I Love the Way You Love Me

Chapter 1: Gym Class Was a Blast!

It was a gray and cloudy day in Ooo High School. Students were in their classes doing recitations, class work, and everything the teacher asked of them. At the gym, the juniors were having their gym class.

"Okay class, choose a partner. We are going to have a partner exercise!" The gym teacher said, and she whistled to signal that they should do it right now.

Everybody had a partner except Bonnibel Bubblegum. She had pink rosy cheeks, and she was very cute and gorgeous. But her best friend, LSP was absent that day. She approached the teacher and told her that her partner was absent.

"Miss, I don't have a partner." Bonnie innocently said.

"Really? Hmm… Why don't you wa-"

Suddenly, the gym doors opened, and there came Marceline, hurrying to get to them.

"Miss, I'm so sorry I'm late. Here's my tardy slip."

Bonnie examined Marceline. Marceline had long, raven black hair, which was tied into a ponytail, since it was required to tie your hair during gym class. Aside from that, Marceline was really untidy. In a good way. Her side bangs struck out in her face, her gym clothes were wrinkled, but at the same time, she looked really beautiful despite her ragged look.

"Well it's your lucky day, Ms. Bubblegum. Ms. Abadeer here will be your partner. Bonnie, this is Marceline, Marceline, this is Bonnie." The teacher smiled at both of them, and walked away, leaving the two alone.

"How's it going?" Marceline smiled at her partner.

"I'm fine. So, how about you?" Bonnie nicely replied.

"Well, the day's sort of cloudy, so it's awesome."

"You like cloudy days?" Bonnie curiously asked.

"Hmm, yeah. They're better than sunny days. I just hate the sun." Marceline's expression suddenly turned straight.

Noticing Marceline's expression, Bonnie didn't bother to ask why. "Oh…"

Then a whistle was heard, and the teacher signaled everyone to start jogging around the gym.

Marceline suddenly smiled mischievously at Bonnie. "See yah after 25 laps, partner." Marceline winked and started to jog.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Then Bonnie understood.

Marceline wasn't jogging. She was running so fast! She already passed Bonnie the third time, and well Bonnie hasn't even started yet. Bonnie started to jog. She really hated this part of gym class, it wasn't her thing to be athletic, to be running around, and to even exercise! But she had no choice, she's required to take it. If only gym class had horse riding, she'd totally love this class. Bonnie thought while she was jogging and out of breath.

"Tag!" Marceline poked a finger on Bonnie's arm while she passed her. Marceline was still running so fast.

"Why is she so fast?" Bonnie whispered enough for herself to hear, and at the same time, wiped her sweat with the back of her hand.

Suddenly, Marceline was beside her and she started to jog instead of running.

"Why aren't you running?" Bonnie asked.

"Duh, I've done like, 20 laps already. I need to cool off, so I jog instead. Jogging's slower."

Bonnie couldn't believe her ears. "You cool off with jogging?! Normal people usually cool off with walking. And what? 20 laps? Why are you so fast?" Bonnie was clearly out of breath. She needed to take a rest.

"You sound like you need a break from jogging." Marceline stated.

"Yeah, you're right, but I need to do this for credit to pass this class. I don't want to take this again next year."

"Well how many laps have you done so far?"

"Five?" Bonnie wasn't really sure. She was too busy talking to Marceline that she lost count of her laps.

"Oh, you poor thing!" Marceline laughed so hard that she slowed down her pace.

Bonnie observed that Marceline wasn't even out of breath when they were talking, while she had a hard time speaking because of her breathing. And now, Marceline managed to laugh. HARD. Is that girl a superhero or something? She can't be human. She's too strong for an average human. Her thoughts soon came to an end when they heard a whistle.

"Okay class, record your laps in this chart, and once you're done, do the partner exercises I drew on the white board." The teacher was holding a blank paper for the students to write how many laps they did.

"Bonnie, do you want me to write your laps too?" Marceline volunteered, for she knew Bonnie was tired from the jogging session.

"Yeah, if it's okay for you." Bonnie wiped her sweat with a towel, and drank some water from her water bottle.

With this action, Marceline was fascinated with her partner. She never noticed how beautiful Bonnie was, and how poised she was. She didn't know why, but it took her breath away. Marceline snapped herself with the thought and went over to where a crowd of students were.

On the other side, Bonnie was impressed with her partner. The way how Marceline ran so fast, and the part when she cooled down beside her, made Bonnie smile at the thought. She never met anyone so dedicated to gym class before, and it somehow inspired her to do the same.

Well, somehow…

"What are you smiling about?"

Bonnie broke out of her reverie to find Marceline standing in front of her. Marceline was very overwhelming, that it made Bonnie blush.

"I just imagined something." Bonnie said as an excuse.

"Really now? Well, perhaps it was the two of us?"

"T-two o-f u-u-s?" Bonnie was blushing again, for it was true.

"You know, the two of us, doing the partner exercises?" Marceline pointed out. Woah, Bonnie was acting strange.

"Oh! Haha, my bad. Okay, let's get started then!" Bonnie hurriedly went to a big space where they can freely do their exercise.

Marceline followed behind her. "Okay, coach said that the first exercise is the classic curl-ups."

"What?! You go first, Marceline." Bonnie hated curl-ups.

"Alright, I'll be in position and you keep my knees and feet secured, kay?"

"Got it."

Marceline laid down on the floor and positioned to her curl-up phase. Bonnie did Marceline's instructions and kept her knees and feet tightly secured.

"Let's get it on."

Bonnie started to time up a minute and counted for Marceline. And how surprised she was! Marceline was so fast, she didn't know that finally, a minute has passed.

"Time's up!" 60 seconds passed and Bonnie asked Marceline how many curl-ups she made. "How much you got?"

"95." But Marceline frowned. "Darn it, that's the lowest number of curl-ups I've ever made! The hell's wrong with me?"

"Lowest?" Bonnie was bewildered with this chick. "I don't know how to say this, but are you a superhero or something?"

Marceline just laughed. Not a mean one, but a rather playful one. "I don't believe in superheroes, Bonnie. What makes you think I'm one?"

Bonnie turned tomato red. "I don't really… ugh never mind! Let's get this over with. I'll go next."

Bonnie laid on the floor and did her curl-up position. Marceline squeezed Bonnie's knees tight and positioned her feet together. Marceline suddenly smiled at the thought of Bonnie doing just about 5 curl-ups in a minute. She smiled because she wasn't trying to be mean, but she smiled because she knows how cute Bonnie gets whenever she tries so hard to do something tiring.

Not that it tires Marceline anyway.

Bonnie studied Marceline carefully and damn, she doesn't stop turning red every time she sees that supergirl smile. What is it with Marceline? Why was she suddenly smiling? Why does her smile make the world so lighter now?

'Stop it Bonnie! Lose these malice thoughts of yours. Are you turning gay on me?!' Bonnie could hear her brain talking to her whole system. "Let's start, Marceline."

"Ready, get set, GO!"

And in all terms, Marceline was right. Bonnie looked like she was in hell. She couldn't even manage to get her back up. Marceline figured out a way to boost her partner's strength. She didn't want Bonnie to fail the easiest class in the whole school. She didn't know why, but she didn't want to see Bonnie suffer next year with another gym class. BONNIE NEEDS TO PASS! That's all she could think of.

"Get up on your back, Bonnie!"

"What?" Bonnie had a puzzled expression.

"At least get 20 curl-ups, and you'll get a C-. You need to pass, remember? You still have 25 seconds left. You can do it!"

Marceline was right. Bonnie needed to pass. Bonnie tried with all her strength to get up, and she did! 19 more to go… 15, 16, 17, 18, 19… 20! Finally, mission accomplished!

"Woah, I did it!" Bonnie clapped her hands and relaxed.

Marceline smiled at Bonnie's success and they proceeded with other partner exercises.

There were a variety of exercises. And all that Marceline would say after every one of it is…

"So weak…" Marceline smiled at her partner in a joking way of course.

"Who are you calling weak?!" Bonnie angrily faced her partner.

"Hmm… Let's see, who could that be? Me? No, that's definitely impossible." Marceline smirked.

Bonnie turned so fuschia this time. Marceline was so cute when she smirked at her like that. Plus, Marceline had a point. After all what happened, it's impossible for Marceline to be weak. To debate on this issue, Bonnie thought of a way to impress Marceline.

"Well, have you ever ridden a horse?" Bonnie challenged, her hands on her hips, waiting for an answer.

Marceline gathered her thoughts and remembered the time she rode a horse. Her aunt was the one who took her to a horse ranch, you know, for Marceline to try it out. But Marceline hated it. It just wasn't her thing to ride animals, who do the walking for her. She'd rather do it herself.

"Yes, as a matter of fact, I did. Just once." She finally replied to Bonnie's question. Then she continued. "But I never really liked it. I feel sorry for them, doing all the work while the rider is just sitting there, commanding them and whipping them."

For a moment there, Bonnie twitched. "That's not true. The rider and the horse become one as a team. The rider doesn't abuse it!" Bonnie shouted. "You may not know it, but the two love each other, that's why the horse trusts the rider to lead it where to go!"

Upon hearing those heartfelt words, Marceline automatically knew what Bonnie was.

"Are you, a jockey?"

"I prefer to be called an equestrian."

An ache in Marceline's chest began to unfold. "I'm sorry Bonnie, I didn't kn-"

RING!

The school bell rang and it was time for lunch.

Bonnie turned away and ran to the locker room to change.

"Damn it." Marceline rubbed her temples. She made a mistake by saying such judgemental stuff about horses and horse riders. But that was her opinion. She'd never expect she'd meet a jockey or an equestrian in her life, and she'd never expect Bonnie to be one! Gosh, she just knew her and now she was so affected that she hurt Bonnie's feelings like that. Marceline ran to where the locker room was, hoping to catch Bonnie still there. When she arrived, it was already deserted. But luckily, she saw Bonnie in the corner, fully changed out of her gym uniform and into her casual clothes, and was still tying her blue Converse shoes.

"Bonnie." Marceline puts her hand on Bonnie's shoulder, and in that moment, Bonnie stopped tying her shoes, but after a second, began tying them again.

"I'm sorry for talking trash about horse riders like that. I wasn't expecting I'd actually meet an equestrian." Marceline admitted.

Bonnie stood up and faced Marceline. "Why? You think I'm too weak to be one?"

"I didn't say that Bonnie, I don't think you're weak. I was just kidding! I think you're pretty strong and amazing."

Bonnie's eyes widened. She blushed. For the 6th time. In just one class period. What kind of charm does Marceline have, that turns her on so much? As Marceline said the words 'pretty strong and amazing', it was so sincere and the look in her gray eyes were dead serious.

"Really?" She asked to make sure it wasn't a camouflage.

"Oh Bonnie, yes. You're the most hardworking and strong-willed person I've met." Marceline stared at Bonnie's sea green eyes, and thought they were beautiful. In fact, the girl who's cheeks that always turns pink, and is currently in front of her, was beautiful.

Bonnie could no longer contain her smile, so it eventually showed. "Thank you, Marcy."

"Marcy?" Marceline raised her brow. It's the first time someone gave her a nickname like that.

"Yeah, mind if I call you that?"

"Sure you can, but why?"

"It's cute and it's suitable for you." Bonnie winked and gave Marceline a thumbs up.

Marceline smiled so widely that her perfectly white and straight teeth shone. "Alright, but only you can call me that, okay?"

Bonnie wondered why, but didn't bother to ask since she needed to go for lunch. Heck, the line's gonna be so long when she arrives, plus her friends are probably wondering where she was.

"Deal." Bonnie said. Then she put all her stuff inside her pink Jansport backpack. "I gotta go Marcy, I need to meet my friends in the cafeteria. See yah around."

Before Bonnie turned away, Marceline stopped her. "Oh, wait!" Marceline opened her black Jansport backpack and gave Bonnie a strawberry kiwi flavored Gatorade. "You need it for dehydration, and by seeing how you were so tired after class, you probably need it."

"But what about you?"

Marceline pulled out another bottle of Gatorade and this time it was a Cool Blue flavored one. "I have an extra. I usually bring two Gatorades."

Bonnie, as usual, blushed once again. Marceline was so sporty. It was so hot! "W-well thanks, Marcy. I'll see you later then." Bonnie walked to the exit, still blushing. She stared at her strawberry kiwi flavored Gatorade, and smiled. Then she was on her way to the cafeteria.