AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hey, guys! Sorry it took me ages to update, but for me, school just went back, and I'm getting used to A) not being in the same locker, B) having different teachers (eg. My Humanities teacher is now my English teacher) C) not being one of the little kids in the school anymore, and, most imporatantly, D) not mooning over my crush anymore. Plus, I can barely get on the computer anymore, because my brother's starting Yr 12 and has a fuckload of homework. Well, yeah. I've written a fair bit into the story already, now I just need to type. (I know, I know I said I wouldn't use writing books, but I'm using a notebook that almost never leaves my side! No chance of my losing it!)

Chapter Nineteen

Gumball's P.O.V.

"I have scales?!" Marceline half-screamed as she turned.

Marshall's head snapped up, and P.B. looked shocked. I blinked, Marceline's… apparantly scaly face inches from mine.

"Whoa, what?" P.B. said uncertainly. She studied Marceline for a few seconds before turning on Marshall and accusing him of withholding information about Marceline's 'delicate condition'.

"Hey, hey!" He protested, holding up both hands in defence. "I said her skin went all weird, and I…"

His voice seemed to trail off as I tuned out him and my cousin fighting, as usual at each other's throats. I watched as Marceline stared at me, one hand self-conciously cupping his cheek.

"Marceline?" I asked quietly, so quiet I wasn't sure she heard me over Marshall and Bonnibell.

She swallowed. "You think I'm a freak, don't you?" Her voice broke slightly.

I blinked. "No, of course I don't!" I said, almost scoldingly. I checked my tone and took a deep breath. "Listen, Marceline, I'm sorry. I never meant to offend you, or make you upset. Frankly, I just wanted to know who was singing and Bonnibell's the smart one." She laughed, which I took as a good sign, so I pressed on. "Listen, I'm not smart, don't have a wicked sense of humor, or skills with fighting. I'm only really good for baking, throwing parties, decorating, pulling pranks on and getting into cracks with my stretchy limbs and body. I don't have any special abilities. I don't even do anything other than bake and generally be kind of… prince-y."

"Please tell me you're going somewhere witht his." Sha said dryly, smiling.

I raised an eyebrow at her. "I am. Any other comments?" She shook her head, smirking behind a hand. "But… yeah, I…" I looked at her, and the look in her eyes, the way they sparkled and looked so sombre at the same time, made me falter. I couldn't possibly say this to her faec. Ever. So, what was I going to say? "I… well, I'm really sorry. Uh… try three?" I stuck out my hand.

Her previously shining eyes dulled. "Yeah." She said off-handedly. "Marceline Abadeer."

"My full name is Jericho Bubba Lewis Gumball." I said, grimacing slightly as she took my hand.

She snorted, looking at me incredulously. "Okay, with Bonnie's love of cartoons, your life has gotta be a living hell between the mouse and the donkey."

"It's okay. I call Finn 'Clyde', and she shuts up real fast." I shot back.

We both held our composure for about five seconds, not looking at each other, before our eyes met and we both burst out laughing.

It occurred to me that Marshall and Bonnibell had stopped arguing and were staring at us as we cackled, tears pouring down our cheeks.

"Guys?" Marshall raised an eyebrow in disbelief.

I, still cackling, held up a finger as I finally stopped laughing and got my breath back.

Marceline fanned a hand at her face, gasping with a smile, "I can't breathe! I can't breathe!" She laughed again.

Bonnie walked up to her. "Marcy, I'm gonna do some tests on you. Maybe I can figure out why this is happening, okay?"

Marceline nodded as she gulped her laughter down, following my cousin into her lab down the hall.

Marshall looked at me, like, 'Dude, what did you do?'

I gave him a thumbs-up, grinning.

He just sighed, smiling as he shook his head mockingly.