Totally Relatable

Chapter One

I looked out the window and watched as the idiot walked across the street to make it to the bus. As slow as fucking possible, as always. Marshall you idiot why do you have to do this everyday?

Nonetheless I bit my lip to stop me from smiling at the dork. When he got on the bus, I saw him look past the entire school bus to his seat to see if anyone was sitting there. No one ever sat there because Marshall always laid across the entire seat and would literally kick you out if you tried to sit with him… Not that I've tried, just from observation.

Of course I only looked up at him for a second, and made it look like I didn't even mean it. I was pretending like I needed to pick my bag up from the ground and set it next to me instead. I was pretending to take my time untangling my headphone wires and I saw Marshall take the seat across the aisle from me from the corner of my eye. I flipped my blonde hair out of my face and stole another glance at him. When I untangled my headphones and started listening to music, I pretended to look out my window and watch the world go by. I know it sounds creepy, but I could watch Marshall from the small black bar that ran across the school bus windows. I could see his reflection, anyways. And the little bar was too skinny for him to see me staring at him, so I could watch for as long as I want. I must seem like a creep, but in all honesty, this was my guilty pleasure. I've been in love wtih this dork almost a year now and he hasn't even given me the slightest honest gesture that he likes me. I mean we flirt all the time, but he does that with all of his friends.

Friends. Just hopeless friends. That's all I'll ever be to him.

I watched Marshall's head turn a quarter to the side and I almost thought he was looking at me, but I was sadly mistaken. He was staring at the girl in front of him, Bonnibel Bubblegum. The guy was practically smitten with her, but he claimed he was over her after she humiliatingly friendzoned him in front of the entire school. Anyone on the street could see he still had feelings for the pop princess.

I liked to argue with myself and say how opposite they are to each other. She was the peppy rich girl with straight A's all year round and friends for her to choose from. Trust me, I've had experience with Bonnibel, or Bonni, as she liked to be called. I guess I got too clingy or something because last year, we were the closest of friends one day and then she dropped me like falling bird shit the next. She had this way where she made people feel special without having to seem to try.

And then there was Marshall who liked darkness and actually decent music. To me he was like an angel sent to tease me and tickle my heart with feelings. He was hilarious and random. He was adventurous and fun. He was as hot as the hell he was sent from, and the devil side of him just seemed to love to rip my heart out every day. Glob damnit why do I even like you? It will always be a mystery to me. I didn't ask for this!

When I'm done pointing out their differences, I take a step back and actually look at the two. They were the best of friends, sat by each other at lunch, laughed all the time,they were there for each when they were down. I couldn't help but know they were just fucking - perfect - for each other. And then my heart would shatter because I know I could never be the girls Marshall liked.

I'm in so deep, I tried to act like Bonnibel sometimes. I catch myself doing it all the time. What would Bonnibel do? What the fucking shit would fucking Bonnibel do? Oh wait, I'm not supposed to be doing that anymore. I have to tell myself everyday to get over him and if he doesn't like me, then I shouldn't try to be someone else to get his attention… but do I listen to myself? No.

We arrived at school quickly and Marshall let me go first. The first time he did this, I was flattered, but then I realized that he was just waiting so he could walk by Bonnibel. It's hard loving someone who loved someone else. You have your heart trampled on so many times, and they don't even notice. Not to mention my amazing acting skills. I'm pretty good at evasive maneuvers.

I got off the bus and didn't know how I felt when I realized the bittersweet day about to play out today. There was only two weeks of school left, which was the sweet part. The bitter part? Study cramming, final exams, and the like. I pulled my bag straps a little higher and began walking around the building to get to the entrance farthest away from my locker.

My high school, Adventure High, was alphabetically divided by last names: A-M on one side, and N-Z on the other. Each side had a different principal for each grade. Another bittersweet moment. The bitter part, Cake's, or the short nickname for her despised name Catherine, locker was by Bonni's and if I ever needed something, I'd have to face her. The sweet part, my favorite part, my locker is a fuckton closer to Marshall's than Bonni's. See? Fionna Humane is a lot closer to Marshall Lee than Bonnibel Bubblegum.

I always went this way, around the building, to see Cake in the morning so we could walk with each other to my locker. Of course I have other friends! Cake's my best friend. My sister.

I opened the door and was surprised to see Marshall's hand brush mine as he scooted his hand into the handle and held it open for me. I widened my eyes and just stared at him. He stared back until he finally just smirked. "After you, m'lady."

I smiled playfully and waved my hand in mock gratitude, "Why, thank you, sir," I said with an accent. I sauntered in and raised an eyebrow as I looked back to see him still walking after me. "Where're you goin'?" I asked in curiosity. I was usually the only one who went in this way. I'm pretty sure most kids would think an alarm would go off if they opened this door.

"Well I was concerned you were selling drugs or something back here everyday," he mused sarcastically.

"How'd you know I come back here everyday?" I asked.

"I stalk- I mean watch you everyday through my binoculars," Marshall joked.

"Why are you stalk- I mean watching me everyday?" I raise an eyebrow and look over to him, but his eyes are strictly positioned ahead of him, his smile gone. I thought I embarrassed him - score! I looked ahead to what he was looking at when a laughing Bonni crosses my sight - nevermind.

"Hey I forgot Bonni's locker was over here," Marshall said quietly, smiling over at me again. Yeah, for a second I did, too. I scoffed in my head.

Screaming in my head, I said with all the pleasantries I could give, "Oh, yeah! I see her all the time!" I slightly laughed.

"That's cool," was all he could say back. Marshall's pace got faster as he got closer to her, and I didn't bother trying to catch up. They'd just ditch me anyways, like all the other times. I watched him stop at her locker, and as I passed by, I could hear them laughing already. I sighed quietly. I tried not to look at them, instead I turned the corner and found Cake at her locker not too far away.

Cake whipped her dirty blonde hair over her shoulders and looked at her hand-crafted locker cover, looking thoughtful. I walked up to her.

"Hey, girl," I greeted in a sad tone.

"You seem blue today," Cake commented, looking me up and down. "What happened?"

"You know how I pass Bonnibel's locker everyday? Well, Marshall followed me into the building and guess who he's with right now…"

"Ooh. Sorry," Cake said, giving me a sympathetic look. I huffed and leaned against the lockers next to her's. She always needed to look nice didn't she? Cake was wearing pale skinny jeans, white high-top converse, and a flowy gray tank top with, of course, sequin words on the front. She straightens her hair everyday and does her makeup like a pro. I compared her to myself with my ripped skinny jeans, dirty black converse, and blue Adventure High spirit shirt. Yep, I was a sight for sore eyes. I ruffled my hair and felt it fall over my face and pouted. Not a good day for me at all.

I heard Marshall's laughter get louder as he turned the corner with Bonnibel and her friends. I couldn't help turning my head to look at them. Marshall caught me looking and waved, but I just turned away and started walking alongside Cake to my locker.

Despite the self-down bringing, walking the halls always gave me a self-esteem boost.

"Fionna!" I heard Marceline yell. She raised her hand and I high-fived it as she passed me to get to her locker. Yeah, I guess you could say I was cool for hanging out with Juniors all the time. To me, I wasn't that cool. They're just a year older, no big deal. Other students even told me it was cool that of all the Juniors I talked to it was Marceline. She was the most intimidating to them.

Pushing my thoughts aside, I heard Marshall's voice yell my name. I turned and saw him catching up and walking to my right.

"Thanks for ditching me," he said. Oh the irony.

"Eh, I just thought you would've liked to spend some time with Bonnibel," I joked, nudging him suggestively. He tried to hide it by pushing me back, but I saw him blushing.

"I thought I already told you I didn't like her anymore!" Marshall's voice cracked.

"Oh, for a good singer, I wouldn't expect your voice to squeak," I teased.

"You're a spaz, Fi. You know that?"

"Oh, but you know you love me," I smiled, but I was secretly hoping he would just profess his undying love for me right then and there.

Instead he said, "Suuure…" Geez, did that bring up my spirits.

"Oh shit, I've got to talk to Mr. Hunson about the paper before the bell! See ya guys!" Cake shouted, turning around back to his classroom.

"You're kind of a dope yourself, Mr. Lee." I said, continuing the conversation.

"In what ways?" He asked, propping his arm up on the lockers as I turned the combination on my locker. Glob he smelt good. He was towering over me and I kept fumbling with my combination.

"You just are. Actually can you help me with my combination?" I asked, stepping away from it.

"No. Not until you apologize!" Marshall smirked. I raised an eyebrow at him and glanced behind him to see Bubba, or Gumball, passing in the hall.

"Gumball!" I called to him. He looked over and came to my side. I smirked at Marshall. "Can you please help me with my combination?" I asked pleasantly. Marshall narrowed his eyes at me behind Gumball.

"Sure, Fi. What's your combo?" He asked politely. I winked at Marshall as I told Gumball my combination. When he got it open he smiled. "There we go!"

"Alright, whatever. See you later, Spaz!" Marshall said, leaving.

"Right back at ch'ya, Dopey!" I called after him. Gumball raised an eyebrow at me, questioningly.

"Dopey? Spaz?" Gumball asked with a smile playing on his lips. I chuckled. "I don't even know."

"Want me to carry your books?" Gumball asked.

"Ever the gentleman, aren't you?"

"Of course."

"Well, okay. I sit by you in first period anyways," I said. And once again, the staring for walking with a Junior to class. Or maybe it was just Gumball. I've heard how the girls talk about him. He was the dream guy every girl wanted. He cooked, cleaned, super smart, nice hair, and he was top runner in track and field. Seriously. This boy could run.

We joked all the way over to class. He was pretty cute sometimes. Why couldn't I have crushes on boys like him? All the other girls have crushes on boys like him. He set my books down at my regular seat and put his stuff next to mine. I sat on the desk next to his and we talked some more before class.

It may seem weird that a dumbass like me was in advanced classes with Juniors, but this was an advanced workshop. Building and crafting was style. Considering my geometry and English classes, I'm slower than a slug trying to keep up with the rest of the class. Thanks to Gumball as my tutor, though, I can manage to keep with a steady low B and some high C's.

The rest of my classes were a blur leading up to lunch. And even that was uninteresting. I couldn't wait for these next few weeks to be over!

I almost cried with joy when the last bell rang. My last class was another advanced elective I took with Gumball. Oddly enough, Gumball followed me to my locker. Usually he'd just walk with me until we reached my locker and he would continue down the hall to go to his.

I did my combination to unlock my locker and opened it to throw my books in. Like hell I was actually going to study. I was about to close my locker when Gumball stopped it.

"Aren't you going to study for the exams in a few days? Fionna it's Wednesday. Friday is in two days!" Gumball asked, a little tense.

"Calm down, Gumball. It's not like I'd pass them anyways…" I grumbled. I didn't look up to face him, but I kept my eyes down at his shoes. I could feel his scolding down at my head.

"Well maybe I can come by your house today and tomorrow to help you study. Sound good?" Gumball asked, poking me on the forehead.

"Oh, uh. Gumball you don't have to… I don't want you to waste your study time. I'm sure I'll do fine," I tried. He was already taking the books out of my locker and putting them into my backpack on my shoulders. I turned around to try and protest more.

"Nonsense, Fi. I'd be more than ecstatic to come by to your house," Gumball said, standing a little too close now. I blushed and slammed my locker too hard. I became flustered and tugged at my hair to distract myself from looking directly at him.

"Oh, thanks!" I squealed.

Gumball smiled. "Anytime! In fact why don't I just drive us over to your house now?" He proposed. I thought how Marshall was always more lively and funnier with me after school on the bus and I didn't want to waste it and have the attention he was supposed to give to me and hand it to Bonnibel. But Gumball looked so hopeful, and he was standing so close.

"Sure, Gumball. Let's… Let's take your car. The bus smells weird anyways," I joked to hide my inner turmoil.

We walked down the hall, passed Marshall's locker, and I saw him laughing with Phoebe Flame. A little relief flooded over me. At least he's not talking to Bonnibel right now.

In Gumball's car, a very impressive black mustang with an enlarged engine, I forgot about my little downpour of jealous emotions for Marshall. Gumball really was a funny guy. I can see now why every girl praised the ground he walked on, not saying that I would, but I can see why. He really seemed to be the perfect guy. He made me forget about by jealous rage towards Bonnibel getting the attention from Marshall today on the bus all the way over to my house.

Thankfully when I opened the garage door, no cars were in the driveway. Finn, my little brother, would still be on the bus, coming home in half an hour.

"Uh, up to my room?" I asked, already leading the way. Gumball followed me up the stairs to my room. I opened the door to reveal my big, clean room. Thank Glob I cleaned yesterday or this would be embarrassing. I quickly slipped the book bag off my shoulders and threw myself onto my queen bed. Taking a nap sounded so good I almost slept right there.

"Fionna?" Gumball asked, breaking my comfy silence. I groaned. I kicked off my shoes and pushed them off the bed with my feet.

"It's okay, Gumball. You can sleep here, too," I said, my voice muffled by the pillow in my face. I heard him chuckle and the soft thud of his shoes on my carpet. I lifted my head and lazily patted the place next to me, giving him a tired and welcoming smile. I stuffed my face back into the cold pillow and sighed in bliss. Cold pillow after hot and obnoxious day at school. I felt the bed dip at Gumball's weight and waited until after I felt him stop moving to look at him. I smiled at him. He copied my position and had his face in the pillow next to me. I turned and propped my head up on my hand. I took my free hand and played with the hair at the back of his neck.

He turned his head a little to get a peek at me over his shoulder, and I could see the crinkle in his cheeks he had when he was smiling.

"I'm tired," he said closing his eyes and rolling so his body faced me. I was a midget compared to him. Dang. His entire body length took up the size of my bed.

"Me too. Can we just take a nap instead of studying?" I mumbled, hugging the pillow to me and laying my head down on it. I watched Gumball rub his face and dig his nose deeper into the squishy pillow. He groaned and opened his tired eyes.

"You have to get a good grade on your exam. Besides, you can sleep after I leave…" Gumball said with his eyes closed.

"So can you…" I whispered before shutting my eyes.

I awoke to a soft orange light filling my room through the blind-covered windows. I almost didn't notice Gumball's sleeping body next me until I started stretching and felt his shoulder stabbing into my ribcage. Oh shit. I came home around 2:30 and it's… 6:04! What the hell? How did we both sleep for four hours? I sat up quickly and combed my fingers through my bed head in a rush. Ew, I was sweating and my Adventure High T was sticking to me. Gumball's really warm.

I looked down at him and couldn't help but chuckle a little when I saw him. He was so cute when he slept. Alright focus. I shook his shoulder, gently at first. He groaned in response and smacked his lips together a few times. He yawned and stretched before finally opening his eyes. It took him a minute to register where he was before he widened his eyes and whipped his head to the side to see me staring at him.

"Oh, Glob. I'm scared to ask what time it is…" Gumball groaned into his hand over his face.

"It's six oh four…" I replied through clenched teeth. His eyes widened before he sat up next to me, examining me with worried eyes. Finally he smirked and took a strand of disheveled hair in between his fingers.

"Nice hair," he teased. I let out an amused breath. "Right back at ya, Fireball," I joked back. I crawled over him to get out of bed and stretch.

"Oh man. Hold on I'll be right back," I said. He nodded and I ran across the hallway to Finn's room. I knocked on the door and he opened it quickly.

"What?" He asked, a smile tugging at his lips as he looked at me.

"Where's mom and dad?" I asked in a hushed tone.

Finn gave me a smirk and leaned against his doorframe. "You're so lucky they went out for a date night," he said. I sighed in relief.

"When will they be back?"

"They said they'll be back around eight. Maybe later."

"Thank Glob…" I mumbled as I turned to go back into my room. I swung open my door to find Gumball right in front of me.

"Sorry, I was gonna go to the bathroom. But uh, you want to study or should I go…" Gumball asked, trailing off.

"Uhm, my parents aren't getting back 'til eight or so. We should study… And you already know where the bathroom is right?" I replied. Gumball nodded, and I let him pass by into the hall. My phone was still in my jean pocket and I pulled it out.

Mount Everest erupted in my stomach as I turned it on and saw a text from Marshall. He seemed to have texted me as I was supposed to be getting off the bus. He asked why Gumball's car was in my driveway.

In the middle of me texting him back, Gumball walked in and took the phone from my hands.

"Who're you texting, Fi?" He asked, chuckling. He looked down and saw that I was about to text Marshall. "Marshall? Why does he care if my car's at your driveway?"

"Well, he was-" I began.

"I still can't believe you're letting him distract you, Fionna. Please, just get over him already!" Gumball practically yelled. Well that shut me up. Does he know I like him? I haven't told anyone but Cake.

Playing dumb I ask, "What are you talking about?"

"I know you like him, Fionna." Gumball turned away and was looking down at my conversations with Marshall. There was some pretty funny things in there, but I heard no laughter coming from him. I was speechless that he seemed so angry about this.

"So? You don't have to be so mean about it. Besides… that's a personal thing. It doesn't matter anyway, he doesn't like me back."

Gumball sighed and handed me my phone back. He took a hold of one of my chairs at my desk and rolled it over. He swung a leg over it with the back of the chair to his chest. "How do you know he doesn't like you back? Did you tell him?"

"Well no. I just think it's pretty obvious…"

"How is it obvious?"

"Well… From what I've seen, Marshall usually tells the girl that he likes her. Also, I'm Fionna Humane. I don't think I'm really even, y'know, attractive to boys or anything." I sighed. "Maybe I'll just be a lonely cat lady for the rest of my life," I joked, trying to enlighten the mood.

Gumball kept a stern look on his face, but it eventually softened. "Oh, Fionna. If only you know what the other Juniors are saying about you. To them, you're more than attractive."

"Me?"

"Of course. In my opinion, you would count as one of the prettiest," Gumball stopped himself. He looked like he would say more, but he kept his mouth shut, giving me a smile and shrugging.

"Why?" I blurted out.

"Why? You're asking me why? Do you really think you're that unattractive?"

"Sorry. I just thought I was the weird girl who talked to Juniors and knew how to build a birdhouses in under thirty minutes. I didn't really play off those traits as, y'know, attractive."

"That's quite interesting, Fionna." Gumball examined me and I felt like I was being scanned by a robot. I heard a phone vibrate and I knew it wasn't mine because I was holding mine. I raised an eyebrow at him as I watched him take out his phone from his back pocket. He let out a breath as he read it.

"Ah, I gotta go. My mom wants me home for dinner," he said.

"Oh."

"Yeah. We've got to actually study next time," Gumball said as he stood up and rolled the chair back into my desk and swiped his keys from the floor. I followed him down to the front door, making plans to not fall asleep tomorrow when he comes over.

As soon as his car left the driveway, I sprinted back to my room to text Marshall back.

Hope you enjoyed the first chapter!