▄▄▄▄▄▄ ‧₊ ✰ ₊‧ ▄▄▄▄▄▄

𝗕𝗘𝗚𝗜𝗡𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗠𝗜𝗗𝗗𝗟𝗘 𝗘𝗡𝗗
━━ ⌠ 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐞 ⌡

CHAPTER FOUR ₊˚.༄⋆❀⋆
⟡₊˚ ───（ 𝟬𝟬𝟰. 𝙱𝙰𝙲𝙺 𝚃𝙾 𝚂𝙲𝙷𝙾𝙾𝙻 𝙿𝙰𝚁𝚃𝚈 ）
╭ ·₊˚⊹ 𓆩♡⃛𓆪 📣📚
╰ ✦ 𝚊𝚞𝚐𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝟹, 𝟸𝟶𝟷𝟸╭ 🂱 ✦
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❛ 𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘢 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦... 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵 ❜

▎ 𝙼𝙰𝚁𝙺 𝚂𝙻𝙾𝙰𝙽 was making a speedy recovery,
and so was maeve sloan.

the sixteen year old was getting her full nine hour sleep and she was getting her three daily meals. what helped mark sloan recover faster was most definitely the sound of his daughter's laughter and most gorgeous smile. but at this very moment, that laughter was missing

it's been over an hour that he hasn't heard a peep from her. he was sitting on the couch with a sleeping sofia beside him. he found himself constantly glancing back at the door of her room

maeve sloan had received a call when she was hanging out with her little sister and her father. mark didn't even get to ask who it was because the sixteen year old quickly stood up and ran to her room with a big smile on her face

he turned back to glance at his littlest daughter, she was still sound asleep. he carefully stood up from the couch and walked over to his daughter's closed door

instantly, he hears his daughter's laughter "see i told you jersey shore is good!"

mark furrows his brows wondering what in the world is jersey shore. but nonetheless he continued to eavesdrop on a private conversation.

"you should come to damian and olivia's back to school party. you can even bring madelyn and shawn, if you feel more comfortable." dean told maeve though the phone

maeve who was sitting on her bed, with her phone to her ear, scrunched her nose. " i don't know." she sighs, "who will be there?"

"you know, the usual crew. along with a few other friends of damian and olivia." he explains

maeve knew nessa diaz would be there, she's practically best friends with olivia walker. plus, nessa never misses a party. "i'll think about." she replied

dean salvatore hopes more than anything maeve would go. the two have been hanging out again ever since mark sloan was released from the hospital.

on the other side of the door, mark sloan had his left ear very close to his daughter's door. mark figured his daughter would want to go out again, seeing as she just said if i decide to go, i will send you a message. i promise, dean.

as of lately, maeve sloan has been going out quite often. which surprisingly has made mark more overprotective. whenever maeve would announce that she was planning to go out on a certain day, mark would grill her with millions of questions. that including: with who? where to? do i know this person? are they a guy? when will you be home? who's taking you guys?

but maeve sloan was smart enough to know not to bring dean salvatore around mark. so she would tweak her answer, she would always say something along the lines of "i'm just going out with madelyn." or "i'm going out with shawn." mark would accept those answers, just because he knew both madelyn and shawn. he trusted them. he trusted maeve.

well, that is until this very moment. i promise, dean. the name dean did not ring a bell. was she planning to meet up with this dean? he thought to himself.

"mark?" his name being called out from across the room startled him. he looked over to see lexie grey standing with her hands on her hip, giving him a disappointed look for eavesdropping. "get away from the door." mark shushed her, but lexie raised a brow. which caused mark to immediately step away from the door. "you shouldn't be eavesdropping on her conversations."

mark ignored her claim, instead he asked the important question. "do you know a dean?"

lexie tried her hardest not to show any emotion at the name. truth be told, lexie did know dean. although, she has never met him, she knows that he is the one— maeve has been hanging out with.

mark couldn't shake off the unfamiliarity of the name "dean." lexie, however, tried to maintain composure as she answered mark's question. "yeah. i know him. he's a friend of maeve's. they've been hanging out lately."

mark's concern deepened. he wondered why he hadn't heard about this dean before. lexie, sensing his unease, decided to offer some reassurance. "look, mark, maeve's a smart girl. she knows what she's doing. trust her judgement."

mark nodded, though his worry lingered. meanwhile, in maeve's room, the conversation continued.

"i'll think about it, dean." maeve replied, her tone contemplative. "i'll let you know."

dean respected her decision. "sure, take your time. it'll be fun, though. and it's been ages since we hung out together."

maeve chuckled. "yeah, it has. things have been different lately."

as the conversation unfolded, mark couldn't help but overhear snippets. he decided to retreat to the living room, giving his daughter the privacy she deserved. lexie, noticing mark's internal struggle, followed him and sat beside him on the couch.

"you have to let her make her own choices, mark. she's growing up." lexie advised gently.

"i know, i know." mark sighed "it's just hard. she used to share everything with me."

lexie placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "she's still the same maeve, just discovering new parts of herself. trust that you've raised her well."

as mark pondered lexie's words, maeve continued her conversation with dean. eventually, she agreed to attend the back-to-school party, promising to let him know her final decision later. after hanging up, she glanced at herself in the mirror, contemplating the party.

as maeve approached damian and olivia's house, the anticipation of the party hung in the air. the door swung open, revealing nessa diaz standing there with a tight-lipped smile. maeve greeted her with a friendly hey, but nessa's response was far from warm.

"well, well, if it isn't maeve sloan." nessa said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "didn't expect to see you here. must be a special occasion for you to crawl out of whatever rock you usually hide under."

maeve, taken aback by nessa's hostility, tried to brush it off with a small smile. "just felt like having a night out. you know how it is."

nessa rolled her eyes. "yeah, sure. i bet."

just as the tension between them escalated, dean appeared, having noticed the confrontation. he approached them with a concerned expression. "what's going on here?"

nessa shot maeve a final disdainful look before turning to dean. "nothing, dean. just giving your friend here a warm welcome."

dean raised an eyebrow, sensing the underlying tension. "nessa, cut it out. maeve's here to have a good time, just like everyone else. no need for drama. how about you go check on damian."

nessa huffed, clearly displeased but unwilling to defy dean's request. "fine." she muttered before storming off into the party.

dean turned to maeve with an apologetic expression. "sorry about that. nessa can be... difficult."

maeve chuckled, attempting to shake off the awkward encounter. "no worries. i've dealt with worse."

as they entered the lively atmosphere of the party, maeve couldn't help but feel a mixture of relief and curiosity. she was grateful that dean had stepped in, yet she couldn't shake the lingering sense of unease about nessa's animosity.

throughout the evening, dean made an effort to ensure maeve felt comfortable. they enjoyed the party together, sharing laughs and catching up on the time they'd spent apart. maeve appreciated the genuine connection they shared, even as the shadow of nessa's jealousy loomed in the background.

as the night progressed, nessa and maeve found themselves in the same social circle, forced to navigate the party together. nessa, unable to contain her bitterness, decided to bring up a sensitive topic.

"you know, maeve, it's funny seeing you here, considering your dad's recent airplane escapade." nessa sneered, a wicked glint in her eyes.

maeve's expression tightened, the mention of her father's accident hitting a nerve. "what's that supposed to mean?"

"oh, nothing." nessa replied with a false innocence. "it's just interesting how someone like your dad, a hotshot surgeon at seattle grace mercy west hospital, could end up in such a mess. and with lexie gray, no less."

the sixteen year old wanted nothing more than to throw her beer bottle at nessa's face. maeve's jaw clenched, her eyes narrowing. "you have no idea what you're talking about."

nessa smirked, reveling in the discomfort she was causing. "i heard lexie's still recovering. must be tough for your dad to balance taking care of her and being overprotective of you. how's he handling it?"

maeve's right fist involuntarily clenched, anger boiling beneath the surface. before she could respond, dean, who had been keeping an eye on the situation, intervened again. "enough, nessa." dean said sternly, stepping between them. "stop trying to stir up trouble. maeve doesn't need to hear this."

nessa shrugged, her smirk undeterred. "just making conversation, dean. no harm done."

dean shot her a disapproving look before turning back to maeve. "you okay?"

maeve nodded, swallowing her frustration. "yeah, i'm fine. let's just enjoy the party."

as they walked away from nessa, maeve couldn't shake the unease that lingered. the mention of her father's accident and lexie gray reopened wounds that were still healing. she knew she had to confront her feelings about the situation, but tonight was not the time. instead, she focused on the company of dean and the hope that the rest of the evening would be free from further confrontations.

the atmosphere in the room became charged with anticipation as the group gathered in a circle for the game of 7 minutes in heaven. damian walker, being the first to spin the bottle, confidently gave it a twirl. the bottle pointed directly at nova cruise, and they both shared a glance before disappearing into the closet.

as they waited for the couple to return, grayson cruise, nova's protective older brother, couldn't help but roll his eyes at the situation. "seriously, dude?" he muttered, earning a playful punch from olivia, his girlfriend.

laughter and teasing continued as damian and nova emerged from the closet, their faces flushed. the spotlight shifted to grayson as he took his turn with the bottle, landing on olivia. the room erupted in playful jeers and cheers.

nessa, strategically positioning herself next to maeve, couldn't hide her eagerness. she shot a meaningful look at dean, encouraging him to spin the bottle. dean, sensing nessa's intentions, hesitated for a moment before giving it a spin.

the bottle twirled in the center of the circle, creating a buzz of anticipation. it slowed down, finally pointing directly at maeve. nessa couldn't conceal her disappointment, but she quickly masked it with a forced smile.

"well, well, looks like maeve's up for a little closet action." nessa quipped, trying to inject humor into the situation.

maeve, unfazed by nessa's attempt at provocation, simply raised an eyebrow. "let's get this over with then."

dean, although caught in the middle of an awkward dynamic, remained composed. he stood up and gestured towards the closet. "shall we?"

as maeve and dean entered the closet, the room fell into a hushed anticipation. nessa, not one to give up easily, turned to the remaining group. "guess we'll see what happens in there."

"nessa you have got to chill. you're coming off as desperate for dean." olivia shook her head, as nova agreed.

in the confined space of the closet, the air was filled with a mixture of tension and anticipation. maeve and dean found themselves caught in the moment, their eyes meeting in the dim light. dean being the gentleman that he is, didn't force anything on maeve. so they opt to sit and just talk, which maeve appreciated. the conversation took a turn as dean, with a playful glint in his eye, brought up a topic that had been on his mind.

"you know, sweetheart, i heard a little rumor around town." dean said with a teasing smile. "something about you wanting to join the cheerleading team."

maeve's eyes widened in surprise, a blush creeping onto her cheeks. "who told you that?"

dean chuckled. "secrets have a way of finding their way to the quarterback, you know? but hey, i think it's awesome. i can already picture you cheering me on during the games. what do you say, future cheerleader?"

maeve couldn't help but laugh at dean's playful demeanor. "well, i haven't decided yet. but if it means i get a front-row seat to watch you throw touchdowns, maybe i'll give it a shot."

dean grinned, appreciating her response. "i'll be counting on it then. just imagine, the star quarterback and the cheerleading sensation— it has a nice ring to it, don't you think?"

with a playful glint in her eye, maeve responded to dean's quarterback and cheerleading sensation scenario. "well, i guess we'll just have to see if i make the cut. i might have to trade in my casual attire for a cheerleading uniform. imagine the cheers now: 'go team, go dean!"

dean chuckled at maeve's response, appreciating her sense of humor and the easy banter between them. as the seven minutes of heaven in the closet drew to a close, he looked at her with a sly grin and asked, "so, can i kiss you?"

maeve met his gaze, a mischievous twinkle in her eye, and replied, "i don't know, quarterback. are you ready for the cheerleading sensation's seal of approval?"

dean leaned in, a playful smirk on his lips. "i think i can handle it."

their lips met in a soft, lingering kiss, a connection that transcended the confines of the closet. in that moment, the world outside seemed to fade away, leaving only the gentle exchange between maeve and dean.

maeve sloan would never forget this moment, it was her first kiss. and dean salvatore was her first kiss.

as they pulled away, the door creaked opened, revealing the end of their seven minutes. the room outside was filled with curious glances and smirks from their friends, but for that brief moment, maeve and dean shared a knowing look— a connection that hinted at the beginning of something more.

however, the mood shifted abruptly when nessa, unable to resist the opportunity to stir the pot, brought up the accident incident once again. "careful, dean." she sneered, a malicious glint in her eyes. "everyone in her life seems to end up in the hospital or worse. might want to watch out."

dean, unfazed by nessa's attempt to cast a shadow, shot her a disapproving look.

maeve, not one to back down from a challenge, felt a surge of frustration at nessa's constant attempts to undermine her. as they stepped out of the closet hand in hand, nessa's smirk lingered, but maeve decided it was time to assert herself.

"you know, nessa, it's interesting that you're so concerned about people ending up in the hospital or worse." maeve retorted, her voice steady. "especially when your own father is in jail for trying to rob a grocery store just to get his hand on some booze."

the room fell silent, and the smirk on nessa's face quickly faded, replaced by a look of shock and indignation. olivia, damian, and the others exchanged glances, surprised by maeve's bold revelation.

maeve continued, her tone cutting through the tension. "olivia, didn't you mention that your gold hoops went missing? might want to check your friend here— like father, like daughter."

nessa, now on the defensive, stammered for a response. "you have no right—"

but maeve wasn't finished. "you've been throwing shade all night, nessa. maybe it's time to take a good look in the mirror before you go around judging others."

with that, maeve and dean walked away, leaving nessa speechless and the room buzzing with the unexpected turn of events.

as maeve and dean distanced themselves from the closet and the lingering tension, dean couldn't help but be impressed by maeve's assertiveness. he gave her a sidelong glance, a smile playing on his lips. "nice one back there." he remarked, his admiration evident in his eyes.

maeve returned the smile, a mixture of satisfaction and relief in her expression. "sometimes you just have to set the record straight, you know?"

dean chuckled, appreciating maeve's resilience. "i like that about you. don't let anyone push you around."

as the night continued and the party unfolded around them, dean couldn't help but feel a growing connection with maeve. encouraged by the positive turn of events, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into him in a gentle embrace. with a tender smile, he leaned down and placed a sweet kiss on her temple.

maeve, feeling the warmth of the gesture, looked up at dean with a soft expression. in that simple yet meaningful moment, the unspoken understanding between them deepened. the chaos of the party faded into the background, leaving them in their own little bubble of shared connection.

with dean's arm around her and the reassurance of the kiss on her temple, maeve felt a sense of comfort and security. as they continued to navigate the party together, their bond solidified, setting the stage for whatever the future might hold for the two of them.

-ˋˏ -ETERNALLYSATURN SPEAKS ! ˎˊ-
⋆❀·˚can't believe it's been a whole year since i've uploaded! 😭