It's almost two weeks until Bonnibel comes back again, the boy visibly brightening at her appearance. She gives a wave, and instead of going to her usual seat, walks straight up to the desk.
"Hey Marshall."
He pokes her in the arm, leaning over on his elbows. "Hey to you too! I was wondering, where has my best reader been all this time?"
She laughs awkwardly and rubs the back of her neck, shooting a glance behind her. "Actually I was hanging around with my cousin. He came down from England and is staying for a couple months. "
"Oh that's cool I-" Marshall moves to hop over the counter when a red haired boy catches his eye. He glances around, taking a few more hesitant steps through the automatic doors. Bonnibel waves him over, and he smiles.
The boy looks around Marceline's height, perhaps even taller than her, and with considerably wide build. His shoulders are broad and set, yet his thin waist proudly denies any accusations of excess weight. Marshall scoffs. Marshall Lee's gaze trains down his ensemble, noting the casual dress shirt rolled to the elbows, a brown leather belt and brown shorts.
Hey, at least he knows how to dress well.
The two share a quick conversation, but the details are fuzzy to the black haired one. As their voices fade in and out of Marshall's perception, the boy reaches up to run his hand through bright red hair. His smooth, thick locks curve up in the front, slipping back down his head and ending at the nape of his neck.
Still, despite it all, when the boy turns to face him with a smile he has to zone back in. Bonnibel's voice comes clear again.
"Marshall, I brought him with me. This is my cousin."
His eyes slowly turn back to the person of interest. He continues to smile at Marshall, plump cheeks displaying a dimple on one side. Marshall fully slides down from his perch, adjusting his pants whilst doing so.
A wide hand extends towards him, and alongside it.. that never wavering smile. "Hi, I'm Gabriel Gambell. Nice to meet you."
He stares at the hand for a moment. After an afterthought, he shakes himself out of that weird funk and takes it. Just as expected, it's almost the same length as his, but way thicker and softer. His own fingers look like straws compared to the other.
His mouth is moving as they shake, feeling the need to fill the silence. "So Bonnibel here's been taking you around town?"
His eyes crinkle a little at the corners as he nods. "Yes! It seems wonderful here, yet there's still so much more I must see."
The accent still throws him a bit off, but other than that, everything seems soft about Gabriel. Gosh even his name. Gabe- briel. Marshall throws a half look at the clock in the corner.
"Ehh I get off in an hour or two." His gaze switches over to Bonnibel. "I could take you guys to the best part of Aa."
Both seem ecstatic at the thought. It's when they're grinning in delight that he can easily tell they're related; the glint in their equally blue eyes, and the way they're noses scrunch up the slightest. It makes him grin right along.
"Okay, so why don't we meet up in like, hmm two hours say? Right in front of the library."
Bonnibel receives a notification on her phone, and she starts to pull Gabriel out the building. "Okay that sounds great!" His and Marshall's grip (were they still shaking hands the whole time?!) slips and he stares at Marshall the while.
"Bring a bathing suit!" He calls lastly, holding his hand with the other. He watches the pair's red car(Marceline's car to be specific) peel out the parking lot from the front door of the library, or at least until a little girl tugs on his pants leg. His eyes tear away from the sight to smile at her, take the child's hand and book, to check it out.
The beach. Ahh. The beaches in Aa and the wide rolling hills of Oo make the pair tourist eye-candy. On the drive there he unconsciously adjusts his red swimming trunks a third time, fixing them just right under the loose tanktop. Luckily Ms. Tuttle let him out early at the sound of such engaing plans. However, most of that extra time was spent solely on choosing the right outfit. Anyways, the pale sands pass by under his view as they drive past.
Marceline nudges him from the passenger seat, saying something else to tease. He doesn't notice and keeps his eyes out the window in thought. It's been awhile since he's been to the beach; hopefully its' better than he remembers. For… Bonnibel and them. To make a better impression.
Gabriel's voice breaks his inward flurry.
"Hey, hey! Marshall!" He taps his knee.
"What?"
The boy points out his side window. "Wow is that really the beach?"
He laughs a little before scooting away from the door. "Yeah, you wanna get better look?" Gabriel's leaning over him to gape out the window before he can blink.
"Why it looks so clean and lovely!"
"Heh. If you think that's cool, just you wait until we get in the water." The red head leans a bit further for a better view. His wide, gentle frame looms over Marshall's, and he presses a hand down on his leg to steady himself. After a moment he shoots him a grin from the side.
Right then, all of his wild and confusing thoughts stop. He grins right back, re-positioning them so they could both look outside.
Something tightens his chest in a good way for once.
About Gumball's description, I bet its different than you'd think. Rorart's version of him sure is different... but I like it.
And on another note... (eyebrow wiggle) You know whats comin' up next...