The Good Boy & The Guitarist (ENG version) Chapter 21: They can't beat me, an adventure time with finn and jake fanfic

Chapter 21: They can't beat me

It was a day like any other, Finn was walking slowly towards the school entrance with his trademark green backpack slung over his shoulder and his head busy with scattered thoughts. The cool morning air helped him stay awake as he scanned the other students walking past him, immersed in their own conversations and routines.

As he reached the main playground, just before heading to the main entrance, a strange noise caught his attention. He barely had time to take a step backwards when something heavy fell with a thunderous noise in front of him, the thud made him step back a little further and his gaze instinctively dropped to the floor. There it was: his desk, the same one he used in class with the corners already slightly worn by the years, now lay shattered on the pavement. Around it, there were paper scraps that he recognized instantly, which began to fly with the wind, scattering his scribbles, notes and drawings all over the place.

Finn looked up quickly to the second floor looking for the source of the disaster, and saw it. Mark, leaning out of the classroom window, was smiling at him with that arrogance he hated so much. Beside him were two of his minions chuckling as they tried not to draw too much attention to themselves.

"Ooops, looks to me like you don't belong here anymore" Mark said, his mocking tone echoing in Finn's ears like an unpleasant echo.

Finn did not answer, his jaw tensed and his fingers instinctively reached for the silver bracelet Fern had given him. He brushed it carefully remembering the boy's words:

"When you feel lonely or injured, cover it with your hand and think that I am there with you."

He took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a moment, he could feel Mark's mocking gaze locked on him but this time he was not going to give in. Not anymore.

For a long time, I've tried to go on with my life and ignore the bullying... but now, everything will be different. I'm not going to let fear get the better of me, they're not going to be able to beat me.

Finn opened his eyes and let out a sigh, dropping his shoulders as his expression changed, there was no fear or surprise on his face, only determination. Without looking at Mark or his classmates again, he began to gather his things, including his desk. A group of students who had witnessed the incident watched him curiously, some murmuring amongst themselves, others simply staring in silence. Finn paid no mind to them, knelt down, picked up one of his crumpled papers and smoothed it out calmly.

When he finished putting everything together, he straightened his back and without turning to the window, he walked into the building with slow but steady steps, carrying his papers and desk with him the best he could. The feel of the bracelet against his wrist reminded him that he was not alone.

A few days ago...

The sun was barely starting to peek over the horizon when Finn opened his eyes, he blinked a couple of times getting used to the dim light filtering through the curtains of his bedroom. The alarm on his phone read 6:30 a.m. but he had not needed it today, he had been waking up early for days, unable to sleep peacefully. After the confrontation with his bullies in the principal's office, Finn felt he could not have a minute's peace now, his days were filled with constant tension, always waiting for the next move, the next punch. He knew they blamed him. That they thought it was his fault for "venturing" to let his mother interfere, for "humiliating" them in front of authority.

He sat up slowly, feeling the weight of accumulated fatigue on his shoulders. He turned his gaze to Jake, the yellow-orange furred dog was still sleeping soundly at the foot of his bed, he could not help but smile at him with some envy.

"You're in luck, buddy" he muttered under her breath, as if afraid to break the morning calm. His thoughts soon returned to the previous day, reliving the meeting with the principal, the accusatory looks from Mark and his friends, and the cold sense of injustice that had left him with a knot in his stomach. He stretched his arms and jumped out of bed letting his feet touch the cold floor, he looked down at his reliable green backpack he had packed the night before, ready for another day of school, the mere thought made him shudder, every step through the halls, every class, every break between periods, was like walking on a tightrope, waiting to fall. But Finn clenched his fists, determined. He had made up his mind: he would not give up. Even if his bullies tried to crush him, even if fear kept him on edge, he would not give them the satisfaction of seeing him fall. With one last glance at Jake, Finn prepared himself for another day by remembering the words of someone who always managed to reassure him.

"They won't be able to take you down if you don't let them."

"Let's try again" he said to himself with a faint smile that did not quite reach his eyes. After finishing dressing up, and while he was putting on his favorite hoodie, a dark blue one with "BLE" in the center written in red, he heard a soft knocking on the door, which woke Jake, who first shook his head and then looked toward the door, growled letting Finn know that he was getting ready to bark at whoever was on the other side, but the teenager intervened in time "Jake, don't. Take it easy. Maybe it's my mom"

"Finn" and he was not wrong, Minerva's voice echoed from the other side "are you awake already? come on down, breakfast is ready"

"I'll be out in a minute" he replied, making an effort to sound more cheerful than he really was. Jake, satisfied with the explanation, stopped grunting and lay back down on the bed, though he was still watching the door with his big watchful eyes. Finn, for his part, looked at himself in the closet mirror one last time before heading for the door. On the outside he looked calm, but inside, anxiety and exhaustion were still weighing on him-one day at a time, Finn...-he muttered to himself, before turning the doorknob and walking out of his bedroom, preparing to face whatever the day had in store for him.

He walked downstairs with slow steps, meeting the warm aroma of coffee and freshly made toast. Minerva was sitting at the small kitchen table, looking through a local newspaper but when she saw him get into the kitchen, she stopped reading and gave him a small smile.

"Good morning, sweetheart, did you sleep well?"

Finn shrugged, rushing to the free chair to take a seat across from his mother.

"More or less."

Minerva looked him carefully, noticing the dark circles under his eyes and the lack of enthusiasm in his voice.

"If you need to stay home today, I should call to the school."

"No!" Finn cried, to which the woman looked at him with an arched eyebrow "I mean, no, it's okay. I don't want to stay"

There was a determination in his words that made Minerva not insist. Instead, she poured him some orange juice and let him eat his breakfast in silence.

"Remember, if anything happens, don't hesitate to call me" she added softly. Finn nodded gratefully for his mom's silent support, still, he did not want to worry her more than necessary.

Shortly after he finished breakfast, he said goodbye to Minerva with a quick hug and walked out of his home, adjusting the straps of his backpack on his shoulders. The fresh morning air greeted him, clearing a little of the anxiety cloud that had followed him since he woke up. He walked the familiar streets at a steady pace, letting the sounds of the neighborhood follow him: the occasional bark of a dog, the rumble of passing cars, the crunch of leaves beneath his feet. For a moment, he allowed the routine to soothe him, as if nothing would interrupt that small moment of peace.

But when the school appeared in his field of vision, his body tensed slightly. The shadow of what awaited him there fell upon him again, reminding him that his battle was far from over.

I'm not going to let them win...

He tightened the straps of his backpack as if it were a reminder of his determination, despite everything. He was ready to face whatever the day had in store for him.

As he walked down the hallway and approached towards his locker, he began to notice small details that sent an uncomfortable feeling coursing through his body. First it was the gaze of a group of students who, upon seeing him, exchanged quiet laughter and barely audible comments. Then it was the pieces of paper scattered on the floor of the hallway as he entered the building: they were from a notebook he recognized immediately, one he usually used to take notes.

He picked up the pages quickly, looking around suspiciously. No one stopped to help him or seemed to pay him any attention. Some even passed over the pages without even apologizing.

When he arrived in front of his locker, a blast of cold air hit him, and it was not because of the weather. It was ajar. Finn felt his heart skip a beat fearing that someone had dared to invade his locker so they could steal his stuff. When he opened it fully, he found its inside completely empty, his class books and notebooks were gone, leaving only a couple of crumpled candy wrappers, and a graffiti that reads:

"DON'T COME BACK."

Finn gritted his teeth, trying to contain his rage.

"They won't be able to beat me" he thought, slamming the locker shut.

Across town, in the garage of an old but elegant house, Marceline tuned the strings of her bass while Georgy argued with Booboo about which songs they should play to record first.

"The ballad has to go at the beginning" the drummer insisted, pointing to the title of a notebook with pages full of erasures and scribbles.

"No! The ballad is the perfect ending" Booboo replied crossing his arms.

"Why don't we decide later" Wendy asked from across the room, lightly tapping one of the drum cymbals to get the attention of both men "we haven't even gotten to the studio yet"

Marceline ignored them, concentrating on tuning her instrument and mentally going over the lyrics. The chaotic noise around her was the only thing that managed to calm her down before the start of a big event, she was so immersed in her world that she did not notice the footsteps approaching the garage, nor the creak of the door opening. When she looked up, she found her father, Hunson, standing in the doorway, looking at her with a defiant expression.

"What do you want now?" the long dark-haired young woman asked in a more cut-throat tone than she had expected.

"I just want to talk to you before you leave" Abadeer replied, entering the garage without waiting for an invitation.

"If you've come to lecture me about my "future" and how "irresponsible" I am, I don't have time for that."

Hunson held up his hands in surrender.

"I didn't come for that, Marcy" she arched an incredulous eyebrow but set her bass aside to listen to whatever he had to say "I wanted to wish you luck" he said in a surprisingly relaxed tone "I know this record means a lot to you, and... well, I know I've been very hard on you in the past but I think your mother would be proud of what you're doing"

Marceline's heart shrank at those words.

"Do you really think so?" she asked trying to keep her tone neutral.

"Yes" Hunson replied "I'm sorry, Marcy. For everything"

For a moment, the chaos in the garage disappeared, leaving only father and daughter in a rare moment of connection. Marceline nodded slowly, not knowing what to say in response, but sensed that, perhaps, this time her father's words were sincere.

"Thank you" she murmured at last turning her attention back to the bass to hide her expression.

Hunson smiled slightly and left the room leaving her alone with her thoughts.

Georgy and Booboo were still arguing about the order of the setlist, Wendy was patiently trying to mediate, and Marceline remained engrossed in her bass, tuning the strings and letting the music in her head guide her. The unexpected approach from her father, Hunson, had taken her by surprise, and though the words of support echoed in her mind, a part of her could not help but wonder if they were genuine or simply a clumsy attempt to repair the damage of years of disapproval and distance.

"Everything okay, Mar?" Wendy asked resting her keyboard on her lap as she watched her friend curiously.

The young woman turned her gaze away, realizing that she had been silent longer than she realized.

"Uh, y-yeah.I was just... thinking" she replied as she adjusted the volume on her amplifier. Wendy watched her with a hint of skepticism and concern, but decided not to press her.

"Well, you'd better concentrate on the music. Because we have to make a good impression today" she said, referring to the producer who would be evaluating their demo later.

"Relax, I know what I'm doing. I'm ready" Marceline replied, letting a small smile creep across her face. Georgy and Booboo finally came to an agreement, though more out of exhaustion than conviction, and the preparations continued. Marceline closed her eyes as she played, letting the sound of the band mingle with the lingering noise in her head. It was not perfect, but it was close and that was all that mattered now.

Back at school, Finn was still dealing with the morning's aftermath. During geography class, one of his classmates slipped him a note, when he opened it he found a rather crude drawing that cartooned him along with insulting phrases that made his face flare with anger and embarrassment; however, instead of making a scene, he put the paper away and continued to pay attention to the class as if nothing had happened.

"They're not going to be able to beat me" he muttered to himself, repeating the phrase to himself like a mantra as he tried to ignore the stares and laughter.

To make things worse, the day did not get any better. After receiving that dreadful drawing, he endured mocking stares in the hallways and chuckles in every class. But the worst came during gym class. After running several laps of the field in the midday sun, Finn was exhausted. He headed for the showers along with the others, leaving his stuff in the locker room, as he always does at every time he goes there.

Mark, who had been staring at him throughout the entire class with that smirk Finn knew all too well by now, turned to one of his "friends" as the teenager disappeared into the shower.

"Hey you, go to the locker room and take care of his sneakers" he whispered to Blombo, nudging him.

Although hesitant at first, he finally nodded and slipped into the locker room. As soon as Finn finished showering and walked back to the locker room he realized something was wrong, his sneakers were not where he had left them: on a bench next to his clothes, he looked around, checked under the other benches and in the open lockers but there was no sign of them. Time was ticking and he had history class with Professor Petrikov in five minutes, there was no way he could look for them now.

With a resigned sigh, he pulled on his socks and walked out of the locker room feeling the stares of others on his bare feet as he walked down the hallway. As he entered the classroom, Simon looked at him over his glasses with a disapproving expression.

"Finn Mertens, where are your shoes?" he asked sternly.

Finn swallowed, knowing he did not have a good answer.

"I... I lost them, Professor. I didn't have time to look for them."

The man arched an eyebrow clearly not very convinced.

"Well, I hope you find them soon. But in the meantime, you can't walk around the school barefoot, it's against the dress code."

Finn nodded, feeling the stares of his other classmates burning him.

"I understand, professor. I'm sorry."

"All right, take a seat" Simon ordered, turning his attention back to the board. Finn sat at the back of the classroom, wishing he could disappear. Meanwhile, in the hallway, Mark and his friends were laughing quietly, enjoying the spectacle they had caused.

As the class hour went on, Finn tried to focus on what Professor Petrikov was explaining on the board but his mind kept wandering. The discomfort of being alone with his socks on in a classroom full of students made him feel completely exposed. He clenched his pen tightly as he tried to take notes, but Simon's words felt distant, as if they were underwater.

Suddenly, he heard a small sound, almost like a clicking, coming from the left side of the classroom. He turned his head slightly, without paying too much attention, and saw Phoebe, who was looking at him with a mixture of discretion and sympathy.

She waved her hand at him, motioning him to look under her desk. Finn frowned, somewhat confused, but when he looked down, he saw that she had slid a pair of sneakers towards him, they were somewhat old, with a couple of stains on the white fabric and slightly worn soles, but they were clean and clearly well cared for. Finn looked up at Phoebe, surprised, and she just shrugged with a small smile.

The blond boy took the sneakers carefully, trying not to make noise, and noticed that they were a little smaller than his size. Still, he quickly put them on under the desk. His toes felt a little tight, but he did not care.

Phoebe leaned her head toward him and whispered softly.

"Don't worry about putting them back. I just want you to stay out of trouble."

Finn nodded slowly, not knowing what to say. His chest filled with a warm feeling that, for a moment, eased the knot of discomfort he had felt all day. From the front of the classroom, Petrikov cleared his throat and they both turned their attention back to the board, though the teenager could not help but smile slightly as he jotted down what the professor wrote.

For the first time so far in the school day, he felt he could take a little more of all of this.

"Marceline & The Scream Queens" were in the recording studio, a large space with soundproof panels on the walls and a mixing console that looked like something out of a film. It was the first time in their lives that they had faced such a... professional environment, and the excitement was tangible in the air, though so were the nerves.

"Well, here we are" Wendy said, dropping her bag containing her keyboard along with a disassembled drum kit "our first official album"

Fern, sitting in one of the swivel chairs next to his electric guitar, tapped his fingers against the edge of a table, his right leg kept twitching in trepidation.

"This is... this is for real, isn't it" he murmured, looking at Marceline as if seeking her approval.

Marceline, who was tuning her bass, raised her head and gave him a confident smile.

"Of course it is, that's why we're here. But, Fern, relax, it's going to be okay"

"Yes, that's easy for you to say, Marcy" Booboo commented, laughing softly as he pressed the keys to his trumpet "you're the one with the most experience here. I feel like I'm going to break something before I can even hit a note"

"This place is more... cozy than I imagined" Georgy commented looking around while adjusting his scarf.

Fern was already fiddling with the sound mixers on the console.

"Don't touch anything, Fern" the long dark-haired woman growled, focusing on her bass, "they'll kick us out of here before we can get started"

Before the green-eyed blond could answer, the studio door opened and the producer walked in: a man with short hair, a gray scarf around his shoulders, a hat that must have belonged to some musician he knew in the past, and rectangular glasses, with a relaxed but professional air.

"Good morning, guys. My name is Pat, I'll be your producer. My job is to make sure we get the best sound out of you. Don't worry if you make mistakes; that's what being in the studio is all about. Here you can experiment and repeat as much as you need to" the group nodded silently, although some were more tense than others, Pat continued "we've five days allotted for this project and you can record a maximum of twenty songs. If we get less, that's fine, but I want you to keep in mind that quality is more important than quantity. Take your time and do your best."

Marceline stepped forward, assuming her role as the band's leader.

"I understand, Pat."

"When you're ready, we'll start with the first track. No pressure, okay?"

After saying that, the man walked out of the room straight to the audio booth, once the group was alone, the young woman took a deep breath, adjusted the microphone in front of her and before starting with the first song of the album, she looked at her band.

"Guys, listen. I know we're all a little nervous today, but this is what we've been waiting for. We've worked really hard to get this far, and I trust each and every one of you. We are going to take this project slowly, we will record song by song so the album will be perfect, are you all with me?"

The others agreed with more confidence and conviction this time.

"Thank you, Marcy. I needed to hear that," said Fern, who allowed herself a little smile while holding his guitar.

"Perfect!" Pat exclaimed who clapped his hands softly to get the group's attention "let's get started then, Marceline, since you're the lead singer and band leader, would you like to be the first to record?"

"Of course" the young woman nodded "let's start with the first song on the list"

As she put on her headphones and went to the microphone, the others looked her in silence. Her calm and determined presence gave them confidence. Marceline closed her eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath before she began to play the first notes of her bass. Georgy began to set the beat on the drums and the first notes of Fern's guitar filled the space, Marceline closed her eyes as her voice joined the sound letting the music envelop her. The sound filled the studio, rich and vibrant, as if channeling all her energy and passion into those first few tunes.

Despite the initial nerves, there was something magical about that moment. For Marceline, it was a small step toward something bigger and although the path was not completely clear, for the first time in a long time, she felt like she was headed in the right direction.

The school gym was a bustle of activity, students came and went carrying boxes of lights, shiny fabrics and decorative figures as the student committee gave instructions to transform the space into a stage worthy of the winter ball's theme: "Starry Night". Close to one of the main walls, a group of students were working on a huge canvas that would serve as the background.

The painting, inspired by Van Gogh's iconic oil painting was starting to take shape with its vibrant blue tones and golden swirls that simulated stars.

Finn was sitting on the floor adjusting a series of light strings that would hang from the ceiling while chatting animatedly with Phoebe, who was helping him untangle them. They were both laughing in between small trips over wires, enjoying the teamwork; however, not far behind them, Mark and his inseparable "friends" were looking at them smugly. Noticing Finn's good disposition, Mark frowned and leaned over to the others whispering something that made them laugh in complicity.

The group approached where the blue-eyed blond was standing, carrying several objects with them: half-finished decorations and scattered tools.

"Hey, Mertens" Mark said with a fake smile as he dropped a box of decorations in front of him "let's take a break, would you mind finishing this for us?"

Finn looked up somewhat puzzled, but before he could answer, Mark was already handing him a roll of shiny fabric and walking away towards the gym exit.

"Yes, thank you, Finn" Jamaica said, dropping off a stack of paper stars and laughing as he walked away with the others.

"You're a real hero!" Blombo added mockingly, high-fiving Toughy.

Phoebe, seeing the situation, frowned and folded her arms.

"They can't just walk out like that and leave all the work to you" she exclaimed indignantly, taking a step towards them. Finn shook his head and stopped her friend by taking her arm gently.

"Let them go, Phoebs. It's not worth it" he replied with a half-smile "I can handle this, don't worry"

The girl looked at him confused but ended up respecting his decision, trusting that he knew how to handle the situation. On the other hand, in the school playground, Mark and his friends had found a forgotten ball and were playing with laughter, careless about the preparations. It was not long before a familiar silhouette appeared in front of them: Heidi, one of the leaders of the student committee.

"What are you doing here?" Heidi confronted them with her hands on her hips and a stern expression.

"What do you think we're doing here? Resting" Mark answered obviously, rolling his eyes.

"Well, I hope you are well rested, Finn told me that you left him doing all the work so you could come here to waste time" the girl replied, her gaze fell on each one of them.

That comment caused Jamaica to stop laughing for a moment and Toughy to avoid looking directly at her.

"I've no idea what you're talking about" Mark said, trying to look unconcerned.

"Oh, please" Heidi arched an incredulous eyebrow "if you don't go back to the gym right now and finish what you left undone, I'm going to make sure the professors know about this"

That threat caused the group to exchange nervous glances. Finally, Mark let out a grunt and, with a gesture to the others, started walking back to the gym.

"This is not going to be like this..." he muttered between his teeth, visibly annoyed.

The gym buzzed with the bustle of students working, though some committee members noticed the tension in the air as Mark and his "friends" came back, visibly disgruntled after their encounter with Heidi. They reluctantly made their way to the area where they had left their decorations incomplete, casting furtive glances towards Finn who was still busy setting up the lights next to Phoebe.

"What's gotten into them?" Phoebe whispered, noticing the stares.

Although he noticed them too, Finn chose to ignore them and finished hanging the last of the lights. Minutes later, feeling his hands sticky and dusty from the effort, he decided to take advantage of the fact that he had finished his task to go to the bathroom and wash his hands. As he was leaving the gym, Mark leaned towards Jamaica and murmured something in his ear pointing in the direction of the blue-eyed blond, the aforementioned nodded with a wicked smile, and Mark motioned for them to follow him.

In the bathroom, Finn had let the cold water run and was leaning over the sink, splashing his face and rubbing his hands together to remove the traces of dust and glue. He was so focused on cleaning himself that he did not notice when Mark and his group entered, closing the door behind them with a dull thud.

"Well, well, look who's here, the hero of the student committee" Mark said leaning against the wall with a fake smile.

Finn looked up, watching Mark from the sink mirror slightly confused.

"What the hell do you want now, Mark?"

"Oh, nothing. I just wanted to, you know, talk to you a little bit about something" he said as he slowly walked toward him "you know? it's funny to me that right after we took a little break, Heidi came to tell us that we 'supposedly' left all the work half done"

The teenager turned and looked at him blankly.

"I have no idea what you mean"

Mark let out a dry laugh even though his eyes radiated irritation.

"So now you're playing me for a fool?" he asked, raising his voice opened his mouth to respond, but before he could say anything, Mark noticed something in the corner of the bathroom: a transportable bucket filled with soapy water and a mop that the janitor had left there. Mark's expression suddenly changed from one of annoyance to a feignedly friendly smile "you know, Mertens?" he added as he pointed to the bucket, "we've been working so hard, don't you think we should take advantage of this little break to freshen up a bit?"

"I'm not interested in your games, Mark" Finn replied, stepping back a little. But Mark did not give him time for more. In one swift movement, he pushed him hard, making him fall to the let out a groan as he hit the cold tiles.-Blombo, pass me the bucket!" commanded Mark, and his friend obeyed immediately, dragging the container towards him as Jamaica took the mop with a derisive laugh.

"Here you go" Blombo said guffawing. Before Finn could get up, Mark tilted the bucket and dumped the soapy water on him, drenching him from head to toe. The coldness of the water and the chemical smell of the soap made him gasp as the others burst out laughing.

"How about we help him clean up?" Mark added with a cruel smile. Jamaica advanced with the mop, pointing it at Finn's face, who felt a lump form in his throat. His body trembled, a mixture of cold and rage, and for an instant he felt like crying. But then his gaze fell on the bracelet on her wrist, the one Fern had given him days before.

He thought about what he would say to her if he were there present.

"You're stronger than you think, Finn. Don't let anyone make you feel less."

He took a deep breath, closing his eyes for a moment, and when he opened them, a spark of determination shone in them. Jamaica lowered the mop towards his face but Finn reacted in time, with a quick movement he grabbed the handle of the mop, surprising him. In an instant, the blond boy jumped up and with a sharp turn snatched the mop from his hands.

"What the hell...?" Jamaica stammered backing away.

Finn held the mop as if it were a makeshift weapon, pointing it firmly at the group.

"That's enough, Mark! I'm not going to let you keep treating me like I'm your toy."

The assurance in his voice made even Mark hesitate for a moment. Finn took a step forward, holding the mop as if he knew exactly how to use it, which made the others back up a little.

"Let's get out of here!" Toughy muttered, tugging at Mark's sleeve.

"Tch. We're not over, Finn" Mark growled, pointing a finger at him before walking out of the bathroom followed by his group.

The teenager stood there, soaking wet with the mop still in his hands. He took a deep breath, letting out all the tension.

I did it... I fought back...

As the footsteps of Mark and his minions faded down the hallway, Finn dropped against the bathroom wall releasing the mop with a dull thud against the floor. His breathing was still ragged and his heart was pounding inside his chest. For a few seconds, the echoing silence filled the air, interrupted only by the dripping of the soapy water that kept falling from his clothes to the floor, Finn closed his eyes and let his head fall back against the wall as a swirl of thoughts invaded his mind.

Fern was right, I don't have to let them walk all over me or make me less.

A small smile appeared on his face but he also felt some bitterness. He had wanted to avoid trouble, not increase the conflict; however, a part of him felt relieved. For once in his life he had not let Mark or his "friends" get away with it. He struggled to his feet and looked at himself in the mirror. He was soaking wet, his hair was dripping, and the smell of detergent was unpleasant to him. But there was something else in his eyes: a spark of determination he had not seen before. He leaned over the sink, washed his hands and face again, took a deep breath.

No matter what they do or say, I can handle this.

The day moved quickly and the sound of the bell marked the end of classes. The students began to leave the building talking absentmindedly about the preparations for the dance and the tasks that still had to be finished if they wanted to finish the semester quietly so they could relax a little and enjoy the two weeks they would have of winter break. Finn left the school together with Phoebe with his green backpack hanging from his shoulder, still a little wet although less than before, he just hoped he would not catch a cold, just when he had only a few days left to finish classes and attend the dance. The copper red haired girl looked at him with curiosity and concern.

"Are you okay, Finn? You look... exhausted" she commented. Finn downplayed the comment with a smile.

"I'm fine, Phoebe. I've had a... busy day, that's all."

The girl watched him for a couple of minutes before changing the subject.

"Hey, I was thinking, would you like some hot chocolate? There's a place nearby that sells a delicious one, we could go there before it gets dark and everyone has to go home to do their homework."

The teenager smiled broadly, the idea of spending some quiet time with her best friend seemed just what he needed.

"Sounds great, let's go."

They both started walking down the sidewalk chatting about plans for the dance, decorations, Phoebe remarked to Finn that she might be going to the dance wearing an old dress that belonged to her mother, but, at that, Finn stopped his walk and frowned as he saw a mud puddle reflecting the late afternoon sun. However, that wasn't what had made him stop, something about him caught his attention.

"Finn" Phoebe said, stopping "what's wrong?"

"Wait here a second" he replied, walking cautiously toward the puddle. As he approached, he saw something that stunned him: there, partially submerged in the mud, were his sneakers. The same ones he had lost that morning when he was showering in the locker room of the school gym "my sneakers!" he exclaimed, momentarily forgetting everything else. He quickly took off the sneakers Phoebe had lent him and dipped his hands into the puddle, pulling out his mud-covered sneakers. He didn't care how dirty they were; he stared at them with a mixture of disbelief and relief "I thought I'd never see them again!" Phoebe, watching the scene, folded her arms with a small smile.

"All this time they were there? That's so weird!"

Finn wasted no time. He ran to a picnic table near the gym and, using some tissues he had in his backpack, began to wipe the mud off his precious sneakers. Although they weren't perfect, they looked presentable enough to wear again. He sat down on the bench and put on his old sneakers with a satisfied smile.

"Ah... now, that's much better. I feel like I'm myself again" he said in a light tone, though deep down it meant much more to him.

Phoebe walked over and stood in front of him resting her chin on her hand.

"Well, ready for hot chocolate now that you've got your faithful companions back?"

Finn nodded, getting up from the bench, returning his friend's borrowed sneakers and settling his backpack.

"More than ready."

They both headed to the small cafe nearby, leaving the gym, the mud puddle, and the heavy day behind. Although Finn knew he still had obstacles to face, at that moment, with Phoebe by his side and his sneakers back, he felt things were starting to change.

The following days to produce "Marceline & The Scream Queens" album were intense, but also an opportunity to showcase their talent and commitment as a group. Also, this would be the perfect moment for Fern to finally unveil his personal project, something he had been working on for a long time.

So, I walk alone...

In... my... mental home,

I can't let on...

Marceline played the last notes of her bass, and the sound in the booth ceased. Pat (still wearing his headphones) gave a thumbs-up sign, stood up and removed his headphones so he could hear what the group had to say.

"Great job everyone" the man congratulated them "with this song we can call the album finished. Now you only need to think of a title and cover design"

Before everyone could celebrate and leave the booth to finally take a breath, Fern stepped in.

"Wait!" he exclaimed, causing Marceline and the others to stop a few inches before they reached the door.

"What is it now, Fern?" Booboo asked a little impatient to get out of there and have a break after having spent most of the day working on the last few songs on the album.

"I've one more song to add..." he said suddenly, filling everyone with curiosity and intrigue "it's something I've been working on for days and... well, I'd like to play it if you don't mind..."

There was a moment of silence among the band members before Marceline nodded with a smile.

"Go ahead, Fern. Surprise us."

Fern nodded, went to sit in an armchair in the booth, picked up his guitar, set up the microphone and began to play the first chords of the intro track. Pat quickly turned on the sound console and put on the headphones to hear the melody better.

If I can reach your heart anyway

Everything always have a choice

Don't spell the wall for me

I just want to be between your skin

[Si a tu corazón yo llego igual

Todo siempre se podrá elegir

No me escribas la pared

Solo quiero estar entre tu piel]

His voice, full of restrained emotion, echoed in the studio, as the lyrics spoke of how someone had changed his life since he met him.

And if the sun wouldn't shine

And I got stuck out here

I could never see the point

To keep living without your love

And today when I go crazy I come back

Looking for your love

There's nothing left but wind, uh

There's nothing left but wind

And if the sun didn't shine

And I got stuck here, oh

I could never see the point

To keep living without your love, oh-oh-oh

[Y si acaso no brillara el sol

Y quedara yo atrapado aquí

No vería la razón

En seguir viviendo sin tu amor

Y hoy que enloquecido vuelvo

Buscando tú querer

No queda más que viento, uh

No queda más que viento

Y si acaso no brillara el sol

Y quedara yo atrapado aquí, oh

No vería la razón

De seguir viviendo sin tu amor, oh-oh-oh]

As he finished, there was a brief moment of stillness before Marceline broke the silence with a mocking comment.

"So...who's the lucky guy, huh?" she asked in an amused tone, crossing her arms. Fern averted his gaze, an uncomfortable blush came to his face but he could no longer hide his feelings for Finn for much longer.

"It's for Finn" he admitted quietly with a sigh.

Marceline let out a short laugh, amused by the revelation.

"I knew it since that kiss at the sleepover" she comments "but seriously, do you really like that knucklehead?" she added jokingly, though with no malice intended. Fern shrugged with his cheeks a little red, he did not have a clear answer but what he felt for Finn was different from any other connection he had ever had before "oh, come on, man. Don't play chicken on me now" she insisted, nudging him lightly "it's nice to know you fell in love"

Fern frowned, and trying to defend himself, folded his arms.

"Well, you wrote a song to Bonnie at the festival! And I didn't see anyone bother you about it-he looked at her with an arched eyebrow.

"Touche" the young woman admitted, raising her hands in surrender "but at least I was brave enough to admit it without turning apple-red" Fern snorted and looked away, though he could not help smiling slightly. Marceline tapped him lightly on the shoulder, more in comradeship than mockery "relax, buddy. The important thing is, you did something amazing. Finn will love that song... if he ever figures out the hidden message in it" she added with a sly grin "and if he doesn't, then I swear I'll go find him and beat him to it"

"No, don't worry. It won't be necessary to do that" Fern said "I'll give him a copy of the disc as soon as it's ready and the release date comes out"

Meanwhile, Finn walked calmly towards the school entrance with his characteristic green backpack slung over his shoulder and his head filled with random thoughts. The cool morning air helped him stay awake as he stared at the other students walking past him, immersed in their own conversations and routines.

"Ooops, looks to me like you don't belong here anymore" Mark said, his mocking tone echoing in Finn's ears like an unpleasant echo.

Finn did not answer, his jaw tensed and his fingers instinctively reached for the silver bracelet Fern had given him. He brushed it carefully remembering the boy's words:

"When you feel lonely or injured, cover it with your hand and think that I am there with you."

He took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a moment, he could feel Mark's mocking gaze locked on him but this time he was not going to give in. Not anymore.

Inside the classroom, the math teacher was explaining the day's exercises when she noticed something out of place. She looked around and frowned.

"Where's Finn?" she asked, crossing her arms. Before anyone could answer, the door to the classroom burst open, revealing Finn, who entered agitated, sweating from exertion and holding one of the legs of his desk with one free hand, with some difficulty. The teacher looked at him in perplexity and exasperation "put your desk back where it was and take a seat, Mr. Mertens. You're already ten minutes late" she indicated in a firm tone.

The teenager simply complied. As he pushed his desk back to its proper place, he could hear Mark and his "friends" snickering but chose to ignore them. Finally he dropped his weight onto the chair visibly exhausted but with the satisfaction of not having given in to humiliation.

Later in the cafeteria, after the incident with Mark, Finn felt everything that had happened finally catch up with him. He sat at a secluded table, but not too far from the exit in case he had to flee, he couldn't concentrate on his lunch due to the feeling of helplessness that churned his stomach, his tray was in front of him, but he could not touch the food. Before he could sink any deeper into his worries, he saw a shadow approach his table, for a moment he thought it was Mark but when he looked up, he found Bonnibel.

"I've been watching what's going on with you" the pink-haired woman said, leaving her bag on the table and taking a seat in front of him, and I think it's time to do something about it, it's time for things to change... for the better-Finn looked at her curiously, and Bonnibel continued "what would you think if there was an anti-bullying club at school? We could do something to change this"

The blue-eyed blond frowned, not that he thought the idea was a bad one, but he doubted that something like that would work.

"A club?" he repeated with some sarcasm and skepticism "and what are we going to do, tell Mark and his idiotic friends not to be aggressive with others?"

The woman was unfazed by the cynical tone in which her worst student spoke to her.

"We could do more than that, Finn. There are other students like you who have been assaulted and who believe their only way out is to... well, take their own lives" she murmured that last sentence, feeling a lump form in her throat "but if we unite and work together, we can support each other. I can take care of talking to the teachers, the student council, finding a safe space, but most importantly, I can show them that they have no control over anyone"

Finn looked down at his tray.

I don't know what to say, to tell you the truth my professor's idea does not sound bad. In a way it gives me hope, the possibility that things might change, maybe not now but in the future of the school. Although... I'm also afraid.

"I don't know" he muttered "it's always the same, nobody does anything. And in the end, we're the ones who end up losing the battle"

Bonnibel leaned her elbows on the table and leaned towards him.

"I know that changing things won't be easy, but someone has to take the first step" she said with conviction.

Finn felt his chest shrink, he remembered the bracelet on his wrist and Fern's promise, if he did not do something now how much longer was he going to endure? what would become of him next year, so close to graduating from high school? He raised his gaze and met his professor's determined eyes.

"All right" he said after a few seconds of silence "I'll help you with this"

"You won't regret it" Bonnibel assured him with a satisfied smile on her face, grabbed her bag and got up from her seat at the cafeteria table "well, I've to go back to the teachers' lounge, I haven't even eaten for coming to tell you about my idea, see you later!"

Finn was not entirely convinced, but looking on the bright side, he felt that maybe things could change.

When Bonnibel arrived to the teachers' lounge she found the same atmosphere as always: some teachers were talking about upcoming exams and pending subjects, others were simply taking advantage of their break to get a drink from the vending machine or make themselves a cup of coffee. The lounge had a couple of worn seats, a table full of papers and the coffee machine bubbling away in one corner. Without wasting any time, the pink-haired woman cleared her throat to get everyone's attention.

"I want to talk to you about something important" he said in the firm, confident tone he usually used during his meetings with the student council "I've been observing what's going on in the school and I think it's time to do something about it" several teachers looked up with intrigue, although some continued with their own "I'm going to create an anti-bullying club" he continued "a space where students who are being bullied can find support and look for real solutions"

There was a brief silence before someone let out a sly chuckle. Professor Anne, a woman with short light hair, folded her arms and looked at her skeptically.

"An anti-bullying club? Bonnibel, I know you like to get involved in these issues but this is a high school. Teenagers have always had conflicts among themselves, it's part of growing up."

"Exactly" Professor James interjected, who was in charge of the book club and the library along with Myrtle, the head librarian "sometimes they push each other, say hurtful things to each other...but it's their way of marking their ground. It's normal"

The pink-haired woman frowned at these comments.

"Normal? Let's see, you call it 'normal' destroy other students stuff? to push him against the lockers? to insult him every day until he ends up believing it?!"

Some of the teachers there looked away uncomfortable with the conversation.

"Look, I understand that you want to do something" Anne said in the most condescending way possible "but these kids are just kids. They fight, they play practical jokes, but eventually they learn to control it"

Bonnibel felt a knot of frustration form in her chest.

"What if you don't control it? What if someone gets hurt?"

"We can't be controlling everything that happens in the halls" James said with a shrug "besides, there's already a discipline protocol in place for those cases"

Bonnibel clenched her teeth.

Of course, "protocol," that set of rules that is rarely taken seriously.

"It's not just about discipline, but about support" she insisted "of letting students know they are not alone"

A heavy silence fell over the lounge. No one seemed convinced... until Simon, who had been silent the whole time, set his coffee mug down on the table and leaned into it a little.

"I'm interested" he said in his calm voice "tell me more"

Bonnibel looked at him with surprise before breaking into a faint smile.

"Thank you, Professor Petrikov."

Simon nodded, encouraging her to continue, while the others went back to their conversations, ignoring what seemed to him to be an idea worth listening to.

"So" Marceline asked, taking a sip of her drink "you said you wanted to tell me something important?"

Both Marceline and Bonnibel were in the small café where they had met the first time. Despite the hour, the place was still as cozy as ever: warm lights, the soft murmur of conversations and the smell of freshly brewed coffee wafting through the air. Marceline was already waiting for her at one of the tables by the window, absently stirring her coffee with a spoon. Bonnibel set her bag aside and sighed, as if trying to gather her thoughts before speaking.

"I spoke to Finn today" she began "I saw him after he had a problem with a classmate in the cafeteria, and I couldn't help but notice how upset he was"

Marceline grimaced, how could that not surprise her?

"It's no surprise. That idiot has always been a problem."

"Exactly. And that's just what I want to change" Bonnie leaned her elbows on the table, leaning slightly toward Marceline "I want to form an anti-bullying club at school. Something that would really help the students who are going through this"

The long dark haired young woman folded her arms, sizing her up.

"It sounds nice in theory, but do you think it would work?"

"Most of the professors think the same way you do" Bonnibel replied with a wry smile "I presented the idea in the lounge today and they all looked at me like I was wasting my time. They say that teenagers have 'always been like that' and that 'it's part of growing up'"

"Of course" Marceline snorted "as if that makes it hurt any less when they ruin your life every day"

"Exactly" Bonnie leaned a little closer to her "that's why I need your help. I want to know if you know anyone who's been through this and hasn't quite gotten over it. If there are people who are still carrying the scars of what they went through at school, I want to hear from them, to know how we can help them" Marceline remained silent for a moment.

Marceline was silent for a moment, staring into her coffee as if her thoughts had sunk into it.

"Yes... I know some people" she finally said in a more serious tone than usual "it's not something you get over easily. Sometimes, even after years, it still affects the way you see the world, the way you trust people"

Bonnibel noticed her friend's shadowed expression and felt a slight twinge of guilt for making her relive the memories of how their relationship had gone downhill because of putting too many expectations on each other and always being focused on their goals, and never allowing themselves or each other a little dedication.

"You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to..."

"Nah, it's okay" Marceline said, shaking her head and forcing a smile "if you really want to do this, then count me in. I'm going to ask a few people, see who would be willing to talk"

The pink-haired woman smiled with relief.

"Thank you, Marcy."

"Don't thank me yet" Marceline leaned an elbow on the table, looking down at her with a half-smile "you're going to need more than good intentions to make this work"

"I know. But if anyone can make it work, it's me."

The young woman looked at her in disbelief and then let out a soft laugh.

"That's the Bonnie I know."

Finn plopped down on his bed with a long sigh, the light from the lamp on his bedside table cast shadows on the walls and the sound of the ceiling fan was the only thing that broke the silence in the bedroom. It had been a long, hard day, and his head was full of thoughts, the incident with the desk, the conversation in the cafeteria with his professor, added to what happened at the festival... it was too much.

He rubbed his face with both hands, trying to clear his mind but instead, his thoughts strayed to the bracelet on his wrist.

He stared at it carefully sliding his fingers over the metal, Fern had handed it to him that night in the backyard of his house. With an expression Finn had not quite been able to decipher.

"It's like... a tie that binds us together. Whenever you feel lonely or hurt, wrap a hand around it and think of me. Imagine that I'm there with you, protecting you" he had said when he handed it to him.

What do I mean to him in his life? Am I just his friend? Someone he can trust? Or something more than that?

A sigh escaped from his lips, he knew they were something more than just friends after what they did that night he spent in his apartment and as strange as it sounded, he still did not have a clear answer. And what was worse... he was not sure what answer he wanted to find either. An uncomfortable knot formed in his chest as he remembered the pained expression Fern had put on that night at the festival when he and Phoebe found him full of bruises, and how he chose to go into her arms rather than seek comfort from him, as if he had wanted to say something with that look but ended up keeping it to himself in the end.

Then there was Phoebe, his friendship with her was somehow changing and it felt different. He could not ignore the concern it generated when she found him with his beaten and swollen face from the punches, the way they all insisted on knowing the truth, on what really happened and how he had tried to avoid telling the truth.

Why did he not tell her the truth the moment she found him?

Maybe he did not because he did not want her to see him as weak and "unmanly" as Mark and his minions used to refer to him, or maybe because a small part of him was trying to hold on to what they once had, even though he knew that was in the past and they could no longer go back.

He blinked a couple of times as he wondered what time it is, he was so lost in his thoughts that he almost forgot that he had a study session with Fern that afternoon.

"Oh, shit!" he muttered, quickly getting out of bed. From his corner of the bedroom, Jake raised his head curiously before letting out a yawn and settling back to sleep "I'm going to be late" he added as he hurriedly pulled on his sneakers.

Jake wagged his tail reluctantly and closed his eyes again. Finn rolled his eyes with a smile and, after making sure he had everything in his backpack, left his house and headed to the apartment building.

Finn crossed the lobby, climbed upstairs to the second floor and walked down the hallway to the lounge where the study sessions were being held. As he entered, he saw Fern already ensconced at his usual desk with an open notebook and a pen in his hand.

"I thought you weren't coming" the blond-haired green-eyed boy commented without looking up from his own notes.

"Yeah, sorry, I was... distracted" Finn admitted, putting his backpack down on the table.

Fern let out a sigh and twirled the pen between his fingers before turning his gaze back to him.

"I don't know why I'm not surprised."

"Hey" Finn frowned and dropped into the chair across from him "at least I try to be on time" he replied, pulling his notebook out of his backpack.

"Trying isn't the same as succeeding" Fern said leaning an elbow on the table and looking him with a half smile that looked like he was mocking him "but hey, at least you showed up"

Finn rolled his eyes, though deep down he was relieved to see that Fern wasn't really upset. He settled back in his seat and flipped through his notebook until he found the exercise they had left unfinished last time.

"Well, where do we start?"

"Where we left off last time, genius" the blond boy replied with the green-dyed tips sarcastically pointing to the exercise on the piece of paper "come on, you try it first"

Finn nodded, picked up his pencil and bent over the notebook, trying to focus on the numbers in front of him. But his mind soon wandered again, wandering through everything that had happened lately. The conversation with Bonnibel in the cafeteria, Fern's look at the festival, the way Phoebe looked at him after finding him injured... and then, suddenly, he remembered.

The winter prom.

Internally, he berated himself for forgetting it. He was supposed to have been looking for a date, but among everything else, he never did.

All of his female classmates probably already had dates.

He dropped the pencil and sighed, feeling a small pang of disappointment, not that he was obsessed with the idea of going with someone, but now the thought of having to go alone felt weird. He turned his gaze to Fern who was still focused on his notebook, taking notes with a slight frown.

Maybe I can ask him for some advice...

"Hey, Fern what would you do if...?" the teenager thought, but before he could ask the question, the words that came out of his mouth were something completely different from that "do you want to go to the prom with me?"

The sound of a pen falling off the desk felt louder than it should have.

"What?" Fern looked up suddenly, his eyes reflecting confusion and surprise at the unexpected question.

Finn blinked, realizing a second too late what he had just said. He felt the heat rise in his face.

"I mean, we haven't done anything together since that night at your apartment and... besides, we haven't defined who we are after what happened and... anyway, you know, I'm just asking if you want to go and if you're interested."

The green-eyed blond kept looking at him as if the teenager had just asked him the most absurd question in the world.

"Are you asking me to go to a school prom with you?" he asked slowly as if he needed to make sure he had heard Finn correctly.

"Well... yes."

The silence that settled between the two of them felt eternal. Finn felt his heart pounding in his chest. Fern finally looked away, scratching his cheek thoughtfully.

"I don't know" he muttered "it's not exactly my kind of environment. After what happened when I went to school a few days ago... I'm not sure if I'm going to feel comfortable" Finn nodded slowly.

Finn nodded slowly, feeling another slight twinge of disappointment.

"Yes, I understand..."

Fern looked at him sideways and sighed.

"Give me time and let me think about it, okay?"

"Really?" Finn looked up.

"Of course. I can't promise anything, but I'll think about it."

"That's good enough for me" the blond boy said, smiling a little.

Fern rolled her eyes with a smile and picked up her pen again.

"Now concentrate. If you're going to take me to a damn dance, I at least don't want you to get stuck with this."

Finn let out a laugh and leaned over his notebook again, feeling his heart beat a little lighter than before.

After what she had experienced a few days ago at school, Fern was not sure she wanted to go back to such an environment but now that she thought better of it, she could not deny that the idea of going on a date with Finn did not entirely displease her. He also could not deny that the proposal had taken him by surprise and he still was not sure if the teenager meant it or if he just blurted it out without stopping to think about it, but the fact that he specifically asked him made him feel... weird.

Not in a bad way, but in a way he was not used to processing.

As Finn tried to focus on the exercise, Fern looked at him out of the corner of his eye. There was something about his expression, the way he was frowning as he worked, that made him question if Finn even understood what he had just done.

The green-eyed blond sighed and leaned his head against one hand, staring at the other boy before asking in a quiet but inquisitive voice.

"Finn, why did you ask me to the school dance if we're not even boyfriend and girlfriend? Or are we and I just didn't notice?"

Finn tensed immediately, his hand clenched tighter on the pen as he tried to evade Fern's gaze. He felt his face burn with embarrassment and for a moment he could not seem to find the right words. But after a few seconds of awkward silence, he forced himself to respond.

"That night in your apartment... we made love... and... and you told me that's what people who love each other do" he murmured, feeling his heart pounding "at that moment I gathered that you felt that way about me, but I could never figure out if when you said it, you meant that you loved me as a friend or something more... because after that you never made it clear what we were"

Fern narrowed his eyes, feeling his own breathing become heavier.

Finn was right, I never set anything clear after that night... maybe because I was afraid to do so. But now I feel like it's the right time to set the record straight. And if we're going to go to a stupid school prom together, what better way to resolve all tension than now, before we complicate everything later and continue to leave the relationship we have as an unanswered question.

The silence grew thicker between them until Fern, taking a puff of air, decided to face his own fears.

"I don't know what we are, Finn... but I do know that I didn't want what happened that night to be a one-and-done thing" he confessed with his gaze fixed on the desk in front of him.

Finn felt a sting in his chest.

That was not the answer I was waiting to hear, I was waiting for Fern to say once and for all that we can't just be friends anymore, the way he treats me and behaves when he's around me, he hints that it's not the typical way friends treat each other.

He swallowed saliva, feeling the disappointment rising inside him.

"So what do you want us to be?" he asked in a barely audible voice.

Fern looked at him again, noticing the intrigue and anticipation in Finn's blue eyes. His own thoughts were in chaos, but deep down he already knew the answer. He could no longer deny it, could no longer pretend they were just friends when in reality he wanted to take it a step further with him.

"I want..." he took a deep breath before letting it out "I want us to stop being just friends. I want us to become something else, Finn, do you want to be my boyfriend?"

Finn looked at him with his eyes wide open, his breathing ragged as he processed what he had just heard. His heart was pounding so hard he felt like it was going to burst out of his chest, he could not help but feel immensely happy, he was going to be able to get closer to Fern and there was nothing and no one that could stop him.

He had not waited for the boy to be the first to take the initiative, and yet there he was, giving him the answer he had waited so long for.

A huge smile formed on his face before he let out a shaky sigh.

"Yes" he answered without a second thought, not daring to hesitate. With a sincere emotion reflected in his words "yes I want to"

Fern let out a chuckle, feeling his own heart pounding. It felt so ludicrous that it had taken them so long to come to this, but now that they had finally said it out loud, a sort of relief washed over him. Finn, unable to contain himself, leaned forward and hugged him tightly, resting his head on his shoulder. Fern hesitated only a moment before returning the embrace, closing his eyes for an instant.

After that, they both agreed to give it a try, nervously but also excitedly. They knew that handling it at school and with their friends would not be easy, but they promised to be honest with each other and take it slow. They would find the time to tell others about their newfound relationship.

Later at Fern's apartment, words took a back seat as they shared a moment of intimacy. Between deeper kisses and caresses that ran down their bodies with a mixture of desire and tenderness, Finn pulled away slightly, bringing his hands to the edges of his t-shirt, took it off, tossing it into a corner of the small space along with his bear hat which fell to the foot of the bed, and rested his forehead against Fern's.

The blond with the green-dyed tips could see reflected the passion and eagerness the teenager had for wanting him to take him right then and there and make him his again, but he called himself to reflection before they could go any further than he thought.

"Finn, let's not rush things...please" he asked in a whisper.

"Why not?" asked the blue-eyed blond "don't you love me, Fern? Because I do"

"Of course I do, I love you more than anything, Finn. But... let's try to take things calmly" Fern answered "it won't be for long, but you've to be patient, promise?"

Finn, breathing heavily, nodded. He was not going to push him, but he could not deny that the tension between them was growing with every moment they spent together; however, he agreed to take things at his own pace.

"I promise" he whispered caressing his cheek before kissing him again.

The moment continued to intensify, the garments slowly beginning to disappear until Fern was left with her torso uncovered. Just as Finn was leaning over him again, a noise at the door startled them.

"Fern?" Bonnibel's voice sounded from the doorway. They both froze, eyes wide as saucers before Fern reacted hastily and covered herself again. Finn, red as an apple, turned slowly toward the door just as Bonnibel opened it and found them in the middle of a compromising position. The silence was so thick that Finn swore he could even hear his own pulse racing. The pink-haired woman's expression was unreadable, but her arched eyebrow indicated she had seen enough "I don't want to know" she said simply, closing the door calmly and leaving them in a sea of discomfort.

Finn and Fern exchanged glances, feeling mortified at being discovered in such a way. However, after the first shock, a nervous laugh escaped Finn's lips, infecting Fern.

"Well... at least now we're sure of something" Finn murmured with a coy smile.

"Of what?" Fern asked looking at him curiously.

"That this is real" he replied, taking his hand firmly. Fern returned the squeeze feeling more confident than ever.

Despite the awkward interruption, there were no more unanswered questions. Now all that remained was to see where this new relationship would take them.