Mom sat down on the couch that was beside Marcus and I. She crossed her arms over her chest. I cleared my throat and looked at Marcus who looked pretty calm.

"Tell me why I shouldn't call the cops on you, Sawyer?" mom said, her eyes full of anger and hatred.

If mom acted like this after finding out that I was with Marcus and I brought him in the house, I wouldn't want to be around when dad finds out.

"I'm your daughter's boyfriend," he answered.

Mom quirked her eyebrow,"Is that all?"

Marcus glanced at me then mom again,"I know I have done bad things Mrs. Heart but that was mainly because I was going through a tough time. My father was shot by a rival gangleader and that really drove me to the edge. I really loved my father and it felt like a fucking truck--"

I nudged Marcus, signalling him not to swear in front of my mom. She sighed,"Kids these days swear at an age of six... and it's not like I'm gonna punish you for swearing."

Marcus nodded and carried on, "Hearing the news that my father was shot really killed me inside. I was depressed for months, years, I had suicidal thoughts and I even cut myself a few times. Alcohol and drugs also helped me to forget why I was depressed. And, using girls was also a way to... uhm... yeah."

"Eww," Alyson said from the background and I shot her a look.

"What are you even thinking about, Alyson?" I scowled at her. "Go to your room," I told her and she frowned.

"You're not my mom." she huffed.

"But I am your big sister and you love me so go to your room," I said and Alyson snorted but left and walked upstairs.

"But everything is different now," Marcus said with a slight smile, staring at the ground then he looked at me and smiled. He faced my mom and grinned.

"I really like your daughter," he said, not looking at me, staring my mother straight in the eye as he said it. A small breath escaped my lips and my eyes widened.

He likes me. Or is it an act in front of my mother?

"And I would like her to remain my girlfriend. She is the one of the reasons why I love life." Marcus finished. My heart rate accelerated as I nevrously played with my fingers. My mother was still dead quiet, which caused me to look up to her.

My mother was smiling.

"Oh my God, no matter how angry I want to be, I can't. This is so sweet," she said, fanning her red face.

Marcus smiled and chuckled. "I'm sorry for the way I act and am the bad things I do."

"It's okay sweetheart," mom said, smiling. "I forgive you."

Marcus stood up and my mother stood up too. They walked towards eachother and they hugged eachother. "Thank you, Mrs. Heart," Marcus said.

"Please, just call me Sydney. And I'm so sorry about your father. Although we both didn't like eachother, he was a good man," she said and pulled away from Marcus.

Marcus nodded and I stood up and stood next to Marcus. He wrapped an arm my shoulder and kissed my head. "Well, I gotta go," Marcus said after glancing at his wrist watch.

"I'll walk you to your car," I said and held his hand.

"Thanks Baby cheeks," Marcus said and nodded at my mother. "See you later, Sydney." She smiled and walked upstairs to her room.

Marcus and I walked out the house and smiled simultaneously. I hugged Marcus and he instantly hugged me back. "I hope you're okay," I whispered.

"Okay about what?"

"All the stuff you have gone through, losing your father, dealing with gangs and drugs, being depressed. I'm sorry," I said.

Marcus smiled and kissed my cheek,"It's okay Baby cheeks. You're one of the reasons why I don't go through all those stuff again."

"That's good," I said and pecked his lips. "Anyway, I hope you have a safe drive," I said as Marcus started walking.

"I miss you in my arms," Marcus said while he got in his car.

I chuckled,"Bye!" I waved at him.

His car window rolled down and gestured me to come to him. I rolled my eyes though I was smiling. I walked to his car and stood by his window.

"Get in the car," he said and I furrowed my eyebrows.

"Where will we be going?" I asked.

"Somewhere," he answered bluntly.

"You don't say." I rolled my eyes and walked around the front of the car and got in the passenger side of the car. I shut the door and awkwardly sat there being quiet. Marcus drove out of the driveway and into the road. I stared at him while he drove.

God, he was beautiful.

He wore a white tee that clung to his muscular torso, black skinny jeans and a necklace. His hair was darker than usual which matched the colour of his jeans. I wouldn't imagine myself being with him, yet, here I was.

"Baby cheeks, I would close that mouth of yours. You don't want to give me any ideas don't you?" he smirked.

I blushed and looked away, trying hard to come up with a comeback. Unfortunately for me, it took me a minute which was too late so I kept quiet.

His phone started ringing and he looked at his phone. He bit his bottom lip and answered it,"Hey," he said, in a kind of whisper. I furrowed my eyebrows. "Yeah, I'm busy right now. Fuck, I'll be there in an hour." pause "Make it twenty minutes. Yeah. Bye." he dropped his phone and cleared his throat.

"Who was that?" I asked, facing him.

"Ex," he replied with a quirk of an eyebrow.

I had expected him not to answer with ease, and I expected him to hesitant before answering but he didn't. "Oh," I said. I tried to keep quiet but after debating in my head whether to ask this question or not, I decided I should.

"What did she want?" I asked with a slight stammer.

Marcus smirked,"She called me to come over her house since her parents are gone."

He felt so confident saying this, it annoyed me. My heart ached and I felt a lump in my throat. "No, you're not going."

Marcus chuckled,"You are not going to tell me what to do, Baby cheeks."

"I'm your girlfriend," I said.

"Fake girlfriend," Marcus corrected. I hate to admit but he was right.

"Though everyone thinks we are really dating," I said.

"Do you think this is real?" Marcus asked.

"Of course not," I replied.

"Ah, there it is."

"There is what?" I asked in confusion.

"You said that this between us is fake and everyone thinks it's real. So when we are alone, we don't have to act like a couple." he stopped the car by a deserted place but a few metres away was a forested area. Marcus got out the car and shut the door and started walking towards the woods. I narrowed my eyes at him and clenched my fists. I groaned and got out the car and shut the door.

I jogged after Marcus,"Marcus. Marcus!"

He ignored me, walking into the woods and I still followed him. Worried and angry at the same time. I entered the woods and searched for Marcus,"Marcus? Marcus!" I shouted, cupping my hands around my mouth. I couldn't see him and I started to get scared for my own safety and his. The exit wasn't in sight either, I was only in the woods for minute after following Marcus and I was already lost.

"Marcus! Where are you?"

No answer.

"Marcus?" I shouted, looking around and walking further into the woods. I felt a stick break behind me. I quickly turned around and my heart stopped when I saw no one. It was almost dark since the clouds had completely taken over the sky. I started hearing noises around me which started to freak me out. I heard footsteps behind me and I quickly turned back, seeing no one.

"Alyssa," Marcus said behind me and I jumped in fright. He chuckled and kissed my forehead. "Are you okay?"

I hit his chest and he groaned,"How dare you do that to me? You almost scared me... wait." I looked behind to see if there was someone else here besides Marcus because when I heard the noise behind me, Marcus was not there.

"Are you okay, Baby cheeks?" he asked. I hesitantly nodded after looking around me. Marcus followed my gaze and then looked at me,"Don't worry, Baby cheeks. I'm here."

I intertwined my fingers with his and I followed him wherever he was walking. We left the trees and made it to the middle of the woods where there was this huge space. I couldn't see that much because it was dark. Marcus smiled and faced me,"Watch this," he said and walked over to the tree a few steps from the bench. He held a branch and pulled it downwards. Small, yellow and pink neon lights shone in the tree and around. I gasped when I saw a huge Ferris wheel with sparkling lights. The place was an abandoned amusement park, it didn't even look finished.

"This looks awesome," I commented and Marcus nodded. Marcus walked past me and to the Ferris wheel. "Come on," he said as he stood next to it. I furrowed my eyebrows and approached Marcus.

"Climb up," he said and my eyes widened.

"On this thing?" I gaped.

"What? Are you afraid of heights?" Marcus asked.

"No," I told him and pushed past him. I started climbing up the Ferris wheel and Marcus mimicked my actions.

"Be careful, Baby cheeks," Marcus shouted from the bottom of the Ferris wheel while I climbed to the top.

"Yeah whatever, Marcus." I chuckled.

I looked and saw Marcus climbing up. I screamed to pretend that I was in trouble or I slipped and Marcus looked up at me with a look of fear on his face.

I laughed and he frowned,"Don't you ever do that again, Baby cheeks."

I smiled though nodded. I made it to the top and sat on the seat. I waited for Marcus. He jumped onto the seat and sat down. He smiled,"High."

I laughed and looked around from my seat,"We're so high up. We can see everything from here," I said, speechless. "It's beautiful."

"But nothing compared to you," Marcus said and I turned to him.

I smiled and placed my hand on his jaw,"Thanks," I said and we faced back to the view. It was a bit dark up here since the lights here weren't on. Some lights on the Ferris wheel didn't go on. The time was .

"Marcus, the things you said to mom, were they true? Did you really mean them?" I asked, looking at him.

"Well yeah, I went through a lot after I lost my father. He is the reason I love Oreos because he used buy Oreos everyday which I got obsessed with. María has also been down, she doesn't speak that much. She cries herself to sleep because she misses dad. Many, many guys want to marry her since she's apparently gorgeous," Marcus said.

"Oh, but your mom is gorgeous," I admitted. "Very."

Marcus chuckled and looked away.

"Hey, if you need a shoulder to cry on. I'm here," I said, patting his back.

Marcus chuckled,"Thanks but I don't cry. The time I have ever cried was after my father died."

"Mhm, what if I tickle the sanity out of you?" I asked, grinning.

"I'm not ticklish," he answered bluntly.

"We'll see about that," I murmured and attempted to tickle him and I ended up straddling him trying to tickle both sides of his torso but I failed.

Marcus chuckled.

"Eureka!" I threw a fist in the air.

Marcus looked at me with amusement and shook his head,"What was that for?" he asked.

"You laughed! I know where your ticklish spots are," I said proudly.

"No, I was actually laughing because of your attempt to tickle me. And the face you made when you tried to tickle me," he said and rolled my eyes.

"Oh okay, I'll believe you over me. Sure Marcus, you laughed because me trying to tickle you, not because of me tickling you. That makes total sense," I said though I believed Marcus.

I then realised I was straddling Marcus. His hands were on my hip and mine were still on his built chest. His smile slowly disappeared as our faces drew closer to eachother.

Our lips meet and I felt as if fireworks were going off in this amusement park.

Suddenly Marcus' phone started ringing and he groaned but we didn't stop. He made the ringing stop and placed his phone next to us, not breaking the kiss. Now the phone kept on vibrating all the time, Marcus and I tried to ignore it but after sometime, I pulled away catching breath.

"You know, Baby cheeks," Marcus said, and held my cheek, meeting brown eyes pushed back by his dilated pupils. "You are the first girl, I have ever brought here," he said.

"Couldn't you take me to a real amusement park?" I said in a sarcastic tone with a slight smile.

Marcus groaned,"I'll do that soon, Baby cheeks." he pecked my lips again. "I like how this one is abandoned, it's still beautiful."

Marcus had said and his hand trailed over my bare thighs and went to my back until it held my shorts. His phone vibrated again. Marcus kissed my neck. Annoyed with the phone, I picked it up and opened it. I went to his chats with a girl named Bree -- which I assumed was the Bree in our school -- who was currently sending him pictures. I gasped when I saw a pictures of Bree wearing red lingerie and with the text under it:

I almost wanted to cry. I pulled away from Marcus and stood up, staring at his confused face. "What Baby cheeks?" he asked me.

I showed him the picture on his phone and his eyes widened and he looked at me,"No," he murmured.

I was very upset,"Why didn't you bring your real girlfriend here instead of me?" I said and threw the phone at him. Tears were forming but they never fell. A lump in my throat rose as I struggled to breath.

"Baby cheeks--"

"No Marcus," I exclaimed as I tried to get off of his grip.

"Alyssa--"

"No!" I shouted and shook off his grip. The tears fell out my eyes and streamed down my cheeks. I accidentally shook him off too hard and I fell over the seat. I screamed but Marcus grabbed my arm and gripped it tightly, saving me from falling.