"So…"
You used your hands to push yourself back up onto the counter you were leaning against, your legs dangling over the edge, and looked out over the empty gift shop. It looked sad with the lights turned off and the displays not whirring on shelves. From behind you, you heard Steven huff at your action.
"So what? And I'd get off the counter before Donna sees you," Steven mumbled, "and- and give me Tawaret back please, I need to count them."
You chuckled, turning so that you could see him and placed the small plush hippopotamus on top of his stock sheet. He twisted his face before moving it to one side. You weren't used to seeing Steven frustrated and you would be lying if you said it didn't slightly amuse you.
"So, Steven, will you come with me?" You asked again.
You had been trying to convince him to be your plus one to a party; one of your old school friends was graduating and you couldn't bear to go alone. It had been years since you had spoken to any of your friends from school, you weren't even sure you remembered half of them. Bringing someone from your present to a party full of people from your past seemed a good idea; and Steven from the gift shop was really the only person you talked to now.
"Come with you where?" He mumbled, taking a distracted few steps away from the counter to a display where he began to count keyrings.
You rolled your eyes, hopping down from the counter and crossing your arms across your chest.
"To the funeral," you said.
This made Steven's head snap up from his papers and he turned quickly to look at you in an almost comical movement. His eyebrows pulled together in confusion and shock.
"Did someone die?" He said quickly.
"Yeah, you will, if you don't listen to me," You joked, and he shook his head in disbelief, although you saw his lips twitch into a half smile.
"I don't normally go to parties," he shrugged.
"I know, I know," You said, holding your hands together as if you were begging, "but you'd be doing me a huge favour… I'd owe you one."
He had turned back to the display and counted another row of keyrings. You bit your lip, waiting for his reply. When he finally scribbled a number onto the paper, he sighed, and adjusted his glasses that were sliding down his nose.
"Fine," he mumbled.
"You're a lifesaver, Steven! Thank you!" You exclaimed, throwing your arms up in victory.
Steven couldn't help the smile on his face now and his cheeks flushed red as you clapped your hands together in delight. He was about to speak again when a harsh voice cut through the gift shop.
"Y/N!"
You dropped your hands to your sides, shooting Steven a dark look and mouthing ‘kill me.’ He choked down a laugh as you turned slowly on the spot and saw Donna standing in the entrance of the gift shop. Her hands were on her hips and she looked murderous.
"Yes, boss?" You spoke sarcastically.
"The leaflets on the front of your desk need restocking," Donna said shortly, ignoring your tone.
"Aye aye captain," you replied, doing a mock salute and watching as Donna turned on her heel and stalked off.
You had never been sure as to how you had gotten your job on the front desk, given how much Donna seemed to hate you. Once you had befriended Steven you realised that Donna just hated everyone, and you now tried not to take it so personally.
"I thought your shift was finished," Steven spoke, from behind you.
"It is," you laughed, "so I'd better disappear before she realises she has to pay me overtime. Do you want to just come by mine tomorrow and we can walk there together? Around 7pm?"
At the blank look on Steven's face, you laughed again. He pouted and you stopped, digging your hands in your pockets and smiling at him.
"For the party, Steven," you explained and Steven's mouth fell open in realisation before he chuckled at himself too.
The doorbell rang at precisely 7pm, making you smile. You unlocked the door and let it swing open.
"Hey, I'm just going to be a few minutes if you want to-"
You stopped short. You had been a few steps back down the corridor when you had turned to glance back at Steven. He had moved through the doorway and was pushing the door closed behind him, but it was what he was wearing that really struck you. You hadn't expected much different from his usual style but what you really didn't expect was a full navy blue tailored suit, with a tie and smart shoes. Steven turned to see you staring at him and gave an awkward chuckle and then frowned, looking at what you were wearing and then down at himself.
"Oh bollocks," he mumbled.
“It’s okay,” you said to reassure him, although you had to bite down hard on the inside of your cheek to stop yourself from laughing.
“I thought it was a graduation,” he grumbled, looking at his reflection in the mirror by the side of the door.
“It’s a house party… because she graduated… not the actual ceremony,” you said.
You turned away so that he didn’t see you smirk, and crossed into the kitchen to grab your phone. As you unplugged it from charging, you heard a shuffling behind you.
“Sorry… should’ve listened better…”
As you turned back around you saw Steven balling up his tie and shoving it into his trouser pocket. You tilted your head as you studied his face; he looked tired, more than usual, and his hair was messy as if his hands had run through it one too many times.
“Are you… okay,” you asked, and then added, “sorry… you just look knackered.”
He raised his head so that he could look you directly in the eyes; something that you had realised he liked to avoid. There was something sad in his eyes that made you uneasy, as if he was keeping something from you. Yet when he spoke it was his usual cheerful tone.
“I’m ace, just… Donna has me working too hard,” he chuckled.
“Ah… just the usual then.”