I'm back everybody! So sorry about my absence but I thought I'd be able to get some writing done while I was studying for my exams or while I was doing them. Turns out I wasn't! Although I did finish last week but it honestly took me this long to recover. But I haven't abandoned this story. Don't worry about that.

I don't think you guys will like this chapter but it's pretty essential to the plot so... sorry in advance I guess? :D

Anyway here's the next chapter and since I'm on my summer holidays I'm just going to update whenever! Enjoy! :)

Marceline sighed as she lay on her bed strumming her base. She felt exhausted; physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted. Who knew that being in a secret relationship with one of your friends was so tiring?

Things weren't great between her and Bonnie. For the last few weeks, ever since Bonnie's birthday, they'd either be at each other's throats or having great make up sex. Although she thoroughly enjoyed the second part, the fact that they were fighting at all pissed her off.

Right now they were kind of fighting. But tonight was the night of the concert that Marceline had gotten them tickets for and she knew that if they were still fighting when they left they'd end up having a shit time.

She got up and dragged herself to look in the mirror. The bags under her eyes were enormous and made her look twenty years older. Sniffing under her arms she concluded that a shower was definitely in order. Ever since the break for Christmas had started she really hadn't been bothered with anything. She and Marshall didn't celebrate Christmas. Or rather they didn't make a big deal of it. Just some food and movies was all they ever did. They liked it that way.

XXXXX

To Marceline's surprised Bonnie had either actually forgotten or, a much more obvious answer, chose to forget about their fight for the sake of the concert. Either way it didn't matter. It made the journey to the venue much more enjoyable. Bonnie told Marceline all about her horrendous Christmas dinner with her family while they listened to music. It was pleasant but there was a knot in Marceline's stomach that just wouldn't go away no matter how much she tried to relax.

The place was packed. People must've travelled from all over the place to see the band. The two girls manoeuvred their way through the large crowd, Bonnie grasping Marcy's arm so she wouldn't get lost. They stopped at a spot close enough to the stage so they could see everything.

"Nice spot" Bonnie yelled a bit since the crowd was cheering pretty loud. Marceline opened her mouth to say something just as the band came on stage. They both joined in with the cheering of the crowd as the band began its first song.

XXXXX

Halfway through the concert Marceline turned to Bonnie.

"You having a good time?!"

Bonnie turned and smiled. "This is amazing. Thank you, Marcy."

Marceline smiled back. It felt as if she hadn't genuinely smiled in a long time. She turned her whole body towards Bonnie and, placing her hands on her girlfriend's hips, leaned in and kissed her.

She frowned when she didn't feel her kiss her back. She pulled away, giving Bonnie a questioning look but Bonnie didn't look back at her. Instead she was looking around them, alarmed, as if suffering from paranoia. When she finally looked at Marceline, whose face now had an extremely pissed off expression, she smiled at her sheepishly.

"Let's just enjoy the rest of the music." She said slowly before turning her attention back to the band.

Marceline did the same, although how she would be able to enjoy the rest of the concert was beyond her. She was torn between wanting to punch something and wanting to cry her eyes out. But she stopped herself from doing either, instead just staring off towards the stage wondering how long this could last.

XXXXX

Neither of them had said a word in the car on the ride home, both too lost in their thoughts. When they pulled up outside, Marceline got out of the car and closed the door a little too heavily. The sound echoed through the empty streets and drew Bonnie's attention back to reality.

"Are we going to talk about this?" She asked as she too got out of the vehicle, closing her door more gently than Marcy did.

"Talk about what?" She spat back as she walked up the small path.

"Whatever's got you in this hideous humour?"

Marceline stopped, spinning around to face Bonnie. Her eyes were wide and her nostrils flared a little. "As if you don't know why I'm pissed!"

"What are you talking about?" What did I do?!"

"It's what you didn't do, Bonnie!" She screamed. She looked at the other girl and took a deep breath before she elaborated. "I kissed you at the concert, remember? Or were you too busy looking around to make sure we weren't seen together to notice?" Her sarcasm didn't disguise the hurt in her voice.

Bonnie cringed at her actions from before. "Marcy, you know how I am with us in public." She was trying to make her understand.

"I know Bonnie and here I get that but, I mean what are the chances of us knowing anyone at that concert?"

"There's still a chance no matter how slim."

"Well maybe I'm just sick of it all."

Bonnie narrowed her eyes, not really believing what she was hearing. "Excuse me?"

"You know what I mean. I'm sick of all the sneaking around behind closed doors, not being able to kiss you or even hold your hand when we walk down the street. Are you that ashamed of us that you can't just bite the bullet and get out of the fucking closet?!" Her voice had risen yet again but she was too mad to care.

Bonnie too was getting mad. "You don't get it okay! It was easy for you; you don't even have parents to come out to!" She hadn't realised what she'd said until it was too late. "I mean-"

"Are you sure they're the only ones you're hiding from, Bonnie?!" Marceline interrupted her, letting the comment slide.

Bonnie didn't answer. She didn't know how to and if she did she didn't know whether it'd be the truth or not.

"I'm sorry that I'm not your knight in shining armour Bonnie! That I'm not some guy that'll treat you like a princess and will make your parents love you, okay! I'm sorry that I'm just your problem! One you keep buried because you can't accept it! I'm sorry I can't be perfect!"

"I never said you had to be perfect!" Bonnie screamed. She was done trying to make her understand.

Marceline looked into her eyes and took another deep breath before speaking again, this time her voice just above a whisper. "I'm can't do this anymore. I can't fall in love with someone if it has to be a secret." She held up both hands as a sign of defeat, gritting her teeth to stop her eyes from tearing up.

Bonnie also tried to fight back her tears, her hands balled into fist so tight she could feel her nails digging into her palms. She couldn't do this anymore either. "That's it then. We're through." She tried not to let her voice crack as she spoke with finality.

Marceline nodded. They both stood in silence for what seemed like hours until finally Bonnie turned on her heels and walked off, finally allowing the tears to flow.

XXXXX

Marceline walked slowly up to her room and collapsed face down onto her bed. She lay there as her tears dampened to pillow beneath her. She couldn't remember the last time she'd cried. Probably when she was a kid.

"Hey." She heard Marshall say softly as he sat on the bed next to her.

"We're over." She choked out. She hated when anyone saw her in a vulnerable state like this but she was too drained to do anything.

"I know. I couldn't help but hear." He placed his hand on her arm affectionately. It was a nice gesture but it didn't make her feel any better. She didn't think anything would.

After a while she rolled over to look at him. "Do you think it was the right thing to do?" she asked although she knew that either answer he gave her wouldn't help her feel any better.

Marshall shrugged. "Honestly, I don't know. But what I do know is relationships like that never work out well. So maybe it was better that it ended now." He looked his sister, her bloodshot eyes sending shivers down his spine. This wasn't the Marceline he'd grown up with. "She'll be ready one day, Marcy. Just give it time." He gave her a small smile before he left her to sleep, hoping she'd feel a little better by morning.

Chapter 9 song title: Little Talks- Of Monsters and Men