“Damn.” The impressed voice belongs to Zenobia. “I guess you don’t need my help after all.” She watches for a moment, then tosses her cornrows back over one shoulder and moves off toward the refreshment stall.
Summer just watches Jesse struggle, amazed at how fast the situation has turned around. And the other boy does struggle, but Stiles has him firmly in hand, and she can feel the flares of pain every time either one of them moves. Finally, after what seems like long tense minutes, but is probably more like seconds, Jesse nods and makes a strangled sound of assent. It’s clearly grudging, but there’s not much else he /can/ do.
Stiles turns him loose, and Jesse doesn’t bother to try to say /anything/ else, just slinks back to his friends, who respond with shoulder slaps and mocking. Summer closes her mouth, blinks at Stiles a couple times, and says, solemnly, “I am never questioning Helios’ judgement again. Can I keep you?”
With the sound of assent, Stiles releases Jesse, almost jumping backwards like he’s suddenly been scalded. He shoves both hands in his pockets to keep it from being obvious how much they’re suddenly shaking, eyes narrowed and watching until the other boy has gone off to be trolled by his friends.
Stiles puffs a nervous sound out, turning to look at Summer with a surprised expression. “I—what? I..maybe? I dunno, maybe you don’t want to, I don’t keep well, I tend to go sour super fast,” he says, almost distracted, before he takes both hands out of his pockets again and starts rubbing nervously at his own knuckles. “Where the heck is that attendant?”
It’s like the question is all the cue that’s needed. Summer hovers by his elbow while he tells his shoe size and pays for the rental, before she says, “I think I’m not giving you a choice.” She hugs him — well, more like glomps him, shoes and all. This is no A-line hug, it’s a full-on full body press, and she winds it up with a swift peck to his mouth.
“You’re going to have to stop being heroic, or I’m going to be contractually obligated to fall in love with you and that won’t end well.” Even she’s not sure how much of that is a tease, and all but bolts back to their lane, blushing hotly in the dimness and hoping he doesn’t see it.