AUTHOR'S NOTE: I'm so sorry, guys, but I got a small case of writer's block. That's why this chapter took so long...and there's some hint in this chapter of where the plot is going, but it won't really make sense until the next chapter. If anybody's been wondering, this story isn't AU. It'll make sense near the end...which I'm really not sure when that'll happen. But no hints, I want to surprise you! Okay...here we go, story time. Not like you people want to read more of this anyway. =P
Ah, and before I forget, review responses are at the end of the chapter. Thank you!
Be Stupid Chapter Five: When Marco Confesses
CRASH!
Marco groaned having found himself suddenly flung onto the cement sidewalk. It seemed like he was underneath somebody, but he couldn't be sure. All he could really think of at the moment was the throbbing pain in his head.
"Oh my gosh! I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Marco heard some woman frantically apologizing. It didn't help his head at all...
"I'm all right." Marco groaned, and got up to his feet, holding his pounding head. Now that his eyes were staring to work properly again, he got a good look at the woman who had crashed into him. She was...a tad eccentric, to say the least. Of course, with bright blue hair, how could she not be eccentric? She was cute, though.
Despite the fact that, judging from her clothes, she had to be nuts...she was cute.
"I'm so sorry...I just got a little caught up in something..." The woman rambled. Marco shook his head and thrust his palm in front of the woman's face. "Look," he said. "I'm fine, nobody's hurt. You really don't have to apologize."
The woman looked hurt and maybe a little bit angry. "Well, I believe it's only the right thing to do, you know."
Marco sighed. "Okay, okay. It's just that I'm looking for somebody...I really don't have the time to do this."
"You're looking for someone?" The woman repeated, sounding amused. "That's kind of ironic." When she saw Marco's confused expression, she went on. "Well, I'm helping a friend of mine look for someone..." The woman looked behind her. "Oh! There he is! Aximili, over here!" She called out and started waving her hand wildly.
Aximili? Marco thought. He went into shock for a moment, until the woman pulled him back by asking curiously, "What is your name, anyway?"
Marco shook his head violently to clear his thoughts. "Um...Marco. My name's Marco. What's yours?"
The woman smiled at him, her bright green eyes nearly glowing. "My full name is Tilopid-Eridks-Tusdne."
Oh, Marco thought. So she's an Andalite. Is that how she knows Ax? I wonder exactly how well she knows him... Marco scowled. He didn't want to think about it, he really didn't.
In a moment, Marco stopped thinking about it. He had to fight a not-so-small urge to run away again, and yet he stood fixed on the spot. With a gulp, Marco did actually manage to speak, to his amazement.
"Hey, Ax." He said with a small wave of his hand.
"Hello, Marco. Oh." Ax stuttered.
Tilopid blinked and then looked at Marco and back to Ax and back again. "Wait a sec...Ax, you know this guy?"
Marco watched Ax just nod in reply, his eyes not even on his companion, whose hand flew to her mouth.
"Then...oh my gosh!" She gasped, then immediately turned to Ax with eyes ablaze. "Aximili, why didn't you correct me? I was going to go chasing after the wrong Animorph!" Tilopid accused. Ax didn't respond, and it made Marco a bit nervous. A bit as in so nervous that his palms were getting covered in sweat. It wasn't that he minded, but he wasn't used to keeping eye contact with Ax for this long. He...didn't mind it at all, but it was odd. Different. I guess I'm plunging into a whole new definition of different. Marco thought, feeling oddly giddy. Marco had to admit that while he himself had joked about being in this situation, he'd never thought...
Well...okay, it was fun to joke about those tabloids and such that constantly accused him of being gay. But it wasn't like they were true! At least, I hadn't thought so... Marco admitted to himself.
Tilopid sighed in exasperation and gave Ax a sidelong glare, noticing that his attention had most definitely not been on her. Would you two talk to each other already? She snapped. Both guys gaped at her.
I swear, you're both idiots...but never mind. I'll leave you two boys alone, all right? Tilopid said, disappearing back into the back with a wave of her hand.
Marco opened his mouth to make a wisecrack, but found that he couldn't talk. Marco, you're an idiot. You run all around town looking for a guy and now you can't talk? Marco frowned at the voice in the back of his head, starting to get really irritated at it. However, it was Ax that broke the silence.
"You know that if a reporter found you here, this could ruin your reputation." The Andalite commented with a hint of a smile. Marco looked at him with a somewhat disbelieving look. "Ax, did you just try to make a joke?"
Marco sighed. "I'm dreaming. I'm having some sort of very screwed up dream, aren't I?" He declared dramatically.
"If you are dreaming, we would be dreaming the same dream. That is quite unlikely, so I doubt you are dreaming, Marco." Ax countered. Marco laughed. "Okay, so I guess I'm not dreaming." He said with a sort of smile.
There was another slight silence between the two, and then Marco wrenched up his courage to say what he'd intended to. "Look, Ax..." Marco started, and then took in a nervous gulp of breath before he went on.
"I'm sorry about being such a jerk. I shouldn't have run out on you like that...but I've been thinking and I think I did it because..." Marco nervously ran his hand through his hair, thinking of how to word what he was going to say next.
"I think I like you, Ax." He said, being met with silence.
You idiot! The little voice in the back of Marco's mind shouted. You're going to be lucky if he even forgives you! Why the heck did you say that?
Marco had to agree the voice in his head had a point. Oh man, this wasn't a smart move...
"Do you?" Ax asked suddenly, softly, surprisingly. Marco thought it over. Did he really like Ax? Then he realized...
Marco nodded. "Yes." He said. "Yes, I do."
Ax was staring at him in shock, obviously stricken with a lack of words. He wasn't even moving.
After about maybe three minutes, Marco starting waving his hand frantically in front of Ax's face.
"Hello, Earth to Ax-man? You there? Anybody home?" No answer. I think I've killed him... Marco thought.
Ax shook his head furiously, as if to spite Marco's thought. "I am conscious." Ax finally said, much to Marco's relief.
"That's good. You were starting to worry me, Ax-man." Marco said. Ax seemed to smile at that.
"Thank you for your concern." Ax said. Marco laughed. "No problem, Ax." Suddenly, Tilopid emerged from the bar.
"Hey, Aximili, Marco! Have you guys made up yet?" She asked as she walked towards the two.
"You're not blunt or anything, are you?" Marco teased her. She scowled at him. "That's not an answer."
Ax coughed to get their attention. "I believe I need to demorph. But to answer your question, yes."
Then he glanced at Marco. "I am correct, right?" He asked. Marco nodded, smiling. "Yeah, you're right."
Tilopid and Marco waited outside (Marco fending off questions from Tilopid) until Ax came out of the bar, back in his human morph, and then Tilopid stopped bugging Marco. To his immense relief.
"Oh no!" She shouted suddenly, glancing at her watch. "Oh crap, oh crap! It's past twelve! My girlfriend is gonna kill me!" Tilopid panicked. "Oh damn...well, um, I'm happy for you guys. Hope I see you around here sometime! Bye!"
Then she ran off at a superhuman speed.
"That girl is totally nuts." Marco said. Ax nodded. "Yes, I believe that's possible."
"Um..." Marco frowned. "Look, I've gonna have to get going...I have an interview around one, but I guess that...well, do you have anything planned for tonight?" He asked nervously. Ax blinked. "Tonight? No, I do not."
"Well, you will. I'll call you once I get home and think of something...if that's all right with you..." Marco said.
Ax laughed. "Of course." Marco smiled a shaky smile. "Okay, then. Well, see you some time tonight then!"
Marco and Ax then went their separate ways home, Marco privately wondering what Cassie would think of this.
Forlay - Really? That was a funny line? I just threw that in on a whim! I'm glad you like Tilopid. I was wondering if people were going to hate her, since she's very...well, I can't describe her. I'm going to try to not make this story too much of a downer, but it's going to be a little depressing sooner or later, though.
Lauren - Yeah, she's totally crazy! I thought the bar thing was pretty funny too.
Kronos - Wow, I have another person who likes my story! I'm shocked, amazed, flabbergasted...overdramatic...anyway, I hope this chapter didn't dissapoint and I will keep writing. Also, thanks for supporting me with the J/C thing.
