I was really frickin nervous about meeting Marco's parents. We werent dating but if I was ever going to date him, I would have to give a good first impression. And looking like I got in a fight with a busted lip was, as Marco said, not going to impress his parents. Armin was driving us to the airport. I could have driven but I was wary about leaving Nick out in the snow. At least at school, there was something covering him in the parking lot and protecting him. I was wary about the plane, as well. I know. Not a good situation. I already knew that Marco wouldnt appreciate the giant flying death trap and I didnt appreciate it either. Fun. We could hyperventilate together. We approached the airport and Armin dropped us off at the front, wishing us a Merry Christmas. We thanked him, grabbing our bags and wishing him the same. We headed into the airport and Marco took a deep breath. I was terrified, too but I was going to try to ignore the fear. I grabbed Marco's hand and pulled him along through all the stages of checking into the flight. I was the first out of security so I waited for Marco to be done. He was putting back on hus Uggs and placing his laptop back in his laptop bag. When he was done zipping it up, he walked over to me, smiling. I half smiled back. "Wasnt that fun?" I asked. He grinned. "Yeah. So much fun." He responded. I considered taking his hand again but I couldnt find an excuse to. I would definately be doing that when we reached our plane gate but not now. "Are you hungry?" He asked me as we walked along. "No." I responded. "Are you?" He shook his head. "Dont want Starbucks, Mr. Uggs?" I asked playfully. He grinned at me. "Shut up. You're the white one here." He said. I laughed. "It's true." I agreed. We went to wait until our plane got there then we headed on into our flight. I was seated and Marco was putting his bag up when I felt around in my pocket for my phone and found it... But then... I noticed that something else was missing... I felt around and Marco noticed, looking at me and knitting his eyebrows together. "You okay, Jean?" "Where the fuck is my wallet?" I said, wide eyed. Marco made this horrified face. I slapped my forhead remembering I had put it down during security. It was probably still there. "It's at security..." I dragged my hand down my face. "I'll go get it." Marco suddenly said. I looked at him. "No. Marco. You dont-" "It's fine. I'll be right back." Then he left before I could say anything else. "M-Marco!" I yelled after him. But he got off the plane. Dammit... I sighed. He could be left behind... How could I just let him go like that? I groaned. It was a little while. Then the flight attendants started doing their little exit pointing shit and I got really fucking nervous. I texted Marco with, "Hurry up pls." And then they told everyone to turn off their phones and I was literally about to grab our stuff and get off the plane. But right when they were about to close the plane door, Marco came in, panting, a bit sweaty, and with my wallet in his hand. He apologized to the flight attendant he terrified when he burst into the plane(fucking nice guy)and came over, sitting down next to me, and handing me my wallet. "You idiot." I said to him. He smiled at me, "I knew I could do it." I rolled my eyes. "Thanks." I said. "You're welcome." I put my wallet in my pocket as the pilot came on and said that we would be taking off in a minute or two. We both clipped on our seatbelts and Marco turned his phone off. I just started playing Bejeweled until Marco noticed and took my phobe, turning it off and putting it in his pocket. "Hey!" I exclaimed. He smiled at me. "Hush." He said. I smirked then leaned back against my seat. When we started taking off, Marco took my hand. I pulled the window shade down and laced my fingers with his'.
After a while, Marco poked me and I looked at him. "I'm gonna try to sleep. I would stay up with you but sleeping is the only way I dont flip out..." I nodded, squeezing his hand. "That's fine." Then I noticed something new. I grabbed Marco's jaw as he was looking away from me and pulled him to me. "W-What?" He questioned. "You have a new freckle." I let his jaw go. He smirked. "Ooh. So interesting. Not like I have a million of them everywhere already." I grinned. "I dont get to see those. I get to see the ones on your face." He turned a bit red. "It's true." He agreed. "You could let me see them, though." I said. He turned redder. "Erm... Maybe during summer." I laughed. "What? The fuck is happening in the summer?" He grinned. "Well it'll be warm enough to go swimming." "This is very true." I said. Then Marco rested his head against the back of his seat and closed his eyes. I smiled a bit. The ride was really boring until about five hours in when the pilot came on and said there would be turbulence. Goddammit. Turbulence was my worst enemy but it was probably Marco's as well... I didnt want to wake him up. Was this a sign of my new care for others? Because I would wake up the person next to me before now... Well, I'd still wake up Connie and Sasha and anyone who wasnt Marco so... I guess I just cared enough about Marco that I wouldnt wake him up. Lucky for me, however, he woke up due to the turbulence. Unlucky for me, when he realized what was happening, he was not happy about it. I couldnt let him know that I was terrified because that would just terrify him farther. So I just squeezed his hand and tried to calm him down. He only really calmed down after the turbulence was over. "God... Airplanes are worse than cars..." He said. I nodded. "Being afraid of airplanes is more common than being afraid of cars, though." "Right..." Marco said, rubbing his eyes witth his free hand. This lady who was coming down the aisle from the bathroom stopped at our seats and said, "I just wanted to say that you two are the cutest couple." Then she smiled and kept walking. Marco looked at me, extremely red. My face got hot but I laughed. "Oh God I wasnt expecting that..." Marco laughed a bit, too. "Why didnt you tell her that we arent a couple?" I asked, squeezing his hand. He smiled at me a bit, "I didnt want to be rude or crush her dreams." I smirked. "Right."
When the pilot said that the plane was finally landing in Montana, I was glad for it and I knew that Marco was, too. When the plane landed, I expected Marco to be one of those people who would jump up but he just sat there. I stood and raised an ewbrow at him, letiing his hand go. "You coming?" He smiled at me. "Yeah. I'm just gonna wait for these guys to get off first. They seem much more excited to leave." What? I smirked, sitting back down. "You're weird." I said. "You're weird." He responded. We got off of the plane eventually and we headed to luggage claim. Marco grabbed his suitcase and I nearly missed my suitcase but Marco grabbed it and put it down next to me, smirking. "Pay attention." I laughed a bit. "Thanks, dude." We then went down the escalator and Marco immediately went for this couple who were clearly his parents. The woman was tall with big blue eyes and dark hair. And, of course, she had freckles. The guy was shorter but had a muscley build, brown hair, and brown eyes. Marco let go of his suitcase and hugged them both as I approached behind him. I didnt want to intrude. His parents hugged him pretty tightly. Then they pulled away and his mother came for me. "You must be Jean!" She exclaimed, hugging me. I noticed she had an Italian accent. I hugged her back. "Y-Yeah." Then she pulled away. "Just call me Camelia." She said. Woah. Intense. First name basis with Marco's mom. Then his dad came over. Shit. This man could kill me. He grinned and held his hand out to me. I took his hand to shake it and that had to have been the most painful hand shake of my life, his grip was so strong. But I tried to stand it. "You can't call me Jerry yet but it's good to meet you, Jean." I nodded and smiled. Marco's dad didnt have an accent. "What's wrong, son?" Jerry asked me, "Cat got your tongue?" I spluttered at that, my face getting hot. "Okay, Dad." Marco said smiling and coming closer to us. "Oh right, Marco!" Camelia said. He looked at her owlishly, waiting for a response. "You get to drive us home from here." Wait what? Marco looked horrified. "Noo..." He said, "Please... I was just on an airplane." "Why are you driving us, Marco?" I asked. Camelia looked at me. "Do you not know that we've been trying to get Marco to start driving? I thought for sure you'd be the one to help him keep practicing." I looked at Marco and he wasnt looking at any three of us. "Marco." Jerry said, "Have you even been practicing?" Marco cleared his throat. "No but-" "Marco!" Camelia interuppted. He flinched. I didnt know that Marco could be rebellious at all. Well. That was a lie. Smoking doobies in high shool isnt exactly the definition of non-rebellious. However, I hadnt physically seen him be rebellious before so it came as a bit of a shock. Camelia sighed. "Look." Marco said, "I will drive us, okay? I'm sorry I didnt practice before." Then he grabbed his suitcase. This was gonna be fun. We all went out to a dark blue mini van and Jerry put our bags in the trunk then he said to me, "We get to sit in the back." Then he opensd the backseat door for me and I got in. Jerry got in behind me and closed the door. We both put our seatbelts on as Marco got into the driver's seat and Camelia got in the passenger's side. I actually started getting nervous as Marco turned on the car and started backing out of the parking space. He looked terrified and when he got out of the parking spot and turned it to drive, he jerked forwards randomly, pressing too hard on the acceleration. "Sorry!" He exclaimed shakily as he exited the parking lot. "It's fine, Marc." Camelia said, rubbing his shoulder. Marco almost had a full blown panic attack on the highway when the car almost slipped on ice and we had to pull over. What a great way to begin my visit with his family. I sighed with relief when we arrived at his house. It was really in the middle of nowhere. Marco seemed calmer as he drove down the snowy and silent road to his house. The house was a smalle, one story home that was blue and had a vegetable garden out front. He parked in the driveway then sighed softly. "I'm sorry..." He said. "Marco." Camelia said, "It's okay." Marco looked at me in the rearview mirror and I smiled at him to reassure him that it was alright. Marco smiled a bit back and looked relieved. Then he pulled the keys out and got out of the car, followed by the rest of us. Jerry pulled our bags out of the trunk and Camelia unlocked the front door and held it open as Jerry went in. Marco locked the car and I went in behind Jerry. Then Marco came in with Camelia who closed the door behind us and locked it. The house was so amazing. Amazing as in, it was simple and colorful and beautiful. Living in a big house all my life made me interested in the people who had less money than my own family. "We dont have a guest room so..." Camelia said, "What do you want to do, Marco? Can he stay in Jamie's room?" Marco smiled a bit, "He can stay with me in my room." I felt my face get hot. "A-Alright." I said. Marco then grabbed both of our suitcases and started to take them down the hall when I giant dog from another room tackled him and he let go of the bags, grabbing onto the dog. "Mikey!" He yelled. "He's missed you!" Cemalia said. The dog could stand up on it's hind legs and be almost Marco's height and I was fucking terrified that this dog would not like me. Marco eventually went into a room with out bags, the dog following behind him. "Come on, Jean!" Jerry said. "We have dinner prepared." Woah. I went into the living room and over to the table behind Camelia and Jerry. Jerry and I sat down as Camelia started serving dinner. I knew now that not telling Marco was kind of stressing me out. Being to doctors appointments regularly was already stressing me out enough and if I just followed my eating plan over the break, he'd never know, but I kind of wanted him to know... "So, Jean, Marco tells us that you want to go into Graphic Design." Camelia said. I nodded and smiled, "Yeah. He hasnt told me what he wants to do yet, though." "Oh. Marco wants to go into graphic design, too." Camelia said. "Oh yeah? Wow... I wasnt expecting that. He does a lot of sculpting." I responded. Camelia smiled at me softly, nodding and sitting down. "He likes sculpting and pottery the most." Jerry said, "That's his biggest passion." Oh. Maybe this was about money, then. "Why is he going into graphic design, then?" I asked in order to maybe clarify his reasons. "He believes that passions should be hobbies." Camelia explained, "I mean, art is his passion. But if he had to work with art as a job and have it become boring and tedious and lose his passion for one area of it, he would choose graphic design. Does that make sense or is my English bad?" I nodded. "No I understand." I said. I understood and I agreed about pickingg something to go into other than what your passion is if it makes, like, no money. Because Graphic Design was just something I was gonna do for money but... I didnt think Marco was that kind if person. He seemed like the kind of person who would go into what he wants to do unless he was being selfless... Marco came over and sat down, the giant dog following behind him, which I could see now was a pitbull. "His name's Mike." Marco said to me. "Marco. That dog is gonna kill me." Marco laughed. "No he wont. He could, not going to lie, but he wont." The dog lied down at Marco's feet and Marco smiled at me. I smiled back. I'd have to ask him about that Graphic Design thing later on.
"So. How were these last few weeks at school?" Camelia asked as we all dug in. "Alright." Marco said. "Well I know that yours' wasnt all that fun, Marc." Camelia said. Marco nodded a bit. "But how was yours', Jean?" I shrugged. "Not un-normal for the most part, I guess." She nodded. "Yeah but you met this guy this semester." Jerry said, pointing at Marco before picking back up his fork. "That probably made it more interesting." I grinned and nodded. "Dad..." Marco said. "Oh sorry, son." Jerry said sarcastically, "I forgot. You dont make anyone's life interesting. And you're the guy in red in Star Trek who always dies first." Marco laughed. "Right." "Where did all this modesty even come from, Marco?" Camelia asked him. Marco shrugged, "I dont think I'm modest." Was he fucking serious? All three of us stared at him and he turned red. "... Am I modest?" He asked. "Dude." I said, "You're being modest about being modest." Marco laughed. "Fine fine." Marco seemed a lot happier than usual. And he was more open with his personality than at school. When Camelia and Jerry were talking to eachother, I noticed that Marco picked off a bit of fake chicken and dropped it on the floor. Mike quickly grabbed it and I smirked. Marco noticed me watching him and he winked at me, smiling. Weirdo. Dinner ended soon and Marco took me to show me around the house. The front door led directly into a hallway and the living room was straight ahead. On the left of the hallway was the kitchen which had a sort of bar style window that looked into the living room. The table was in the living room along with a couch, a chair, a coffee table, and a TV across the room. The Christmas tree was in the corner of the living room. They had a bunch of decorations and pictures of family everywhere. On the kitchen bar, on the coffee table, on the walls. There was one big window in the living room which doubled as a glass door which had curtains over it. They also had a window in the kithen, right over the sink. Past the living room was a hallway that lead to the bedrooms and bathroom. Jamie's room was the first on the right, Marco's room was the second on the right and there was a hall closet betwene the two rooms that just held towels and sheets. The bathroom was the first on the left right across from Marco's room, Marco's parents room was the second on the left at the end of the hall, and there was one more on the right which was their laundry room. But there was another door. It led to the basement and it was at the end of the hall on the back wall. "C'mon." Marco said, leading me to Jamie's room. "Am I allowed to go in here?" I asked. I was kind of wary. Marco smiled softly at me. "You're sweet, Jean... Yeah. We can go in." He opened the door for me and I went in. The room was dark and Marco turned on the light attatched to the wooden fan on the ceiling. There was a window on the far wall and purple curtains covering it, and a sliding door closet that was all mirror. Her bed was queen sized with purple pillowcases on the pillows and a blue comforter which looked like it hadnt been touched in ages, two side tables, one with a lamp on it, and a wooden dresser right next to the door with perfume, make-up, and hair ties and bows on it. Plus a mirror with pictures framing it. There were also pictures on the walls of family and friends. I sighed. "Wow." I said, heading over to the dresser and looking at the pictures, "This is a nice room." "I'll be honest..." Marco said, smiling and closing the door, "This room sort of creeps me out nowadays..." I looked at him. "Why?" I said, knitting my eyebrows together. "Oh... I dont know... I mean. Jamie's dead... She died in a tragic way... I used to come in here when I was scared in my own room and sleep in her bed with her. I mean. It's just weird for me to think about it." I understood. "Yeah... I guess that is sort of creepy." I said. "That's her." Marco said, walking over to me and pointing at a framed picture sitting on the dresser that I hadnt noticed before. I picked up the picture and saw a very beautiful girl with big blue eyes, long brown hair with straight across bangs, freckles dotting her nose, olivey skin, and a lovely smile. "She's... Gorgeous. God. She could have been a model." Marco laughed a bit. "She was never very confident in her looks but I always thought she was beautiful." "Dude." I said, "She is." Marco smiled. "You're sweet." I smirked at him and put the picture back down. "I cant be sweet enough for you to say it twice in one day." Marco chuckled softly. "You are." He said, "I'm really glad about how much you respect my sister." I laughed a bit, "What? Am I not supposed to respect her?" "I'm not saying that. I'm just happy at the extent of your respect... I mean... Well you have fought people in defense of her which I never asked you to do." He pointed out. I smiled and turned to him. "Marco. I care about you... So I care about your family, too... Of course I'd defend you all..." Marco suddenly wrapped his arms around me and pulled me to himself. I hugged him back. "Marco..." I said, "You're parents are amazing." He laughed a bit then said, "I know..." I had to psych myself up to say it. I would notmally be able to just say it but I was getting kind of anxious because I knew that I was going to confess during this break. "You're amazing, too, Marco..." I said. Marco squeezed me softly and sighed gently. He held me for a little while then pulled away. "I... You're so great, Jean..." He then went and opened the door, smiling at me a bit and heading out into the hallway. I smiled and followed him. He closed the door after we got into the hall and he headed across to his own room and opened the door.
Marco's room was nice. It had a similar set up to his sister's room. Except his closet was wooden and his dresser and mirror were on the other side of the room, next to the window which had blinds and blue curtains. Marco's bed has brown pillow cases and a checkered quilt. Our suitcases were stacked on top of eachother, empty. I raised an eyebrow at Marco. "Did you unpack?" He nodded. "Yeah." "My underwear, Marco?" Marco laughed and turned red. "Sorry." He said. I rolled my eyes. "Jeez." I said. Mikey suddenly came sprinting in and he nearly tackled me but I fucking got out of there. Marco laughed as I jogged down the hall and into the living room. "Dude your dog's gonna kill me!" Marco followed behind me and Mike trailed behind him. "Mother!" Marco exclaimed into the kitchen as I flopped down on their pleather and squishy couch and Mike jumped up next to me, slumping down with his entire upper body on my lap. "Eeek!" Marco smirked as Camelia answered, "Yes, Marc?" "Is Rocky inside?" He asked. Who was Rocky? "No! Actually. I need to call him in!" She answered. "I'll do it." Marco said. "Thank you sweetie!" Then Marco went down the hall to the front door and I heard it open, then he started calling, "Rocky! Here kitty kitty kitty!" Oh thank God. A smaller animal. I petted Mike's head hesitantly and scratched behind his ears. "There you are, big guy!" I heard Marco exclaim then he closed and locked the door, walking into the living room with a pretty fat white cat with grey spots on him and yellow eyes trotting behind him. "There. Happy, Jean? I brought you a smaller animal that is less sweet." He then flopped down next to me on the couch. I smiled. Marco scratched in between Mike's shoulder blades for one second then Mike switched laps to lie down on and he lied down on Marco instead of me. I sighed in relief. "He likes you." Marco said to me. "Mike does." I smirked, "Cool. He can bite my face off if he wants to." Marco laughed, "He's not going to do that, Jean!" I laughed, too. Then I was reminded of the Graphic Design thing. "So... Marco..." I started. He looked at me, "Your mom says that you want to go into Graphic Design? But that your passion is sculpting and pottery so... Can you explain why you want to do Graphic Design?" Marco laughed softly. "Yeah. Um..." He started. Then he leaned over to me and glanced into the kitchen before whispering to me, "Honestly.. I just want to be able to have a job where I get enough money so I can support my parents. I really would like to go into clay art as a career but Graphic Design makes more money..." Well... This supported my "Marco is selfless" theory. I knew he wasnt gonna do it for frickin money for himself. "Dude... You lied to your parents." Marco nodded and knitted his eyebrows together. "Marco." I started, "I'm going into Graphic Design because it makes more money." Marco sighed. "Really?" He asked, "But you dont need to do that. I do." "Marco, look. I agree with making money but... I dont know it just feels weird hearing it from you." Marco stared at me then said, "Jean... I'm pretty set on Graphic Design..." I nodded. "Yeah man do whatever you want..." Marco nodded and scratched Mike's back. Goddammit now I har to fucking return his Christmas present... "Hey... C'mere Rocky." Marco said to he cat. The cat just stared at him. "Come here, kitty kitty." Rocky jumped up onto the couch next to me. "He's a lap cat." Marco said, just as Rocky flopped down on my lap. "Oh God he's actually heavy." I said. Marco laughed. "Yep. He is. He's big. When your family is Italian, you get big. Food is important." I laughed a bit. "Nobody in your family is fat, though. Except this cat." I said. Marco nodded. "It's true. But we arent small people. I only started being vegetarian when I left home so I guess I'm one of the least bulky in my family-including extended family and women." Inclufing women? Woah... They were all pretty decently muscular. Especially Marco's dad. Marco wasnt as muscular as that but he was pretty muscular. Not Reiner level but above Ymir level. So pretty average level. Enough to be really freaking hot... But, I mean, I thought Marco was hot no matter what. But he was stronger than me which I didnt like. And I was actually planning to do something about that after that embarassing arm wrestling match which I failed… That was part of the reason I agreed to change my eating habits. I petted Rocky's head for a few seconds before I pulled my hand away. The evening didnt last very much longer and everyone soon went to bed. Sleeping in the same bed as Marco was... Warm. I felt awkward at first but I soon got over it.
The next day, Marco and I werent really doing anything. His mom made us breakfast and it was great. But now, we were just sitting around and talking when someone knocked on the door. Camelia yelled, "Marco can you get that? It's probably your aunt and uncle!" Oh man I was going to meet more of Marco's family. Marco smiled at me before standing up and heading to the front door. I heard it open then there was a lot of people gretting eachother. I felt pretty nervous. After a lot of greeting and some talking, Marco came into the living room and grabbed my hand saying, "Come on! I want you to meet them." I smirked and followed Marco into the kitchen. There was a lady with bleached blonde hair that was pulled into a ponytail, blue eyes, olivey skin, and freckles. She looked a year or a few younger than Camelia and she was very pregnant. There was also a man with a very receding hairline and brown curly hair. He was very tall and had brown eyes, light skin, and a very nice smile. Then there was a little girl, around six, who had curly dark hair that was in a ponytail with a red bow. She had on overalls with a white t-shirt and pink tennis shoes. She had brown eyes and light skin, freckles dotting her nose, and a nice smile. They all looked at me. "Guys. This is Jean Kirchstein. He's very very close to me." I felt my face get hot. "Jean. This is my aunt, Rosetta. My uncle, Michael, and my little cousin, Lunetta." "I'm not little!" Lunetta said. "Oh of course not, Lunetta." Marco said, smiling. "It's nice to meet you all." I said. Rosetta stood and came over to me, holding out her hand. "Hello, Jean." She said with an Italian accent. Then Michael shook my hand and he didnt have any accent as he said, "Nice to meet you, Jean." "Marco!" Lunetta said, coming over to him. "Yeah?" Marco asked, smiling at her. "Let's go!" She grabbed his hand and Marco let her drag him into the living room. "Come on, Jean." Marco said. I smirked and followed them into the living room. Mike jumped off the couch and went to Lunetta, sniffing her and licking her face. She laughed and I flopped down on the couch. Marco sat next to me and he pulled Lunetta onto his lap. "I got you something for Christmas." He said. She looked at him. "What is it?" "I cant tell you. That would ruin the surprise." Lunetta sighed. "I dont care. I wonna know." Marco laughed a bit and I smirked. Soon, Lunetta got bored of us and headed back into the kitchen. "Marco. Your family's so nice." I said. Marco turned a bit red. "I know they are... What about your family?" "Ugh." I said. "My mom is the only one who cares..." Marco knotted his eyebrows and he opened his mouth to say something then I cut him off with, "Maybe during spring break you can come visit for a day or two." Marco smiled at me. "I'd be glad to maybe visit for the first few days of the break then fly home." I nodded. "Yes please." I said. Marco nodded. "You're so needy." He said. My face got hot. "Shut up. I just like you." Marco smiled softly at me. "I like you, too." He said. Marco's family was so interesting. They were all very nice and sweet and they all cared for eachother. I started feeling jealously, to be honest. My parents didnt care. I mean. My mom did. She was happy that I was doing what I wanted to do but my dad hated me going into art. He wante dme to go into law. Like him. He helped me unpack. But that was he extent of hiscare. Plus, he wanted me out of thre house.
We didnt do much the next day. It seemed like each holiday was different. During Thanksgiving break, Marco and his family went out every day for family bonding time. But during Christmas break, everybody stayed home and bonded that way. So most if the fun were the conversations and jokes. The day after, though. Was interesting. It was now Tuesday and the next day would be Christmas Eve. Marco, Lunetta, Camelia, and myself were sitting around. The TV was on. When the doorbell rang, like fifteen times and Marco ran to go get it to make it stop ringing, yelling, "Okay! Okay! I'm coming!" I was expecting loud greetings again but instead when Marco opened the door he yelle, "What? No! Get out of here!" Camelia looked taken aback and she yelled, "Marco! Let whoever it is in!" Marco groaned. "But-!" "No Marco!" Camelia interrupted. I laughed a bit. This was actually really funny to see Marco get scolded. Suddenly, Mina and Thomas came into the living room. "Hey Mrs. Bodt!" Thomas yelled, heading over to her. "Oh! Thomas! Mina!" She said, standing up. Great. These people. Then some... Really hot girl walked around the corner and Marco followed. Not gonna lie, I was probably pink in the face. She had dirty blonde hair that was wavy and had straight across bangs, and greyish green, droopy, but sharp eyes. She was wearing grey skinny jeans, black heeled boots, and I couldnt see her shirt but she had a big blue coat on, a pink scarf, and red mittens. Plus a blue baseball cap. "Oh! And Hitch!" Camelia exclaimed. Hitch... Hitch... I'd heard that name before... She looked at me. "Oh my God." She said, "Jean Kirchstein!" Then she grinned devilishly and I remembered... I had dated this girl during my senior year of highschool... We met online... That year, I was trying to get through my depression that was set on by my dad not caring and almost forbidding me from going to Coirtney. I was better now because I didnt care what my dad and family, minus my mom, though. Hitch was hotter now, though. I stood up. "H-Hey, Hitch." She laughed and hugged me. I hugged her back hesitantly. "Not so sad anymore I see!" She said, pulling away from me. Marco looked so confused. She turned to Marco. "Oh! Marco! Jean and I dated during both of our senior years of highschool!" Marco made this face that I cannot describe. It was a mix between confused, hurt, and what-the-actual-fuck. I almost laughed but I didnt think that'd be a good plan. "Oh... That's weird. Okay." "It is weird because I knew you, Marco, while I was dating him. And now you two are really close." Hitch said. Marco nodded. "Yeah... That's really weird... Ugh. I dont like it." I smirked. "Why dont you like it?" I asked him and Hitch put an arm around my shoulder. "Because I didnt think it would be possible for Hitch to get someone so great." He said, walking past us and heading over to where Camelia was talking to Thomas and Mina. I felt my face get hot. "Hey! Rude!" Hitch exclaimed. Then she said to me, "So how's life been, Jean?" I looked at her and she still had that grin on her face. I pulled her arm off of around my shoulders and let it go then I said, "It's been fine. Better than senior year of highschool." "Marco's great, right?" She asked. He's fucking amazing and I want to marry him. "He's cool." I said. "How'd you meet him, again?" I asked. "Oh!" Hitch said, "We met in highschool. I knew him then." Woah... Weird as Hell... It all connects. "I dated him in highshool." What the fuck?! "What-What?! Wait what?!" Everyone looked at me and my face got really hot. Marco grabbed my arm and said to Hitch as he pulled me into the kitchen, "Sorry. One second, Hitch." When we got in there he said, "What is up with you? Are you okay? You're acting weird..." I sighed and glared at him, "Hitch and I met online and dated for our senior years of highscool. I barely remember because I was trying to get past my dad almost forbidding me from going to Coirtney and I was depressed but I'm fine now because I dont care about my family minus my mother anymore." Marco stared at me owlishly then he knitted his eyebrows together, "Oh... I'm sorry, Jean... I had no idea it was like that... Or else I wouldnt have let Hitch in..." I glared at him for a second before sighing and relaxing. "It's okay. You didnt know." Marco then hugged me. "I'm sorry that your dad is like that, Jean..." Woah... Nobody's ever really cared about my dad problems before. I sighed and hugged him back. "Thanks, Marco... I'm okay now..." Then he pulled away. I was suddenly reminded about the Marco dating Hitch thing. "Hey!" I exclaimed. Marco jumped. "Jean... Dont just randomly yell like that..." "Hitch said you dated her! What the fuck? I thought you were gay!" Marco stared at me owlishly before he laughed and said, "I am! Okay! Listen-!" "What the fuck Marco?" I exclaimed. "I'm trying to tell you what the fuck, Jean!" Marco exclaimed, laughing more. He calmed down a bit then he said, "Okay! Listen! Jean. So. I never dated her, okay?-" "What?! Make up your mind!" I yelled. Marco laughed again, his face was turning red and he calmed down again. "Listen to me!" He exclaimed, "It was this thing we did in highschool. We fake dated for our junior year because this weird guy kept asking Hitch out. That's why. She's just joking around when she says that stuff. Like. Oh we 'dated' in highschool." "... What the fuck, Marco?!" I yelled. "Shh!" He exclaimed, putting his hand over my mouth. He looked into the living room and said, "Sorry! I'm taking care of this one!" Then he looked back at me and said, "Why are you so angry?" "Because that's weird." I mumbled into his hand, "Now. Get your hand off my mouth." I continued. Marco smirked at me and said, "No. You'll yell again." I licked his hand and he turned red and pulled his hand away. "Ew!" He wiped his hand on my shirt and I laughed. "Thanks." I said, grinning. "So Thomas and Mina were talking about going out and walking around downtown for a couple hours." Marco said, smiling. "Do you want to come with us?" "Yeah. Sure." I said. "Yay." He said, pulling me back into the living room.
Marco, Hitch, Thomas, Mina, and I headed out to Thomas's van. The van was actually pretty alright. It looked put-together enough and it had paint all over it. Thomas and Marco sat up front and the rest of us sat in the back. It was quiet until Thomas turned on the radio and Hollaback Girl by Gwen Stephani came on and we all started laughing while Thomas started dance-driving. "Turn that off!" Mina said, giggling. "What are you talking about?" Thomas said, "This my shit, man!" Marco laughed at his stupid pun and pretty soon everyone in the van was singing along while Thomas and Marco were dancing in the front being dorks. I had never seen Marco be so calm in a car before. "A few times I've been around that track so it's not just gonna happen like that cuz I aint no HOLLABACK GIRL!" Thomas screamed and Marco jumped and punched his shoulder. "Dont scream!" Thomas laughed. Thomas screaming reminded me of Reiner. Anytime I had been in the same car with him, he would randomly scream a word or phrase from the song that was on the radio at that time, scaring the shit out of everyone in the car. "But this is amazing! Dont even hate on my amazing singing, man!" Thomas exclaimed. "... Gonna sock it to you! That's right I'm the last one standing another one bites the dust!" We were all singing. "This shit is bananas! B-A-N-A-N-A-S!" Hitch yelled and all of us in response yelled, "This shit is bananas! B-A-N-A-N-A-S!" Then we all started dying of laughter. These people were a lot more fun than I had initially thought. I mean, I knew Hitch already but hanging out with someone in real life is a lot more fun. The song ended and we all cheered and laughed at our incredible performance of it. "Marco. Hook up your phone to the radio! It's been a while since Min', Hitch, and I heard those tunes you listen to!" "What? The ones you always used to make fun of?" Marco asked while he was plugging his phone into the radio. I had never heard what Marco listened to. If we listened to music together while we worked, it was always mine. Never his. Marco turned on his music and this song that I had never heard before came on. It sounded jazzy but I didnt know it. "Marco..." Thomas said, "Frank Sinatra? Really? Can I Steal a Little Love?" "See?" Marco exclaimed, "You always make fun of it!" The first line came up. "Can I steal a little love?" Mina sang it. "Bah! I'm just messing around with you, Marco!" Thomas exclaimed, "This aint bad music!" "Jean looks so confused!" Hitch exclaimed. Thomas looked at me in the rearview mirror and Marco turned around to look at me in his seat. "You arent familiar with Frank Sinatra?" He asked me, smiling. "Nope. You've heard my music before. And if I'd known about this music beforehand, you'd be hearing it in my phone, Marco." I said. Marco laughed a bit and said, "I'm glad you like it." Then he turned back around. "Tell me honey with a smile..." Thomas and Mina sang, "I can walk you down the aisle..." Marco joined in, "I wont even need a shove... Can I steal a little love?" Hitch was singing, too. I was surprised. This was good music and it made Marco so much more endearing to see that he listened to classic music like this. "Please tell me why are you driving me crazy." They sang, "And why do I dig you like I do." I smiled a bit. I could get used to hanging out with these people. "If I could steal a little kiss and you can prove that it's wrong-" Then Thomas suddenly screamed, "I'LL GIVE IT BACK TO YOOOUUUUUU!" Howling the word "you" in the process of his yelling. Marco jumped. "Stop that!" I laughed and so did Mina and Hitch. "Can I steal a little love, Marco?" Thomas said teasingly. Marco rolled his eyes. "Sure. But I can, however, prove that it's wrong so you dont want to do that." Thomas laughed. "Why is it wrong?" He asked Marco. "Because you arent the one in this car I'm trying to get romantically involved with." Both Mina and Hitch looked at me then and my face got hot. I sunk down in my seat. Dammit, Marco... Even when you flirt indirectly you make me fucking blush everywhere...
Eventually we got downtown and Thomas parked then we all got out of the car. When we were all out, Thomas locked the car then Mina went to grab Thomas' keys but Marco beat her to it and shoved the keys into his pocket. "Why? Everytime! Why do you need my keys?" Thomas exclaimed as we all started walking down the sidewalk, the girls walking in front. "Because we dont trust you to keep them safe, Thomas!" Marco exclaimed, "You're gonna lose them." "I am not, dude!" Thomas said, groaning. "Yes you are." Mina said. Then Thomas tried to get his keys from Marco's pocket. Marco slapped his hand away and Thomas pouted. "Ow." He said. "Yeah. It'll get worse if I hand these keys off to Jean because he will karate chop your arm off." I laughed. "Yeah. I will." Thomas looked at me, "Why, dude? Bros before hoes." He said, pointing his thumb at Marco. Marco's jaw dropped, offended. I couldnt help it, I laughed. "Oh my God!" Mina said, looking at us. "That's terrible!" "Jean! Whose side are you on?" Marco exclaimed. I laughed more. "I'm sorry, Marco! But that was perfect!" Thomas was laughing, too. Marco then caught up with Hitch and Mina, walking in front of us. "Aw man!" Thomas exclaimed to me, "You arent getting any tonite." My face got hot. "We are not dating." I said. "Really?" Thomas said, "Huh. Weird." Did we really look like we were dating? I mean, I didnt mind but... "So, are you even dating anyone, man?" Thomas asked me. "Naw." I said, "I mean. I'd like to and hopefully I will soon but who knows?" I looked at the back of Marco's head and Thomas followed my gaze then he grinned. "I could help you get with Marco." He said. I looked at him skeptically... "Yeah?" I asked. He nodded... I didnt trust his grin. "How exactly would you do that?" "Man. There's an ice skating thing that's gonna happen here downtown two days before New Years in the evening. Like, at seven. Happens every year. It's on the lake in front of the Christmas tree." He pointed up at the giant Christmas tree whose star on top was the only thing we could see since it was covered by the buildings in front of it. I nodded. "And...?" "Well..." He said, "You and Marco could go shop around, have some fun. Then go ice skating. Then you confess. Worked for me." I raised my eyebrow, "Are you even dating anybody?" Thomas shook his head no. "She dumped me a few weeks ago but I mean the confession on the ice still worked for me!" I smirked. "Whatever." Maybe I'd do that... I wasnt planning on anything big but I wouldnt mind doing what Thomas suggested. My phone suddenly rang and I pulled my phone out of my pocket. I saw that it was Connie and I sighed, answering my phone with, "Go away." "Hey!" Connie exclaimed, sounding offended. "What do you want?" I asked him. "How's your visit with Marco? Have you done the freckle frackle yet?" My face got hot. "Connie!" I exclaimed. Marco looked at me then he smiled, "Connie?" Then he slowed down to walk next to me. I smirked at him. "You walked away from me , Marco. If you want to talk to Connie you can call him yourself." Marco raised his eyebrows at me then he pulled his phone out of his pocket. He was not gonna call him right now... Marco tapped at his phone before putting it to his ear. "Oh hang on, Jean. I have a Marco call!" He then went silent from my line. I stared at Marco in disbelief at what just happened. "Hello?" He said, "Hi, Connie! How are you?" He stuck his tongue out at me playfully then he went and caught up with the girls again. Thomas laughed loudly. I hung up on Connie. This guy... If he wanted to play like that, fine. But I was stubborn as fuck. I called Connie again. By this time, Thomas had caught up with the girls and was starting a conversation with them. Connie soon came on my line, "What is it, Jean?" "Dont just leave in the middle of our conversation!" I exclaimed. There was silence then he said, "Why not?" He was being an ass and I was not amused. Marco looked at me as his line was cut off. "Jean!" He exclaimed, "I was having a conversation!" I grinned at Marco. "You cant just do that and expect me to not react." I said. Marco pursed his lips then he tapped away at his phone. "Connie." I said into the phone, "Do not leave my line!" Connie laughed, "Why not?" "Because Marco's being an ass!" I exclaimed, "I dont believe you. Op! I have a Sasha call." I sighed as Connie let Sasha into the coversation. I realized then that Connie didnt have to cut me off in order to talk to Marco and I was actually offended that he deliberately switched lines to talk to Marco instead of me. "Sash?" He said. "Connie! Answer Marco! He's dying!" I snapped my head up at Marco and he grinned at me, slowing down to walk next to me. "What?!" Connie exclaimed. "He is not dying!" I yelled, "He's right here! Listen!" I put the phone to Marco's mouth but Marco just smirked at me, not saying anything. "Oh you little-!" I said. Then I hit Marco in the face with my phone. "Ow! Jean!" He said. "AHA!" I exclaimed, putting my phone back to my ear. "Did you just hit him?!" Sasha exclaimed, "Jean how rude!" "What?!" I exclaimed, "But he lied to you and said he was dying!" "No he didnt! He told me that so I could mess with you two!" Oh shit. I looked at Marco and he was smirking at me, rubbing his nose. I frowned. "Bye guys." I then hung up on Connie and Sasha, barely hearig their protests. "You're an ass!" I exclaimed to Marco, "Where did this even come from?" Marco laughed. "I was just screwing around, Jean!" "Well it wasnt funny!" I said. Marco just laughed more and I sighed. "I thought you were nice, Marco." Marco grinned at me, "I dont think that's true." He said. "Clearly not!" I exclaimed. "You humble asshole!" "A humble asshole?" Marco asked me. I stared at him. Was this dude on drugs? "Are you frickin high?" He laughed, "No. Jean I'm just more comfortable here at home with my highschool friends." "You arent comfortable around me?" I asked. "Jean. We've been friends for a semester. I've lived here all my life and been friends eith these people for years. Not to mention talking to them gets me pumped up." "You need to calm the fuck down then because you're scaring me." He laughed. "What? I'm not supposed to be relaxed around my good friends?" He said. "You arent relaxed!" I exclaimed, "You're frickin hyper!" "Okay okay!" Marco said, "I'm sorry, Jean. I'll try to relax. I'm just too excited. Here." Then he took my hand. My face got hot and I yanked my hand away. "Dont try to distract me." He smirked at that. "I'm not, Jean." He held his hand out to me again and I sighed, considering it, before taking his hand.
"Good!" He exclaimed. It was quite a while before I felt at all composed. We went into a few shops and Hitch came up in between us in this candy shop. "So..." She said, "Why are you two holding hands?" I spluttered, looking at Marco, feeling my face go hot, and searching for an answer in my head. "Did you know that in India, close guy friends hold hands?" Marco said. Oh thank God... "We arent in India, though." Hitch pointed out. "That's not my problem." Marco replied, looking back at the candy. Pft! I grinned. Nice. Hitch laughed. "Sure. You guys are just close friends!" "Right." Marco said. "With benefits!" She exclaimed as she scampered away. Marco rolled his eyes tgrn he noticed how flushed I was. "You should know by now how Hitch is." He said. "I know," I said. "Why are you reacting like this then?" Because I fucking love you, weirdo! I shrugged. "I dunno." I said, "I guess it's just a little weird seeing her again. I never actually met her in person." Marco shook his head. "What?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "Oh I dont know." Marco said, "Maybe I'm too cautious but... Personally, meeting people online scares me. I dont want to get hurt. Also, I feel like meeting people in real life is really how you get to know someone. I mean, that's how I always did it. Maybe that's why I barely have any friends, though." He smiled a bit. I nodded in understanding. "I get it." I said, "I mean, I feel like I can be careful enough." He shrugged in response. I liked how we could have seperate opinions. That didnt bother me. "What even is this?" Marco said pulling a singing pickle in it's packaging off of the shelf. I laughed and he looked so confused. "We're in a candy shop! Why?" He said. "I dont know!" I exclaimed, taking it from him. "Try me." I said, reading the label and pushing the button on the pickle. It didnt do anything. "Rip offfff." I said. Marco laughed softly. I then put it back on the shelf and we hung out in that area for a few more minutes then started heading away but then the pickle started spouting Home on the Range. Marco and I both stopped and looked back at it then we looked at eachother. He looked terrified. "It's possessed!" Marco exclaimed, laughing a bit nervously and dragging me away from it. "Dont look it in the eyes!" I yelled, letting him drag me. "What did you do?" Mina asked us as we approached her. "We set off this pickle that was supposed to sing but it only started singing when we walked away." Marco said. She laughed, "What?" She said. Marco laughed, too. "Now it's just spouting Home on the Range." I said, grinning. "You guys shouldnt mess with that stuff." Marco grinned, "It said 'Try me', Mina." "Oh of course!" She exclaimed, "You have to poke it if it says that!" "Exactly!" I said. She rolled her eyes but she was smiling. "Men." She said.
We got back home later on. But as Marco and I were getting ready for bed, Maroc brought up the whole Graphic Design thing again. He was pulling on a nightshirt and I was just innocently tapping at my phone when he said, "So I talked to Mina about my intentions for Graphic Deisgn because it dawned on me that I never actually told any of my friends about that stuff." I raised an eyebrow, "Okay?" "And she said that I should really go into what I want to do and support my family with part of that money... And I agree after she explained her side..." Oh wow. Okay. "Oh really?" I asked. "Yep." He said, smiling at me. "I talked to my parents about it right before I came in here and they told me not to 'waste' my money on them." I nodded. Yes. I agree. "But they told me to do what I want to do. And so I'll go into clay art and support them with part of my money." I sighed, "Marco." He looked at me, his happy smile fading. "I think you should make as much money as ou want and just keep it for yourself. You're so nice. You deserve it." Marco narrowed his eyebrows, "No thanks. I've had a complete change of heart, Jean." He said, sitting at the end of the bed, "And I think you should do illustration-" I groaned. I knew this was coming, "-You'll be a lot happier." "Marco." I said, "I dont want to." He sighef softly and there was a pause, "Whatever you want..." "Thank you." I said, smiling. It was quiet as Marco got into bed and faced away from me. Then I heard him say, "We'll talk about this again..." Dammit.