CHAPTER 9.3 – Acceleration pt.3

"How've you been?" Ash asked, sliding down a bit closer to her, offering her a can of beer. He was obviously uncomfortable, but it was also obvious that he would probably not leave her alone. She thought she might as well stay, even for a bit.

"I've been okay, going through things here and there." She said, hopefully dismissing the boy. "I'm just here to relax a bit…"

Ash seemed so focus on her – on every part of her. It was really the kind of look that was very intrusive and it was definitely unwanted. All Marceline wanted was just to ditch him right then and there, but courtesy still counts, she thought.

"So…" Ash began.

"So?"

"Have you been dating anyone lately?" The hope in his voice was close to sounding sad, but it mostly sounded pitiful.

"Mm. Nope, but I'm kind of in a thing with someone." Marceline drawled. There was no point beating around the bush, really. "I really like them a lot."

Ash's face looked as if he was really torn, but it was mostly hurt. Marceline just wanted this guilt-tripping thing, though it wasn't entirely conscious. He was even inching closer. When she scooted away from him, he stayed in his place – obviously chastened.

"So, are you at least finding some fun out of it? Other than just running him around in circles—"

"You should know by now that girls aren't just some trophy person that you can make out with, right?"

Ash just looked outright shameful, but Marceline continued.

"Ash, you'll have to know by now that not everyone sees the world as some grand movement for you to find some sexual pleasure in. It's honestly very embarrassing."

"You just don't know what it's like to like girls," he countered. "Guys have it worst in that department because—"

"I like a girl, Ash." Marceline put, with an extreme edge in her voice. "And though I know straight boys can find liking girls to be very different. I've liked enough to know."

Ash just bit his tongue as Marceline chugged down her beer, heading off to take her seat in her car.

"Hey Marceline?" Ash called out.

With a groan, Marceline took one look back at him. "What?"

He just stood there, as if standing there without words would actually make any difference to her already growing distaste towards him.

She revved the engine and left him in his silence.

SEND MESSAGE to bubblegumbites:

"Hey Bon…"

Marceline was typing, but she wasn't quite sure what to say to Bonnie at all.

She shouldn't have to worry about it anyway, especially on whether she'd have to admit to being RED or not. There was definitely nothing worth much about it, except that though Bonnie was technically coming onto her, she sincerely had some feelings for some random fictional figment on the internet.

She sighed and continued with jotting down the words.

"Bonnibel, how are you? How was your day?"

She evaded it, still.

She couldn't find the good grace to admit it, either way.

bubblegumbites sent a message to suckstolovered:

"Hey Red, c:

Today was an awfully long day. I had to stay behind to do some paperwork for important affairs. You know… stupid student body shit.

The debate went terribly. I mean, I did well, but the guy after me literally vomited and it definitely was not a pleasant sight. I've never seen someone so goddamned nervous before. It was really funny, but I guess I'm a little guilty. Sorry not sorry, still.

How was your day, RED?"

Marceline sucked in her breath, her thought process overanalyzing the situation.

SEND MESSAGE to bubblegumbites:

"Today is considerable. I've got a lot on my mind, and it's killing me, I guess. It's stupid, really.

I've got to tell you something."

Bonnie took her time replying to that, and every second made it all the worse for Marceline.

bubblegumbites sent a message to suckstolovered:

"Sure! Hit me."

Marceline tapped around her screen, took to typing down and opening her Skype account. She figured the best way to tell her was… through a call. Right? A big face reveal? That would be very ominous. Would it be any different, really? However she might have come out to Bonnibel? (That sounded different, but the point is… Yeah, no, she already came out of the closet.)

She dismissed the idea of Skype after a while… There was no point, and she was just being plain old melodramatic.

SEND MESSAGE to bubblegumbites:

"Do you wanna meet up in person? I think… I think it's time you saw me, for like. For real.

And it's really unfair to you because I know who you are and you don't know half the shit about me. It's… concerning. To a degree."

Bonnie didn't reply.

Not for the next couple of hours at least.

Marceline just needed to work through homework and everything anyway, but when the clock was obviously pushing itself into the midnight, she finished everything with the obvious mess of a realization that she couldn't do anything with her hands anymore. All the necessary tasks were done.

Then came the message from Bonnie.

bubblegumbites sent a message to suckstolovered:

"This is… sudden.

By the way, you're probably asleep by now, I'm so so sorry! I actually fell asleep while I was doing some paperwork… Also… I, um. I definitely want to go see you. I definitely do, I'm just very nervous hahahahaha pls don't judge me. Pls.

But sure... Where do you wanna meet me? And when?"

Marceline rubbed the sleepiness off of her eyes, thinking of the proper response to send the other girl.

SEND MESSAGE to bubblegumbites:

"Meet me at the swing set of Candy Towers. In an hour."

Marceline felt a glimmer of hope with two things:

Bonnie might not want to meet so early, or she'd be excited to really know who RED was that she'd toss around some sort of rule that her family would put on her.

bubblegumbites sent a message to suckstolovered:

"Are you sure? It'll be past midnight…

I'm game for it but you definitely have to be there if ever."

Marceline felt uncertain, but she sent the next text anyway.

SEND MESSAGE to bubblegumbites:

"I'll see you there."