Hello again ^_^ Thanks for the reviews! It really means a lot to get positive feedback and constructive criticism, you guys have no idea. Well, I guess I want to apologize for how short this chapter is. I wanted to add the concert in this chapter but ultimately decided against it. I'll save that for next chapter. I'm still struggling with the whole dialogue thing ;_; I'm so sorry.

Bubblegum stared across the hallway before heading out the door. It was a bit early and Marceline had told her not to worry about waking her. She sighed and grabbed her bag. She supposed that she just wanted to see her crimson-eyed friend before leaving.

(^0^)

School was rather uneventful. Flame badgered her with questions regarding Finn walking her home; she did her best to avoid bringing up Marceline. Bubblegum didn't really want her longtime friend to know she was housing a person whom she had just met.

This definitely goes beyond good will, she'll kill me.

She was also quite distracted; more so than usual. Even while conversing with Flame, her thoughts were straying and her responses were painfully generic.

"Hey, PB, are you okay? You're not mad at me are you?" Flame looked at her with on odd, concerned expression across her face. "Sorry if I'm annoying you, I just want to kno-"

"Pfftt…it's okay Flame. I was just spacing out. You're not annoying me at all." Bubblegum felt sorry for Flame and smiled gently.

(^0^)

By the time Statistics came around, Bubblegum's brain had pretty much fizzled into oblivion. She was consumed with thoughts of her guest; who she was, where she was from, what she was all about. She was thinking about her strange responses to Marceline and how Marceline managed to invoke such…unique responses from her. She was an enigma – a complete and total mystery that she both wanted to solve and feared solving. Marceline was everything she wasn't and it drove her curiosity to its threshold. She assumed that the black haired woman would be awake by now, either playing that wonderful music again or searching around for a place to live. Bubblegum felt a pang in her chest when she thought about Marceline leaving so soon.

Strange. Strange feelings. I doubt she'll leave so quickly though.

These thoughts swirled inside her mind like unpredictable fall winds; speeding up and slowing down, twisting languidly before developing into a violent torrent. No other sounds were being processed; the outside world was white noise before the power of Bubblegum's imagination. It wasn't until Flame started tapping on her shoulder that Bubblegum came back down to reality. Evidently, she had spent the last hour and half all but entirely spaced out. Lunch would start soon and she'd be that much closer to seeing Marceline again.

(^0^)

One thing Bubblegum hadn't taken into account was Finn.

"Hey Peebs, how's Marceline doin'? I still feel horrible…" Finn sighed dejectedly after speaking.

Oh Finn you butt!

"Ah, she was fine when I went to bed. I didn't see her this morning." Bubblegum attempted to brush his question off, but Flame's eyes were already glowing with curiosity.

"Hey PB, who's Marceline?" She sounded far too eager than necessary.

"She didn't tell you Flame? I had to stop by to get some stuff at her place yesterday and she got kicked out and since my place is packed, Bubblegum told Marceline she could chill at her place for a bit."

"Yes and this sweet hero here protected us all the way home." Bubblegum once again attempted to divert the direction of the conversation but to no avail.

"That's awesome and all Finn, but who is this Marceline?" Flame looked eagerly at the pair.

"Oh she's just this really rad chick that just so happens to be my friend." Finn explained.

"Glob Finn! That tells me nothing! PB, who is Marceline?" Flame directed her attention to her pink haired friend.

"Well…" Bubblegum thought of how to explain Marceline.

She's tall and talented and somehow quite attractive with hair so long it touches the ground and eyes as red as blood. She's funny and laidback and entirely entertaining but behind the jokes and sarcasm she seems quite…vulnerable I think…

Thoughts flew through Bubblegum's mind, but for reasons unbeknownst to herself; she opted not to tell Flame what she inferred about her guest. "Um…I'm not quite sure. She just a guest right now; I'm sure Finn can explain her better than I can."

Flame looked disappointed, but quickly followed up with another question. "So, letting a random stranger stay at your house PB? That's so out of character for you." The statement sounded much more like a question than necessary and Bubblegum refused to make eye contact with her friend. Flame knew her far too well and Bubblegum didn't want to let the red head know more than necessary.

"Well yes. I suppose it is quite out of character. But I am a charitable person and she seemed like a kind enough girl." Bubblegum was relieved at the bell; she could now say that she had been "saved by the bell."

"Hey PB! Wait for me at the school gates after school! I want to meet this Marceline, so I'll walk ya home!" Flame yelled as Bubblegum fled the cafeteria.

That girl…honestly…

Bubblegum sighed and headed toward her next class.

(^0^)

The classes following lunch went by rather quickly. She spent the majority of the time trying to solve the mystery that was Marceline and all together admiring the shroud that was constantly wrapped around her; she was completely wrapped up in a darkness that Bubblegum couldn't see through. She thought constantly; her mind was an unquiet one by nature and she always needed to be thinking lest she want to be driven mad by the silence.

The bell that announced the end of the day came much faster than it had in the past.

What…did…I can't…where did time go?

Bubblegum could've sworn only an hour had passed since lunch, but evidently three hours had gone by. She grabbed her bag and started down the halls. Students rushed by, all desperate to get home after this rigorous day. She noted that numerous clubs were having meetings today and realized that she needed to schedule a meeting for the Chemistry club. That could wait, but it needed done eventually.

As she approached the school gates, she recalled what Flame had told her at lunch. She stopped and leaned back against the wall. She'd wait; it wouldn't take her very long to get here anyway. Bubblegum pulled out her phone and stared at the time.

3:39…maybe Marceline will be home…

She desperately wanted to have another conversation with the older woman. As her mind started imagining the sort of conversations the two would share, Flame showed up.

"Hey PB, ya ready? I'm pretty excited to meet this Marceline." Flame started walking ahead and Bubblegum sped up her walk so the pair walked shoulder to shoulder.

"Geez I am now. Are you really that excited?"

"Yeah! I mean…it's kind of for personal reasons, but I want to see somebody named Marceline…" Flame's voice trailed off and her gaze became unfocused.

What in the grod is she talking about? She wants to see somebody named Marceline? What does that even-

"Yo! Bonnie! Over here!"

The pair's heads whipped toward the direction of the sound like an obedient dog that heard his name called. There, walking in their direction, was a certain long haired bass player. Bubblegum had absolutely no idea what to do in a situation. She wasn't even quite sure why she even wanted to do something. She wasn't sure why she didn't want Marceline and Flame to meet, but at this point, it was obviously inevitable.

"No way…" Flame sounded absolutely stunned and Bubblegum had no idea why.

Maybe it's because she brought that frickin' bass of her's…

The massive axe-bass was slung across her back and she was sauntering over at a leisurely pace. As she got closer, she noticed that Marceline was wearing black skinnies and a loose gray shirt that hung off her body and exposed one shoulder. The print on it said…

Marceline and the Scream Queens…?

The design was either incredibly abstract or very childish: two (marshmallows? Cinnamon rolls) strange objects skewered and posted above a dead snake.

"You've got to be kidding me. PB how come you didn't tell me she was that Marceline?!" Flame didn't take her eyes off the approaching female.

"That" Marceline…?

"What're you talking about Flame?" Bubblegum was genuinely confused and somewhat annoyed that Flame seemed to know something she didn't about Marceline.

"PB! Honestly?! She's only the lead singer and bass player of Marceline and the Scream Queens!" Flame was practically a live wire; the energy radiating off her body was tangible. "I've never been to a concert but it looks exactly like what people describe! She's even got the awesome instrument!"

Marceline and the Scream Queens…that's a band? She's in a band? How did….how come…

Bubblegum couldn't understand why she didn't know about the fact that Marceline was in a band.

I guess I could've inferred because of how well she played the bass and sang but…

The thought had just never occurred to her.

"I don't know what you're talking about Flame…"

"Geez PB! I know they're not that popular and kind of local, but Marceline is freakin' amazing!"

At this point, the topic of discussion was at the girls and was wearing quite a smug expression.

"S'up Bonnie. Hey uh…?"

"Flame. Please call me whatever you want though." Flame could hardly contain herself.

"Well hey there Flame. So, uh, Bonnie, I guess you figured out?"

Figured out? Did you even intend to tell me?

She could feel some sort of anger rising inside. She knew that she had no right to be angry, but it still irked her for some reason that Marceline had failed to tell her she was in a band.

"I suppose I did Marceline. Now, why're you here and why did you bring your bass with you?" Bubblegum, despite her best efforts, sounded quite irritated and Marceline recoiled slightly.

"Um…I'm sorry I didn't tell you. And I'm on my way to a gig; Mr. Peppermint told me where you want to school and I figured I'd swing by on my way there to say hey."

"Well hey Marceline."

Both Flame and Marceline stared at Bubblegum as if she had transformed into some strange creature.

"What guys?" Even her question was tainted with her annoyance.

"PB are you…mad?" Flame looked between Marceline and Bubblegum.

"What? Of course not. I'm just exhausted."

"Well okay then…" Flame turned her attention back to Marceline. "So, where are you playing at tonight? PB and I can come to watch if there's still space!"

"Um…well actually I wanted to invite her…and I'm sure there's room for two and I'll get you two in for free." Marceline's enthusiasm had dissipated rather quickly.

"Um…okay…PB do you want to go?" Both girls looked expectantly at their pink haired companion.

Do I want to go…I do want to hear her sing again…

Bubblegum weighed her options, wondering if it was worth it. It's not like it would take too much effort and she was getting in for free. Her rationality began to take over her emotions and she benefits of going outweighed the costs.

"I'd love to go. What time does it start Marceline?" Both Marceline and Flame lit up immediately.

"Oh man Bonnie you're the greatest. It starts at eight tonight at that the Night-O-Sphere. I'll save you two places in the front." Marceline's smile stretched across her entire face and her eyes sparkled with feverish intensity.

Bubblegum's stomach knotted a little at how absolutely adorable she looked.

"We'll be there. Come on Flame. We can get ready at my house. See ya there Marceline." Bubblegum smiled and began walking toward her house.

"Hey wait up PB! Oh, thanks Marceline! Thank you so much!" Flame waved at the rocker before rushing to catch up with Bubblegum.

"Thanks Princess! Hey, there'll be an after party! You can stay if you want!" Marceline yelled at Bubblegum before heading toward the venue.

An after party? That could be…

Bubblegum worried about what an after party could entail. She imagined drugs, alcohol, and illicit sexual relationships. Every fiber in her being told her that going was definitely bad. That going would most definitely be a mistake. Everything about it screamed danger. She knew all that and yet she still wanted to go. She wanted to go because Marceline was going and she wanted to be around Marceline.

What the heck am I doing…what is she doing to me…?