter of A Triangle in the Stars! Chapter Seven, come on out and dazzle the crowd!

But, before you get started, I wanna say thanks again for all these favorites, follows and for all you reviewers sticking by this story! they really do wonders! and speaking of reviews, wow, a lot of guests have replied to Chapter Six. Though I'm pretty sure they're one and the same. Glad you all like the story so far. Now then..

/Mr mystery: It's an honor to have you, Stanley Pines, comment on my story. Glad you implied you like it so much. And you're aware that this story, and the site itself, are free of charge, right? and the fact that you reviewed a little while after I updated? so be patient, and tell all those people at the Mystery Shack to be patient too. It's gonna be updated weekly, and that's that. X3 I'm sure you know the value of suspense. X3

/Mr Ilaughatyou: Well, thanks for the defense.. and thanks for the compliment. X3

/Caesar cypher: Oooh, a cipher. And it means, "I, Mr mystery and Ilaughatyou are all the same person and I am actually =leftblankforyourprivacy=. *congrats you decoded all of this*"... I knew it. That's a nice name, by the way.

/Mr hyper: So glad you're hyped! and to all of you, well, the chapter is here now. That's the only way I can reply to your reviews, since they're, y'know, anonymous. So I hope you enjoy it! and I bet you're saying with this cipher that you're the other guys too. Knew that as well.

/mr Ironic: I like it too. And you're also the other ones. Wanna know how I knew? well, you reviewed right behind each other, for one. So that's one mystery solved.

Now let's get to this chapter, where the mystery of this story shall be unfolded even more, though only by just a bit. Enjoy!

A Triangle in the Stars
Chapter Seven: Second Chances and Hope

After a while, Steven left the bathroom around the same time Sadie had, and he gasped when he saw her, "Oh, Sadie! sorry for disappearing on you... I really had to go..." he smiled a little, blushing slightly.

Sadie smiled back, "Oh, that's fine. When you gotta go, you gotta go." She was still posing with that skinny topper. She wondered if she'd ever part with it. She loved it that much. Sure, a deal was a deal, but...

...she loved this hat.

He frowned, "What's with the hat? and where'd Bill go?"

"We split up looking for you. And the hat is leverage," was all she said, still smiling.

"Oh..." he nodded like he understood perfectly. "Then we should go find Bill now, before he gets into any major trouble!"

"Oh, I doubt he will. I talked him out of it," she half-lied. She wouldn't say she struck a deal with Bill.

"But we should still go find him. He's my responsibility..."

Sadie frowned. She knew that she'd have to give back his hat the moment he was found again. She inhaled and then exhaled, "Um... how about we make a quick trip back to the Big Donut? I need to do something really important. And then we can come back and search for him. How's that sound?"

"Okay, but it's gotta be quick. I don't like leaving him alone..."

"Alright!" she hated lying to him, but it was the only way she could ever take selfies of herself. But she had also to make up and do that something important. She wondered what it should be. And, while she wondered, she held out a hand for Steven's, smiling, "Let's go then."

He took her hand and smiled, and, remembering the way out, started towards it. Sadie let him, grinning and posing somewhat along the way. Suddenly, she knew what to do. She'd make some donuts. And also clean up that picnic. She hadn't the chance to do that before. Steven smiled.

"Can I borrow the, uh, leverage?" he asked quietly, somewhat jealous.

Sadie doffed the hat and handed it out to him, "Thought you'd never ask. You'll like it."

He took it, inspected it for a second, and then hung it above his head, the way Bill wore it. He giggled, "You're right! I really like it!"

Sadie grinned, "I'm glad! now let's hurry out of this school and back to the picnic site, and then to the Big Donut. Bill's exploring and he'll soon run out of places to explore."

Steven nodded, and then they headed out the front doors, the boy taking some selfies with the hat on his head, grinning. Sadie joined in a few of the selfies, and they made it back to the picnic site before long. She hummed as she started folding up the blankets and found the picnic basket that Bill had previously tossed away. Steven helped as well. He decided to strike up a conversation, "So... where do you think Lars is? back at the Big Donut?"

"He's probably elsewhere by now, knowing him..." she frowned, stuffing the blankets she folded into the empty basket.

He nodded. He thought for a while. "What do you think Bill's deal is?" he eventually asked softly, glancing at her as he cleaned the crumbs into a little tray.

Sadie pondered this, drumming her fingers on her chin, "I... I honestly don't know... but he probably has a reason for his behavior... nothing is done without a rhyme or a reason. Still doesn't have to be such a jerk though."

She finished folding up the blankets and shoved them into the basket. She remembered what Bill called her. "Ungrateful jerk". Well, as much of a brutal attack that was, it had some truth to it. A lot of truth, to be honest. She didn't appreciate her mom at all until she watched that Home Video Rose created. And now she couldn't help thinking something else fueled that attack. That was probably just a shot into the air, but it may be possible.

Steven nodded, "Maybe with time he'll realize how nice everyone is here. And he'll decide not to be mean to anyone anymore." He, ever the optimist, smiled softly, staring up at the sky with hope in his wide eyes.

Sadie smiled, "Hopefully..." she wished she could share his optimism at this point in time, because right now she couldn't see how Bill could change, especially not after what she did. But she agreed anyway. She got up and picked up the picnic basket, ready to shove off to the Big Donut so she could take selfies and prepare some donuts for the afternoon rush. "Ready to go back to the Big Donut, Steven?"

"Oh, yeah. We gotta return this stuff," he nodded to the basket.

"Mmhm, not to mention set out the donuts," she reached for his hand. She didn't forget about her true purpose, however. To take selfies with that hat. She wanted to treasure it forever. He nodded, smiling, and took her hand. And then Sadie led him back to the Big Donut, grinning. He jollily skipped beside her, grinning as well. Sadie chuckled, swinging the basket like an impromptu pendulum as she started skipping as well. This would all be quick, she assured herself. For Steven's sake...

A/N: You all know where this is going, right? of course ((not))! XD
I was Sadie this time around, and Ace played a wonderful Steven as always! there's also not one, but two ((rather blatant)) references in here. It shouldn't take you too long to spot them. :3
This is one of those pivotal chapters, where they try to understand Bill a little better; even though he's not in this one in particular, he's sure as heck mentioned a lot.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed. I'll see you next Saturday or Sunday with Chapter Eight. X3

P.S: School's starting back for me tomorrow, but, since this is prewritten, Ace and I've got a long ways to go before updates have to slow down/cease for a bit. Just to let you all know.