Monday, August 26th

"Noah, it's 4am." I moan.

"Don't you want to learn to ride?" He says, smirking.

"Yeah But isn't it dark?" I ask, trying to get myself out of the deal I had made.

"It's summer, the sun will be out soon

I slide out of his bed and go to the bathroom. I take a shower and get dressed.

"Ready to go?" He asks, excitedly.

"Yup."

We go outside the apartment and he drives us to a skatepark.

Without saying a word, he runs, throws his board down and jumps on likes it nothing. Then he rides around on the board, staring at me as he goes.

"You try."

I consider it, I throw my board down like he did but once I start running, I stop.

"Yah no, I'm good." I say.

"Here let me help."

He teaches me the basics of how to ride and once I learn them, I want to learn more.

He teaches me how to Ollie. By the time we left, I looked like I had been riding a Skateboard for weeks.

It's was 8am when we left. He had some classes today, but I didn't have any. Thank goodness.

So I slept most of the day. In my room, actually.

Surprising, I know.

The gift Marcus got me lay beside me, and I went to sleep wondering what could be in it, and if I should open it.

I ultimately decided that it would probably break me more to open it, so I left it there and drifted off to sleep.

I wake up again around 11. Noah had texted me that he was hanging out at a kickback in one of his friends dorm rooms.

I wake up due to a strange feeling in my gut telling me to open that damn present and all will be fine.

Open that present and I'll be happy.

What the hell is in that present that's messing with my sleep?

I look at it. It's a wrapped up gift, and a bag.

I sigh, and get up. I go and grab the bag and the wrapped gift and put in on my bed.

I slowly tear off the wrapper to the box.

He got me a Keurig. Wow. That's very thoughtful. I try to shrug it off and act like it's not the best thing I've ever gotten. He remembered that I used to complain about how difficult my coffee machine is. That's why it's the best gift I've ever gotten.

Or so I thought.

But that's when I opened the bag.

A charm bracelet, it had a semicolon on it. It's almost like he got this after I almost died. But no. He knew that I had tried to kill myself before because I told him. There was a semicolon, and a heart that had words inside that read "your story isn't over yet". I began crying and put it on immediately.

The next thing I pulled out was a shirt.

It was a black shirt with white words that read "I like my coffee dark like my clothes". I laugh while I cry when I see that.

There is another jewelry piece in the bag. It's a padlock necklace, like the one I have.

This one looks like a smaller version of the padlock we put on the Golden Gate Bridge. I cry even more.

But inside the bottom of the bag, there is a folded piece of paper.

I open it, it's a letter.

Dear Brianna, I love you. I want you in my life forever. You are my best friend. But not only that, you are the love of my life. I can't imagine being apart from your stubborn ass. If we ever part ways, just know I will be just as broken as you are. I hope that will never be the case, through. You are all I want, all I need. You are the drug I take to make me happy. And with your departure it would cost my sanity. Please, never leave me. I will always love you and come to you with open arms, for as long as circumstance allows, and circumstance allows as long as I know you want me. With all that being said, happy birthday.

Love, Bad Boy Marcus

He said, "And circumstance allows as long as I know you want me."

And I do want him. Would he take me back? Does he still want me.

He said, "I will always love you and come to you with open arms."

Always?

"And with your departure, it would cost my sanity."

And at that point, no more questions needed to be asked. I knew that me and Marcus needed to talk.

And I didn't plan to wait to do it any longer than 24 hours.

Meaning I would find him tomorrow.

Actually, to hell with that.

I'm going to find him tonight.

I was going to do it by calling and texting him.

And I knew he would answer because of the letter in his gift bag.

He loved me, and I loved him.

—————

MARCUS' POV

I was about 3 in the morning when my phone went off. Not once but twice.

I get up, pissed at the electronic box for waking me.

I pick it up, preparing to slide away the messages, cut on do not disturb and be done with it but I am caught by the name of the sender.

Rose.

I read the messages, knowing that I shouldn't. I had been ignoring her all this time, why cave now?

I'll tell you why.

This time of ignoring her had been hell. Just like last time I tried to ignore her. Hell. Pure hell. You'd think I'd learned my lesson, but this time I had a reason. I had a good damn reason.

If she tries to kill herself again, I'll be going with her this time.

I can't take it again.

All that being said, I'm a dumbass so I read it anyways.

"Marcus, I love you. And I know you love me. Please, I'm sorry. I want to be more than friends."

I read the next message.

"I got the gift you got me for my birthday, Marcus."

I put my phone down, deciding to ignore her, with tears in my eyes.

Then my phone rings. I see it's Rose and I sigh. I was in my dorm room with a dorm mate and I didn't wanna wake him up. He's some boy with glasses who isn't exactly nerd-like, but he never talks.

I wanted to scream, but instead I sighed.

It was so hard to ignore that call. It felt like my chest was ripping apart and my breath was being snatched.

I slam my head into my pillow until the phone stops ringing.

I then sit up, catch my breath, and stare down for a moment.

Then the phone lights up again.

I pick up the phone and look at the notification.

One new voicemail

I give in and click the voicemail. I put the phone up to my ear.

"Marcus, I need to see you now. I need to talk to you and hear your voice and try to work things out. I need you. Please, I'm begging you. Meet me in the restaurant, 'The Martini' at 1205 South Fort Apache Road."

She takes a breath.

Then, as if it wasn't meant for the phone to hear, she says

"Please show up."

Then the voice mail ends.

There was no way I was going.

No way I was letting her hurt me again.

No way.

Where are my shoes?

———————————

BRIANNA's POV

After sending him the messages, I took a taxi to the restaurant I told him to meet me at.

I hoped he would show.

I go inside and sit down.

"Hi." A lady working says to me.

"Hi."

"Just sit anywhere and I'll be right with you."

I probably look like shit. I had been crying since I opened the gift, and after I sent the message, I had hopped in the shower and left my hair soaking wet and my makeup under my eyes. I was wearing a blue sweatshirt and black sweatpants. I had white crocs on.

Some people walk in the door. Other college kids coming in from parties, couples who had been out clubbing, and other people who had all done fun things before coming here.

After all, it is about 4 in the morning.

Every time the bell rang, I looked behind me towards the door. But it's not him.

It's never him.

The waiter comes up to me with a smile on her face.

"How may I help you today?"

I open the menu, realizing I haven't even took a look at it yet.

"Uhm, can I get a Coke to drink? And I'm not sure what I want to eat yet."

"That's fine, darling. I'll get you that coke and some free Chips and dip as an appetizer for ya, Alright hun?" She says, smiling.

I think she felt bad for me, but either way, she's a nice lady.

I knew she was even nicer than I thought when she brought out the hugest bowl of chips and dip I'd ever seen. I knew appetizers weren't supposed to be that big.

"Enjoy lovely." She says.

"Thank you." I say, giving a smile.

I love this woman; she's awesome and her smiles are contagious.

She was an older lady, but not too old. Maybe early forties. She had a country accent that made me wonder why she's in a city like this.

I look at the chips and dip. They were tortilla chips and there was a res dip with peppers and stuff, and Queso dip. I begin to eat the chips, still looking behind me, to see if he's here. The waiter comes up to me.

"What's your name?" She asks, sitting in the seat across from me.

"Brianna." I say.

"I'm Miss Pat." She says.

The door opens again and I look behind me once again.

Not him.

"Who are ya looking for sweetheart?"

"Just a guy." I shrug.

"At 4am?" She asks.

I don't reply.

"Are you okay? Do you need me to call someone for you, honey?"

"No, no. I'm good. If he does show up, he won't hurt me."

"And if he doesn't?" She asks.

"He will." I say, hoping I'm right.

"This guy must be special if you're meeting him at this time, and in the type of outfit none of these rich folk would have the guts to wear out in public."

"Haha I know I look terrible." I say, jokingly, but also serious.

"You just look tired." She says.

"I am tired."

"Of what?"

"Everything." I reply.

"Why are you meeting this guy tonight?"

"Because we love each other, but I tried to take my own life and I' didn't realize I took some of his with me. So now I have to give it back to him, and hope he forgives me."

"Did you say you tried to take your own life?" She whispers.

I look away from her.

I shove a chip with some dip on it in my mouth.

"Yeah. Back in April, on my Birthday."

"Oh." She says.

I like that response. I wish everyone would just say "oh" instead of being mad or sad and telling me I matter, or that I'm stupid.

It's surprisingly more comforting.

"Do you think he's gonna show up looking like how you look?" She asks, jokingly.

"Probably." I say truthfully.

"Then I think your guy is here." She says, standing up.

The bell on the door rings and I look behind me.

It's Marcus.

He came.

The waiter gives him a smile, winks at me, and goes back behind the counter.

He comes up and sits where Miss Pat was just sitting.

He shoves some chips in his mouth.

I take a deep breath.

I open my mouth to speak, but he stops me.

"No, don't talk. I wanna talk first but I need to finish chewing." He says with a full mouth.

I nod.

He slowly finishes chewing, grabs my drink, drinks some, gives it back, and clears his throat.

"Rose, I love you. I love you but you and me are alike. We both drag each other through the mud. I get caught up in my pride, you get caught up in your mental illnesses. And we can't help it."

I look down.

"Or so I thought."

I look back up at him.

"When we hung out, you were happier. I know you were. I could see the glow on your face that isn't there anymore. And I was happier. I've lost all my glow, too."

I frown.

"But even the fact that you're still here, waiting for me, makes some of my glow return, and I would kill to see some of yours come back too." He says, putting a hand on my chin.

He runs his thumb across my face.

"I missed you. I didn't want to admit it to myself but I did. I missed you like hell. I haven't eaten much. Drank, yes. Eaten, no."

I frown.

"When I saw you at that party, you-you were with Noah. And you kissed him. You kissed him, I saw you kiss him."

I take in a breath, as I hear the anger in his voice turn to sadness.

"But I've realized that I can't be mad at you. Because it's my fault. I never asked you to be my girlfriend. I didn't make it clear to you that you were the girl I wanted until it was too late."

I raise an eyebrow at him.

"When you were unconscious in the hospital, I told you that you were the girl that made me happy, and I could never let you go."

I open my mouth to speak again, but he stops me

"But Noah knew. I made it very clear that I was in love with you. But I can't be mad at him either. Firstly, you're god damn awesome and every guy in their right mind will notice that. Secondly, I basically gave you up. And so he called dibs."

He pauses.

He locks eyes with me.

"Are you and Noah together?"

I shake my head

"He knows that I was using him to distract myself from my love for you. He was okay with it." I say.

"Oh okay." He says.

He pauses.

"It feels so damn good to hear your voice in person again." He says.

"I feel the same about yours." I say.

"I'll say this then you can speak. I love you, and I will always come running back to you with open arms, prepared to give you whatever is left of my heart."

He eats another chip.

"I want to be with you, Marcus. No more games. I love you. I will never leave you. Not again. You make me happy. You complete me. I heard you in the hospital that day. I know I did because I keep having dreams about it. But Marcus, I want to be yours. That is, if you'll take me."

"Rose, are you deaf?"

My heart drops.

"I just poured my heart out to you and everything I said pointed to one thing: I want you to be mine and I will be yours." He smiles.

I sigh in relief.

I smile and stick my pinky out.

"Forever and ever?" I ask.

He locks his pinky around mine.

"Forever and always."

I get up and go over to hug him. He hugs me back.

We let go after about a minute or two.

We sit down.

The waiter comes up to us.

"You two ready to order?"

"Yes!" Marcus says. He really was hungry.

We both order a burger and fries. The burger is huge and there were a bunch of fries. We talk as if we'd been cool since birth. After we finish eating, we go outside, and he agrees to walk me back to the apartment. It's about 6 am.

"Is Noah gonna be there?" He asks.

"Probably." I say.

"Kayla?"

"Of course."

"Okay, there's one thing we need to clear up before we go, then."

"What is it?"

"Rose. Will you go out with me?"

"We're already out." I joke.

He pulls me closer to him and kisses me.

"I mean, like that. Can we make that normal? Will you be my girlfriend?"

"Of course." I smile.

We decide to take a taxi back to the apartment.

We update each other on our lives. He said his mom called him every day and yelled at him for not calling me.

He agrees to bring me home next weekend when he goes home to visit his mom.

When we get inside the apartment, Noah is in his room asleep, and Kayla is in hers.

We sit on the couch and plan to watch a movie, but the TV never comes on. Instead we get lost in conversation.

Then we fall asleep, my head on his shoulder, his head on mine. Our arms were wrapped around each other as well.

He was finally back to pick up the pieces of my shattered heart, and I to pick up his.

actual word count before me messing with it (not including this) is : 2889

Authors note: OMG almost 3k words wow

anywho I hope u liked this, let me know what you think.

Also, Happy New Year!

HLP will be finished by the end of February 2020 and that's for sure lol and I won't be coming out with new stories until way later after that but once this story is done, I will start updating my poem book "Life Straight Through the Eyes" again. so add that to ur library or a reading list or something.

But just because nothing will be coming out for a while after HLP doesn't mean that I won't be working! I will definitely be working on another story. I already have a cover and everything. But I won't publish until the final draft is complete, and I'm satisfied. And featuring the fact that I'm not starting the first draft until March, it'll probably be a while.

All I have for it rn is a title, an idea, and a cover. But if u follow my Instagram u might be able to get some insights on my process while I'm gone.

(I won't be gone from Wattpad I just wont release a new story right away like I usually do)

My Instagram is @ honesty.stories

love u and let's make 2020 the best year of our lives !! 😊

(or at least better than 2019 cuz yikes)

here's a pic of what they ate btw

Sorry for making u hungry