Ch. 8 Fate

A/N: This is it. The chapter that I have been dreading. I'm sorry, but I really hate this chapter. Like, as in, if this wasn't mine and it was on my favorites list I would take it off if I read this chapter. It's that serious. Consider yourself warned.  Oh yeah, and none of the things that Marshall and Corrine are doing I am writing about from experience, trust me. I'm 13, how could I be?

Valentine's Day

Marshall and Corrine were enjoying themselves on their 2nd year anniversary. Lightly kissing on the couch in their den in the apartment, Lucas and Josie were out on a date. Since it was a Saturday and there weren't any classes, everyone was out with their boyfriend or their girlfriend, or else out on first time dates or moping.

Corrine had not had one of her dreams in a month. She took this as a good sign, and she was even letting Marshall drive out to the Quick Mart two blocks away to pick up shampoo, chocolate, and a few other things. But that was later. This was now.

Corrine felt an electric charge run through her body, and Marshall's kisses grew slowly and steadily more passionate and more fiery. She wondered why nothing like this hadn't happened before now, why their kisses were tenderer than wanting, and why, even on their Europe trip, the condoms (which she now lost) remained unused. But that didn't matter. It all led up to this moment for them. It made this moment, what she was sure was about to happen, as sure as the fact that Marshall was slowly unbuttoning her blouse, even more special.

(2 hours later)

"W-wow," Marshall stammered. It… what they had done… the sex… had been the most wonderful thing that either of them had ever done. Marshall still couldn't believe it.

"Y-yeah," Corrine stuttered, her now lying down on their bed, under the covers, next to Marshall. Marshall quickly stood up and put on his clothes, the front door had just been opened. Corrine followed suit, hoping that Josie and Lucas wouldn't be able to notice. If they would, that would be embarrassing. Very much so embarrassing. Still flushing, Corrine took Marshall's hand and they walked out the door.

Lucas and Josie were chatting happily, discussing their date, as Corrine and Marshall entered the room. Marshall still looked that if he talked, he would be stammering, so Corrine decided to be the one to talk.

"Hey guys, how was your date?" she asked casually, trying not to show the intense emotions she was currently feeling.

"It was excellent!" laughed Josie, "Valentine's Day is so much more fun when you…"

"Spend it with someone you love?" Lucas said in a husky voice, turning Josie to face him. Josie blushed scarlet, smiled at Lucas, then turned back to Corrine and Marshall.

"So how did you guys spend V-day?" Josie asked casually. Marshall muttered something no one could hear, so Corrine said the classic alibi.

"Snogging."

Josie, who could sort of tell something more was going on, decided to drop it.

"Anyway, I think I'm going to turn in. Lucas, try not to wake me, okay?" Josie yawned as Lucas nodded.

"Okay love," he replied before entering the bathroom.

Josie entered her room, leaving Marshall and Corrine alone again.

"Uh… want to turn in ourselves?" Marshall asked while holding Corrine around the waist.

Corrine placed her arms around his neck, "sure Marshall."

2 Weeks Later

"You sure you'll be ok? I mean, it's really wet and slippery outside and stuff…" Corrine asked. They needed some supplies from the nearest quickmart, but Lucas and Josie were out and Corrine had to be on an important phone call in 5 minuets.

"Yeah Corrine, it's only 2 blocks away, I'll be back before you know it," Marshall reassured her. Kissing her gently, Marshall went out to the car and drove away.

Grabbing the stuff and paying for it, Marshall's face suddenly turned white.

Jake was watching him in Aisle 2, the one with all the Ragu, grinning evilly.

Marshall grabbed his stuff and ran out to the car, and drove out as fast as he could.

Oh God… I'm such an idiot…Marshall's heart was beating madly. He took hundreds of detours, but he always saw a waiting Jake in a corner, and it wasn't his imagination.

He's following me… he was serious… shit! Marshall continued to try to ditch him for half an hour. Finally he realized that he was waiting in wait on Marshall's street. In order to avoid him, you'd have to reach the apartment first… which gives me a 1 chance of survival… I'm going to die, and I never even got to ask Corrine to marry me…parked a few blocks away, Marshall let his tears fall down his face. Never got to tell her how much I really do love her, never got to ask her to marry me, only got to make love to her once…his tears continued to spill down his face. Never got to have a family with her… only got to date her for 2 years… never got to tell her how much you really do love her… the tears still streamed down his face for another half hour.

Sucking in his breath, Marshall knew it was now or never. Face your death like a man, unlike Jake. And do it now.

Marshall began to quickly drive to the apartment, as fast as he could. He was almost there, he saw Corrine, beautiful Corrine, waiting for him on the front steps…

And then he saw Jake, streaking in front of him. He only had time to scream.

"CORRINE!" The cars crashed, Jake's last breath was a cackle, and Marshall's world blacked out.

Corrine let out a pained, helpless scream.

"Marshall!" she cried, and began running to the cars, tears streaming down her face faster than Jake's car had been.

Why did my dream have to come true? Why? Why? WHY? WHY?

Not bothering to see if the murder was alive, Corrine climbed through the wreckage to reach Marshall.

Although he was limp, although he was bruised and bleeding, although his eyes were loosely shut, although he didn't respond when Corrine touched him, he was breathing. He had a pulse. He was alive.

Corrine held his unconscious body, crying. She wasn't thinking straight. She was kissing him, hoping like in Sleeping Beauty that would wake him up. It didn't, but she continued to do it, thankful he was alive, even if it was only just.

That's when Corrine saw Jake, the murderer. All her newfound anger and rage streamed through her, she screamed and stood up.

"How the f could you do this to me? To Marshall?" she screamed, kicking the body in the head, then in the chest, then in the legs, then in the neck, making sure he was dead.

"You are a sick man! You are a bastard! You mom was a bitch! You don't care about anyone but yourself! I hope in your newfound death you go to hell! And that you rot there!" Corrine screamed.

Still fuming, Corrine couldn't forget Marshall. Turning back to him, Corrine dropped down to the ground and held him again, crying. He was still limp.

It was an hour later when a car came around the bend and came to a screeching halt, and someone inside of the car screamed.

Josie and Lucas jumped out of the car, and ran over to the wreckage.

Corrine looked like she had cracked. She was rocking back and forth, crying, and holding the limp form of Marshall.

"C-Corrine, is h-he…?" Josie stammered.

Corrine shook her head, but Josie didn't believe her. She checked herself, and then nodded.

"Yeah, he's alive. Lucas, call an ambulance!" Josie cried.

Turning back to Corrine, Josie looked at her. "Is Jake dead?" Josie asked softly.

Corrine nodded, and Josie nodded as Lucas came running back.

"I told them I didn't know how long he had been unconscious, so they're on their way now."

Josie heaved a sigh of relief. "Hear that Corrine? The professionals are coming, they're going to make Marshall get better," Josie didn't know how to address Corrine now, she looked like she had lost her mind. Corrine just nodded, but refused to let go of Marshall.

The ambulance came in 2 more minuets, and paramedics came rushing out.

"Ok, we're going to take him to the ER, and one of you is allowed to come," and both Lucas and Josie pointed at Corrine, who immediately woke up.

"I don't want to leave him" she whispered hoarsely, and the paramedic nodded.

"Ok, you two can follow in the police car," and Marshall was whisked away to the emergency room.

(1,385 Words) God I hate this chapter.