"I love stars. They're so pretty." It was the first thing Stevie had said since they'd left the club. They were lying in the middle of the park on the blanket Zander kept in the back of his truck especially for occasions like this. Stevie's head rested on Zanders chest and Zander was playing with Stevie's fingers, exploring them gently with his own.

Zander didn't say anything, he just gently sat up, moving her head so it was in his lap and leaned down and kissed her forehead. She smiled softly at him, bringing her hand up to cup his cheek. "I love you." She murmured, her thumb caressing his face ever so slightly.

Zander played with a strand of her hair, "Steves, do you want to come here to get awayfrom everyone else, or to talk to me?"

"A bit of both"

He nodded, leaning down again to find her lips with his own. "You know," he pulled away slightly so he could whisper on to her lips "You look even more beautiful in the moon light."

Stevie pulled him back down, feverously kissing him with all the passion she could find.

It was a disjointed conversation, one that probably wouldn't lead anywhere productive. But one that neither of them would forget anytime soon.

Eventually they separated, Stevie panted faintly- something which Zander thought made her even more attractive. "Tell me about lunch."

Stevie looked over into the trees, an unreadable expression on her face. Finally she sat up, positioning herself in front of Zander. "There isn't much to tell. I talked about my life, they asked stupid questions, and I felt sick the entire time."

"Why did you feel sick?"

Stevie shrugged vaguely "The whole thing was so weird, I was so nervous."

"Would you say it was a success?"

"I don't know… In some ways maybe."

"What ways?"

"I feel like they have some idea what I've been doing now. And like they might talk to me at Christmas this year."

"I'd say that was a success then."

"Maybe. I felt so drained after though"

Zander nodded "I can tell."

Stevie flopped back down, her hair splaying out behind her head. "You know the stars that we see are actually so far away that the light takes so long to reach us the stars we see may not even be the stars that are up there at this very moment."

"Really?" Zander didn't move, he just sat quietly.

"So really by the time we see the stars they already know the future. Isn't that so cool?"

Zander nodded.

"Z?"

"Yer?"

"Where do you think we'd be right now if you had never asked me out?"

"Probably still here. If I hadn't asked you out I hope we'd still be best friends, and I'm sure that we'd probable be looking up at the stars right now simply because that's what we do."

Stevie bit her lip dreamily. The idea that nothing would have changed was nice. It was like proving that they were still best friend's way before lovers.

In that moment Stevie felt like she was a little bit drunk (not that Stevie had ever actually been drunk,but Kasey did drag her to that party where the punch was spiked and afterwards she was defiantly tipsy) she felt kind of giggly and light headed.

She felt her body move before she had any time to contemplate where she was going, tugging on Zanders hand she giggled, "Come play on the swings with me Zander!" before taking off in the direction of the playground.

Zander watched her go in confusion. Another mood swing. Where had that even come from? He bundled up the blanket and ran after her, he could hear her giggling from the top of the pirate ship themed playground. He caught her sliding down the fireman's pole. She grinned and grabbed his hand dragging him to the swing set.

"I love swings! It feels like you can fly!"

Zander had to wonder when her giggling would stop. Would she end up in tears or just tired?

She was just tired. Stevie hugged him tightly after she got off the swing, looking up at him adoringly she said, "Thanks Zander." And nuzzled her head on his chest. Zander just smiled. He'd been doing a lot of that tonight, letting her talk about whatever came to her mind or poke him and burst in to uncontrollable giggles. It was the side of Stevie that didn't appear very often, the side that had made him love her when they'd first meet. Zander had no idea when that love of simply her company and friendship had turned into something more, not that it really mattered.

As they lay on the blanket later and after she'd dozed off, Zander had gently slid her sleeves up her wrists, and kissed the faint red lines softly, thanking all the stars above that she was safe.

:)

ZevieFTW: I'm so glad you picked up on that. Stevie isn't cutting again... yet. I think Stevie believes she has to pretend to be strong all the time, and so while she may be strong she just needs to remember to take care of herself.

Zevielover17: I'm so glad you liked Stevies childhood, I had a lot of fun asking people for silly childhood stories to adapt into this. Don't worry I wont tell you the end of side effects, someone told me and I was pretty annoyed. I just love to obsess over episode 3. Everyone is plotting against Lexi and she has no idea. :)

HTRobsessed: Deep breath. This is for you :) I know its not long, but I couldn't drag this out, it would totally ruin it.

xxx 3 Encantria