Marceline wasn't clueless. Sure, actively making things better was hard- it required work, which she was known for avoiding, but sometimes it was for the best. Bonnie had clearly been off in the two days since their confrontation about, well, ehem, that. Marceline didn't like that- she liked being close with Bonnie. She liked her sarcasm and her scathing remarks and how she was never what she expected, in a totally platonic way.
And so she'd formulated a plan.
A good plan? Arguable.
An, er, plan? Certainly.
Marceline waited patiently in one of the many campus cafes. This one wasn't too busy- both Ash and Bonnie got frustrated when they couldn't find what they were looking for. Ash was admittedly more likely to cry about it.
Bonnie, as expected, arrived first, expression flat and unreadable. When she spotted Marceline, she raised an eyebrow, but her expression otherwise remained the same. She was wearing new clothes, she noticed- a snug, purple turtleneck and pink jeans. A cute look, honestly.
Bonnie's expression soured moments later, "What's he doing here?" she practically hissed.
"Huh?" Marceline mumbled, blinking out of her trance. Then she spotted Ash, standing right next to her, hands in his pockets. How had she missed that?
"Oh- Ash, Bonnie," she spread her arms wide, "my two faves! I was just thinkin', y'know," she made pointed eye contact with Ash, "since I love you both so much, we could just have, y'know, a chill day together."
Ash huffed, "I thought we were going on a date."
"I never said that."
"It's the implication, babe. You can't just lead me on like that."
Thankfully for Marceline, in this case, neither one of them was one to back down from a competition, and so, in immediate response to Ash's resistance, Bonnie piped up, "Yeah, well, I for one am willing to give it a shot," then, under her breath, though loud enough that she clearly meant for it to be heard, "even though you're an intolerable dingus."
"Alright!" Marceline chirped before Ash could conjure a reply, "I was thinking we could go like, I dunno, go on a walk, get some coffee from someplace not on campus, the works."
"Mmm, I'm down I guess, but only if you pay for my coffee, Marceline. You still haven't payed me back for Denny's."
"I'm still pretty sure you made that stuff up, but I'll buy you coffee."
"Dude, what?" Ash whined, "you never buy me things."
"You get upset when I do, Ash."
Ash only grumbled in response, folding his arms across his chest.
Ash rolled her eyes, taking Ash's hand in her's, "Chill, ya big goof, let's head out, before everywhere start's getting a dinner rush."
She leaned up, intending to give him a quick peck on the lips, but to her surprise, he cupped the back of her head and drew her closer. Unprepared, Marceline's teeth crashed awkwardly against his, but he didn't seem to notice, or at least didn't care, because he continued, even after Bonnie audibly cleared her throat twice.
Once she'd gathered herself, Marceline pushed away, "Alrighty then, let's be on our way," she said, forcing a smile, and heading out the door.
"I'll get the manliest coffee you've got," Ash said, shooting a glance over at Bonnie.
The barista, sporting an 'I'm New!' pin, looked over at her helplessly, "I'm uh, sorry, let me just check with my coworkers," she managed, shuffling away, only to return a moment later with a much more dead-eyed looking coworker.
"What was your order, sir?"
"Uh, the manliest coffee you have," Ash repeated, his previous confidence beginning to fade.
The older worker raised an eyebrow, but said nothing, waiting for Ash to elaborate. Eventually, the pale toothpick of a man sighed, "I'll get a London fog, please."
"Right," the coworker said, entering his order. Ash payed and shuffled away, not bothering to grab his five dollars in change, much to the barista's delight.
Bonnie approached afterwards. She cleared her throat, "Why hello, women who are surely falling at my manly feet," she said, making pointed eye contact with Ash as she spoke, "I would like man juice, with extra protein powder, if you would."
The new barista laughed loudly, while the older worker rolled her eyes but smiled as well. Bonnie grinned, "For real, I'll just get a medium chai latte, please."
Bonnie happily handed the barista the twenty dollar bill than Marceline had given her beforehand, slipping the change into her pocket. Ash was receiving his manly man drink when she arrived to wait for hers. He sent a quick glare her way before making his way to Marceline, who had been tapping away at her phone the whole time.
Ash sat in a chair on one side of her, scooting it closer so that he could wrap his arm around her shoulder as he made eye contact with Bonnie. Bonnie narrowed her eyes.
It was on.
She took her latte from the barista and marched over to their table, sitting down across from Marceline.
"Wow, Marce, your hair looks great today."
Marceline smiled, "Oh, thanks, Bon."
"Yeah, well your tits are also good today," Ash said, glaring at Bonnie.
Marceline raised an eyebrow, "They're pretty much the same every day, really."
"Right," Ash grumbled, sipping his drink.
"Are you excited to go back home for the holidays?" Bonnie said, "I know you miss your family sometimes."
Marceline lit up again, "Oh, yeah. My dad's actually gonna be there this time, and Simon always gets the best gifts."
"That senile old cook?" Ash scoffed, "I'm surprised he doesn't shit in a bag and pass it off as a gift."
Marceline recoiled, balling her fists, "Ash," she hissed.
"Dude, not cool," Bonnie said, resting her hand on one of Marceline's. She felt the other girl gradually relax under her touch.
Ash cleared his throat, "Just my opinion. His wife is kinda cute, I guess."
"Ash. That's still like, super weird."
Ash shrugged, "Whatever babe, I think I'll pass this time, though. Your family's not really my style, y'know?"
"She didn't invite you," Bonnie whispered under her breath, though by Marceline's look, she was pretty sure the comment didn't go unnoticed.
"My family's chill, though, Mar. You'd like them. My mom sucks at cooking but she always has a ton of wine around the house and won't mind if we make out."
Bonnie wrinkled her nose at the thought.
Marceline smiled, "Maybe next year, dear."
Next year. The words rung painfully in her head. She truly hoped she wouldn't be with this dillweed a year from now, and genuinely not solely because she was a tad jealous. Marceline definitely deserved better than that.
"C'mon, you two, you both have a ton in common. I mean, you both like," Marceline paused, thinking.
Before she could say anything, an idea popped into Bonnie's head.
A good idea? Arguable.
A fun idea? Absolutely.
"Oh, well we both like cartoons, don't we, Marcy?"
Marceline's eyes widened, her mouth hung open, and Ash spoke.
"Oh, not really, but I do like My Little Pony."
"Oh, yeah?" Bonnie said, resting her chin on her hand, "who's your favorite pony?"
"Fluttershy, for sure," Ash said, "she's so cute."
"Cute or, y'know," she glanced over at Marceline, "cute?"
"Bonnie," Marceline hissed.
"Well, I don't know if I'd put my-"
"Ash," Marceline interrupted, much louder. She stood up quickly, shoving her chair back at such a speed that it nearly tipped over. She grabbed Ash by the sleeve and pulled him up with her, "why don't we go on a walk instead?" she said through her teeth.
Ash shrugged, walking towards the door. Marceline hung behind, grabbing Bonnie's sleeve, "Dude, what are you doing?"
Bonnie shrugged, "Just making small talk, Mar."
"Bullshit," Marceline whispered, their noses almost touching, "what are you actually doing."
Bonnie could easily continue to joke around the real answer, but she decided that angering Marceline further wouldn't do her any good, "You know I don't like him, Marceline."
"Couldn't you at least try?" she sighed, closing her eyes and dropping her shoulders.
Bonnie felt a flash of sympathy, but it was quickly covered by an acute sense of stubbornness, "I don't think you could get him to try if you held him at gunpoint, so..."
"So what's the point," Marceline spat, "you're right. I shouldn't have bothered."
Bonnie paused, swallowing her ego, "If it'll make you happy, I'll try to play nice," she offered, "for the last hour or whatever."
Marceline frowned, "Promise?"
Bonnie glanced over at Ash, in the process of what appeared to be stealing a pastry from a child, "Uh, yeah."
Marceline nodded, taking Bonnie's hand in hers, and walked over to where Ash had his mouth full.
"Can you believe they were just giving these away?" he mumbled around the food.
Bonnie raised an eyebrow, but said nothing.
Marceline shot a glance at her, which she responded too with a shrug, avoiding eye contact with either of them. Marceline wrapped her arm around Ash's and together they headed out, allowing her to trail slightly behind.
"So, Ash," she began, "what do you do for fun?"
"I review video games online, mostly, and play in a band."
"Ah, does your band get any uh, jobs, ever?"
"Nah, we just chill."
Bonnie nodded, "Do you have a job, then?"
"Not right now. I don't like being told what to do, y'know?"
Bonnie felt like, if she were in a cartoon, her eye would twitch comically in that moment, to show her frustration. Of course you don't like being told what to do, but you don't have jobs for funsies, at least not at their age.
Maybe it would be easier if she just ignored him.
"Mar, your hair is growing out nice," Ash noted.
Finally, something that didn't make her want to punch him.
"You looked so weird with your hair short. Never do that again, alright?"
Yeah, well, scratch her last thought.
Marceline visibly deflated, her shoulders slumping and head drooping. Before she responded, Bonnie pushed between them, "Y'know, I liked Marcy's short hair," she said, smiling over at her, "I think it was cute."
"Yeah, well you're a gay, so you would think that," Ash snorted.
"Man, a whole gay? Me? Wow. Didja hear that, Marce? I'm a gay, and as such my opinions on hair are irrelevant."
"We can talk about something that's not my hair," Marceline said.
"Like pinky's hair over here. You look like one of those feminists."
"Boy, it is as if you have stabbed me. Such an insult, I am basically bleeding," Bonnie said monotonously.
Ash shrugged, "I'm allowed my opinion."
Bonnie bit back several snarky replies, instead going with, "Ya' sure are."
"You know what's nice?" Marceline interrupted, "this park. I mean, right now its a bit empty because there's no leaves on the trees, but in the autumn it's especially nice because-"
"Yeah that's nice babe," Ash said, waving his hand, "but anyway, Betty, I'm just saying you like like one of those bad feminists."
"And you look like you've never seen a shampoo bottle, but I wasn't going to say anything about it," Bonnie retorted.
"Oh for fucks' sake, you two," Marceline snapped, grabbing them both by a sleeve, "couldn't you just try to make it work?"
"With this bitch? I don't think so babe," Ash said. Marceline's eyes welled with frustrated tears, "oh, don't get all weepy and manipulative with me. God, listen, text me when you're not being a crybaby, alright? I'm out."
Ash tugged his arm out of Marceline's grasp and walked away, hands in his pockets.
"He's a real jerk," Bonnie said.
"He's not the only one," Marceline said, avoiding eye contact.
"What, me? Don't be dense Marcy. He's a total wad. He doesn't care about your feelings- he makes fun of things you care about constantly."
"He's just teasing," Marceline rasped.
"Marcy, I'm just worried."
"You're being selfish," she snapped, "You think I don't know you well yet, Bonnibel. You think you're one big mystery and it must be real fun for you, but you're not. You were just having fun the whole day to show me what bad decisions I make, like I don't already know that I'm a screw-up."
At this point, Marceline was openly crying, with her palms pressed against her eyes.
Bonnie felt a drop in her stomach.
Had she been doing this to mess with Marceline? She supposed partially, but she hadn't meant anything by it. Then again, maybe effect mattered more than intent here.
Shit, she'd been an ass, too.
"Hey, hey Mar," she rubbed her back, "look, I'm sorry. I still don't like him, but," she sighed, "I didn't want to hurt you, honest."
Marceline nodded, burying her face into Bonnie's shirt. She could feel her tears seeping through the fabric. That was okay.
"Are you gonna be alright, champ?"
"Yeah," Marceline said, barely audible against her chest.
"Do you wanna go home?"
"No I'm," she paused, "I'm gonna go to Ash's. I should apologize to him."
"Marceline," Bonnie said, perhaps a bit too harshly, "you have nothing to apologize for."
Marceline took a step back, took a deep breath, and wiped her eyes one last time, "I'm not in the mood to argue any more, Bonnie. I'll see you tomorrow."
And then she turned and walked away, leaving Bonnie's head whirling.
After a few minutes Bonnie groaned, kicked the ground, and began her walk home.
Notes: Managed to put a chapter out before I start my hell week!
I'm pretty happy with this one [which is,, uncommon. I'm like, never satisfied, sigh]
Bonnie's wearing her outfit from 'Sky Witch' in this one!
As always, your support has been fabulous. Every comment brightens my day! Love you all!
Next update hopefully in? The next two weeks? Haha, I'll do my best