Souless666: Normally I would say assuming makes an ass out of you and me, but you're absolutely right. Things won't be this simple for too long. JacktheSinister JaketheJust: You're going to find out right now how Mark will break it to Michelle. DarkMage6: I even forget just how old Connor is. It's a very easy thing to do given the way he acts. Naomily17: lol I agree. Esha Napoleon: lol Menaji: We actually wrote this entire thing out before I even started posting it so that's why it gets updated so fast. We did have our muses working pretty hard though. NeroAnne: Yeah, Mark's always known. He's just a stubborn idiot. EternalxInsanity: You'll find out exactly what she has to say in this chapter. slashdite: It's very easy to see Michelle causing problems, isn't it? Whether she will or not though, is something you have to read to find out. Debwood-1999: Mark definitely tends to follow his dick, which is what often gets him into trouble. At least it keeps things interesting.
…
Bracing himself in the doorway, Mark knew this wasn't going to go down well. There it was; he JUST had proposed to her and now he was breaking it off. What would the excuse be? Fear of commitment? He had used that about forty times too many to get out of commitments. This time he was stuck, yet…how could anyone explain the situation at hand with James? 'Hey honey, I just happened to pick up my ex-boyfriend on the way home and no longer want to marry you anymore. How funny is that?' No. He couldn't do it that way even though he truly didn't give a shit about her. He cared, but only for the formality of getting her to actually marry him. Love wasn't something he was exactly full of, for anyone. He didn't even love himself, yet here he was trying to love someone else.
Who was he kidding though? Of course he loved someone after all…he loved James.
Taking a deep breath through his nose as Michelle finished up on the elliptical machine in their home gym, Mark sighed and decided to quit putting it off and simply get the job done. James wouldn't let him alone if he didn't, he wouldn't be sane if he didn't. All his life he had been obsessed with chasing this image of 'normalcy'…but in reality he didn't have a normal bone in his body. No one he was related to did. Holidays were always complete chaos; no normal woman would be able to withstand the Calaway/Jacobs Christmas. Thanksgiving was always great too, especially when Mindy stuck her fingers in the sweet potatoes because she wanted the marshmallows which were toasted on top sprinkled with cinnamon. Michelle always bitched about his family, yet he was MARRYING her? Was he out of his mind? Perhaps he was. Catching a passive Mark entering the gym out the corner of her eye, Michelle hopped off the elliptical and wiped her face and neck with a white towel.
"Hey, Mark" she sighed while catching her breath, approaching him while fixing her short blonde ponytail, "what's up?" He froze; naturally. God forbid he opened his mouth when he had to. Catching his hesitation, Michelle shifted her weight and sighed. "You're doing it again, Mark" she shook her head knowingly with a smirk, "what is it?" He stared at her, swiped for words. "Mark…?"
"Michelle" shaking his head, and running a large hand through his long thinning hair he exhaled loudly, "I can't." She furrowed her brow.
"Can't what?" she was puzzled, and rightfully so. He was awfully vague with that comment. After a long pause, he motioned to the two of them and shrugged.
"This…" his eyes were on his feet, "us…" he swallowed hard, "it ain't workin' out."
Thinking nothing of it, she laughed loudly and shook her head, flipping the damp towel over her shoulder and smiling at him.
"Mark…" she chuckled lowly, "good one."
"No" he spoke firmer, hopefully getting his balls out from underneath her foot, "I mean it." Awkward silence…and then the big wind.
"WHAT?" she gasped in shock, shaking her head and staring at him, "Are you NUTS?"
"…no." He swallowed hard, "I mean it" again his head shook, "this isn't right"
"It's that little bitch who put you up to this, isn-"
"NO" he barked subconsciously loudly, "not this time."
Her face fell…if not Mindy, then who?
He hesitated, "It's me."
"You…?" with raised eyebrows she wasn't buying this at all.
"Entirely"
"NO ONE put you up to this…?" this was just too much to swallow. "We've been together for almost three years, Mark! The least you could do was"
"I fucked up" he nodded meekly, now allowing his eyes to rise from the floor and wander around the room. Knowing his track record though, and his habit with women, Michelle wasn't entirely convinced.
"Who's the chick?" He furrowed his brow, rubbing the back of his neck uncomfortably.
"WELL" her voice hardened, "WHO is she, Mark? Let me at least beat the hell out of her-"
"I wouldn't try that" she cocked her head. He knew this wasn't going to be easy. Sighing and shaking his head, he breathed through his nosed and stared at her gravely. "You wouldn't be around much longer to talk about it."
"What's THAT supposed to mean?" throwing her arms out she approached him quicker now, "What's she a serial killer or something?" He stiffened uncomfortably.
"You could say that…"
"Mark" her face fell, "who is she?" Time for part two.
"…it's a he."
"A what?"
"His name is James."
"You're SICK!" she shouted with a shake of the head in disgust, "Are you-what are you kidding me?" He shook his head. "You know what?" ripping the ring off her finger with a frightening scowl she chucked it at him, "TAKE your cheap-ass little piece of shit ring! Give it to your boyfriend!" Staring at the engagement ring on the floor as she stormed out of the room, he made no action to stop her. Not from the moment she walked out the door did he make as much as a sound. Truth be told, he didn't care. The only issue at hand was breaking it to his family now.
