✸ ANYONE ELSE
bonus chapter two

          Julie smiled upon feeling two arms sneak around her from behind.

"Hi," She smiled softly and leaned into his embrace, allowing him to pull her into his chest.

"Hi," He kissed the top of her head before resting his chin on top of her hair. "What're you doing out here?"

She hummed slightly, shivering in the could autumn air before answering, "Belly's going a little crazy in there," She laughed slightly. "You should think it was her wedding, and not just a halloween party."

Steven laughed, too, pulling her tighter against him to keep her warm, "You know how she can be," He smiled affectionately at the thought of his sister. "Everything needs to be perfect for the first party she's throwing."

"And it's going to be perfect." She pulled away from him, shivering in her strap top. "She can't be anything but cool when there's seniors at her party."

"I love having power," He pulled her into his side, keeping his arm around her as they walked in. "Sophomores and Freshmen are so easy to manipulate."

She laughed slightly at his immaturity. "You're gonna scare them away at some point,"

"Maybe," He smirked slightly, pulling the door open and allowing her to go inside first. "You should really find a shirt. You're gonna freeze to death in that."

"I'll be fine," she laughed as entered the Conklin house. Before he could protest further, her eyes found Isabel Conklin. "Anything we can do, Belly?"

"Yes!" The youngest girl was completely stressed out, and Julie made quick eye contact with her brothers, who were moving around everything that could be moved around for the fifth time that afternoon, before hurrying after the girl into the kitchen.

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          "I suddenly remember why I don't miss party's like this." Julie looked at the bad punch in her cup and scrunched up her nose.

Steven laughed at her from his spot next to her on the couch. "You don't have to drink that." He took a drink of his beer and she scoffed in disbelief.

"I know. Belly gave me the cup and I couldn't make myself say no." She took another drink of the cup, scrunching her face up at the taste.

"You don't need to be so nice to her," He kissed her head before continuing. "You don't need to impress my family,"

"I don't want them to suddenly dislike  me," She looked down at her lap before meeting his eyes.

"You and I both know that it would be physically impossible for my family to dislike you," he laughed slightly, "Sometimes, I think they like you better than me."

"Because we do." Belly came up behind them, smiling at the couple. "I just wanted to thank you for the help. It really means a lot to me."

"Of course." Julie smiled as the girl rejoined her friends, smiling brightly.

When his younger sister was gone again, Steven pulled Julie even closer into his side, keeping his arm around her waist.

"I love you. Very much."

She smiled at him, leaning up to kiss him. "I love you, too. Very much."