FAMILIAR ↳ STEVE HARRINGTON

epilogue.

"Was it...something I did?" Steve broke the silence between them, Christine groaning as he asked. She didn't want to get into it, because she still couldn't bear the thought of getting her heart ripped out by him again. But the longer they sat side by side in the car the more disruptive her heartbeat was getting, the harder it was to not have a reaction to being around him. She had been thinking about Steve for over a month now, what he was doing, who he was with, if he would forgive her for not talking to him. But she just never could bring herself to fix things.

"No Steve. It's not something you did. You're...perfect. You didn't do anything." Christine spit out, already wanting to clear the air and let him know that he was blameless in this.

"Then why have I not seen you in a month? You're avoiding me."

"I'm not avoiding you I just don't ha-"

"Cut the shit Chris. I know you. I have been by your side almost everyday for awhile now until a month ago and I don't know what's wrong. So if this is about what happened and what I said then I'm sorry. I don't want to lose you as a friend, I mean yeah Robin is cool and all but it's not the same. We're not me and you." Steve said, Christine looking over at him. She didn't know how to verbally express what she was feeling, how she didn't want to get hurt by him, how she wanted so much more than the friendship from him but she wasn't sure if he was ready yet. For the first time in a month she grabbed his hand, her fingers intertwining with his as she let out a deep breath. She pushed away all her inhibitions and fears, the girl looking over at him in all seriousness.

"Steve...I cut contact because I'm scared okay? Well I was scared...I don't know if I am anymore."

"What are you afraid of?" Steve asked, Christine instructing him under her breath to pull the car over. She knew she owed him an apology, a big one, and it was definitely important that she obtained his forgiveness. She had missed a month of his life, and now that guilt was beginning to eat away at her. Steve pulled the car into the parking lot of the ice cream shop, the two of them out of direct eyesight of the windows as he turned the car off. Christine knew she had to answer now, the girl letting out a staggering breath before finally deciding to own up and tell him the truth.

"I'm scared of this." Christine said, gesturing between the two of them with her free hand. Steve turned his body towards her, shaking this head in confusion at her words. "When I told you I loved you I meant it. I do. I still do. But I'm scared Steve. What if you're not ready? What if something happens and we fight and we hate each other? What if you're still not over Nancy? You know I can't be second to her, that the whole reason we called it off the first time. I won't be second to Nancy."

Steve reached across the middle, grabbing her by the head and making her look at him. He gave her a goofy smile, one she hadn't expected and then he spoke, his words carrying humor in every inch of them.

"You love me huh?"

"That's the only thing you got out of that?"

"No but that was my favorite part." He chuckled, Christines face still stoic and straight as she gave him a worried look. "Listen Christine...I am over Nancy. Actually getting over Nancy made me like you more because you actually gave me space and everything and I just-I...I'm ready now."

"Don't bullshit me Steve. I'm serious you better not be playing.." Christine said, her face fighting to break into a smile but her doubt keeping her from doing so.  He pulled her head a little closer, his face scrunching up as he spoke.