I looked at the clock, 3:26. I went to the coffee machine and started making another batch of coffee, then poured me some. I turned around with my coffee cup in hand, and grabbed a donut off the display rack. I then decided to do something bold. I took and deep breathe and took a seat at the table Marshall was sitting at. He put down the book he was reading and smirked "well isn't someone feeling confident today," I chuckled weakly and instantly regretted my decision; I didn't even know what to say. So instead of speaking I took a bite of donut and sipped my coffee. I heard him laughing and I looked up to see him staring at my donut, just laughing. Once I caught his gaze I arched an eyebrow at him. "Come on Marcy really, chocolate frosting with sprinkles?" I blushed at the nickname he had given me and the fact that he was laughing at me.

"Have you ever tried one before?" I asked and was surprised when he shook his head.

"Nope never, they're too sissy looking just look at it." At that I busted out laughing uncontrollably.

"Tell me you are not that shallow as to choose your food by its manliness? Go on take a bite it's really good." He looked at me for a moment and then at the donut. When he looked back at me I smirked and he finally picked up the donut and took a bite. He chewed slowly and carefully, then his eyes widened.

"Oh my glob this is so good. Why did I never try this before?" He took one more bite then handed it back to me. I laughed and looked at the book he was reading. The title said 'Great Mushroom Wars'. "It is about a theory that scientists have that in maybe 100 years or so the world is going to pretty much end." I blushed not realizing he caught me studying his book.

"I guess you're smarter then you look huh?" I finished my donut and looked at him. He all of a sudden looked so sad and lonely.

"I'm a lot more then I look. At least that's what I like to think."

After that things got quiet and kind of awkward. We both just sipped our coffee staring at our laps not really knowing what to say. I sighed and looked at my watch, it read 3:45. I looked up at Marshall to see him looking at me already. I felt my face flush, "well I have to go my break is over." I started getting up to leave but he took my arm. I winced since he touched a bruise but turned to him anyway.

"Do you maybe want to go out with me? Tonight, meet me here?" I just looked at him my eyes wide. Of course I wanted to go out with him but I didn't want it to be awkward. Oh who am I kidding I can't pass up an opportunity like this.

"Sure I'd love to, want to see a movie? Does eight sound good?"

"Sounds like a plan." With that he picked up his book and walked out the door. I stared after him for a few seconds but then finally took my place behind the counter. I got off work at 6 so I had a little bit of down time after work. That's good I need it to figure all of this out, today has just been crazy. First my abusive boyfriend gets thrown in jail, then a total cutie asks me out on a date. Well I think it is a date. I just need to turn my mind off.

After work I went home to an empty apartment. Ash wasn't there to greet me with the smell of liquor on his breathe. It was actually quite refreshing. I went to the bedroom and looked at my phone. I went to the kitchen and started cooking dinner. Once it was done I sat on the couch and watched T.V until about 7. I then went to my closet to change into nicer clothes. I decided to wear red skinny jeans with a black and white pinstripe tank top under a short leather jacket. I pulled on my same combat boots from work and grabbed my keys, phone and purse.

Instead of driving to the café like I'd usually do I decided to walk. I had some time to kill it was only 7:30. The weather was beautiful too, on the way I just stared at the stars thinking. I almost ran into Marshall, I didn't notice I had arrived so soon. He caught my shoulders and I looked at him he was smiling and laughing. His laugh was so intoxicating it just made me want to smile.

We started walking to the movies in silence. I caught him looking at me and decided to get bold again, "Like what you see?" I asked looking up at the stars. He started laughing and bumped his shoulder against mine.

"Actually I do."

When we arrived at the theater it was so busy. Even for a Tuesday night it was just packed. I looked up at Marshall who was scanning the 'movies playing' wall. "What do you want to watch?" He asked and I started scanning as well. I found one that I had seen before. I smiled and pointed at the movie title, Marshall laughed, "You know you can talk, but you want to see Dracula sure." I giggled and started to pull my wallet out of my purse so I could pay for myself. Marshall arched a single perfect eyebrow at me.

"What?" I asked pausing for a moment.

"What are you doing? You don't need to pay I'm taking you out, so I'm paying for both of us." I nodded and put my wallet back into my purse. I felt so stupid; of course he is not like Ash. Ash always made me pay for both of us. Marshall handed me my ticket and we walked inside.

We walked to the snack bar and got large popcorn and a large dr. pepper (the drink of champions). I chose the seats and we waited for the movie to start. He looked at me and I looked at him. We just sat there and studied each other for a long while; he had the most gorgeous face. Pale skin, strong jaw line, dark eyes, and beautiful lips. It made me wonder what he thought of me. I was nothing special. He smiled at me, that million dollar smile, "What?" I asked and smiled back. He took my face in his gently, not roughly like Ash did.

"Nothing, it is just don't find this weird or anything but you're really beautiful," As soon as he said that the lights went down and the previews started. I was thankful for that because I could feel the blood rushing to my face. I haven't been called beautiful in such a long time.

After the movie we stood outside just composing ourselves. "Sorry for choosing such a cheesy movie but it's a classic," I said and he laughed. "What now?" I asked looking up at him.

"Well I could take you home?" I pouted I didn't want to go home I didn't want this night to end. "Ok or we could go to a bar get a little liquid courage in us and get to know each other better," I smiled at him and we started walking towards the closest bar. The closest bar was Rissoles it was a bar I went to regularly. They had an open mike night everything other Saturday and early in my relationship with Ash I used to play there. I stopped going since Ash got mad every time I went, saying all the men were checking me out and trying to fuck me.

We arrived at Rissoles and sat down at the bar. It was a pretty quiet night since it was only Tuesday. Marshall ordered a Royal Bermuda Cocktail and I was about to order a regular beer but he stopped me, "No get some heavy stuff, if we're going to delve into each others lives nothing should be held back." I laughed and instead ordered a Bloody Mary. We quietly drank until the drinks were gone. I was only a little tipsy so I ordered another and he did also.

Soon we were both pretty buzzed; he looked at me and laughed, "Ok you first, what your last relationship was like?" I looked at him and just laughed.

"You just don't even want to go there. I'm a downer."

He shook my shoulder "Nonsense come on you can tell me."

I sighed and prepared to start my story. I took another swig of my drink, "Well Marshall Lee, my last relationship was shit. The guy was an asshole who just recently went to prison. He abused me probably daily and I was afraid to leave him because he would probably do something horrible to me. So I put up with the hurt and the pain and abuse." I looked at him and he looked just dumbfounded. He lifted a wet napkin to my face and wiped off a little bit of make up so you could see the bruise that lied underneath. He gasped and dropped his hand on my lap. I stared at my lap and just waited for him to leave.

"I'm so sorry that happened to you. I don't know why anyone would want to bruise such a pretty face like yours." I blushed and he touched my cheek again. I look up at him and smiled sweetly. He really did make me feel accepted, like I never had to worry.

"What about you? What was your last relationship like?" He looked at the table and took a swig of his drink. He dug in his pockets and pulled out a pack of cigarettes.

He looked at me, "Sorry but I need a little bit more then liquid courage for this do you mind?" I shook my head and he took one out and lit it. He offered me one and I kindly accepted it. We both sat and smoked in silence for a while but soon he started talking, "Well her name was Ashley and I was completely head over heels in love with her. We moved in together and she was my world. I loved her more then I loved myself. Well one day I came home from a hard day at work to find her in bed with another man. Well I got mad, really mad. I kept asking her why she would do it why would she hurt me if she loved me. Come to find out she was using me the whole time for my money, and she'd been cheating on me for months. It broke my heart, it crushed my soul," He took a long drag of his cigarette. I didn't know what to do I didn't know how to react. I did the only the thing I could think of I touched his knee and looked at him with sad eyes.

"I'm sorry." Were the only words I could manage.