Here's another chapter. :) Hope you enjoy.

Marko nodded to Bonnie's leg. He'd been glancing at it now and again, watching it as it occasionally twitched and she kept rubbing the back of her calf.

"Is your leg okay?"

"Yes," she answered sharply.

"Okay… just asking." Marko shook his head and started to light a cigarette up.

She gave a sigh. She was being moody again and snapping at people. This must have been the sixth time she had brusquely answered Marko and been impatient with him. The poor guy had only asked her innocent questions and she was acting very temperamental. The doctor earlier had explained to her that there would be some mood swings, mainly psychological. Bonnie had then responded rudely before the doctor calmly pointed out her reply as an example.

Going red, she let her head hang forward. "Sorry. I'm being snappish again, aren't I?"

"You have been biting my head off since I arrived," he admitted and held a spare cigarette out. "Want one? You'll chill out."

"Eurgh," Bonnie gagged and wrinkled her nose. "No smoking for me. It's disgusting."

Marko chuckled and popped it back into his packet.

"It fucks up your lungs," she added.

"Okay."

"It makes you stink like shit too."

"Yeah, alright!" He shook his head and took a long drag despite her attempts to put him off. She grinned back at him before holding her nose.

"Do you smell something? Gross!" she exclaimed, unable to hold back a smirk. She giggled when he elbowed her playfully in the side.

"I'm not quitting," he told her.

"Yeah, we'll see," she laughed and he shook his head again, smiling but not saying anything. Despite the stink of smoke lingering around the air she moved closer to rest her head on his shoulder and stared out into the street. She pulled her blanket over her and sighed.

"Thanks for coming over," she said. "Edgar and Alan weren't pains again were they?"

"Well…"

The hesitation made Bonnie groan. "So, they were pains."

She was not completely sure if she wanted to hear about Marko's meeting with Edgar and Alan.

"They told me you were ill."

She felt there was more to his answer. "And…?"

"Kinda blamed me for it. They think you're a vampire."

She let out a weak laugh, sitting straight. "So now I'm a vampire? What, I'm on their 'to hunt' list now?" She muttered a few curse words and crossed her arms. "I really, really don't need this crap from them right now."

"You must have looked pretty bad to them today."

"I was tired and in pain!" she growled through clenched teeth. "That doesn't make me a freaking bloodsucker."

"Pain?"

Bonnie glimpsed at him sideways and paused. Not even Marko could know. No-one could until she had full confirmation. Even with the doctor referring her to a neurologist, it only meant it was possible. Not an official yes or no. It was still an excuse not to mention it to anyone yet.

"Yeah, I'm a dancer. I pull a lot of muscles," she lied. "I pulled a bad one in my calf. That's all."

"Might want to tell Edgar that," Marko said, nodding to her garden gate.

Bonnie groaned but did not look straight ahead. "He's coming over?"

"He looks like he's on the hunt."

Now she turned. Seeing Edgar march over with a look of determination on his face, she stood, despite being in pain, to face him. When Marko stood up with her she gripped onto him for balance, hissing a little as another spasm went through her. She saw him frowning at her but she shook her head at him.

"Just a pulled muscle," she mumbled then looked straight at Edgar. "You…," she began, her voice loud and brusque. She pointed a finger at him. "…are going too far. What have you been saying now?"

"I want to have a word with him," Edgar nodded to Marko. The blonde vampire did not even turn to face the young boy. Edgar really wasn't worth it. He looked away bored and took a slow drag out of his cigarette with his free hand.

"More words? Joy," Marko muttered.

"You can say it in front of me," Bonnie ordered and put her hands on her hips.

"I don't want to upset you –."

"Oh,so now you're being considerate." She sneered. "Bit too late for that. You've been saying a lot of things to me that has been upsetting."

"And you've been a great friend too? Look, I'm sorry, but you have to be told. You have no right telling a complete stranger about the problems me and Alan are having at home. That's ourbusiness. Don't start lecturing me on friendship!"

"I told you that in confidence!" Bonnie snapped at Marko who shrugged.

"You shouldn't be snitching to him all together," Edgar retorted. "Were you purposely backstabbing us?"

She advanced on him when he accused her of being disloyal, dragging Marko along to stay on two feet. "Look, Marko asked me why you and Alan are so hooked on vampires! He wanted to know seeing as you're pestering him about being one. I was only explaining. I wasn't trying to be nasty."

"Huh… so he's a little worried about our suspicions then?" Edgar asked and quirked an eyebrow up at the vampire. Marko was still looking away in silence but for a second his eyes were cast in Edgar's direction. The teenager half expected the eyes to glow amber, just like in the comics. But instead Marko remained nonchalant, not even reacting in body language to the boy's accusations and his eyes remained blue.

Edgar still pressed on. "Getting a little threatened about it? I wonder why."

"Oh, shut up!" Bonnie shrieked and started slapping Edgar on his chest. "Shut up, shut up, shut up – just shut up! Of course he's threatened! You've tried to stake people in the past. What's to stop you trying to stake him? I'm talking about murder here, Edgar. You're so obsessed you'll even murder someone!" She hit him again. "Just quit it! And get this idea out of your head that I'm one too! It's a load of bullshit."

Edgar glanced past her to scowl at the smirking vampire. It made him sick to see Marko grinning in the background like that. It made him look like a puppet master. Getting people to fight against each other and split them up while he stayed hiding in the background, entertained. If only Bonnie could see that but she was too busy glaring daggers at Edgar.

"You've been blurting out a lot of confidential information," Edgar said to him. "I wonder why…"

Marko shrugged. "Don't know what you mean." He flicked the cigarette butt away.

Bonnie gave an exasperated sigh. "Here we go! Another accusation. You're full of them right now, aren't you?"

"Why would I do this just to piss you off?" Edgar asked. "Ask yourself that. Do you really think I'm doing this to be the difficult, unsupportive friend?"

She cut in quickly. "Yes."

His eyes hardened. "Then what about Alan? He's clung to you since you guys met. You're his only friend so why would he suddenly turn?"

Bonnie scoffed. "Uh… hello? Have you forgotten what you've done in the past?" She held up a finger every time she began to list the names of her ex boyfriends. "Jake Frost was a werewolf. Bryce Cole was a ghoul. You thought Adam Carson was – oh, and this was a good one – Pazuzu? Seriously… the Exorcist?"

He sighed. "Are you still pissed about them?"

That only earned another slap. This time in the face. And it damn well stung too. He opened and closed his mouth like a goldfish as he tried to say something while he placed a hand against his throbbing cheek. The skin prickled from the force of the slap and he saw red when he heard snickering from Marko. Bonnie kept her eyes on Edgar. The ice in her glare gave the impression she was ready to pounce and do some serious damage.

I guess she is still pissed. He faced her with shock on his face.

"Strange… violent temper you have there," he observed and leaped back when she made a sudden move to… kill him? The ferocity of her scream and hasty move towards him certainly made it seem like she was pouncing to kill. Even Marko had to step in and hold her back while she huffed and screamed loudly but he still had a smirk on his face that Edgar wanted to punch away.

"You've said enough." Bonnie managed to worm one arm out from Marko's grip and point threateningly at Edgar. "Whether you're gonna admit it or not you've accused my ex-boyfriends all the time of being these things and now you're doing the same with Marko. Seriously, is there something wrong with you? You can't see other people being happy?"

Behind her, Marko mouthed "Mommy and daddy issues."

Edgar wanted to scream. Couldn't Bonnie see this guy's nasty side? Even if he did not turn out to be a vampire – which was doubtful – there was still something bad about him. He was either a dangerous vampire or a manipulative jerk.

"You do this with Alan," Bonnie continued. "He's trying so hard to make something of his life and you're holding him back. You're making damn well sure that he'll end up a cynical loner with a career in selling comics and no education. Come on, Ed, what's the matter? Everyone has to have the same sucky life you do? You want me and Alan to be nobodies like you? Is that it?"

Bonnie could be a bitch. He knew that. There was a side of her that could get quite nasty. But this… this was low even for her. She had never hit a nerve. Maybe swearing at or insulting people. Being rude or having a cheeky attitude with the teachers. But digging right into his mind and attempting to push him too far by using his problems against him?

"I think you've said enough now," Edgar grumbled at her and focused his attention on Marko. He had stopped holding Bonnie back who had calmed down but was still huffing angrily. Yet that smirk was not faltering. That was here to stay for now.

"Don't fuck with me," Marko mouthed.

Or what? Edgar thought. He took that threat as a dare. Marko was keeping something secret and he did not want Edgar to find out. If he was clean he would not be warning the brothers like that. He would laugh and ignore them. He would give them a pat on the head and treat them like a couple of very imaginative kids. Instead he was threatening them. Too much.

He didn't know Edgar Frog. Threats kept him persisting; kept him motivated.

Me and Alan will prove what you are. We'll find a way to.

Not bothering to say the last word, Edgar marched away, grabbing his bicycle and hopping onto it. His knuckles turned white with the grip he had on the handles. Scowling, but not turning back, he peddled off fiercely, getting away from the both of them as fast as he could.

"Are you okay?" Marko asked but Bonnie didn't reply. Stepping forward to see her face he could see her biting at her lower lip and jaw quivering.

"Fine," she said but voice broke a little. She hobbled her way back to the porch steps and covered herself up with her blanket. Sighing, she rested her head in her right palm and kept her eyes on the ground, kicking a few stones with her foot. She saw Marko's boots and knees bending as he knelt in front of her. When she glanced up, she flashed a weak smile.

"I'm not crying." Yet a small tear made its way out of her eye and trickled down her cheek.

"You're not crying," Marko repeated. "Okay."

She sniffed and wiped the back of her hands across her eyes. "I don't need this right now. There's plenty of other shit I'm dealing with right now."

"Like what?"

She shrugged as he shifted to sit beside her. He was flicking something with his thumb and there was a quick spark in the corner of her eye. Then that familiar cigarette stench seeped into her nostrils.

"Just normal stuff. Like exams… school in general… dancing and whether I'll be allowed to make a career out of it… friends who aren't acting like friends… having to sneak out to see you…" She kicked another stone. "It's shit after shit after shit. And I'm just getting really fed up of it right now. I need to escape."

"Really?" Marko asked and held back a smile.

He took in her red, puffy eyes and drooping eyelids. Her constant yawning. The way she bit at her nails, increasingly all the time now. Her life was draining her.

"Really," Bonnie nodded with a sigh. "There's only so much I can take before I snap." She dried her eyes again and stood up, Marko following her. "Thanks for being here," she smiled and kissed his cheek. "You're pretty awesome. You know that?"

"Oh yes," Marko teased. "You just need to chill out and have more fun without worrying about the consequences. Who gives a shit about school? Come out and hang for a bit."

"No," she said. "I'm tired."

"What are you doing tomorrow, then?"

"I'm taking tomorrow's evening shift to make up for the one I missed today. I'm free the next night though."

"If you're feeling better come and hang out with me and the guys. You won't be the only girl. There's David's chick as well to talk to, if you're not fed up of her after five seconds."

"Is she annoying?"

"I'm not gonna lie. She's an irritating pain in the ass."

Bonnie giggled. "Oh, thanks. So you're dropping her onto me? I'd rather stick with the guys." She leaned towards him again, brushing her lips gently against his and teasingly pulling away. It was a move that worked because Marko entwined his fingers through her hair immediately and pulled her back for a longer kiss. She happily responded back to the movement of his lips against hers, smiling when her tongue flicked against his.

It was Marko who was the first to pull away and she almost made a little whine of protest.

"How about Sunday? At nine?" he asked.

She gave him thumbs up. "Wicked. But let's meet near the Giant Dipper rather than the comic store. See you then." She leaned against her front door, watching him as he left and disappeared down the street on his motorbike. Her mouth still tingled from the kiss and a small smile formed on her lips. She wondered about where he stayed. Was it a motel, his own place, or a house where he squatted at? Maybe he wasn't going home. Maybe he was going out to hang out more around the Boardwalk. He could if he wanted to. There were no adults in his life to tell him when to come home. No school to be up for early for in the morning.

It was a pretty amazing life he had.

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