FanFiction

Declaimer: I, Fierce Kitten, do NOT own the Pendragon series. All rights belong to D.J. Mc'Hale. This is for fan purposes only. I am not making any money off of this. Written BEFORE Raven Rise. When it comes out (because it hasn't in my territory) don't kill me for the annoying "that's not what happens!".

His Real Life Juliet

Chapter One: Loveless

"I love you."

"Oh! I... I don't know what to say!"

"Say yes!"

"To what?"

"I want you to marry me!Please! I beg of you! Marry me! I will promise you your hearts every desire!"

"Oh!" Courtney threw her arms around Mark, "I love you! Yes! Of course I will marry you!"

Courtney and Mark leaned in to each other. There lips only and inch apart.

"BRAVO! BRAVA! Excellent!" cried Mrs. Antonia, "Oh, Courtney! What passion! Mark! Oh, Mark! You were perfect! I wasn't sure you could pull it off!"

Mark and Courtney pulled away from each other. Mark clutched his chest. That was a little too romantic for his competency. He sat down in a chair as Mrs. Antonia praised him and Courtney.

"Mark! You were excellent! I WAS worried, but you'll do fine! And Courtney! Courtney! Who KNEW you were an actress!"

"I'm not," Courtney said, taking out a magazine.

"Well, you should be! Oh, Mark! You make a perfect Romeo! Who would have guessed?"

"Apparently half the class," Courtney pointed out, reading her magazine.

"Well, Mark, can I talk to you for one minute?"

"Anything you can say to Mark, you can say to me!" Courtney snapped. The were both over protective of each other. Saint Dane was supposed to be trapped on Ibarra/Second Velox, but you couldn't be too careful. They didn't talk to anyone they didn't know very, very, very well alone. Even if they have known them for a long time, they were still watchful, after the Saint Dane/Andy Mitchell incident.

Mrs. Antonia fidgeted, "Well, um, Mark... you know, I'm really sorry. About your parents, I mean. It was tragic. Are you okay?"

"Hugh?" Mark asked, and then quickly added, "Oh! Yeah! Yeah, tragic. I'm getting over it. You know. It's almost like... they're still here! Haha! Silly, right?"

"Not at all! I lost MY parents when I was nineteen. I was three years older than you, now, but I still lost them. I didn't get over it for a long time. Not until I realized than they were still here, in my heart. Oh, you are so strong, Mark! And smart! You've already figured it out!"

Mark looked over at Courtney. He could tell she was resisting the urge to mock the woman. Mark's parents were not dead. They were on First Earth. The idea of leaving them behind was that they were supposed to be dead. Mr. and Mrs. Dimond proposed the idea themselves. They keep in touch through the acolyte, Dodger.

"Well, good luck in the play! Mr. Mark Romeo. Miss Courtney Juliet."

Mrs. Antonia walked off. The other students gossiped and bragged and ranted. Aby Ross, the girl playing Juliet's nurse, came running to them.

"You two were great! I wish I could be as good as you! All I say is "Miss Juliet! Your parents are coming!" How lame is that? But you are so good! And you, uh, Mark? You are so good! It's almost like you meant what you said!"

Courtney laughed. Mark didn't. A blush crossed his face. Why was that? Why did he blush every time someone suggested that idea? This was stupid. Why was he even considering it? It's totally wrong! ...Wasn't it?

"Hey, Mark! Let's walk back home together! I want to talk to you about something!"

Mark snapped back into attention. Talk about something? What? Mark was anxious. He followed Courtney. They were halfway to her house and Mark's aunt and uncle's new house when Courtney stopped walking.

"Mark," she said very seriously, "I have some news."

Mark stared at her. News? Could it be about his parents? Courtney DID have the ring. Mark gave it to her. Courtney turned to face him, but her face wasn't somber. In fact, she looked... happy.

"I got a letter from Boon!" she said, bouncing on her heals, "You know, the acolyte for Eelong! It's a letter from Spader and Gunny! They found the second flume! They're going back to their own territories!"

Mark stared at her. He was happy, but he also had a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. Why?

"And guess what!" she said, "Spader's dropping by here first! Cool, right?"

Now Mark's insides were all knotted up. Why? Why didn't he want coolio Spader to visit?

Courtney smiled. Then Mark smiled. Then he looked away from her. Why did he smile when he felt like he was about to throw up? What was wrong with him?

"Mark? Are you okay?" Courtney asked.

"Uh, no! No, I feel kinda sick. Probably just a head cold. No need to worry! I'll be fine tomorrow! Bye!"

Mark ran. He ran all the way to his Aunt and Uncle's house. He wrenched open the door and slammed it shut behind him. He startled his Aunt by running into the kitchen, and tripped over the chair.

"My word, Mark! What is the MATTER with you?! What is wrong? You look like you've just seen a ghost!"

"I- ah! I! I'm just not... it doesn't matter!" Mark knew he was red in the face. And he was snapping. That really worried Mrs. Comikala (surname: Dimond). He never snapped.

"Mark, is something bothering you? Bullies at school? Is someone threatening you? Tell me Mark."

"Ha ha! Agatha! Can't you see the signs?" asked Mr. Comikala, "The boy's in love!"

"I! I don't-!" Mark was a really dark red color by now, "I have NO idea what you talking-"

"Oh, my! He is! He is!" his uncle teased, "See, Aggie? He likes someone! Who the lucky girl?! You can trust good ol' Uncle Rex!"

"I really don't know what you are talking about!" Mark protested.

"Oh! I know! It's that girl that sometimes comes over! Isn't it?! Tell me I'm right!"

"It's not going to me HER!" Mark yelled, reaching his limit, "Gezz! Why does everyone suggest that! It's not going to happen, all right?! She's just a friend! Besides! She likes someone else! Right?! She likes Spader! Yeah! And. Even if I DID like her, which I don't, I would never stand a chance against that athletic, 'hot', Traveler! I'm just BORING, little Mark! All right?! And, I don't even LIKE her like that! So... So give me a break!"

Mark panted. He looked at the shocked expression on his aunt's face. Then his gaze drifted to his uncle's smug face. Mark dashed up to his room. He faintly heard his Aunt and Uncle's voices in the distance.

"Oh, yeah. It's love. And that pretty girl, too! Oh! Young love is so sweet!"

"He seemed really upset, Rex. You should have nudged him so hard."

"That boy needs a little nudge. Especially when it comes to females."

Mark slammed his door shut. He dove under his covers and closed his eyes. He did NOT like Courtney Chetwynde. He did NOT have a crush on Courtney. He was NOT in love with his best friend.