Hi everyone! I'm sorry it took a really long time to post but college and everything.

Some of you have been wondering whether if the story is coming to an end? Yes but there are still a couple more chapters coming its way.All of you have been supportive and giving me feedbacks which I take into consideration so thank you for 13K reads.

I might make a different Stepril story as well in the future and perhaps collaborate with other writers.For now, enjoy this chapter :) 💜💜

Sterling's POV

  "Blair,look at how hot April is...she is glowing in that outfit." I stared at her from afar since that's all I could ever do in here.I tried my best to play it cool but clearly it isn't my best forte.

   "Pssst..quit it or everyone else would know about your little secret." Blair pinched me and pulled me down to sit.

   "It's not really a secret.You and Luke knows about it...and Eric and also Brian who has gone MIA." I whispered and Blair rolls her eyes.

    "Well,does her Mom knows?" Blair pointed out and I gulped. "No."

     "She's still in the closet,okay? I mean I can't force it out of her.I don't want to be the person who outs her.It has to be on her terms."  I defended and it was true.It wouldn't be fair at all to April if I had to force her to come out.

      "I'm just saying sooner or later,she has to." Blair took a quick glance at April and back to me.

       "You know you're not helping AT all,right?"

       "What's going on with you and Eric? Last time I checked you didn't show up for bounty hunting since you were at a party with Eric." I teased and I know too damn well that there's something going on there.

       Even during dinner with Rachel, it was just this undeniable attraction they have towards each other and I know Blair feels the same.

        "What about us? Oh wait,service is starting." Blair swerves away from the topic and had a pretty quick save to make up for it.

       Everyone stood up and unexpectedly,April turns and looks at me.I smiled slightly even though inside all I wanted was to be by her side.She gives a small smile back before looking back in front.

       The church bell rings and everyone started to make their way out.Mom and Dad went out first along with Blair.April and I stayed behind, making sure everyone leaves before we could start to talk.

Once the doors closed shut,April runs up to me and I scooped her up as we kissed in the aisle.

"I've missed you."

"I've missed you more."

"I hate this,I hate how we have to hide ourselves."

"I know,Sterl,I do too." She sighs and looks up at me.

She lovingly caressed my face and I lean against her hands,smiling.

I had the urge to bring up the topic but April hates it, and I hate it so I pushed it aside.We'll get to it one day.Roll with the punches for now I guess.

  "C'mon,I made plans remember?" I took her hands and lead our way out through the back door.

~~

   "Ice skating? I didn't know you could skate." April commented and I rolled my eyes.

    The place was slightly crowded than usual but there wasn't anyone that was familiar to both of us so we should be safe.It still didn't matter to April because she'll still be afraid for any public affection.I looked back at her and replied.              

   "I thought it'd be nice plus I've never seen you skate before."

    "Didn't I tell you that you're dating a Stevens? We pretty much get an A for everything except for debate since you've always been so good at convincing me." She bopped my nose and we got all of our gears before we got in the rink.

    "So how long have you been skating?"

    "My whole life.Every year,I would go to my Aunt's house for the holidays and the lake was all frozen up so that's when Daddy and I would skate together."

    "Aww ,that's really nice."

    "Yeah but how about you? I'm sure you and Blair had a couple to training for all of this."

    "Funny story,Blair and I don't have training but we managed to skate just fine in which leads to our parents thinking we were really 'cool' like those babies who could speak right away."

    April and I continued talking, keeping our eyes on each other as we avoid bumping into people.

       "What's your thoughts on Aubrey Plaza? I feel like she's this really cool bisexual which represents my whole-"

      "Hey,watch it!" Someone bumped into me and I talked back simultaneously with the person.I almost slipped but April held me back, giving me the stability that I needed.

      "Blair? What are you-"I asked in confusion.April was as surprised as I was but she wasn't really that happy with this little encounter.

      "Sterling..." She said in a deep threatening voice.

      "C'mon babe,don't need to be grumpy.I want to catch up with Sterling as well." A man came to view and I'm not even surprised.

       "Eric?" Both April and I blurted out and Blair starts tugging him away, but he remained in his spot.Not budged.

       He chuckled and Blair huffs in frustration,giving up.

        "Aww,Blair. You're shy to introduced me to your boyfriend." I nudged her teasingly and she pushes me.

   "When you said surprise,I didn't expect here.The ice skating rink." Blair whines and I chuckled,along with Eric.

    "What's wrong with it? It's romantic."

She pulled aside,grasping my arm with a little too much force.

    "More importantly,what are you doing here?"  She asked,looking at Eric and back to me.

     "You didn't tell you and Eric were dating...I thought no secrets." I added.

   "You and April is a secret so why not with Eric?"

"You know ours is different,Blair.Your relationships won't be frowned too much upon but one glance of us even kissing would set some people on fire.Especially people from our church."

Blair nods and we went back to our beloved.

~~

April was pretty good,better than I expected.From this little skating,it made April talked a little more about herself and some stories of her own.

          I know she's not the most open person you've ever come to known but she is strong.For going through all that.With her dad and the mortgage.

           "Hey babe,wanna take a break?" I nudged her and she smirks,looking up and down.

          "You're getting tired to keep up?" April teased and I clicked my tongue.

            "Let's make a bet.If you can complete two rounds before the next clearing,I'll do whatever you ask me to.If I win..." I stopped and lean closer to her ear.

            "If I win...you post a Tiktok of us on your Instagram story."

             "I don't get why I need to...since you're gonna lose." April and I  positioned ourselves at the starting line and looked at the time.

             "In 3..2...1..GO!" Blair counted for us and April looks at me.

            "Babe,look it's Luke." April shouted and looked around but it was obviously a trick.

            I was a little behind due to that overlooked trick but I managed to catch up, pushing her off a little.She gives me a side smirk and swirls around me, still maintaining eye contact.

            "Can you still keep up?" April whispered and starts accelerating even faster than before.It didn't come to mind that she was fast skater.I guess this is what you get for dating a Steven, they are really competitive and assertive on being number one.

            I sped up, avoiding the crowd as well because there are a lot of penguins.I didn't want to come off too strong so I slowed down as she reaches Blair with a smug look on her face.

           "Come to think of it,I don't think you can keep up." April grab me by the collar, smirking.I was about to close the gap because how hot can she be?

            April cleared her throat, taking a step back and looked around anxiously.

          "C'mon babe, it's not like your dad can see us..." I pulled her back in but she pushed me back.Blair and Eric starts to skate away, giving us space to talk.

          "I know but I'm still not out yet,Sterling." She said in a hushed tone which pretty much sums up how she feels about it.

          "Yeah.Let's go get snacks,I heard their hotdogs are to die for." I took her hand  and we skated back to the benches.

    "So how'd it go with Snappy Queen just now?"

   "She's just not ready to tell the whole world about herself or me in that case."

   "I'm not going to lie but Rachel was a lil more open on this portion of the relationship."

  "Yet she turned out to be a mastermind who kidnapped April..."

"I'm just saying that you should be with someone who can claim you out and proud."

   "I'm not sure if I can say the same about you since I haven't heard a single word about Eric at all."

  "Shut up!" She huffs but her expression died down. "It's not that I didn't want to tell you,Sterl."

"It's just that after...I wanted to keep it low-key and made sure things felt right before ever telling you."

"Aww Blair.I'm just glad you and Eric got together."

After a few more rounds,all of us got tired  and went our separate ways.

April decides to take us out to watch the sunset in her favourite spot which I have never seen before.

    "I know I've always looked like a spoiled brat but I did have a favourite spot here on the beach.My dad would always wonder where I was whenever I wasn't studying or at the lake house."

    "Who knew April Stevens had a secret hideout? I guess there's still some skeletons underneath those pretty smiles of yours."

     "I-You're not wrong.I haven't told you everything but with you around, you make me wanna scream."

     "Really because I can make you scream in the-"

     "You know what I mean,Sterling."

     "Of course and that's fine by me.All I want is for you to be honest and open with me,I don't want to be with a girlfriend who keeps secrets and lashes out for no apparent reason."

     "There's also something that I wanna talk about."

April's POV

She'll never get it.She won't.She's been with Rachel who claimed her out and proud with no sense of fear of anyone judging her.To take into consideration, her family is actually a big mafia business.

Simultaneously if we never have this conversation, we don't know what it's going to be like for the both of us.Is one partner willing to wait for the other or does this means the end for us?

   I sincerely don't know the answer because in my mind, I love Sterling but there's always a little whisper to just ruin Sterl like I always do and never even trust her with anything.

Sterling and I have come way too far as a couple to let one resolve of mine to be affecting our relationship even though it has the biggest impact in the relationship.

     The fear was imminent but I have to face it.It's a now or never talk.

     "You know we never talked about this because every time we do, we fight or we break up like before."

       "Is this about you being in the closet?" She looks at me,concerned.

      "Yes and I have no shame for being with you because you're the only person who gets me and the person who makes me feel things." I cupped her face and smiled slightly but we both know what this means.

       "But you do care about what people think and we have had this debate before and this time you're giving me an ultimatum."

        "It should never be the case but you must see where I'm coming from,Sterl. It's all rainbows and unicorn when we were on that trip but here with friends and family, it's way different."

       "That's what makes it matter more, they'll have our backs more than anyone else.I don't want to pressure you into coming out but it still hurts when I can't hold your hands in public or be affectionate with you when we're just on a skating rink."

     "I'm asking you to wait.Wait for me and when the time is right, we'll be off riding unicorns or whatever it is that us gay people do."

     "But what if I can't?"

*inserts Afraid - The Neighbourhood*

I left y'all hanging again,at this point y'all probably hate me but what's worse than a suspense? Liking straight girls 👁👄👁

ANYWAYS STAY TUNED!