Chapter 4

Bonnibel Becket is really the least person I wanted to see right now. Especially when that person is the main character of my dreams last night.

But looking at her, it seems both of us were just as surprised to see each other.

"Oh," she uttered under her breath. "Marceline," and then a paused followed.

I tried to brush away the feeling of awkwardness around us. Usually, Bonnibel and I usually avoided each other's presence when we're in school but this time we were stuck in the pavilion of the school building since it was raining… so I really have no choice.

Swallowing the lump of nervousness that was stuck on my throat, I acknowledged her presence. I raised my left hand, looking at her way. My hands felt clammy. Nervousness, I think.

"Hi!" I said too loudly.

Ahhh! That was not so me at all! I unconsciously gripped tightly the umbrella I'm holding on my right hand.

"Uhmm." I don't know what to say. I faced infront looking at the gates of our school so far away from us.

When compared during lunch time, the rain was now softer and less harsh. But still, I was itching to say something since my ears were ringing from the sound of the pouring rain.

I don't know if I should start a conversation with her, or leave her there, or invite her under my umbrella – since she clearly doesn't have one.

Still, I offered her one. Because, it's better to offer, right?

"Do you have an umbrella?" I asked her without thinking of how this conversation would end. "I could let you in until you're in your car, you know," I offered to her sincerely.

Bonnibel was silent for a second but she looked at me and smiled. "Okay. Thanks, Marcy…line."

I actually noticed the calling. I feel like she was about to say my nickname but changed her mind. She used to always call me that nickname.

I tried to shake the memories aside and stretched out my arm that was holding the umbrella, a sign that Bonnibel could share it with me.

Bonnibel walked towards me and she shifted her bag so it wouldn't really get wet on her side.

We walked down the stairs and I could now feel the rain dripping on my left arm as we walked down towards the open area.

"You know," Bonnibel started casually. "It's very late to see you at school."

I chuckled, amused that it was Bonnibel and not me that started the conversation. I was actually really, really thankful that it was her who started the talking.

"Just the band thing. We kind of have a reservation of the music room during Fridays."

"Ahh, yes," Bonnibel nodded. "I'm aware of that".

I looked at her not following what she said.

Bonnibel noticed me looking at her and she sighed when she saw my clueless expression. "You know that your approval documents are being addressed to the Student Affairs, right?" Bonnibel explained with a matter-of-factly tone on her voice.

"Documents?" I asked, not really knowing a thing since it was Guy who manages paperwork in our band. I'm really feeling stupid now in front of her. And I don't want to look stupid infront of Bonnie. Ever.

"Hmhmm," Bonnibel nodded. "I'm the one who needs to approve it before your letters go to the Director of the Student Affairs for their approval."

Marceline didn't speak for a while until her mind fully processed what Bonnibel just said.

"Oh. Oh, yah!" I scratched the back of her head, embarrassed at how I forgot how important Bonnibel's work at school is. "I kind of… Yeah, you're the president."

I saw Bonnibel nodding.

For a moment, there was a silence until I broke it with another question. "So, I guess you stayed up late because of some student council works?"

I'm actually not sure if I should do some small talks and just pretend that we're two different strangers or schoolmates… or, you know, to just shut up my mouth… before I could ruin all of these.

But I feel like I already owe her something because she talked a while ago. I think that keeping a casual talk is better… I hope.

"Yep. It has always been like this," Bonnibel said, then looked around her. "But this weather is very inconvenient especially now that I don't have my car around."

I nodded, agreeing with her. She's also making some small talks. This made me think that I made the right choice. Go Marcy! I internally cheered for myself.

"Yeah, you're right. I have the same problem this morn- Wait!"

I suddenly stopped from walking. What Bonnibel just said just sink into me.

"You don't have your car around? I thought you said that you're…," I stopped midsentence, looking at Bonnibel again. "You have your car, right?"

Bonnibel looked back at me with also a puzzled expression. "I- Wait, did I said that I have my car around?"

"Well," I shrugged my shoulders. "Not really but I… mentioned that I'm going with you until you're in your car, and you agreed."

Bonnibel shook her head and groaned. "I'm sorry, I was- I'm sorry I'm not paying attention. I agreed with not having an umbrella though." She pushed her pink hair back, getting Marceline a whiff of her sweet bubblegum-scented shampoo, "I was just- My thoughts were just… occupied?" Bonnibel paused, ending it a question remark, like she wasn't even sure with her own words.

She just sighed again and Marceline nodded, really trying to understand what Bonnibel was trying to say.

They started walking again and by now they were by the gates of their school.

"Actually," Bonnibel started, smiling at the thought that passed through her mind a while ago. "I was actually planning to ask to ride with you. My car needs fixing. A tire was flat when I was about to go to school this morning," she shrugged her shoulders. "For the first time in a while, I get to ride a bus again."

A moment of clarification popped into my mind.

Now, that's what something off when I saw Bonnie on the bus stop this morning. She usually goes to school in her car.

"Believe it or not, I had the same thought," Marceline laughed. "I was planning to ride with you when I saw you in the building. So, I guess, we're going to ride a bus now? It will be my first time in a while too… Taking a bus, I mean."

"Really? How did you get to school this morning?"

"Well, Dad gave me a lift," I told her, remembering what happened early the morning. It felt so long ago yet it was just this morning.

Bonnibel nodded. Eventually she looked down.

I got the idea that something was bothering Bonnibel but I'm not completely sure if what I'm thinking is right because she was making another casual conversation to me.

"So, what happened to your car? Was it broken?" Bonnibel asked, looking engrossed in what happened to me.

This is Bonnibel we're talking. She wouldn't easily admit things – personal things. As much as possible, she would keep it to herself. She's probably tired now. Of course, I also had this thought in my mind that maybe I'm just overthinking.

"I'm not actually sure," I answered to Bonnie's question. "It just wouldn't start. Dad plans to check it with the mechanic."

Both of them were nearing the school bus stop. Marceline saw from the distance that a bus just stopped by. However, it was so cramped. When it reached their bus stop, one person only got off. It wasn't enough for Marcy and Bonnie to squeeze in. And so, they passed it up.

"If you want, we can walk back home?" Bonnibel suggested while we were standing under the shelter, waiting for another bus.

"What?" Marceline asked despite the fact that she heard it well.

"Ah, nothing," Bonnibel put up a clenched fist on her mouth, hiding her face from Marceline.

"No," Marceline shook her head immediately. Wait, was she embarrassed? Marceline thought. "I heard you. Wait, really?" I didn't even realize that I let a chuckle out of my mouth. It's just that I remembered the times when we would always walk back home during our younger years.

"Hey, what's funny about it? It's a perfect suggestion. And it's not like it's raining too hard," Bonnibel stretched her hand to feel the rain. "See," she looked at Marceline.

Marceline nodded. "It's not that I'm refusing. I just remembered you were kind of, you know, frail. And the distance now than our previous school is longer."

Bonnibel was never an athletic one. She had a respiratory problem before and had to go back and forth to their doctor for a check-up. As far as Marcie knows, it isn't severe now but Marcy just wanted to make sure Bonnie is alright.

And you look like you're tired that you could pass out any moment, I didn't say my thoughts out loud, of course. Now that I think about maybe I'm just worried for her, and maybe that's the reason why I'm thinking of this.

Bonnie smiled, "Don't worry we're not walking all the way home. Just until the next bus stop, and then we can ride one there if it's not that crowded inside."

"Ahhh, that makes more sense," I agreed. It was a logical reason. I'm now embarrassed. Yeah, that was very logical of her.

We started to walk away from the school bus stop and then crossed the street when we saw a pedestrian lane. I was about to ask Bonnie about some school stuff, you know, just to have that casual talk when Bonnie first started.

"Aren't you tired of holding the umbrella?" she said, looking at me. "Let me get it so you could at least rest your arm. I bet it's already sore from holding it."

Even without stretching my hand outside the umbrella, I could tell from the soft pattering of the rain from it that there is still some light drizzle, so of course there is still a need to use it. I don't want any of us to get sick or have colds after all. Plus, I don't want to burden Bonnibel with carrying it.

"Ahhh, I'm not really tired. Plus, I-" I didn't finish what I was about to say.

I was looking at her, at Bonnibel. That's when I realized that I am taller than her now.

When we were about 8, Bonnibel was taller than me. But during middle school, I grew taller and we're about the same height. That's about the time when Bonnie transferred. It seems that over the past 4 years that we haven't seen much each other, I grew up taller than her now.

Bonnibel tilted her head, confused that I trailed off speaking. "You…?"

"I just realized that I'm taller than you now," I said softly, out of the blue.

Bonnibel stopped walking, so I also stopped walking. She looked at me then. I guess, she's making sure if I was really taller than her now. Bonnibel opened her mouth, like she wanted to say something.

Deep inside myself, I thought that she was about to counter-argue, like she was about to point out that our height difference is not that even wide or something like that. She was like that. She doesn't want to lose an argument until she won it.

Or maybe she used to be like that. She's probably changed after all these years, right? Maybe I don't know her like that anymore.

But then she closed her mouth and eventually just smiled at me. "Ah, yeah. I didn't even realize that." And then she looked away, looking at the distance, at the road we're currently walking.

Is she sad? Because that's what I'm seeing it so far. Or maybe, she was feeling down because if only we continued to be friends, maybe a small thing like this is not something of a big deal to know.

Honestly, this is what I'm feeling. I'm feeling sad.

I don't know what really happened to us. It just seems that we drifted off away. I should've done something like talk to her, or even visit them at their house, right? But I didn't do anything. Maybe, I just really suck at being a friend.

In anyway, I don't like the current atmosphere surrounding us. So, changing the topic I continued walking and she followed suit. "I'll let you hold the umbrella only if I carry your large ass bag," I chuckled, getting back to our previous conversation like something didn't happen at all moments ago.

It looked like she was about to say something again but didn't continue it. "Err- I don't know," she worriedly said. "My bag is quite heavy."

I chuckled. "That's no problem, I can carry it."

Again, I can tell she wanted to argue but she didn't. She chuckled finally. "Fine, don't say I didn't warn you," she looked at me with challenging eyes, a look that is familiar to me.

She unslung her bag from her shoulder and gave it to me. I grabbed it but was caught off guard at how heavy it is. I mean, she already warned me, but it was really heavy. It was a really good thing that I didn't drop it on the ground.

"Oh, wow. It's REALLY heavy," I said with emphasis.

She laughed. The kind of laugh that make your eyes go squint and make you stop in your tracks because of how funny a joke is.

Oh god, it was so cute. And then, I want to slap myself for thinking like that.

"I told you," she said, still laughing. She grabbed my hand to get the umbrella. I can feel how warm her hand is from that. With how cold the weather is, the warmth coming from that small touch is so gratifying.

"What's inside this?" I slung her bag on my shoulder, away from the side of the pouring rain. Now I have two bags slinging on my right shoulder.

"Wait, give me your bag," she said, now the one holding the umbrella. I could tell she was trying to fit us both inside with the way how she handles it.

I wanted to say that I got this but, I really didn't. I didn't want to argue with her, so I gave her willingly my bag.

"Wow, do you still go to school with the amount this bag carries?" she said, the moment she got it.

I laughed as a response.

Yeah, that was another reason I let her carry it. I don't really carry my books back at home. I'm always leaving it at my locker. I always just put the essentials to bring to school, just paper and pen is enough. That's it.

"Well, I'm so sorry," I said to her, still chuckling. "I never even review my notes and books when I go home."

Bonnie looked at me with unbelieving eyes. "I do hope your subjects are in passing grades."

"Hmmm..." I contemplated about what should I answer. "Average at least?"

Bonnibel chuckled, shaking her head in disbelief. "That's so you, Marceline."

I smiled at her, now noticing how the pink of her hair was different in color under the light. "Yeah," I agree. I never really excel at school, although I didn't also flunk. Just between average is really the right word.

We just continued our walk after that. Sometimes she would lead me at different parts of the road just to avoid some puddles on the grounds.

The rain also didn't stop, but it didn't also get weaker. As far as Marceline noticed it, the pattering of the rain on their umbrella got slightly louder. It was actually not that noticeable, but Marceline noticed it. She's very sensitive to sounds, after all.

The worst-case scenario that would ever happen to them at this point is if it would rain hard again and they haven't still taken the bus… or crush that thought. If we still haven't made it in the bus stop, because where would we took shelter under the rain, right?

I just tried not to think of it and looked at our surroundings. Despite how dark the night is, especially with the dark and cloudy weather, a lot of streetlights filled up the entire street. So, it's not scary to walk in this evening.

The sidewalk is not that busy too, but not also that empty. Just filled with several people that are under their own umbrellas walking probably on their way home, just like us.

Finally, we arrived at another bus stop a couple of minutes after walking with some slight casual… and awkward (or maybe it's just my thought) conversations.

We just talked about some stuff on school, like if we knew this professor, or how bad this professor at teaching this subject is, or how the exams are difficult (Bonnibel is such humble, please). Just school stuff, and nothing about us or the past… or why we drifted away from each other.

We were the only one on the stop and the bus still hasn't arrived when we got there. I asked Bonnie how she's feeling the moment we were under roof.

"I'm fine," she said, bringing down the umbrella.

"Not having a hard time breathing?"

Bonnibel chuckled. "I'm not the same as I was, Marceline. I'm fine," she said while fishing something from her pocket, probably a phone or a handkerchief.

I feel like she wanted it to be light but the way she worded it felt like a slap to my face and I guess, she realized it too because she froze for a moment.

"Wait, I…I don't- That's not-," she first looked at me and then looked down at her feet.

I understand it. "Hey, no problem. I understand what you meant," I laughed, to lighten up the mood between us.

It was a good thing the bus was about to come so we have something to divert and look to.

When it pulled up, several passengers came down. So, obviously it has available seats inside.

Inside the bus, I sat at a window side making Bonnibel to sit at the aisle side. We still haven't exchange bags so I just kept carrying her bag and she carries mine on her lap. But she eventually said that we should just exchange bags.

"I don't want to burden you. It's heavy after all," she said.

I nodded. But I wasn't even thinking that it was heavy nor a burden to me. Still, I gave it back.

For a couple of minutes, I was following the trails of the rain droplets splashing on the window when Bonnie interrupted my musings.

"Marce-y…" she said, softly.

"Yeah?" I turned my head to look at her, but she was looking in front. It took me a while to notice that she prolonged the way she called my name to that nickname.

Again, I feel like she was about to say my nickname but changed her mind. Honestly, it would be no problem to me if she just says my nickname like she usually does. But I guess, I'm like that too. After all, I still haven't said her name out loud.

"Do you remember that time when we always walk our way home?" She smiled.

I actually thought that there's this unspoken rule on us to never bring up the past, but Bonnie was the one who first started it so I'm glad. I really lack the courage.

"You always leave me," she laughed, the laugh I'm familiar and in love with. "You're always fast to walk." She then looked at me before smiling again. "But you're always waiting for me at the next block."

I scoffed from laughing. I actually forgotten about it until she made me remembered it again. "Awww. Aren't I such a sweet child?" I teased her, earning another laugh from her. I love it when I make her laugh.

The entire trip we reminisced about our childhood days. It feels like I just took a deep dive down memory lane. Some of what Bonnie talks about are things that I have forgotten entirely until this.

I guess, the same goes for her. Because when I told her how I got her hands wounded at some point by making her throw rocks (Yes, her skin is that sensitive), she looked surprised for not remembering it.

"Oh, yeah. I completely forgotten about that. We were in so much panic."

"Actually, it was only me panicking. You were so calm even in many things."

Bonnibel shakes her head, "No, I was also panicking. I- I'm scared my parents would… ban me from seeing you," she shakes her head in nervous laughter. "I have a piano competition that week, you know."

That made her also tell me that just stops playing piano professionally. That made me sad, because I missed her playing.

"I still play though," Bonnibel slumped down on her seat. "But just when I feel it… I don't want to waste all my learnings, after all."

I chuckled, "That's so you."

"Marcy… I really missed you,". I looked at her when she said that. "I'm glad you took a walk with me," she looked at me smiling, a smile that reached her eyes.

I'm left speechless. "I missed you too, Bonnie."

She looked behind me and I find myself looking at her eyes.

From the feeling of the bus decelerating, I guess we're at her bus stop. It was the same corner street where Marceline saw Bonnibel in the morning. As for her own stop, it was still a couple of blocks away.

"Oh, okay, so this is my stop." We look at each other eyes.

She grabbed my shoulder and lightly squeezed it. "Bye, Marceline. Always take care, okay? I mean it." She quickly hugged me and then she was walking away.

I don't know what was I thinking but the moment she got down from the bus, I stood from my seat and ran infront, letting know to the driver that I am also getting down.

I heard the driver muttering under his breath while he was getting the door open again and I yelled sorry as I got down the bus.

Bonnibel looked back. she was already under roof of the bus stop. She was looking at me, her eyebrows creased in confusion. "Wait, why did you-?"

"Well, how will you go home?" I walked, not bothering to open the umbrella since it was only a small distance from where the bus made me stop and from where Bonnibel was standing despite the rain. "Do you have an umbrella?"

She stared at me for a while until she laughed. "Well, I can call Greg to pick me up here. He said yesterday that he's going home tonight."

"Oh," now I look dumbfounded and stupid.

Ah, shit. I didn't think this through. I want to crawl under the ground and hide myself from embarrassment.

Bonnibel was still looking at me, amusement behind her eyes. "I appreciate it though. You coming," she said, sitting down on the bench. "If you want you could stay at home for a while and then we'll drive you home back."

I feel my face warming up from what she said. "I- Yeah, thank you," I replied before also sitting down next to her. "That would be nice."

Note:

Ahhhh. Finally an update! I'm really, really sorry for my last note. My last note says that I'm posting this chapter (Ch 4) after a week that I posted the last chapter (Ch 3). T.T I'm sorry. Huhuhu. I really thought that I can make it since it was only about 2 or 3 pages before I finished this. But I stopped writing after that… (_) and completely forgot it again. O,O

Anyway, I'm really sorry. I thought, I've learnt already to never post promises T.T

But a quick A/N, I also had a hard time writing this. Probably because I wrote this in a first person's point of view (Marceline) when I started this fic (2017). So, while writing this chapter, I sometimes shift back to a 3rd Person's POV, which is what I'm always using now and currently used to. So, if you noticed some weird POV that seems out of the setting or you know out of tone, hahaha, I'm really sorry about that. I probably haven't edited that out yet.

Chapters 1 to 3 are still from 2017(?) but this chapter is the third revision of chapter 4. Lol. Auugh. The first revision was posted in my account but I changed my plot. Grrr. The second revision is sitting prettily in one of my folders in my laptop along with Chapters 5 and 6. And that was when I stopped writing in (2018?) And last year (late 2020) I picked this up again because I was really into Bubbline again. Hahhaa. (Obsidian *cough*) But reading what I wrote for chapters 4 to 6… It was so angsty. I don't like it. Hahaha. So, I changed Chapter 4 again. Wooh! And this is it. Hahaha.

Another thing, I made this longer than I intended. I really thought that it's only about 2 or 3 more pages before I can finish it but before I know it, I added 3 more pages. So, it's sitting at 10 pages. T.T

I'll try to write the next chapter quickly while I still have some of my passion left. Hahahaha. I'm not promising now when I'll update. But huhu. I hope some of you are still here, in this fandom.

If you have questions or if you liked my story… :) Thank you so much. :3 I appreciate it. : Sorry for the long ass author's note. :

I'm also in twitter sentimeteor. XD