She'd asked him out to a drink, no, not as a date. It was a hard day for them both, they needed it, they went as friends. And they got completely smashed, of course. It wasn't some get-drunk-off-your-rocker-and-confess-in-slurs moment, it wasn't a we're-drunk-as-fuck-let's-hook-up thing, it wasn't even a why-the-hell-am-I-waking-up-next-to-you-and-where-am-I situation. They both got drunk to the point of no return, proceeded to drink some more, and Jennet got sick. She upchucked anything she'd eaten that day, which she'd stated before wasn't much since she didn't have time for much that day.
It was really hard on her, and Mark himself was getting a headache from the dehydration of having no drank any water that day- normally he would have, but not today when he decided to drink twice his weight in alcohol. It's not like he was alcoholic, and Jennet didn't drink all that often herself, but it was one of those days... they needed it. And in an effort to drown the memory of that day, they went too far.
Mark slurred into his cellphone as he held back Jennet's hair and she threw up some more, his own stomach churning at the sound of her sickness. The taxi driver finally picked out the location given between his slurring, and arrived there in fifteen minutes. Jennet leaned against Mark i the back seat, and he had opened the window for fresh air so she wouldn't throw up again.
Whenever a nauseating swerve in the road came up, he put pulled her back to him if she was sitting straight, and used his other hand to tilt her head back. She had gotten annoyed with him doing this a few times but shut up when he warned her about her state of nausea. They eventually got to his apartment, and he helped her upstairs. He laid her on his bed, and went into the bathroom, rinsing off his face, and watching the mirror.
He felt himself get dizzy for a moment, and pressed his palms onto the cold counter on either side of the sink. He looked into his own eyes in the mirror, eyebrows furrowed as he tried to fight off the dizziness. His eyes changed to a maroon color, soon fading into crimson. I know all that you hide. He felt his lips move, but a mimic of his voice that wasn't quite his flowed out. He sneered as his eyes were returned to their blackened chocolate color.
Turning away from the mirror, he left the washroom and back to his bedroom. He'd almost forgotten about Jennet, in his short stop to the other room to cool off. But there she lay, sprawled across his bed, and she'd apparently pulled one of his pillows to her chest. He simply watched her, inspecting her limp body as her slightly disrupted soft breathing caused her rib cage to rise and fall.
"Hmm." Was all that he said, watching her paled calm face as she slept, oh so peacefully. He walked over and sat on the edge of the bed, not waking her as he shifted her to the other side of the bed. He lay facing the other way, and eventually fell asleep. When he'd awakened, he'd seen she was still asleep. He watched her once again, simply sleeping away the drinks that would come to bite her back when she woke. It was different though, this time, this time he wanted to touch her. Feel her heartbeat under his palm.
He'd never cared for that before, and his still groggy mind couldn't process any explanation... or argument for that matter. So, he leaned over her shoulder, and brushed the hair out of her face. His palm brushed lightly over her cheek in doing so, and she barely stirred. Content, he shrugged and stood, leaving the room that filled with soft snores to her.
He waited off his hangover, and it wasn't as bad as he expected... it was much worse. He'd found himself at one point sitting in the kitchen with his back to the wall just breathing, and feeling the beat of his heart in his head... painfully. He'd been overtaken by nausea a few times, and was beyond tired of it. He eventually recorded his videos for that day, and was amazed to find himself being as good a mood as ever despite his hangover.
Jennet eventually woke up, stretching and yawning, saying hi to Mark who explained that he'd let her stay the previous night, and running to the bathroom to throw up whatever was left in her stomach after that night. She hung out with him after he was done recording, they played games, sat on the couch and talked.
That's when it happened... they were just joking, it was all just a joke. And then she'd suddenly just... out of the blue. He wasn't expecting it.
"Hey Mark, I know you've probably figured already, but I really like you, you know that?" She'd asked, and he'd been speechless. He didn't know what to say, sure, he'd assume like most that Jennet had liked him, but he didn't think she'd ask him if he knew... let alone confirm his assumption. "Well, I want to go out on a date with you, to lunch sometime maybe. What do you say?" She had seemed nervous, but he had to admit she had courage to just blatantly say that.
He didn't know how to react, or what to think of it. "I'll... think about it." He was honest with that, he'd spend a lot of time thinking about it. He didn't really know how he felt about her, she was a good friend sure, but dating her? He didn't really know what to make of it. He was sure not to be awkward though, and she didn't seem to act awkward either, after that they both decided verbally that they would remain friends regardless, and moved on to another game.
She eventually left, going to the place she called home. And he thought about it, thought about her. He couldn't say he hadn't found her attractive, the girl was beautiful. Jennet was also a very humorous and lighthearted girl, but he guessed she had to be since she was pretty clumsy and laughed at herself often. She wasn't very confident about where she stood artistic wise, but he always told her she was a great artist, and she always believed him.
She also supported him, and they had so many things in common- they'd known that since day one. He eventually came to the conclusion that he did have feelings of admiration towards Jennet, and called her. He asked her out on a date, to see a movie, and to dinner. It went well, the movie was great and had them both laughing way more than necessary to the annoyance of the other people in the movie theater at the time- he couldn't help that his voice carried, and yes he admit it was mostly himself. Jennet was a very soft voiced girl.
They'd had dinner at some nearby restaurant, and they'd both enjoyed themselves. At the end of the night, it was clear that they were going to be a great couple, and they both obviously had a strong connection to one another... So, when he dropped her off at her homestead, he gave her a kiss goodbye. Not the kind you'd give a girl you want to invite you in, and ask you to stay, not one that left her out of breath. Just a simple sweet kiss, that only expressed the simplicity that was the happiness he felt at that moment, being content with Jennet there.
She'd waved goodbye and he went back to his apartment, and slept surprisingly well. Now that he didn't have the decision in his mind, and had much simpler thoughts in his head, he was able to finally rest well.
But... It wasn't long until complications he'd forgotten about caught up to him, reminded him who and what he was. She wasn't safe with him... after everything that happened, he couldn't even remember it all. He never wanted to recall it, the end as he remembered it was before he left; they'd spent the one last time together before daybreak where he had to leave her behind her- and eventually, she too left. She was too far away for him to get to... It was hard.
And even after all that had happened, the cause of all their suffering together remained with him, still reminding him of everything, though it was no longer centered in his mind and body... it still lingered, and he hated it for that. And then, here she was again, putting herself at risk by being here... again... and what was more?
He'd have to spend the next two weeks with her glued to his hip, reminding him of all the ways he'd fucked up, and everything he'd put her through.
"Ah, Mark! Glad you could make it at such short notice- hey, are you okay?" He could hear Marin's voice, but it didn't quite click in his head that she was concerned, standing in a tensed stance with his jaw set as he gauged for Jennet's reaction to his being there. It wasn't what he expected, no it was worse, so much worse.
He expected her to be surprised... but no, when she heard Marin mention him, Jennet spun to face him. Her face was covered with worry, fear, and wariness... a look of regret underneath it all. It hit him hard that she would give him a look like that, and he knew it showed, taking a step back as if the blow were a physical one. "Mark, Mark? You alright?" Marin walked over, snapping him out of his weird trance, he turned his gaze to Marin hesitantly. "I'm fine." He said in a rough, tired voice- it wasn't what he expected himself to sound like.
"Don't worry about introductions, Marin, we've been... acquainted." Jennet's voice was thick, almost cold, and it stung him more than he should have let it. Was he hopeful thinking she would forget? Thinking she would forgive, and move on?
"Oh okay! I guess you'll be okay then? I have to get heading out to the airport again, I have another guest flying in today. Will you two be okay on your own?" Marin asked, seeming oblivious to the obvious tension, even some of the bystanders had noticed the awkward feeling. "We're grown people, Marin, we'll be okay." Mark tried to laugh off the uncomfortable situation, but the laugh sounded almost as forced as it was. Marin however took it for what it was and took her leave, waving to Jennet before exiting the building.
"Jennet..." He started, stepping towards her with an exasperated look on his face, and an apologetic tone, but his approach seemed to be a bad idea as she gave him a stern look in return. She steadied her stance, shoulders tensed and head high, her voice was cold and unforgiving as she cut him off. "Mark." She stated plainly, as if they were old enemies who had been forced to work together...
He hoped that wasn't what this was. She suddenly sounded bitter, but he supposed she felt as broken as he did, at this sudden reuniting of them- but, that's not what it really was. And he caused this... setting fire to an old past pain brought back to light, and he felt troubled by the sudden empty feeling he received; she despised him, her stance suggested it, her tone said it, and her eyes confirmed it. There didn't seem to be a part of her that forgave him...
Hey guys! I really wanted to bring to light more foreshadowing here... Before you complain about anything, the foreshadowing is more suggesting the past which will be written in a prequel maybe, and as a back story while I write this one probably. It depends, I don't want to get the two stories confused, since a lot of this will be repetitive of the past. But I felt like this story had to come first... So yeah, old girlfriend who doesn't have very warm fuzzy feelings shows up, greaaat, a whole two weeks of bonding! Poor Markimoo... There was a song reference in this, but it was a small one, and the song isn't relevant at all- I was just kinda listening to it like "Eh, might as well?" so there.
Thank you all for reading, and as always, I will see you... in the next chapter. Buh-Bye! -Adamented/Ada