"Marcus! Nicole's on the fellyfone for you!"
Marcus looked up from his photo album and laughed as he yelled down, "Mum! It's a telephone!"
His mother grumbled, "Yeah, yeah, yeah. Whatever you say."
With that, she shoved the phone in his face and began to continue cleaning the counter. He sighed exasperately, his mother had been trying to push him and Nicole into a more committed relationship but after that night two weeks ago, nothing else had happened.
Part of him wanted his mother to back off but the other part was wishing she'd succeed because he wanted to be in a relationship with her but it was way too soon and he they hadn't talked about it at all. The holding of the hands just kind of happened on its own.
Marcus put the phone to his ear, holding it up with his shoulder as he continued to flip through the photos of all the memories they had left behind.
"Hey, Nicole."
He smiled as he heard her voice at the other end. He had no clue how the phone worked but he thanked god for those damned muggles that created it. It was much easier to talk to each other to make plans then to be terrorized by their parents.
Marcus's mother and Nicole's mother had been meeting every single day for afternoon tea. Only god knew what they babbled on and on about - probably another scheme on how to get the two of them together he presumed.
"Hey Marcus! What's up?"
He rolled his eyes, it was always the same conversation up until one of them finally changed it.
"Just looking through some photos. How about you?"
"I'm actually about to have a nervous breakdown, nothing new."
Marcus's eyes widened at that by how calm she sounded by confessing about having a nervous break down.
He bit his lip, "What's wrong?"
"I have a gig tonight and I'm really nervous."
"What's a gig?"
He heard her groan in the background, "I have a job! I'm opening for this band tonight at Mystic, the club. (A/N an actual club on Staten Island) I'm so nervous!"
He chuckled, "Don't worry, Nicole, you'll do great."
Nicole sounded agitated, "How do you know?"
Marcus continued as he turned the page in the album, "Because I'll be there watching you, making sure you're putting one hundred percent into this 'gig,' so there is no way you can possibly mess up, okay?"
She smiled, "You'd do that?"
Marcus pushed the book away and rubbed his temples, "Of course, Nicole. You're my best friend - these past two weeks would've been so crappy without you."
He heard her smile on the other end as she continued, "You're the best. Ring my doorbell in five, please?"
He nodded and then remembered that she couldn't see him, "Always." With that, he heard a click and frowned, "Does no one say bye anymore?"
Marcus called down to his mom, "Mum! I'm going to Mystic with Nicole tonight to watch her perform, okay?"
His mother smiled brilliantly, "Is it a -"
He interupted her, "No, mother, it's not a date!"
She grumbled, "Fine - be back by eleven."
Marcus nodded, "Of course, bye mum, love you!"
-
Marcus impatiently rang the doorbell to his neighbor's house for the third time in a row.
A muffled voice called out, "Come in, deary!"
He smiled, her mother was so much like his. He opened the door and stepped in, making sure to remove his shoes and placing them on the carpet, a rule he quickly learned when entering the household.
Marcus nodded to the older woman, "Yes, Mrs. Aquanno."
She ushered him in, "You look very handsome, Marcus." Marcus blushed under her gaze as she looked him up and down approvingly.
He wore black designer jeans that Nicole had brought him as a welcome to the neighborhood gift after he confessed to her that his family's income was limited. He quickly learned that the Aquanno's were what Americans would call 'loaded' meaning her income was definately not limited at all.
He wore a white button down dress shirt, knowing that he would want to impress Nicole for she always dressed up for gigs. Even though he had never even heard her sing before, he knew that she talked nonstop about her singing career, someday hoping to make it big.
Mrs. Aquanno announced, "You can go upstairs if you'd like. She should be in her room."
Marcus nodded and slowly ascended the stairs, looking at the various pictures of Nicole holding up medals and trophies at the still camera.
-
Nicole looked at herself in the mirror and groaned, trying to tie the back of her dress but having no luck.
She wore a fancy little number; a cream white corset styled dress. It was strapless, clinging to her hour glass figure tightly and her busom peaked out at the top a bit, leaving much to the imagination but plenty to the appealing eye. The dress flowed down a bit past her knees. Her hair curled and half of it was pulled up, the other half cascading down her back. Various diamond clips held it in place that were scattered throughout her dark brown hair.
Marcus wordlessly walked in, not even bothering to knock, scaring Nicole as he stood there in shock, staring at her, gaping.
Nicole shrieked, "Marcus!"
He opened his mouth to apologize but no words would escape as she pushed him back out and slammed the door in his face screaming, "Get out!"
He pressed his back to the wall and rested his head in his hands, she was mesmerizing. He wanted her, no he needed her and he didn't know how much longer he could go without gathering her in his arms and kissing the life out of her.
She opened the door once more and smiled at him shyly, "Err, Marcus?"
Marcus nodded, still not able to form words.
Nicole asked, her cheeks burning red, "Would you mind tying the back of my dress? I can't reach it."
His jaw dropped and he managed to get out, "Tie your dress?"
She nodded as she turned around and moved her hair out of the way, giving him complete access to her back.
With shaky hands, he tied it loosely and she commented, "Tighter please."
He undid it and groaned on the inside, did she want to kill him?
Marcus tied it tighter and she was satisfied as she let go of her hair and moved away from him to look at herself in the mirror. She bit her lower lip in a sign of nervousness and looked up at him with fearful eyes, "How do I look?"
He closed his eyes tightly and he whispered, "Please don't make me answer that, Nicole, please."
She looked at him in alarm and her lip quivered, "That bad?"
He opened his eyes in shock, "What? No, of course not! Nicole - I can't. Please."
Nicole looked down at the her hands in her lap, "Marcus, you couldn't even look at me."
Marcus took a step toward her but then stopped himself, "Nicole, you don't understand. I have feelings inside of me that I can't control when I see you like this - call it hormones but I don't want to act on them."
Her head snapped up with rage, "You like me but you don't want to, is that is Marcus?"
He groaned, running his hands through his hair, messing up his perfectly slicked back black hair, "Nicole, sweetie, listen to me, please."
She crossed her arms over her chest, giving off the impression that she hated him but on the inside she was melting - he called her sweetie!
He cleared his throat, "You look gorgeous - you always do. But tonight, you look too beautiful for me. I'm sorry but I don't think I can go with you tonight or else I don't know what I'll do. I don't want to ruin the friendship that we've created."
Marcus turned to leave but she whispered, "What if I want you to do it? What if I want you to kiss me?"
He stopped dead in his tracks and she looked up at him with hope in her eyes but he whispered harshly, "No you don't." With that, he walked out on her and closed the door gently.
He raced past her mother who looked at him with alarm and raced back home.
-
Nicole looked at the door for a moment, not quite believing what had just happened.
She looked at herself in the mirror, touching her hair and her dress. Tears spilled down her cheeks, staining her flawless face.
She turned around, breathing heavily as anger and despair came over her.
The only reason she had called him earlier was because she knew he would come if she needed him.
She knew that he would always be there for her.
She had gotten all dolled up for him.
She had hoped he'd start to like her.
She had hoped he'd kiss her ravishly and never stop.
She had thought wrong.
Nicole heard her mother call up the stairs, "Sweetie, are you alright?"
She screamed back down, "I'm fine - I can't go tonight, I don't feel good."
Mrs. Aquanno questioned, "Are you sure?"
"YES, mom!"
-
Nicole sat on her bed in front of the mirror and started to take out all the clips that held her hair perfectly in place.
She looked at the dress and she felt stunning in it. She couldn't take herself to take it off so she kept it on.
Nicole turned away from the mirror to see a picture frame of her and Marcus at the mall making funny faces for the camera.
She remembered that day.
-
Nicole laughed, "Marcus! Let's take pictures!"
He looked around, "With what camera?"
She rolled her eyes and pointed to a small booth, "In the photobooth, silly."
Marcus looked at her oddly, "In the what?"
She grabbed his hand and dragged him along, pushing him into the booth and closing the curtain behind them.
It was so tight that she blushed as she had to sit on his lap.
Nicole pressed the button and said, "Smile!"
She kissed him on the cheek and he blushed madly as the first picture was taken.
The next time, he was ready as he tickled her and she laughed hysterically as he smiled for the camera she looked so strange.
For the third picture, she stuck her tongue out at him and he stuck his out at hers.
For the fourth one, he wrapped his arms around her and she rested her head on his shoulder.
CLICK
-
That last picture was the one that got her crying hysterically as she screamed, a sudden burst of energy erupting within her.
She turned to see her lava lamp which he had gotten her as as thank you for the welcome gift.
-
Marcus shoved the purple lava lamp in her hands, "Take it."
"Marcus - I don't want it!"
He rolled his eyes, "I saw you goggling over it before - take it!"
Nicole snapped, "For what?"
He explained, "A thank you for the welcome gift."
-
Nicole raced over to it, throwing it against the wall as it splattered all over, broken glass sprawled out across the carpet.
She shrieked again, looking for something else to smash - she found the poster that he got her when they went to the mall - it was a poster of her favorite actress, Angelina Jolie.
-
"Oh my god!"
Marcus looked up from the collection of CDs he was going through in the CD store FYE.
"What's wrong?"
Nicole jumped up and down and looked at the poster, "Angelina Jolie! I love her!"
He smiled as he got an idea and asked, "How much is it?"
She looked at the price tag, "Ten dollars - crap, I don't have enough for it."
She frowned and turned away from it, "Let's go, Marcus."
Marcus nodded, "Sure, one sec, I'll meet you outside."
Nicole agreed as she exited the store in a hurry and disappointed mood.
He quickly grabbed the poster and headed to the check out line.
Once he payed for it and met up with her outside, he handed it to her, "This is for you."
She raised an eyebrow at him as she opened the bag and shrieked, "Marcus!"
She jumped on him, wrapping her arms around him tightly and burying her head in his shoulder, "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
-
She muttered, "Sorry Angelina."
Nicole ripped it to shreds, throwing the pieces all over the bedroom.
She then saw the teddy bear that he had gotten her on her bed. She ran over to it and tried to rip it but something inside stopped her as she collapsed on the floor, sobbing and clutching the bear.
-
"Nicole, can we please play some games?"
"Okay, okay," Nicole announced, finally giving in to her friend's pleading.
Marcus begged, "Play with me, please?"
She nodded, "Okay."
They both payed the worker and he explained, "You have to shoot the hole and the person who can hold it the longest is the winner of the race and gets to choose a prize."
Being an Quiddich player for years, Marcus had excellent hand eye coordination, giving him an unknown advantage, making it easy for him to win.
He turned to gloat but frowned when he saw Nicole pouting with her arms crossed over her chest.
The guy asked, "Which would you like?"
Marcus pointed to the teddy bear that said I Love You, "That please."
The guy smiled knowingly at him and landed it to him along with a purple teddy bear lollipop, "There ya' go," he winked.
Marcus smiled and he handed them both to Nicole.
She looked up at him hopefully, "For me?"
He smiled and nodded, "For you."
Nicole smiled broadly as she grabbed the teddy bear from him, hugging it to her and then Marcus got his hug in turn.
She whispered in her ear, "I'll treasure him forever."
Marcus laughed, "It's just a teddy bear, Nicole. What're you going to name him?"
Nicole wondered out loud, "Probably Marcus Junior, yes that's it! Marcus Junior."
Marcus chuckled, "We have a child, Nicole!"
She giggled, "I have custody until you pay your child support, mister."
She then unwrapped the lollipop and stuck it in her mouth.
He joked, "Thanks for offering me one."
She smiled innocently as she took it out of her mouth and held it out for him, "Want some?"
He made to reach for it before she glared at him, "Oh no you don't, it's mine."
-
Marcus slammed his front door shut as he leaned against it, breathing heavily.
His mother looked at him in alarm, "Sweetie, what happened?"
He shook his head as he slid to the floor, cradling his head in his hands, "I ruined everything, mum."
She sat down next to him on the floor, "What'd you do?"
For the first time in a long time, he told his mother everything.
Everything from his feelings to snapping at her.
-
After twenty minutes, Marcus looked up at his mother, "What do I do?"
She rolled her eyes at him and snapped, "Apologize to her before it's too late."
He nodded, "I'll go over there now and - "
His mother argued, "What're you telling me for? Go get her!"
-
Marcus rang the doorbell impatiently for the second time that day, tapping his foot.
Mrs. Aquanno came to the door and smiled, "Hello Marcus, sweetie, what's up?"
He asked, "Is Nicole still home or did she go to her gig?"
Nicole's mother explained, letting him into the house, "She's still upstairs, she didn't go. She said something about not feeling well. You can go up to see her if you'd like, would you mind bringing her some chicken soup?"
Marcus shook his head, "No, not at all, Mrs. Aquanno."
-
Marcus knocked on the bedroom door and called out, "Room service."
No response.
Marcus opened the door a little and saw her lying down on the bed. He walked in, gently closing the door behind him and placed the tray on the dresser.
He walked over to the bed and saw that she was asleep, dried tears on her face.
He smiled lightly seeing that she was clutching the teddy bear he had gotten her.
Marcus gently shook her awake, "Nicole, Nicole, wake up. Please."
No response.
Marcus got angry, "Nicole! Wake up!"
He shook her a bit roughly but her eyes stayed closed.
He groaned, "Nicole, please wake up."
Her eyes slowly opened as she muttered, "What do you want?"
Marcus smiled softly, "To apologize."
She rolled over, "I don't want to talk to you."
He sat down on her bed, next to her, "I think you do."
Nicole sat up and got out of the bed, dropping the bear on the floor and hugging herself to try to protect her heart.
He followed suit. He bent down and picked up the bear, holding it out to her, "Truce?"
She gaped at him, "How can you stand there and act like nothing happened!"
Marcus groaned, "Nicole - I told you to drop it, forget about it."
She stalked towards the door but cursed inwardly as she groaned, "Shit!"
He looked at her in concern, "What's wrong?"
She pointed to the floor, "Glass."
Marcus looked down and then at the wall, then noticing the missing paper along with pieces of paper all over.
His heart sank, "You broke the lava lamp and ripped the poster?"
She nodded, "I was mad."
He looked up with hope, "Was?"
She sighed and limped to the bed, sitting down on it, "Marcus."
He followed her once more, taking a seat a bit farther from her than he would've liked.
"I know, I was a jerk."
She snapped, "Damn straight." She cleared her throat, "But the thing is, what you said earlier."
Marcus rested his head in his hands, "Forget it."
She shrieked, "No, I won't! I've wanted you to say that for so long."
He looked up at her, his eyes wide, "What?"
She repeated, more slowly, "Marcus, you're my best friend."
He nodded, his heart sinking once again.
"And that's wonderful."
Marcus nodded again.
"But that's not enough for me."
He looked up at her, catching her gaze.
She stood up and rested her hands on his shoulders, "I want more, Marcus."
He shook his head, "No you don't."
Anger welled up inside her again, "Yes I do! I want you to hold my hand. I want you to kiss me. I want you to point to me and say, 'That's her, that's my girlfriend.' I need you to look at me like Brad looks at Angelina, like Corey looks at Topanga, like your dad looks at your mom."
Marcus looked up at her, speechless, "Nicole . . ."
She looked down at him sadly, "I know, pathetic right? Girl meets boy, boy falls for girl, girl falls for boy but too late. Boy rejects girl and moves on."
Silent tears rolled down her cheeks as she smiled at him, "I love you, Marcus, you're my best friend, you always will be."
Marcus wordlessly wiped her tears and muttered in a scratchy voice, "Nicole, I love you too. You'll always be my best friend. But I want more."
Her eyes widened as the tears suddenly stopped.
Marcus stood up and held her hands in his, "I want to hold your hair and to kiss you. I want to be able to point to you and say that you belong to me. I want to be with you, like whoever those people are."
She looked up at him with watery eyes, "Really? Even though I probably look like shit right now?"
He smiled, "You've never looked more beautiful." With that, he wrapped his arms around her and pressed his lips to hers roughly, he had waited so long to be able to do this.
-
Mrs. Aquanno peeked into the room and asked, "Marcus? Nicole?"
Her jaw dropped as she saw them kissing, in each other's arms.
She smiled brightly and closed the door gently, trying not to make a sound as she raced to the phone.
"You're never going to believe what our two kids were just doing!"
Finally, right?