Chapter Four
X
Marshall flopped onto his bed that same night. His stomach churned, and he shivered. Was Gumball's stepmother sexually abusing him…?
He shook his head. It couldn't be. Guys as happy as Gumball didn't go through stuff like that. Guys like Gumball lived soft, cushy lives and made everybody love them.
At that moment, his phone vibrated in his pocket with an incoming text. It was from Fionna.
Meeting at lunch tomorrow in the cafeteria to talk about the project!
Marshall stiffened. Crap, the project! He would have to see Gumball tomorrow, and after what he saw in Gumball's house, Marshall wasn't sure that he would be able to look him in the eyes. Wait- Fionna and Gumball were pretty close, right? Maybe she would know what he was going through at home.
He pressed the phone to his ear and listened to the ringing. Marshall prayed that she would pick up, because if he didn't get this off his chest, he was pretty sure he wouldn't be able to act normally around Gumball tomorrow. If he did start acting weird around Gumball, right after he managed to get him to start talking to him again, the results would be horrible.
Thankfully, Fionna picked up. "Hello?"
"Hey, it's Marshall."
"Dude! Did you make up with Gumball?"
"Yeah, he's talking to me again."
"Mathematical! What's up?"
"Nothing much. You and Bubba are pretty close, right?"
"He's one of my best friends. Why?"
"Do you know anything about his parents?"
"…Did he tell you about them?"
Marshall could feel his palms begin to sweat. "He told me that they died but not much else. I made him miss his bus after school today, so I drove him home. I had to whiz, so he let me use his bathroom. I got kind of lost, and I heard some stuff I wasn't supposed to."
"Like what?"
"Well… it was between Bubba and his stepmom."
It was silent on the other line for a moment. After what felt like forever, Fionna finally responded. "Was it weird stuff?"
"Yeah… she was telling him to give her a kiss."
"That's not so weird. Kids kiss their parents all the time."
"Yeah, but she told him to do it on the lips, and when he wouldn't she was, like, really disappointed," Marshall took a shaky breath. "It really freaked me out."
Fionna sighed. "I guess you found out."
"Has she done anything else to Bubba?"
"…I don't think I should tell you about it without Gumball knowing. You'd have to ask him yourself."
"He would never tell me anything like that."
"I don't know. I don't feel right talking to you about Gumball's life."
Marshall sighed. "It's okay. I'll try talking to him tomorrow, and see what he says."
"Okay."
"Thanks for your help. I'll see you tomorrow. Bye."
"No problem. Later days."
Marshall hung up the phone at sat up on his bed. Getting Gumball to talk about this would be harder than pulling teeth.
X
The next day at lunch, Gumball wandered over to where Marshall and Fionna were sitting at a table. He took a seat next to Fionna, which was just about as far away as he could get from Marshall. Sure, they were talking, but Gumball hadn't forgiven him.
"Hey, Bubba," Marshall smirked at him. "I thought you were the king of punctuality."
"I had to tell the Science Club I wouldn't be able to make the meeting today," Gumball sniffed. "Not that you would understand. The only group you're in is to make distasteful music."
"Distasteful-"
"Now that we're all here," Fionna smoothly cut off Marshall. "We can finish up on the project. I'm half way done with my paper about what it means to me. How far are you guys?"
"I haven't gotten very far," Gumball admitted.
"Really?" Fionna frowned. "I figured you'd be done already."
Gumball flushed. "I've been busy with Science Club and other homework." Fionna continued to give him a confused look. "Don't worry; I'll be finished with it on time."
"Alright, dude," Fionna said, still looking confused. "How far are you, Marshall?"
"I'm done."
"What?" They both said.
"Whoa guys, chill," Marshall said. "No need to break out the creepy unison. I was bored last night and I knew if I didn't finish you guys would ride me about it, so I decided to get it done early. No big deal."
"How long is it?" Gumball asked.
"Like… five pages. Maybe six."
"That should be long enough," Gumball said. Marshall glared at him. Jerk.
"More than long enough," Fionna said, amazed. "Mine is like, half a page."
"Guess you have more than half of it to do," Marshall said.
"I think we should meet up after school today to start on the joint project," Gumball said, changing the subject.
"I'm free," Marshall agreed.
They both looked over to Fionna expectantly. "Sorry, Cake doesn't want Marshall in the house anymore."
"Whatever," Marshall said indifferently.
"We could go to my house," Gumball offered. His stepmother would be out, anyway.
"No!" Marshall disagreed quickly. Too quickly. Gumball squinted at him. Had he heard something he wasn't supposed to…? "I mean, he lives so far away it wouldn't make sense for me and Fionna to go all the way over there, right? We can go to my house."
"It's cool with me," Fionna agreed.
Gumball nodded. "Yes, it's fine with me as well."
"I'll give you guys a lift afterschool. Meet me in the student parking lot."
X
Marshall leaned on his car, waiting for Fionna and Gumball. They finally arrived five minutes later.
"Geez, what took you two so long?"
Gumball got a haughty look on his face. "We had to go to our lockers. Unlike you, Marshall Lee, we actually care about our school work."
"Yeah, I guess you two really do care about that lame stuff, don't you?" Marshall said as he climbed into the driver's seat.
Fionna was walking toward the backseat. "Ah, Fionna, wouldn't you like to have the passenger seat?" Gumball asked her.
"It's okay, dude. I don't need it."
"I insist. A lady should always have the most comfortable seat," Gumball smiled.
"I-I guess. Thanks, Gumball."
"It is no problem."
When Fionna climbed into the car, her face was noticeably red. Marshall snorted. "I guess chivalry really isn't dead.
X
"Whoa, dude! This house is amazing!" Fionna exclaimed once they had gotten out of the car. Marshall's house was on the outskirts of town, near the swamps. It was on raisers and was made mostly out of wood. He personally thought it was kind of old and lame.
"Thanks, I guess," He said, walking up the steps to the house. Marshall unlocked it, and they all walked inside, Fionna and Gumball looking around curiously. "You guys want anything to eat or drink?"
"Sure," Fionna accepted. It seemed to Marshall that she was always hungry. "What do you have?"
"Some coke, water…" Marshall rummaged around in the fridge, moving things around. "A couple apples and some leftover spaghetti."
"Is that really all you have?" Fionna said as she walked up to him and looked inside. "Geez, Cake and I would eat everything in here for breakfast."
"Fionna," Gumball said disapprovingly.
"Oh," Fionna blushed. "Sorry Marshall."
"Nah, it's cool. My uncle isn't here often, I don't eat very much, so…"
Cue awkward silence.
"Well," Gumball said, breaking the silence. "I suppose we should start on the project?"
"Okay," Fionna agreed and they got to work.
X
About two hours later, a horn beeped outside. "Oh!" Fionna looked up. "That's my ride."
Marshall looked at his watch. Five thirty. "I thought you guys were leaving at six thirty."
Fionna laughed nervously. "Well, you know Cake. She probably wants me home…"
"Yeah," Marshall said. "I'll walk you out."
"Sure," Fionna looked at Gumball. "See you tomorrow."
"Goodbye, Fionna," He said with a smile.
Marshall and Fionna walked out onto the wood porch. "Dude!" Fionna whispered. "This is your chance!"
"What?"
She shushed him. "To talk to Gumball about what you saw!"
His mouth made a small 'o' shape. "Okay."
"Call me when he leaves and tell me what happens!" Fionna whispered. The car beeped, and Marshall looked over to see Cake glaring at him. Just to make her mad, Marshall gave her a wide smile and a wave. "See you!" Fionna called behind her as she walked away.
"Bye," Marshall called to her retreating form.
He looked back to his house and sighed.