Chapter 4, Picnics and Part time jobs
The rest of Fionna's school week went by without much strife. She had been nearly been kicked out of her spot at the lunch table for a second time, by the Mohawked girl who's name she had discovered to be Ashley, until Marshal Lee had dumped Ashley onto the ground, and forcefully placed Fionna in the spot next to him. Fionna couldn't help but feel bad for the Ashley girl; she did not mind giving the seat back. Ashley, however, would have nothing to do with the table after that. Instead for the rest of the week Ashley would wait for Marshal after his classes and glomp onto him the moment he step out the door. Every time Fionna saw the spectacle she simply laughed, shaking her head as she walked past an irritated Marshal and often crying Ashley.
Fionna thought about her Friday afternoon just after seeing Marshal try to peel Ashley off of himself, she had meant to ask Marshal if he could show her the surrounding town. He was really the only one of the group she felt she could trust to not seriously hit on her, other than Morco… 'But he doesn't even speak to me much' she thought to herself pushing the thought of asking Morco out of her head.
She felt a bit stalkerish, following Ashley and Marshal around the school. However Fionna was more than determined to ask Marshal to be her guide. And so, the moment Ashley was peeled off of his arm, she instantly took her place, grabbing his jacket gently. He looked at her questioningly; she simply shook her head and pulled him along. Ashley was left gapping in front of her classroom. Marshal could help but grin, as he followed Fionna, she had a small blush on her face causing his grin to grow wider.
They did not stop moving until they were well into the abandoned hall, a supposedly haunted hall that use to be the science portion of the academy that housed ghosts of teachers and students that were killed in a runaway experiment. Fionna speculated that in actuality it was just an abandon hall that was no longer needed by the school. Fionna let go of the jacket and took three steps back before saying anything to Marshal. When she went to explain herself he cut her off.
"So, couldn't control your feelings anymore huh Fi?" Fionna blushed slightly at his words. She blushed at just about everything that ever came out of his mouth. It had started her first day of class, just after he had given her the ridiculous nickname.
"Oh please Marshal, I'm not in love with you. Sorry Marsh, hate to hurt your ego, you're my friend. And I was hoping that as my friend you'd be willing to show me around town." The instant the words were out of her mouth she wanted to stuff them back down her throat and to call the whole meeting alone in the abandon hall thing off. She saw the way Marshals mind worked what she had said, and when he grinned a devilish smirk, she could not help but turn ten shades of red.
"You wanna go out? With me?" His eyes twinkled; he tried to shrug off the excitement that burrowed inside of him. He wanted to hang out with Fionna one on one, outside of school and their friends. However he could just pass up a chance to tease Fionna a little. "Little Fi wants to go out on a date" He chuckled at his own words; Fionna simply squirmed giving a slight pout.
"Do not! I just… wanna hang out; see the town with a cool guy…" Fionna crossed her arms and turned away from him slightly. "Should've known you'd blow it outta proportion." Fionna grumbled, the sound made Marshal grin even more. She wanted to hang out with just him. No Cake, no Iggy, just a cool guy.
"Sure." He said gently much to Fionna's surprise. "We can go into town tomorrow. Meet me out front at like 8." She gave him a smile, quickly flinging her arms around his neck. She gave him a tight hug before running off, leaving him in a mix of surprise, happy that she had hugged him, as well as disappointed that the hug had ended so abruptly.
"Thanks Marsh!" She said as she disappeared down the corridor.
Marshal watched her disappear, the grin on his face turning into an actual smile. Despite what Fionna called it, he had a date with her.
Fionna sighed as she waited for Marshal. She desperate wished she had not said anything to Cake. It she had kept her outing with Marshal a secret from her friend she knew she would not be standing in a skirt, her hair down, and a purse in her hand. "Cake I swear I'm gonna kill you" She said to herself, tucking a piece of hair into a clip. She quickly scanned the area, half-heartedly thinking she was being stood up. She was just about to kick the picnic basket Cake had packed for them, when Marshals voiced caused her to jump.
"Wow… Fi, you look awesome." Fionna spun around, causing her skirt to flare out as she did. She smiled at him, clasping her hands around her purses strap. Looking him over, Fionna groaned inwardly. He was still better dressed then she was. He shoved his hands into his faded blue skinny jeans, watching her with a stunned look over his face. She also noted his regular red and black plaid shirt under a light grey V-neck sweater. Fionna could not help but smile when she saw his bow-tie; she felt it completed his outfit. "Why are you wearing a skirt Fi?"
Marshal looked down at her orange skirt as Fionna lifted it slightly; a blushing crossed her face as she did. "C-cake said it was the appropriate thing to wear…" Marshal smiled at her blush and shrugged, fixing the beanie that sat upon his head.
"It's nice to see you dolled up." He gave her a smirk; she rolled her eyes in reply.
"It's nice to see you in a bow." She countered with a smirk of her own, crossing her arms over her chest. Marshal chuckled noting the white and yellow stripped sweater she wore. "So what's the plan for today? Sword fights? Mountain climbing? Swimming in the ocean?" They shared a laugh, as Marshal reached out and linked arms with her.
"Music in the park maybe? We can get some food and find some instruments and maybe we'll make a few bucks." He flashed a grin. Fionna bent and quickly picked up the basket.
"Foods been gotten. Cake decided to treat us to some eats." Fionna shrugged and smiled, moving slightly closer to him. He returned her smile, looking her over once more before the set off.
They walked for a while, talking about various subjects from favorite colors, to least favorite teachers. Fionna had not smiled as much as she was with Marshal in years. 'I forgot how nice this can be.' She laid her head on his shoulder, listening to him talk about first coming to the Academy. He had taken the basket from her at some point during the walk, allowing her fingers a break from holding the bulky object. She was glad for the absence of the bulky weight.
"I promise it was the biggest food fight the school had ever seen, but Iggy and I have been best friends ever since." Marshal stated, smiling into the distance. Fionna admired the gentle side of Marshal, she loved his sweet smile. A thought crossed her mind, making her smile and blush in return. Marshal saw it from the corner of his eye, the look of innocence on Fionna's face caused him to smile even more. "Come on, the park isn't much further." Marshal shrugged out of her grip and took her hand, leading her along the path they had taken.
There was a sort of electricity that passed between them when they touched skin to skin. It caused a small nearly inaudible gasp to pass by Fionna's lips. The sound permeated Marshals ears, it sent a small shiver through his body. They looked at each for a moment before turning their heads and attentions in either direction, both blushed feverously. "S-so… Who's Ashley?" Fionna asked, Ashley was the first thing that popped into her head, and much like the day before the moment the words left her mouth she wanted to stuff them back down her throat.
Marshal Lee shifted uncomfortably scanning the park as they entered it. "She's just some girl from school I use to hang out with…" Simple enough, but Fionna did not find it satisfying.
"So… did you guys date?" Fionna chastised herself internally; she wanted to cut out her tongue so it would stop prying into Marshals life. Marshal gave her a shrug, and she nearly dropped his hand.
"We dated for a bit, but she's pretty CA-RA-Z" Marshal pronounced crazy in a manner that caused Fionna to giggle. He smiled at the sound and pulled her over to a tall oak tree. "This good for the picnic?" Fionna gave him a nod, taking the basket as she dropped his hand for the first time since he had taken hers.
She laid the checkerd blanket out, sitting down on a corner as she began to disperse the food Cake had so vigorously prepared that morning.
"So?" Marshal asked sitting down next to her. "What about the incredible Fionna? Ever had a boyfriend?" Fionna shiffened at the question. She took a deep brearth and looked up at him with a sad smile.
"Once… He didn't work out." She quickly averted her eyes. "It was just a small thing in 8th grade… My mother didn't condone it. But she thought I was just acting out finally after all those years bottling my emotions." Fionna shrugged before continuing. "She was probably right, he and I dated for about 7 months. Then one day out of the blue he comes up to me and says: 'I've been messing around with Flaminia. I'm dumping you.' A few months later Flaminia ended up 14 and pregnant." Fionna sighed shaking her head. "My mother just kept saying, 'that could have been you' as though I didn't already connect those two dots." She rolled her eyes, then turned to Marshal and gave him a smile. "Come on lets eat."
Marshal smiled back, luck really loved him.
Oh my glob you guys! Thank you for the reviews! It means so much to me. Please keep them coming! I really hope you guys liked this chapter cause I had so much fun writing it. Its always nice to see these two getting alone. Alright guys bye!