Mark looked at Laura. She looked really upset. "I'm explaining this really badly Laura." He said. "What I mean is sometimes when you touch a guy, he gets these feelings…and well they make him want to be with that woman." Mark felt like an idiot, he wasn't making her feel any better. Laura looked up at Mark. He looked so cute, trying to explain sex to her. She started grinning. Mark looked at her in surprise; she had started smiling at him "What?" he said. "You sound like a total goober." She said and started laughing. He laughed right along with her. He did sound like an idiot. She looked over at him "Mark I get what ya mean, I didn't mean anything, I was just totally focused on your tattoos and I wasn't thinking." "Laura you didn't do anything wrong. I am already feeling something for ya or it wouldn't have affected me like that." Mark said being totally honest. He looked at Laura to see her reaction. Laura was stunned. She had been having these feeling for Mark, but never in a million years did she think he felt the same. Mark had the feeling he had just fucked up. She just sat there. "Baby, I don't want ya to feel like I'm just waiting to pounce on ya, I would never touch you unless ya wanted me to." He said. Mark knew she had a fear of men; he didn't want her to be scared of him. "Mark I know that, silly." She said. "Im not scared of you, you been nothing but sweet to me." She swallowed hard. "Mark, I been having …I mean when I'm near you or touch you, It makes me feel….Oh Jeez…I don't know what to call it. You are the first person to ever be nice to me, or touch me without hurting me. I feel like I want to be with you all the time." Mark held out his hand to her. She took it and he pulled her onto his lap. "Baby girl, we got all the time in the world. We don't have to rush anything. We got the next six months to be together. I'm your friend first above anything. I will never hurt you or take advantage of you. Your only 17, I aint forgetting that. When you turn 18 well see what happens, until then your as safe with me as a newborn babe." He said. He bent over her and lowered his mouth to hers. He moved his mouth slowly over hers. He parted his lips slightly and tasted her lips. God she was so sweet. Laura head was spinning, she felt as if the bottom had dropped out beneath her. Mark lifted his head and gazed into her eyes. "Well maybe not that safe." He said. Mark grinned at her and she laughed. "You're a mess." She said. "Yea I know." He said.
Laura quickly slipped into a routine. She had all day school sessions on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Morning sessions the rest of the week. She and Jason had become great friends. The two seemed to have some connection. They spent most of there time together at school. They would sit outside on breaks. Mark would play his guitar while Laura would sing. The whole campus would gather to listen. Laura had the voice of an angel. Everyone was mesmerized by it. Laura loved school and was really starting to blossom and open up to people. Mark was thrilled that Laura was doing so well. He missed her terribly when she was at school. His heart would lift when she walked through the door. They had slipped into a comfortable relationship. Not much was mentioned about that night. They both were aware of there feelings for each other, but they had both put that on hold for now.
Laura walked in the door dragging Jason behind her. "Come on." She said. I wish you wouldn't make me come here." He said. "Mark doesn't like me." "Oh bullshit, you just don't know him." Laura said. "Listen I seen what he can do to you, I seen him destroy guys before." Jason said. She took him to the kitchen and got them a Pepsi. "You're talking about the Undertaker, that's just a character. That's not who he is." Laura said. "Right." He said. When I'm lying on the floor bleeding, Ill remember that." She laughed at him. "You're so paranoid." She said. They went to the den and got on the computer. Laura was showing him the software program she had wrote. "Laura, I got to show this to Uncle Steve, Can I take the disc, Ill bring it back Monday." He said. "Yea sure." She said. "I been telling him about you, I told him your going to be the next Bill Gates." He said. "Oh yeah right." She said. Jason just grinned. They went and sat down on the floor and were discussing the new math class they were both in. "Where is Mark?" Jason asked. Laura started laughing. "You're such a chicken." She said. "Damn right." He said. "Come on, I'm going to start dinner." She said. She opened some pork chops. She decided on Pork chops with gravy and rice. She got everything started and they went out to the deck. Jason started playing his guitar and Laura started singing along.
Mark came in the door. He seen the Cherokee was outside and her friends truck. Jason seemed like a good kid. But the kid was scared to death of him. Mark grinned. He liked that. He knew Jason and Laura were just friends, but fear would keep the kid from getting any ideas. Laura was his. Mark smelled dinner cooking, so he headed to the kitchen. He heard singing coming from the deck. Sounded like an angel. He opened the door. Jason was playing her guitar and Laura was singing. This was news to Mark; he had never heard her sing. She was singing a song by Mariah Carrey 'One Sweet Day'. God she had a beautiful voice. Mark walked out to the deck. She had finished the song and looked up and seen Mark. "Baby girl, I didn't know you could sing like that." He said. She just blushed and shrugged her shoulders. "Ya know any country songs?" he asked?" "Yea sure." She said. "Oh God, not country." Jason grumbled. Mark crossed his arms in front of his chest and gave Jason a nasty look. "Uhh country's good, I love country" Jason muttered. Laura just grinned. She went over and whispered something in Jason's ear. "Man you've got it bad don't you?" Jason said. He started playing the tune 'My Best Friend' Laura looked at Mark and started singing.
I never had no one that I could count on
I've been let down so many times
I was tired of hurtin'
So tired of searchin'
Til you walked into my life.
Mark was hanging on her every word; it was like she was singing only to him. He could feel her emotions coming through in the song.
It was a feelin'
I'd never known
And for the first time, I didn't feel alone.
Laura was pouring out her heart to Mark in the song. This was the only way she could tell him how she felt.
You're more than a lover
There could never be another
To make me feel the way you do
Oh, we just get closer
I fall in love all over
Everytime I look at you
I don't know where I'd be
Without you here with me
Life with you makes perfect sense
You're my best friend
You're my best friend, oh yeah
Mark felt his heart in his throat. God her voice was so beautiful. The love in her eyes as she sang to him was overwhelming. He wanted to take her in his arms.
You stand by me
And you believe in me
Like nobody ever has
When my world goes crazy
You're right there to save me
You make me see how much I have
And I still tremble when we touch
And oh the look in your eyes
When we make love
You're more than a lover
There could never be another
To make me feel the way you do
Oh, we just get closer
I fall in love all over
Everytime I look at you
I don't know where I'd be
Without you here with me
Life with you makes perfect sense
You're my best friend
You're my best friend
You're more than a lover
There could never be another
To make me feel the way you do
Oh, we just get closer
I fall in love all over
Everytime I look at you
I don't know where I'd be
Without you here with me
Life with you makes perfect sense
You're my best friend.
Laura finished the song and looked at Mark with so much love in her eyes. Jason got up. "Well I think I'm going." he said looking back and forth at them. Laura looked at Jason "stay for dinner." She said. "Noo, I don't think so. I told my Uncle I would be home for dinner. See ya Monday." He said as he walked out. Mark walked over and pulled Laura into his arms. "I love ya , Little girl. He said.
The lyrics in this chapter are from "My Best Friend" By Tim McGraw.