Chapter 12 : First kiss
"I hope you're hungry, Marceline" Bubblegum smiled, tying her apron with a smile. She had come over to cook for Marceline like she said, her bags of cooking ingredients resting on the side.
"Starving" Marceline replied, her body sprawled out on the sofa. She had really worked hard to make up to Gumball for what he'd done. Surprisingly, it all went well and she felt really tired. But she also didn't get anything to eat herself, so by the time she got home, her stomach was growling at her like some demonic animal.
"Then just sit tight." Bubblegum giggled. "It won't be too long, ok?"
"I hope not" Marceline sat up to face Marceline, a small smile on her face. "I haven't had one of your meals for so long...just the thought is making me hungrier."
"Then I better get cooking" With that Bubblegum went into the kitchen and began preparing and cooking for the two of them.
As Bubblegum stood there, stirring the food as it boiled away, she couldn't help but blush at the thought of them eating together again. At first, she thought nothing of it, but when she thought of the intimacy, her blush deepened, throwing her off guard slightly. Surely it was just the heat making her flustered...
"Jeez.." She let out a sigh before lowering the heat level and taking a moment to let the food sit for a moment. She went into the living room with Marceline, sitting on the other chair and watching tv quietly.
"Oh my god...that smells so good.." Marceline grumbled, the sweet smell filling the whole of downstairs.
"Not long now" Bubblegum smiled, glancing over at Marceline with a small smile. This girl had been making Bubblegum feel strange for a while now...and she couldn't figure it out. She had no idea what it was, but she knew she always wanted to be with Marceline. She always wanted to make her smile and smile with her...She's push back her desire to feel Marceline's soft lips against hers...to feel her body next to hers. If it meant Marceline was happy, she'd do it all.
But Bubblegum wasn't dense like Marceline. Bubblegum was slowly becoming aware that her feelings were love, but not the kind she expected. She was in love with Marceline, that was true. But she was even more hesitant to accept that fact. Marceline was her best friend, the one person Bubblegum didn't want to live her life without. She knew Marceline cared for her and they had an unbreakable friendship, so why would Bubblegum ruin that? Besides, it was clear that these kinds of feelings...weren't accepted. If Marceline was to return her feelings, everyone would shun them. Bubblegum wouldn't care if she had Marceline by her side, but she was thinking about Marceline. She already got enough grief from people in that school. Bubblegum couldn't be that selfish.
"And so, gay marrage has been legalised in another state." The news suddenly caught Bubblegum off guard and her eyes darted to the screen. "What a wonderful day and good for you all living in that state." The news reporter went one. "It'll be a long time before we can safely say this whole country has legalized gay marrage, but I'm hopeful that in the future, it will be."
"Gay marrage, huh?" Marceline pondered. "Good for them"
"Uh..y-yeah.." Bubblegum stuttered. "I think...these kinds of things are really nice."
"Yeah" Marceline agreed. "I don't see why people make it illigal to begin with...love is love, after all. It shouldn't matter if they're both guys or both girls. None of it makes sense to me...it's not that I don't care, but I don't see why it should be a big deal. If someone wants to dress like a guy or a girl...whether they like the same sex..." Marceline sighed slightly. "But we're making the right steps forward, I guess."
Bubblegum nodded her head, smiling at her friend. What she said meant something to Bubblegum.
"That's exactly it" Bubblegum smiled.
"It's a shame it's not legal here" Marceline added.
"One day, huh?" Bubblegum pursed her lips, biting back the words she wanted to say. Just then, she remembered the food cooking and jumped up to her feet. "Oops, foods cooking!" she chirped, running out. "Sit at the table, Mar"
"Yes, ma'am!" Marceline got up, sitting at the table just as Bubblegum served up their dishes and joined Marceline.
"Ohhh, this is so good" Marceline blurted after eating some. All Bubblegum could do was smile and blush, eating her food quietly while Marceline devoured the whole thing.
"Oh..how did it go with Gumball?" Bubblegum asked. She was almost hesitant, but she wanted to know.
"Huh? Oh, it went well." Marceline replied.
"He doing okay?"
"Yeah, he seems fine"
"That's good..."
"You seem a little out of it all of a sudden. You okay?" Marceline put her fork down and looked at Bubblegum.
"Yeah..I just.." Bubblegum looked back at Marceline. "Is there something going on between you and Gumball?"
"H-huh?" Marceline chocked slightly, unsure if she heard Bubblegum right. "Me and Gumball? No way!"
"I see.." Bubblegum's words were calm, but she was happy to hear it. Yet, Marceline's reaction wasn't exactly promising.
"Why's you even think that!? We're just friends."
"It's just that you've been very keen to help him lately...much closer than usual. And I know you and Finn are keeping something from Marshall and I. If it's about the fight, I can understand since we weren't there, but...I can't help but feel a little hurt."
"Bubblegum.." Marceline blinked.. "No, it's nothing like that. It's just..well...him being suspended is all my fault. I wanted to make it up to him, so I went over there today. But of course that's not enough." Marceline went on "As for Finn and me...it was nothing more than about the fight and how...well, we don't want Gumball to come back to people mentioning it"
"I suppose...that's reasonable...so you really don't have feelings for Gumball?"
"What? No...like I said, we're just friends." Marceline looked away from Bubblegum, unable to meet her gaze. No, she didn't like Gumball that way, but she did feel something strange for Bubblegum. Was it? ...No, it couldn't be..could it?
"Well anyway, I only ask because I thought you looked cute together" Bubblegum lied.
"Oh?..."
"Hehe, well sorta..to be honest, I don't want you to date anyone.." Bubblegum confessed.
"Huh?" Marceline found herself blushing slightly, unable to respond.
"I mean...I know it's selfish and all, but I want you all to myself..if you had a boyfriend, you'd spend time with him more and not me..even though you'd be happy, I want to make you happy too.." Bubblegum's cheeks started to burn.
"Bubblegum"?" Marceline blushed, unsure of what to say. "I-I mean-"
"Shhh.." Bubblegum silenced her. "we have school tomorrow, so we shouldn't stay up too late, ok? Come on...I'll clear up here." Bubblegum picked up their finished plates and started clearing up, leaving Marceline to think about what she had just said.
"Alright, well..I'll go shower.." Marceline hurried upstairs. Did Bubblegum just...confess feelings of love to her? Why was Marceline's heart racing so much?
She undressed, throwing her clothes in the hamper and turned the shower on, getting in and letting the hot water run over her body while she lsot herself in thought.
"Bubblegum.." She mumbled, still unable to comprehend what had just been said. Was Bubblegum even aware?
Meanwhile, Bubblegum had finished clearing up and was on the phone to Marshall.
"Are you sure there isn't anything going on between them?" Marshall asked.
"No, Marceline said so..I know when she's lying to me, Marshall."
"I know, I know...but I was kinda hoping he'd ask her today.."
"Huh? You want them to date?"
"Well why not? Gumball likes her...and I want him to be happy." His tone suddenly changed. "Besides, that gives you and me another shot, doesn't it?"
"..Marshall, you're such a pig sometimes." Bubblegum huffed.
"Aww, come on..I'm just messing. You know I'll treat you like a woman and all."
"Marshall, now is not the time, ok?"
"Come on." He chuckled. "Go out with me tomorrow night, ok?"
"Marshall.." Bubblegum didn't want to hurt his feelings, but she really didn't want to. He was her friend and nothing more. She was wrong to have gone on dates with him in the first place. Even when she gave him a kiss, it felt...meaningless and there was no feelings of the sort. But maybe this time she really could put her heart at rest and even his. "I'll go out as friends, but not as a date, ok?"
"...tsk..fine, ok" He sighed. "Fair enough. Anyway, I'll see you guys tomorrow, ok? See ya." And with that, he hung up.
"Jeez, he's terrible." Bubblegum sighed. Just then, she noticed Marceline walking down the stairs. "Oh, you're out?"
"Yeah..it's free if you want it."
"Thanks, but I should get going.."
"You can stay the night if you want.." Marceline blushed, looking to the side.
"Huh? You..sure?"
"Sure, it'll be like old times."
"Well...sure, I'd love to." Bubblegum smiled. "Just let me call my parents to let them know."
"Sure." Marceline nodded. She didn't know why, but she just wanted Bubblegum close tonight. She didn't want her to leave.
The two girls sat in Marceline's room, finishing up their homework before deciding to go to bed. Both girls, sharing Marceline's bed, talking quietly about simple things.
"It's so weird to think this time next year, we won't be in school anymore." Bubblegum said, furrowing her eyebrows slightly.
"I know..I don't even know what I want to do." Marceline sighed. "You're going off to study science in one of the most highest quality universities, Gumball's going to medical school, Marshall's going to pursue his musical carreer and then there's me."
"Hey, I'm sure you'll figure it out." Bubblegum reassured her. "We'll all still be with you and I'll call you every day."
"Yeah..I'll miss you guys." She admitted. "I just can't believe how fast we've grown up, you know? One minute we're kids...just starting our highschool life..the next, we're growing up and leaving. It's kinda depressing."
"I know.." Bubblegum bit her lip in thought before giggling.
"What so funny?" Marceline looked at Bubblegum with her eyebrows raised.
"We're almost adults, yet you've never had your first kiss" she giggled.
"H-hey! Neither have you! You've rejected all the guys that pursued you, remember? And Marshal was your chance." Marceline defended.
"I'm not into Marshall...I don't want to just give my first kiss away to someone I don't like.." Bubblegum said quietly.
"if you act that way, you'll never get your first kiss." Marceline frowned slightly.
"So you're saying you'd kiss someone just because? So you could say you've had your first kiss? I must say..that isn't very lady-like of you."
"N-no! that's not what I meant..." Marceline blushed. "I meant..well maybe to give people a chance more.
"But I already have someone in mind." Bubblegum replied bluntly.
"H-huh? Who? Why did you never tell me?"
"Hehe, nevermind. I don't know..hey.."
"Huh? What is it?"
"Since we've both never had our first kiss...do you ever wonder what it's like to kiss another girl? Girls have much softer lips..and they're so gentle. Guys can be so rough and too harsh sometimes..."
"I-I, uh..." Marceline found herself surprised, but at the same time, she couldn't help but nod and agree.
"So why don't we kiss? We're best friends...both curious and haven't had our first kiss yet...so why not? We'll have killed two birds with one stone and it won't be too weird."
"Bubblegum.."
"Don't you want to?"
Y-yeah, but.."
"Then lets do it." Bubblegum moved closer, her eyes looking deep into Marceline's.
"Okay.." Marceline moved in too, the two girls meeting in the middle as their lips pressed against each other. Both their minds went blank, feeling nothing but the soft touch of the other's lips against theirs. It was sweet, neither wanted to part. A taste they had both longed for without realizing it was finally theirs. Something that was so wrong felt so right.
Sudddenly, Bubblegum pulled away from the kiss, a smile on her face.
"That was...really nice" She admitted, recieving a nod from Marceline.
"Yeah...it really was."
But that kiss wasn't as innocent as it seemed because for Bubblegum, she had realised something and so had Marceline. They'd soon find out that no other kiss would compare to the one they shared. And they'd soon realise their desire for each other.
