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Too cocky, not angry enough.

Why the hell were you spying on me?!

Too angry, not cool enough.

You really are spying on me, aren't you?

Too freaking insecure.

Did you enjoy the show?

Weird.

You dropped something.

Pretty ok. She'd go with that one.

Marceline had been rehearsing what she'd say to Bonnibel all the way to music class, feeling angry with the whole situation. Of COURSE Bonnibel was the one watching. Of COURSE the one person she had to deal with on a daily basis New she sometimes acted like an idiot. Bonnibel. Who did she think she was, strutting around so confidently all the time? Every day she had to deal with the preppy nightmare.

First thing in the morning, they checked the stupid fish. Physics they sat together as they did in every class, and even though they didn't talk much, she felt bothered. Bonnibel's presence and constant note-taking was condescending even without her having to speak. Then PE. Of COURSE they shared a locker. Every day it was a race to change and get out of the locker room before miss prim and perfect decided to take her time organizing her things, mumbling to herself about lack of organization. Math was the worst by far. With Bonnibel raising her hand to answer so many questions, the teacher knew immediately when Marceline wasn't doing her work. She'd never been called on so often in her life.

Hell. Bonnibel brought forth hell. She'd undermined Marceline's efforts the other day, too. Marceline had spent precious minutes memorizing those lines, and Bonnibel went and said they didn't have to recite them after all. While Marceline was relieved at first, anger prickled her neck now. Why should anyone else decide when she's fit to perform?

Stupid Bonnibel, and her stupid perception. Marceline thought back to the day, and how Bonnibel had been the only one to be able to tell that she'd been crying, and the only one to ask if she was ok. She'd been the only one to know Marceline wasn't even when she said she was, too.

Marceline shook the thought out of her head, looking down at the pencil in her hand. A part of her said Bonnibel didn't bother Marceline on purpose. No nerd would go so far out of their way to bother someone else for no reason. She never got the vibe that Bonnibel hated her, either. With no motive, why would Bonnibel try and ridicule her? It didn't make any sense.

Still, she'd seen her. She'd seen Marceline prancing around like an idiot. She'd seen her playing with Keila and being more than civil, or friendly even. Outside of school, Keila and Marceline had always been affectionate in their strange way that teetered between lecherously amorous and violent, but aside from the band, Marceline hadn't shown that side of her to anyone.

She squeezed the pencil in her hand. She felt violated. Bonnibel had somehow squeezed her way into Marceline's business- asking about her tears, checking on her feelings- and Marceline didn't like it. It went against her plan go slither by unnoticed, even if it was only a little. Her thoughts froze when she reached the classroom to find Bonnibel setting up a keyboard.

The girl looked up when she heard the shuffling behind her, but she looked away quickly. Marceline sighed. She had totally seen her acting a fool. She shuffled to her usual corner, pulling her small practice amp and headphones out of a cabinet. She set up quickly, plugging in her guitar before turning back to look at Bonnibel.

The blond girl was busy practicing her arpeggios already, and Marceline had to admit she'd improved a lot in just a day. A small amused smile tugged at her lips when she realized Bonnibel was playing in the same key over and over again. She laughed to herself. Did she not realize she could move up and down the keyboard and keep the fingerings? Marceline thought to herself to teach her, but she shook the thought out of her head.

Angry. She was supposed to feel upset that Bonnibel spied on her. If Ash was in her shoes, she would have ripped her apart already. That, or he wouldn't have cared. Or he would have been...flattered?

Marceline sat down. Why did she think about Ash, anyways? She was mad at him too. The shared anger must have sparked the thought of him, that's it. She picked up her guitar and played it a little, trying to sort out her feelings. She'd felt much angrier before, but now, a small emptiness started eating at her stomach.

This emptiness was scary. It's what made her cry at stupid things like the momentary name changing of the band she'd founded, and her feelings were stupider in the way that they justified her outburst for her without her meaning to. The emptiness made her want to go home and sleep, and it made her want to smash her guitar over Ash's head.

She was overthinking things. That was dangerous. She'd been playing to herself for several minutes. She had to act soon, or she'd lose her nerve. She'd tell him how she felt tonight. For sure. Marceline nodded to herself, playing with the pencil in her pocket.

The pencil. She was supposed to deliver her super cool line. You dropped something. That would get Bonnibel for sure. And then Marceline would ask her, why are you always spying on me? And Bonnibel would be flustered, and Marceline would tell her to stop it. And then, it would all be ok. Yeah, ok.

Marceline got up, making a beeline for Bonnibel, who was listening to something from her phone. Marceline wondered if she was taking a break. She walked behind the other girl so she wouldn't see her, tapping her shoulder and holding out the pencil for her to see.

Bonnibel jumped in surprise, her phone falling from her lap and yanking the earbuds out on the way down. Marceline caught the title of the music Bonnibel had been listening to, and immediately she blushed deeply, clutching the pencil tightly in her hand.

"You!"

Marceline didn't know why she'd said that. She'd already known that Bonnibel had been watching her, the pencil had been proof enough of that. However, seeing the title of the song she'd been singing earlier with Keila did little to ease her boiling blood. She scowled at Bonnibel who quickly gathered up her phone and her earbuds, trying to look innocent.

"Me?" She asked, pointing to herself. Marceline groaned.

"I knew it! You were watching me at lunch, how dare you! What made you think it was ok to follow me around like that?" Marceline growled out, anger getting the better of her. Bonnibel shrunk back in her seat, eyes wide.

"I wasn't following you! I wanted to practice piano, and well…" she blushed a bit, and Marceline couldn't meet her eyes. She felt vulnerable, somehow. Bonnibel held up her hands defensively.

"I PROMISE, Marceline, I didn't think I was going to run into you! But you were singing that song and it's so catchy. Your voice really made it sound good, way better than the original…" Marceline glanced back at Bonnibel. She was wringing her hands nervously. Marceline noted her pudgy fingers. Definitely not the hands of a pianist.

"Here." Marceline held out the pencil, scowling. "You dropped this when you booked it down the hallway." The anger in her voice was beginning to falter, her fighting spirit fizzling out with it. She suddenly wanted nothing more than to go back to playing her guitar.

Bonnibel took the pencil unsurely, frowning at Marceline. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have kept watching. But I mean it when I said you're good. You really should join a band!" Bonnibel said, unable to hide the honesty in her voice. Marceline hated her pep, and the irony of it all. "That girl…" Bonnibel swallowed, "your girlfriend, by the looks of it...she's really good on the keyboard."

"Keila is not my girlfriend!" Marceline nearly shouted, and Bonnibel was taken aback. She blinked a few times, searching Marceline's face for the lie. When she found nothing, Marceline frowned.

"From the way you sat on her lap, I just assumed-"

"You assumed wrong." Marceline interrupted, crossing her arms. "We're not like that. She's just a really good friend of mine."

"Oh…" Bonnibel whispered, and Marceline could feel the awkward tension in the air between them. She cleared her throat. "Anyways, I don't appreciate being spied on. So, bug off, nerd, I mean it. No more surprise insights on Marceline, please." Marceline huffed, and Bonnibel shook her head vigorously.

"I'm not spying on you! I promise they're coincidences. And if I ever see you in the music room again, I won't stay, I promise." She recalled Jake's sign from earlier and she imitated it, smiling in a way she hoped was convincing. "Scout's honor."

Marceline rolled her eyes. "Whatever, princess perfect. You'd better keep your word. We're practicing here again tomorrow, just a heads up to stay away."

Bonnibel nodded once. "Far away." She replied, and Marceline turned on her heel, stalking off toward her guitar again.

The interaction had not gone at all like she had planned. She didn't know how she should feel about it, but she tried to convince herself that relieved would probably be a good component to add to the little feelings punch bubbling in her chest.