Chapter XXIV, Regret

Sea breeze smudged over her delicate, pink cheeks as the sun was slowly going down over the horizon. The sand was reflecting the reminiscence of it's light in it's numerous, tiny grains. It looked beautiful. Soothing. Magical perhaps. And there was he, standing before her, as he cast his long, neap shaped shade. She remembered it all too well. That face, the three day beard, those eyes, full of many things. Life, thrills. Lust perhaps.

"Guy..."

"Hello Bonnie."

"What are you doing here?"

"And what I should be doing here, hm?" He shrugged, as hair waved in the wind. They were just the same as she remembered them. Not too short, not too long. Perfect? No. But charming enough, one could say. "Good to see that you are around."

As he leaned towards her, she could admire him for a while. There surely was something within those eyes, within this tanned skin, within those muscles, as they trembled without a slightest touch. As they shined in the remains of the blazing light. There was this notion in her head however, this tiny reminder, that she shouldn't think about him that way. That there was something she forgot about. Someone she forgot about. Something was blocking that very thought however, almost like a wall placed in her head.

"Let's have some fun!"

The man finally said, as he grabbed her hand and began his doings. He passed her over a large beach ball which they began to throw around carelessly, just like in the good old days. It was quite fun, she had to admit as much. A feeling she rarely experienced, since the princess hardly had time for it in her usual schedule. That, and she simply lacked the need for it. She couldn't help but notice however that with her every move, her every slightest bend, Guy gazed lustfully at her revealed body. He seemed to look especially at her wondrous curves whenever she turned around. Was that the reason of their little play? For him to take a long, good look? It was hard to tell if she really enjoyed that notion. There was someone else who looked at her like that. Who also enjoyed that very sight. She felt much better then. Perhaps because more feelings were involved? And now? Now something was wrong. And with the final hit on the ball, as it drifted away, he caught her in his strong arms.

"So, missed me?"

"Guy..." She looked at him, trying to break free. "...I hardly had the time to think about our... relationship."

"Shoot." He bit his lip. "Just a little?"

"Maybe a bit."

"Radical!"

He smiled towards her lovely presence and slowly stroked her cheek. His hands were different than what she usually felt. Strong, steady, bit crude perhaps. They seemed to be chipped from stone. They were pretty rough as well in their movements. Almost as if he wanted to gain something right in this moment, right now. Almost as if he lacked the patience to ask.

"So where had you been?" He smiled a little. "We parted so fast, and you know... not cool."

"Had my own issues to deal with. Life happened, Guy."

He looked straight at her. His big, blue eyes still had some charm in them. They contrasted perfectly with his overall hard and savage appearance. She certainly could see why he was the one she considered to pick, if only for the looks. Well, maybe for some other features as well. That very notion made her blush a little bit.

"You had more awesome things for me back then."

"I had. Maybe I still do." She shrugged. "But I doubt it."

"We can always try a lil bit. C'mon, like old times..."

He sat right behind her, as he placed his huge hands over her shoulders and began to massage them. Again, his movements hardly could be considered subtle. There was still that very notion in her head that he does all of that just to obtain something. No, not something. To obtain her. In more than one way. She knew however that she couldn't let him do that. There was that other person. That shade in her head that she couldn't quite grasp upon. Whenever she tried to reach there with her thoughts, something blocked that way completely.

"Lot of tension in that balloon of yours."

"Just a bit."

"Well. The right Guy takes care of you, huh?"

He ventured further and lower throughout her spine, apparently hardly feeling the need to ask her if she wants it. To ask her if she even enjoys it. And Bubblegum? She hardly knew that as well. The princess pondered, if that is really what she wanted. If he is the one that should touch her like that. And just as he was about to make a step further, struggling with untying the top of her swimming suit, a huge ball approached their direction. It looked awfully familiar, with it's red and white stripes. It also seemed to have a face. And that face screamed at her.

"Get away from her, get away from her!" It rolled straight at her. It's white, dotty eyes were somewhat familiar. "Get away from her you repulsing..."

"What the cabbage?"

Before the weird object reached and hit it's destination, Guy stood up and swiftly kicked it without hesitation. As it flew off, far into the sea, the princess began to ponder. That was all to familiar. And those words, they had to mean something. She was a scientist after all, above all else, and she knew that everything had it's meaning, one way or another.

"That was weird. He reminded me of..."

"Talking ball, haven't seen those around. Don't you worry." He stretched his muscles. "You have me around."

He sat back and grabbed her hand in a tight, uncomfortable grasp, as he playfully grinned towards her. It was almost like a demonstration of strength. So naive, so primitive. The princess began to slowly understand why it ended the way it did. She hardly wanted to be someone's toy. She hardly wanted to be someone's prize. She wanted to be loved above being treated as a trophy.

"You seem smashed. In that little head of yours. Totally not mathematical."

"A bit. I left. We parted our ways. Snap, the end. And here you are again. That's illogical."

"I am here alright." He felt quite confident in his doings. "So let's not waste time. I've wanted to play a long with you for a while."

He started to smudge her shoulders with his rough cheeks. The first kiss on her neck was warm, clumsy, but warm. It was pleasing to a degree perhaps, but with many others that followed, her patience was put to a test. It was hardly enjoyable and as he almost reached for her lips, she pushed him away.

"No, this isn't right."

"Why not? C'mon, a little fun here and there is a nice thing, no? I don't bite, unlike some. Friend."

For some reason, all her efforts were futile. She wanted to do something about his presence, yet she was unable to act. It was like a blockade in her head that she couldn't go through. And finally, he reached for her lips, the sweetest of prizes. As his rough mouth pressed hard, she closed her eyes. She hardly wanted to even look at him. His tongue forced his way inside. She felt disgust, both for him and for herself. Why she liked him again? Why she thought about him at times again? If anything, she wanted to be as far from him as possible.

"Just... No... No!" He pushed him away yet again, as her fingernails drove deep in his skin. He apparently assumed it was yet another form of foreplay, as he hardly cared for her words, smooching her on her neck. "I'm not comfortable with that. No."

Obviously he hardly listened. His hands ventured on her back, as he yet again began to aim for the clasp of her suit. When he was this close, she felt his scent. Much like the rest of it, it was crude, strong, rough. Perhaps there was a time that she wanted someone like that near her. Perhaps there was a time that she would feel safe around someone like that. Times have changed however.

"No need to be afraid..." He smiled, as he smooched her on the cheek. His short beard pricked her a little. "Have you ever had so much fun?"

"That's not funny, stop it..."

Finally untying what he wanted, he seemed to be quite happy when he saw her half naked. She hardly felt his joy however. Despite her strength, despite her abilities, calculations, cold mind, she felt so fragile. She felt so defenseless. It frightened her. Each touch he made, venturing through her exposed body made her tremble. Each smudge made her shiver. And it was hardly in a pleasing way. It was hardly appealing. She finally shook her head in a silent protest, but he didn't stop.

"Please stop it..." She whispered. "Please..."

"Why?"

But seeing the look on her face, he took of his hands. She looked at the sea. The sun seemed to stand still in one spot, in a state of endless evening.

"One more time. C'mon Bonnie."

"I don't think..."

"There's nothing bad in that, I'm sure?"

Without waiting, he pressed his lips towards hers once again as once again he ventured inside with his tongue, flicking with it all around. It lacked finesse. It lacked the precision that someone had. But it had strength. It had ferocity. The more she was tangled in this passionate motion, the more guilt she felt. So eventually when they stopped, as saliva dripped from her mouth and when he clearly wanted more, she just pushed him aside once again. Her head hurt, more than ever. Perhaps even more than when the Lich pierced it with it's fingers. But then, a notion of realization came into play. Someone was there, waiting for her. Someone precious to her. Yes, she remembered now. She could clearly picture her in her mind. Her name was...

"Marceline..." Thoughts came in her head faster and faster. "What about Marceline!"

"What about her?" Guy narrowed his eyebrows. "Her decision, her life, let her do what she wants to do. That brat had..."

She slapped him across the face. As the palm of her hand was reflected on his cheek, he went silent. He hardly expected resistance it would seem, judging by his face. They sat like that for a while, as the sun still was hanging still in the air.

"I trusted you so much once." He finally said something. It would seem that he tried to make her feel guilt, out of all people. "And you treat my each attempt like garbage – you just throw it away. Not cool."

"It could be different and it could end different if you weren't such a dofus. Besides." She crossed her fingers before his face. "The breeze in me always blew from different directions. Now more than ever."

He stood up. His body looked quite impressive in the light of the fading sun. Still, the more she looked at him, the more certain she got. He saw that notion. He saw that in her eyes. And it would seem he got more and more mad over it. Was he even the real thing, or a reflection? It was hard to tell for the princess. They both acted alike.

"Why you choose a little, pesky brat with issues over me?" He seemed to be frustrated. There was anger in his voice. "For Glob's sake, what's so special about her, huh?"

"Because..." She closed her eyes and smiled. "...that's my little pesky brat with issues, Guy."

"I were close all the time, I were the one around to cuddle you while she had her little phase! I don't follow you dude!"

"I never asked for understanding."

She stood up as well and looked him in the eyes. Yes. All was clear now. That wasn't even the real thing. An image perhaps. Illusion in her head. She remembered it all now. What happened before. So he wasn't even real. All in her head. Still. She felt ashamed. Ashamed that those things still lingered in her head. That memories of him still were deep inside. Only now she just recalled that she did in fact thought about him at times. Sometimes. Maybe a little too much. Yes, that was a possibility. Another obstacle she had to confront.

"There are things in my heads that just won't make this work." She shook her head. "And I shouldn't even have you here. I shouldn't even think about you."

"I can make you happy." He tried to reach her with his hand. "I really can! If you just give me the chance!"

"Guy." She stated as she took a step back. "Guy..."

She stated. And just as he was about to act, just as he apparently wanted to do something to claim her, to have her once again, a worm appeared behind him, erupting from within the shifting sands. He began to wobble his head around, as the echoing waves pulsed from within his huge, bulky head.

"So. Too weak to finish me off with my own nightmares?"

"Easy friend. Too much sounds in your head, friend." The worm smiled. "We can silence them, friend."

The worm controlled his little pupped below, bound to his every notion, bound to his every order. And he attacked, obviously, thinking that the princess will still hesitate. She set her mind clear however. Her thoughts were in order. She wasn't afraid of him anymore, oh no. She knew that she will do just fine without him. But just as she thought about it, just as she was meant to punch him in the face, worm's head halved. White light emerged from within it, as it covered everything in it's brightness. That, and a screech that came from each and every direction. A furious voice. A voice full of emotion. A voice she loved. A voice she feared to loose, now probably more than ever. As the brightness reached her frame, she passed out in it's beam.