Almost a week later, Bonnibel shows up again. He smiles at her when she walks through the door, offering a wave. It's been awhile and her presence has been sorely missed. She offers back a weak smile and wave before another girl follows through, wrapping an arm around her shoulder.
He jerks back in surprise and she mouths, 'My Girlfriend' pointing at the black haired one. She stands a couple inches taller, tousled hair flowing down her back in a way almost fitting and graceful. She shoves her other unoccupied hand in a tight jean pocket, but not before readjusting a leather jacket.
Something about her demeanor is frighteningly familiar; he realizes as she finds him and stalks over. Her gait, her height, her stone and intimidating expression all come together. His mind's been extra slow today anyways.
She snaps him out of his thoughts when her hands slam down on the counter, one of the pair gripping his red polo and yanking him nearly off his feet. 'Strength too' he adds nervously to the list.
She snarls in a husky tone, "You been hitting on my girl?"
"Last time I checked, she has the right to talk to whoever she wants." He spits back, the words out before he can stop and think. A sense of déjà vu prods at the back of his mind, harder and harder with each passing moment…
"She can talk to whoever, just not guys who don't know boundaries. Guys like you. " She growls.
Bonnibel weakly tugs on the older girl's arm. "Marcy no.", tumbles out. Both tense up at the word.
He flinches, eyes widening with a glance at the younger girl. "Marcy?!" The fedora lazily on his head tilts to block his view.
He takes off his hat right when she takes off her sunglasses, taking the moment to look each other in the eyes. Their sibling stares right back at them. Marceline drops the boy with an incredulous chuckle.
"The fuck? Marshall Lee?!"
He rubs the back of his neck, smile breaking his expression. "Yeah!" His eyes give her the once over, taking in all the changes, especially lingering on the nose piercing. "Damn, you've changed like hell. Last time I saw you, I was taller."
She laughs, motioning for them to go outside. Once out in the sun and side by side, he can see she's as tall as him, if not a couple breaths taller. Crap, so much for genetics. They go in for a deep hug.
"I thought you were gonna go to, Uhh where Simon is. Hmm Charleston I think, for college."
She shrugs, face burying into his neck. Her voice vibrates his collar bone. "I thought twice and just… came home I guess."
Marshall hums in acknowledgement and squeezes her tight one more time before letting go. His thumb jerks to Bonnibel. "How'd you meet this beauty then?"
A far-too similar toothy grin comes in reply. Bonnibel watches on aside with a smile. "Ahh we started on the wrong foot. I met her a couple months ago at the beach, and after we both got ditched by our roommates, we just... talked." They share a glance. "Just kinda clicked I guess."
He raises his brows. Marceline, of all people, being romantic? Who would've thought?
Her next comment ruins the thought. "Oh and also some of that Abadeer-charm if ya know what I'm saying."
He laughs and nods, meeting a fist bump. Shortly after, she's thwacked by Bonnibel. Then he and Bonnibel promptly fist bump.
The trio chat for another half hour until Marshall has to get back to work. They promise to meet up/catch up some more later in the week. Before returning inside, he watches her red convertible drive off. As the boy slumps back in his chair, emotions battle wars in his heart.
Happiness from seeing his sister again for so long AND for seeing two amazing girls he's had the chance to be close to, be together.
Slight disappointment at being rejected.
And somehow, an indescribable feeling that tugs at the inside of his chest, tightening it. Making it harder to breathe.
It could be the rejection, but no, he's over that. He's been rejected far too many times in his life than he'd like to say out loud, or even recall. But being the laid-back jokester he is, he always appears to shrug it off. It makes it easier for everyone. Heck, mostly all of his current friends that are girls he's crushed on in the beginning at some point, then was rejected by.
It's a lie to say he's never dwelled on it. Each one hurts a little more than the last, yet he can never figure out why.
His appearance of being a playboy strikes everyone at a first glance. Even back in high school they thought he had all the girls, even without seeing him actually with one. All of these factors contribute to something, pulling, tying together inside his torso. Tightening his heart.
The feeling only rises by next week, and no matter how the boy pushes it down, it sets to a boil.
And, he notes with a shaky swallow, everything that builds up, must have a release.
Spoiler: Marshall's sis and Bonnie are hella gay
Gotta have that tension, too :P