Chapter 3.1: Calm Before the Storm
Phoebe and Mark sat on the couch avoiding eye contact patiently waiting for Jack's return. Maybe the alcohol will ease the tension or make it worse. Mark nervously fidgeted with his hands while Phoebe just stared into space. Her face was drained of all color. To try and ease the tension, Mark turned to face Phoebe.
"So, um…how are you feeling? Will you be okay?" he nervously asked not expecting an answer.
With no response, Mark uneasily sat back onto the couch letting out a low sigh. Phoebe comes back from staring into space and begins to speak her voice growing louder.
"You ask how I feel…How am I supposed to feel Mark? I was trapped in my own head watching myself nearly strangle Jack to death!" Phoebe pauses for a moment to take a breath. She then turns to face Mark.
"Next thing I know, you or he are beating me to a bloody pulp!" Phoebe grew more frustrated. Her brown eyes were staring Mark down as if she wanted to slap him for asking such a question. Her fist becomes clenched.
"And you want to know how I'm feeling?!" she shouts breathing heavily as tears fall down her face and onto the floor.
Without realizing it, Phoebe finds herself standing up in front of Mark. She questioned when she stood up but ignores the thought. Mark just sits there unable to answer her questions. He's speechless and let's out a low sigh. To try and ease the tension, Mark slowly rises standing in front of her. Mark opens his mouth to say something but quickly shuts it. Without looking at her, he walks past her looking down shaking his head.
"…I just can't right now," Mark mumbles just barely out of ear shot while rubbing his temples.
"What did you say?! Speak up dammit!" she shouted loudly stomping her feet in a fit of rage.
"Answer me for God's sake!" Phoebe shouted at the top of her lungs.
"God can't even save us…" Mark mumbled to himself in a moment of despair.
"Quit mumbling! Say what you mean!" Phoebe shouted back out of frustration.
"Leave it be Phoebe!" Mark harkens back fist clenched. His teeth grinding back and forth not knowing what to do.
"You don't have that right to tell me to leave it be, Mark! I have every right to be upset!" Phoebe states following Mark and standing in his path stopping him. With Mark annoyingly staring back at her, Phoebe starts forcefully poking him in the chest as she barks orders.
"Now you are going to quick your stalling and tell me what the fuck is going on! Who or what is she…. I am now". Phoebe's voice begins to trail off as she looks down in defeat holding back tears. "Please Mark, just tell me."
"I'm afraid that if I tell you, you won't understand," he said with a sigh of defeat.
"Mark," she spoke with an annoyed quiet tone. "At this point, what I've seen, I have no choice but to understand.
Mark let out a low sigh and wrapped his arms around her as a sign of comfort. He did not let Phoebe go until she hugged him back. In this calm moment, Jack walks back into the room with a six pack of Jack Daniels and a six pack of Fireball Cinnamon whiskey. Noticing the mood has shifted, Jack is delighted to see that Phoebe has regained some life in her face.
"Well I see that you two have made uup…sorta," Jack spoke cheerfully.
"You can say that," Mark rebuttal letting go of Phoebe smiling back.
"Yeah, we're good Jack," Phoebe quickly commented letting go of Mark after realizing she hadn't let go when he had. Phoebe covered her face from Mark and Jack to disguise her embarrassment.
"Jack, why did you bring two different types of whiskey? There is only three of us here," Phoebe questioned pointing at the whiskey packs.
"Oh these, well it'll give us some 'liquid courage' and help you digest the information we are about to give you. Besides I think we all need some relaxation" Jack spoke back with a chuckle.
"Okay…I don't really drink alcohol, but I'll make an exception this time," Phoebe laughed back.
Jack walked towards the couch, both drinks in tow, and plopped down on the left side, Phoebe sat in the middle. Instead of joining the two on the couch, Mark grabbed a chair from the desk sitting in the corner of the room and placed in front of the pair. Mark felt responsible for what happened to Phoebe. Instead of letting the feeling linger, Mark gave a small smile to hide his feelings. Jack grabbed a Jack Daniels bottle, cracked it open and began chugging it.
"Whoa! That hits the spot! Mark, Phoebe grab a bottle!" Jack shouted delightfully holding his bottle out.
"Mmm alright yeah sure," Mark said through his big smile. He reached for the Fireball Whiskey, cracked one open and chugged it like a thirsty animal. He nudged towards Phoebe to drink with them to ease her mind. Giving in, she grabbed a Fireball Whiskey bottle only because it contained cinnamon. Her favorite.
"Now are ye ready for the truth?" Jack asked sly fully.
"Yes!" Phoebe spoke nodding her head.
"Come on Angelia, find somewhere already! We've been sitting in the lobby for 20 minutes now. She just needs food!" Felix harkened towards Angelia sitting next to him. Angelia politely placed her phone in her purse, turned to Felix giving him a deadeye.
"Look here Felix, it's her first time outside of Texas. I want her first meal here to be somewhat…special. So, excuse me wanting this to be rememberable for her!" Angelia spoke back with her hands-on hips pointing at Felix.
"Whoa there Taraji P. Henson. The man just thinks that Phoebe wouldn't be too picky for food since you two have not eaten all day is all," Ryan spoke back to ease the frustration between the two.
"Have you found a place yet Angelia?" Felix asked with an annoyed tone. Angelia did not respond but instead she stood up with her purse in hand and began walking towards the exit. Felix and Ryan looked at each other confused and quickly followed.
"Hey! Wait up!" Ryan shouted running after her. Angelia kept walking but gave the two men a response.
"You told me to pick a place and I did. You rushed me and now I'm leaving. Either get up or shut up!" Angelia spoke back in a sassy tone.
Both Ryan and Felix stood there in awe at Angelia's attitude towards them. The men shrugged it off as her being cranked from the lack of food. They followed Angelia out of the lobby and onto the busy streets of Anaheim, California. The sun was shining as bright as it could with clouds trying to hide its beauty. After walking for 20 minutes, Ryan became annoyed and became extremely curious.
"So, Angie, where are we going anyways? You didn't say much," Ryan asked Angie with a confused expression. "We can't aimlessly all day,"
Before answering the question, Angelia stopped in front of a restaurant and pointed upwards. The logo was like a golden angle and the building was an off shade of white.
"Inn-N-Out? Really? This was the 'perfect' place?" Felix questioned annoyingly. "Don't you Texans have an Inn-N-Out anyways?"
"Not where we're from. However, we do have a lot of Whataburgers! Besides neither of us have had it before so why not," Angelia responded with a growing smile.
Ryan and Felix chuckled slightly and opened the door for Angelia. She didn't understand their laughter but ignored it. Once inside, Angelia noticed that both places are very similar in design and color.
"Well, that's a letdown," she said disappointed.
"I tried telling you, it's not special," Felix said with a since of pride. His blue eyes glowing with a sense 'I told you so'.
"But wait 'til you taste the food! The burgers are bigger and juicier!" Ryan happily stated pulling both Angelia and Felix to the register to order. Angelia tried telling Ryan she wasn't sure on what to order. He ignored her resistance bringing them to the register. After being overloaded with the options, Angelia made her final decision and placed her order. Once the orders were placed, the three of them picked a table and sat down waiting for their food.
"So, Angie, how long have you and Mark known each other? I'm just curious, you don't have to answer," Ryan asked. Angelia hesitated to answer as if collecting her thoughts.
"Actually, Mark and I met at a VidCon a few years ago. I knew who he was, but I wasn't a huge fan at the time. During that VidCon, I was on the security staff. There were a lot more convention goers that year than normal. Some one shouted 'Markiplier' and everyone rushed him. Hundreds upon hundreds of people blocked the halls and any exits. This created a massive fire hazard. My team was called in to defuse the situation. I was able to get Mark out of there safely without much fuse. Afterwards, he ate lunch with the security staff and we kept in contact ever since. He's been more of a pen pal since I can't attend a lot of conventions. This is honestly the first time I've seen him in a long time. I'm glad I was able to share the experience," Angelia smirked at the old memory. She felt a warm sensation rush over her body and she began to let out a low laugh of happiness but stopped herself.
"That would explain why you didn't scream when you saw him unlike most fans," Felix sarcastically said.
"Yeah it does. I mean he is just a person, a good one at that," Angelia spoke back still smiling.
"Not to interrupt the trip down memory lane, what is the number again?" Ryan asked trying not to interrupt.
"Oh, it's numberrrrr 98. It's literally right here!" Angelia jokingly stated while pointing at the top of the receipt. Ryan blushed out of slight embarrassment. Felix and Angelia just laughed to themselves allowing Ryan to laugh the embarrassment away. In the mist of their laughter, Angelia's phone begins to ring interrupting their joy. Without saying a word, Angelia grabs her phone out of her purse and hurries outside.
"Well that was weird," Ryan says bewildered. He turns towards Felix whom has a confused yet concerned look on his face as well.
Once outside of Inn-N-Out, Angelia answered the call but did not say a word. She looked around her frantically making sure no one can hear her. Once the coast was clear, she finally answered the call.
"Yes…. They're where? Are-are you sure," Angelia questioned hyperventilating. Her thoughts were racing a thousand miles a minute.
"I understand but…I'm sorry, I didn't mean to ques—yes sir," she let out a low sigh and hung up the phone. She held her phone close to her chest for a moment, saying 'Ignosce mihi'. Just then Felix opens on the door concerned.
"Hey Angie, are you okay? We have the food. We can go back if you're concerned," Felix said in a comforting tone holding the take-out. Ryan was right behind him holding her purse. Angelia slowly turned around with a comforting smile to reassure them.
"Yes, I'm fine. Let's head back. I bet she's starving!" Angelia remarked jokingly.
It's a two parter with a cliffhanger, how dare I! All in all it was too much to add in one chapter. Things get crazy in the second part. Ciao!