Gumball's P.O.V.

"Robert Begum Ballard!"

I look with a scolding face at the boy coming towards me.

"Marshall Lee Abadeer, what is so funny about my name?", I ask while I walk towards the school's noticeboard.

This is our great day. Marshall Lee, Fionna Schumann (our beloved friend) and I have a band called Ooo. With the Valentine's Day Ball approaching, the school's board decided to do a contest and choose a band to play. They'll announce the result today. I was barely able to sleep in the last three days, which, for my friends, is excellent. I love to bake things (my dream is to become a great chief) and, when I'm too stressed out, I go to the kitchen and cook the most delicious types of sweets I'm able. This fixation gave me the nickname of Gumball, formed by the last syllable of "Begum" and the first one of "Ballard", and it works like a little prank too. Marshall goes even further: he thinks Robert is a cheesy name, so he calls me Bubba, a variation of Bob, countless times a day, and that certainly annoys me too much. Despite having a band together, we don't get along too well.

Fionna is the one that brings us together as a team.

I look at the stupid arsehole by my side and he's laughing.

"Marshall Lee, get over with it! What is so funny?"

He runs his fingers through his hair and keeps smiling in an absolutely annoying way.

"It's so... imponent. Are you a Lord, for God's sake?"

I smirk.

"And Marshall Lee Abadeer is a hippie name, I'm sure."

He growls.

"You must have noticed already that I don't fear you."

"You should. I'm a dangerous guy!" His poor little play is so weak I'm forced to roll my eyes. "And a potential rival to Fionna's heart."

My throat closes all of sudden, I choke and can feel my cheeks burning.

"Don't be ridiculous, there is nothing going on between Fionna and I..."

"Of course there isn't, Bubba. She has fallen for me already, it's obvious."

I shrug and laugh, but my heart is heavy. Fionna is a great friend, but things have been... a little awkward between us lately. There's some tension, I can't say why.

I shake my head so slightly so he can't see and run to the noticeboard. Fionna is already there and the smile she gives us makes me completely amazed.

"We did it!", she hugs us tightly. "We're gonna play on Valentine's Day Ball! Isn't it great?"

I look at Marshall over Fionna's shoulder. He points to her and says: mine. I feel my fist clenching to punch him. What a pain in the arse!

Fionna releases us finally and we exchange a high-five.

– Ooo!

I see Catherine Catesby, more known as Cake, Louis Monochrom, her boyfriend, and Prince Flambard, more known as Flame, walking towards us. They aren't in the band, but still are our best and beloved friends.

"We did it, Cake!"

Fionna hugs her friend and I feel myself melting. She hugs Mono as well (he is very quiet and shy), but the hug she gives to Flame makes me all alert: it's so intimate! Anyone looking at it would say there is something going on between them.

I look at Marshall, who's glaring at Flame with a scary expression. When he looks at me, I smirk, mocking him. I whisper: "She is yours, hm?"

It feels great, but still... A bad sensation inside my heart keeps poking me. Flame is a very, very unstable and impulsive guy. I'm worried about Fionna and, I swear, there's no jealousy there.

At all.