A/N: Hey HI! OMG I'm so excited, we're nearing the end of this story! I've never stuck with a story this far! Thanks for the wait guys enjoy this chapter and don't forget to Review!

Marshall sat in his chair in his changing room, his eyes closed his lips pressed together he leaned back on the chair and tilted his head backwards. There was something bothering him about Gumball and Fionna dating and he couldn't put a finger on it. Marshall sighed and stared at the ceiling. What was going on with him? This had never happened before! Was he really worried that Gumball will spend all his time with Fionna? Was he feeling left out?

A knock on the door startled Marshall, and he pulled himself out of his deep thoughts.

"Marshall Lee, we're starting in five!" said one of the staff members when he popped his head into Marshall's room.

Words about Gumball and Fionna dating spread around the school like wildfire. Maybe I'm bothered by it because Fionna is like a little sister to me, and I feel the need to protect her, thought Marshall as he stepped out of his changing room. Yeah. That sounds right!

"It's so great to have you guys here! How do you feel about being here?" asked the interviewer as she tossed her brown hair behind her shoulders and looked at them eagerly.

"Oh, it's great to be here, too," replied Marceline "We're all excited, right?" She nudged Marshall with her elbow and snapped him out of his daze.

"Yes! Of course!" Marshall laughed awkwardly and continued, "Couldn't sleep last night"

As the interviewer continued with her talk. Marshall found himself staring at a bowl of gumballs placed in front of him. Am I being mocked? He thought.

"So, Marshall Lee, tell us a little about yourself. You seem to be staring at these gumballs? Do you like them?"

Marshall looked at her, horrified. Like? Gumball? What is this woman talking about?

"What?" he croaked.

The woman cleared her throat and said, "The candy, Marshall. Do you like them?"

"Oh." Marshall visibly relaxed and slowly said, "Sure, I guess."

With a confused look the woman looked back at the camera and mentioned they'd be taking a break for commercials.

"What in the world is wrong with you? You totally ruined it!" shouted Marceline when they were back in their changing rooms.

"Relax, it'll be cool," said Marshall nonchalantly.

"It'll be cool? It'll be COOL?" Marceline raised her hands and looked at Marco, who folded his hands and glared at Marshall.

"Marshall, this interview is very important to the band. Pick another day to day dream, we need you focused now!" warned Marceline. She then sighed and asked, "What's into you anyways?"

"Nothing."

"Whatever. Let's go now."

Marshall fast walked to his class after rehearsals Wednesday afternoon, he finally managed to obtain a backstage ticket to his concert for Gumball. He couldn't wait to tell him about it! He was so busy thinking about the different ways he could bribe Gumball into coming in case he refused that he almost ran into LSP.

"Like, what in the world is wrong with you? If you have eyes USE them!" snapped LSP.

"Sorry, man!" Marshall's eyes quickly scanned the classroom but didn't find the pink boy. "Where's Gumball?" he asked

"What do I look like? His mother?" said LSP, irritated before leaving the class.

Marshall noticed Finn and approached him immediately. "Finn!" he called.

"Hey, dude! I saw your interview last week, what was up with you?"

"That-that's nothing. Look, have you seen Gumball?" he asked

"Gumball? Yeah, I think he went upstairs to the 3rd floor."

"Third floor. Got it!" said Marshall as he rushed out "Thanks!"

Marshall took the stairs two at a time as he ascended to the third floor of the school building. As far as he knew, the third floor is practically abandoned. No one goes there, except for making out. Marshall looked through every class room but couldn't find Gumball, when he rounded a corner he spotted Marceline looking through the window of one of the class rooms with a dazed look.

"Hey, Marcie," he said, raising his brows.

Marceline's head whipped to her left to see Marshall smiling at her. Immediately she turned around and rushed off.

What's wrong with her? Thought Marshall. Feeling confused and curious, he walked to the class that Marceline was inspecting and was absolutely shocked with a scene he wasn't expecting.

The chemistry teacher, Ms. Bubblegum, was cradling Gumball's face in her hands, holding it close to her face. Hot fire burned in Marshall as he slammed the door opened and yelled, "What the lump is going on here!?"

"Marshall?" croaked Gumball.

Immediately Marshall marched towards Gumball and pulled him out of Bubblegum's grasp, but was shocked to see Gumball's eyes red and teary.

"What happened to you?" he asked with a worried look.

"It was an accident," said the chemistry teacher as she pulled Gumball back and guided his face towards a green basin that Marshall haven't noticed before. "The beaker exploded unexpectedly and something got into Gumball's eyes." She pressed a button and water rushed out towards Gumball's open eyes.

Panic and relief both filled his chest, "So…you weren't kissing?" he asked.

Bubblegum gave him a look of disbelief and said, "Marshall Lee! Kiss... what?!"

"Sorry, but that's what it looked like from someone watching from behind." He shrugged, digging his hands in his pockets.

"Glob Marshall, she was just checking to see if there was anything in my eyes!" grunted Gumball. He got up and was about to rub his eyes when Bubblegum held his arm.

"Let me check first." She tilted Gumball's face backwards and took a look at his eyes.

Marshall folded his arms and tried his best to stop himself from pulling Gumball from her; he didn't like how this woman was being overly familiar with him.

"Alright, I guess you're okay now. If they start to itch or irritate you, go see a doctor."

"Thank you," said Gumball he rubbed the water away from his eyes.

He went to grab his bag when Ms. Bubblegum suddenly said, "And Gumball, what did we learn today?"

"Never take your goggles off no matter what," sighed Gumball.

Ms. Bubblegum nodded in approval and the two boys left. As they walked down the hallway to the staircase, Marshall asked, "So, are your eyes really okay? What happened?"

Gumball rubbed his eye and said, "My eyes are okay." He adjusted his bag on his shoulder and continued "It's my fault. We were testing the boiling point of this chemical when my phone rang. I was supposed to turn it off but I forgot, so took it out from my bag but I couldn't see properly because of the goggles. So I took the googles off and the next thing I know the chemical started to over boil and the beaker exploded."

"Why did your phone ring?"

"I got a text from Fionna."

Marshall sucked in a breath and held his tongue, for a moment there he wanted to blame Fionna for it but he couldn't make her the bad guy here.

"That's right, I wanted to tell you something," Gumball said. "I saw your interview last week."

"You did what? My interview?" Marshall squeaked, panicking.

"Yeah but I only saw the second half of it."

"Just the second half? So you didn't see the first half."

"No. Why was there something important in the first half?"

"No, no, no, there was nothing important in the first half. Ha, none at all!"

Gumball eyed him suspiciously but didn't press the matter. Instead, he smiled and said conversationally, "Is it true that you're getting a new member for your band?"

"Yeah, we are."

"Do you know who he or she is?"

"Actually I don't know. My manger said that the new member passed the auditions and that he or she was highly recommended by their company. They should arrive to this school sometime soon."

"Mm-hmm." Gumball nodded.

Suddenly Marshall remembered why he wanted to see Gumball.

"Hey!" he said and pulled Gumball back by his shoulders. "I have a concert this Friday and you have to come! I bought you backstage tickets too!"

"This Friday?"

"Yeah…you have to make it Gumball! Everyone else is busy that day, you have to make it." Marshall pleaded.

For a minute Gumball looked conflicted, he was going to reject his offer because on Friday Fionna had her second round of auditions and she needed him there beside her.

"Gumball, please!" With the look on Gumball's face Marshall knew that he was going to reject the offer. He didn't want that. He was actually begging this boy to go to his concert. Usually Marshall had girls or guys beg him to be invited. It had never been the other way around.

Gumball tried to look away but the expression on Marshall's face was too tempting. How does Marshall know how to do that puppy dog eye look so well?

"Alright, okay. I'll go."

Marshall suddenly leapt at Gumball and hugged him tightly.

"Thanks, man!"

…and the arrogant smile returned, thought Gumball shaking his head, patting Marshall's shoulders kindly.

During last period Gumball got called down to see his guidance counselor, Simone.

"Good evening, Gumball," she greeted as Gumball walked into her office.

He took a seat and replied, "Good evening."

Simone opened a thick, brown folder on her desk and said almost critically, "These papers tell me that you have already graduated high school and got accepted into AAA University. Is that true?"

Gumball laced his fingers together and said, "Yes, that's true."

"Then what made you decide to drop university and return to high school?" she asked and took a sip from her big, blue mug.

"I didn't really decide that by myself, it was my parent's idea. You see, I was homeschooled all my life so my parents thought I should experience what high school life really is."

"Your parents decided that? Not you?" she eyed him up and down.

Gumball looked around the room, sweating. He had gotten nervous all of the sudden. "Yes, they did," he confirmed carefully.

"Hmm..." She nodded stiffly and flipped through the folder before continuing, "And how do like your high school life so far?"

Gumball thought on his experience for the past few weeks for a moment before saying, "Well, at first I thought it would be awful and that I'd hate it. But I met amazing friends and I really like it here." He shrugged simply with a smile.

Simone smiled back and said approvingly, "I'm glad you do. My sources tell me you are dating Fionna, I hope the press is not bothering you."

"It's not that bad. I mean I'm used to it. Back home they were a lot worse."

"Ah, that's because you're a prince and a prodigy. You graduated high school at a young age." She closed the folder and took another sip from her mug before asking, "Why do you think I called here, Gumball?"

Gumball scratched the back of his neck, "I don't know."

"It's because all the seniors have started sending their application to Universities. Gumball what are you planning to do after you graduate high school for the second time?"

Gumball looked at her not knowing how to answer. What was his plan again? Once this year was done what was he going to do? Gumball had no idea about his future plan, he had originally wanted to return back home. But now he wasn't sure any more.

Simone saw his confusion and said, "You can return back home, go back to your University. But you told me that you liked it here, that you made amazing friends and you have a beautiful girlfriend, too. Were you planning to leave all that behind?"

"I…I don't know."

"You can apply to a University here, if you like. Actually we received a letter from Ooo University's dean asking specifically if you were planning to attend their University. They really want you there and they are even planning to pay for your tuition all four years. That sounds really good to me, what do you think?"

It was indeed a really good offer. Gumball let himself enjoy the idea of staying here and attend Ooo, most likely with all of his friends now. He saw nights watching Marshall's band play on campus, listening to Fionna sing beautifully in the crisp autumn air; hang out with Finn and LSP on the grass. All pleasant fantasies but still he wasn't sure about it. Actually, he wasn't sure how his mother would react if she heard this news. She really wanted him to return home as soon as possible once the school year was over.

"Can I think about this?" he asked.

"Sure. Take all the time you want. But remember I need an answer by the end of December; that's the deadline."

Gumball said his thanks and left Simone's office. They were in the last week of November, which means he had only four weeks to think about it. It put a heavy burden on his shoulders he desperately tried to shake off. On one hand, he wanted to go to his dream college but, on the other hand, he had no intention of leaving the friends he made. It was a hard decision.

Marshall hummed happily as he played a few cords on his guitar, getting ready for the concert

"You sound happy," said Marceline, adjusting her tiny microphone to her ear.

"Hm... do I?"

"Did something good happen?"

"Nope, nothing," he said. "I'm going to take a walk and see if we're all set."

Marshall got to his feet and walked out to the main stage, looking around for Gumball and waiting for his arrival impatiently. The stage was dark so none of his fans could actually see him and try to get his attention. He kept on looking at his watch and tapping his finger on his thigh. He was about to give up and go back to his changing room when he spotted a pink head bobbing among the others. Immediately he jumped off the stage and wiggled his way through the crowd to Gumball. A few bodyguards noticed that the lead singer was in the crowd and made sure he got to his goal safely.

"Gumball!" he called over the cheers of his fans.

"Hey, Marshall!"

"Glad you could make it dude!" he said giving him a one arm hug.

"Well, I had time."

Marshall dragged Gumball all the way to the backstage. Once they were safe near the changing rooms, Marshall turned and grinned at his friend. "Is this your first time to a concert?"

"Yes, it is," said Gumball looking around the area. He was happy he could make it even though Fionna's audition started until two hours. "Hey, Marshall, what're your plans after graduating high school?" he found himself asking.

Marshall didn't miss a beat as he said proudly, "Well, go pro obviously. Go on tours, and creating more music."

"You're not going to University?"

"Dude, who has time for that? I'm a musician. I already signed a 5 year contract with the Lumpy Space Production that starts once I get out of high school."

Gumball nodded, trying to fight back disappointment. "I see."

"Well, I have to go now. So…thanks for coming. Go get to your seat before it gets too crowded, alright?" Marshall smiled warmly and rushed away.

Marshall didn't know why he was this happy about Gumball being here. Maybe because Gumball decided to spend some time with him, rather than Fionna. Maybe.

Marshall's happiness was evident in his performance on stage. When he sang and played his guitar, Gumball was the only one in his mind. The whole thing was over in 5 hours, and Marshall was excited to spend the after party with Gumball. But when he went to look for him he didn't find him in his seat, nor did he find him anywhere else.

He trudged back to his changing room, fear and doubt growing in Marshall's heart. He slowly dialed Gumball's phone number. After the third ring Gumball answered.

"Hello?"

"H-hey, Gumball. Where are you, man?" Marshall swallowed his nervousness and tried to act cool. He even tried to let out a scoff but it ended up sounding like a scratchy, high-pitched laugh.

"Can you hold on a second?" said Gumball, then Marshall heard him speak to someone and when that person spoke again Marshall's grip on his phone tightened. Gumball returned to Marshall and went on. "Sorry Marshall, but I had to leave half way through. Don't get me wrong, your performance was awesome but Fionna had an audition and she needed me with her."

"Why…?" Marshall whispered, feeling betrayed.

"I've got to go now. I'll talk to you later." And with that, Gumball hung up on him.

Marshall tried to breathe in and control his temper, he took a few steps before he suddenly snapped and kicked the closest thing to him. When he turned around he saw one of the staff members holding a tray of treats, most likely going to his changing room. Marshall marched towards her and snatched the tray from her flipping it across the hall, scattering all the treats on the floor.

"Marshall, are you going crazy?" yelled Marceline, running out of her room and grabbing him by the shoulder. "What going on with you?"

The veins throbbed in Marshall's neck. He jutted out his chin and, trying to hold on to some of his dignity, replied forcefully, "I'm fine."

Marshall walked back to his changing room and packed his guitar. What the lump was I thinking?