Chapter 13

MARCUS'S POV

I was very thankful that I didn't have my father's unfortunate stupidity. I had his looks but not his brains.

I was a straight A+ student but my own father never seemed to care about my grades. Only one person genuinely cared about my grades.

And that was Chelsea.

Once I was awarded for being the best student Chelsea was thrilled it made my darkness less.

Chelsea places a comforting hand on my shoulder and I snap out of my thoughts.

"Hey is something?" She asks curiously and I nod negatively.

The last thing I wanted to do is make her worry about my shit.

I can take care of myself just fine.

I gave Chelsea an assuring fake smile.

"I'm fine Chelsea don't worry yourself."

She gave me a doubtful look.

" Come on Chelsea I said I'm fine so don't worry and let's finish eating" I muttered coolly pointing at our unfinished piece of cake.

She smiled and dug into the cake.

Chelsea smeared some frosting on my face.

And I shrieked in surprise more than fear.

"Chelsea!"

Her giggles filled the air and I took in her features carefully.

She was beautiful.

Red hair,eyes they had some much depth and they seemed to be going deeper every time our eyes locked.

She had freckles on her cheeks and nose. It was the cutest thing I had ever seen.

Beside Minnie attempting to copy my dance moves.

I took the opportunity while she was vulnerable and smeared some frosting on her cheeks.

Before she could escape I pinned her to the ground, my body hovering on top of her small frame.

"That's not fair Marcus" She whines and I smirk. Her eyes met mine and she stopped smiling. Something had changed between us. I saw her differently.

I could feel the heat that was radiating from her body.

My muscles twitched with the new sensations that Chelsea had brought to my whole body.

What was this girl doing to me?

My gaze lingered on her lips.

They looked so soft and kissable.

And they were only a few inches from mine, just one kiss; it wouldn't hurt the both of us.

She placed her hands on my hard chest and I suppressed a groan.

"Marcus..." She rasped quietly breathing hard.

Was she feeling the connection as well?

"Yeah?

She blinked twice.

" Oh god Marcus you're so heavy got off me!" She yelled and I got up.

" I'm sorry Chelsea are you okay?

CHELSEA'S PERSPECTIVE

Marcus had caught me off guard when he smeared the cake frosting on my cheeks.

Before I could run away he pinned me to the ground, his huge frame hovering over me.

When our eyes met my smile slowly faded away I met his intense charcoal grey eyes watching me intently.

My heart was pounding in my chest wildly and for a split second there I forgot how to breathe.

The boy in front of me had taken all the air out of my lungs.

I could feel the warmth of his body.

It felt oddly strange but I didn't want to pull away not yet.

His grey eyes held a tunnel that led to endless darkness, a darkness that was filled with a lot of pain and sorrow. I wanted to take away the pain and heartache he was feeling and going through.

I wish I could reach out to him and tell him that it will be okay and that I'm here.

If only he could trust me and let me in.

My gaze drifted to his lips they were so close to mine I could almost taste them but that would change everything between us.

I couldn't let him kiss me.

He leaned closer and I panicked.

"Marcus..." I rasped quietly breathing hard.

" Yeah? He murmured quietly

And I blinked twice.

For a few seconds my head kinda went totally blank and I needed to think of an excuse fast.

"Oh god Marcus you're so heavy get off me!" I yelled and he got off me in one swift move.

I released the breath I was holding.

He looked at me keenly.

"I'm sorry Chlsea are you okay? He asked in a worried tone.

I hated making him worried.

"Yeah I'm fine" I muttered coolly.

He swallowed hard.

"Maybe I should walk you home since it's already late."

" But Marcus I…"

" Come on" he said firmly and I got up and packed all the things following him behind.

He was already on the edge so I won't anger him any further.

A few minutes later we reached in front of my house around 1.am in the morning.

I didn't get why I was so sweaty and suddenly nervous.

I coolly peeked at Marcus through my thick lashes and pecked him on the cheek and ran to my house without uttering a word.

By the time I was reaching my room I was breathless and my heart was pounding in my chest wildly.

I kissed Marcus on the cheek.

A nervous laugh escaped my lips. If father found out about this he'd probably send me to a boarding school far away but right now I didn't care.

I slumped on the bed and bit my lower lip.

"I kissed Marcus Devon..."

MARCUS'S POV

Chlsea had kept stealing nervous glances at me. Before I could ask what was wrong she kissed my cheek and ran away leaving me puzzled.

I couldn't believe that she just kissed me.

I touched my cheek absently when I withdrew my hand it was smeared with a bit of pink sparkly lip gloss.

If it was another girl that had kissed me I would have felt totally grossed out by this affectionate gesture but it was my Chelsea.

My little nerdy fire kracker.

I stared at her window hoping I would catch a glimpse of her but she wasn't there and the light was switched off.

A small smile curved my lips and I spared one glance at her house and left quietly.

The darkness inside me was protesting; it hated moments where I felt happy. It didn't want me near Chelsea but she was the source of my new happiness ever since mother's death.

A week later.

Our first encounter after the kiss was awkward at first especially for Chelsea but I always managed to mask my feelings.

I couldn't let her see what she was doing to me, especially with the dress she was wearing.

Despite her hair being tied in a messy bun she looked beautiful and I couldn't take my eyes off her.

She was mine.

Our favorite spot was the lake. We would always hang out there all day and just pour out our feelings and talk.

We sat by the lake leaning against an oak tree.

Chelsea kept stealing nervous glances at me. I definitely chose the wrong day to wear basketball shorts.

That meant that my scars were visible and my little Chlsea was just dying with curiosity.

I sighed deeply.

"What is it Chelsea?"

She bit her bottom lip nervously and my muscles and the little gestures she was doing made her look so cute.

"Umm how did you get that many scars? She curiously asked, fidgeting with her sweaty palms.

The memories hurt too much and I shut my eyes.

Whip.

Whip.

Whip.

Three times my own father had flogged me with a whip just because I had mentioned my mother's name.

My 8 year old self curled into a ball with blood stained shredded clothes crying silently.

The memory began to fade and my anger resurfaced.

I got those scars when my father beat me up."

" What happened?"

I sighed deeply.

"I missed my mother and the next thing I know he's beating the shit out of me because I mentioned her name" I muttered bitterly.

" I'm so sorry Marcus…" Chelsea sobs and I cuddled her tightly.

I still had her in my life.

Said all I want from you

Is to see you tomorrow

And every tomorrow

Maybe you'll let me borrow, your heart

And is it too much to ask for every Sunday?

An while we're at it throw in every other day to start

I know people make promises all the time

Then they turn right around and break them

When someone cuts your heart open with a knife and you're bleeding

But I could be that guy to heal it over time

And I won't stop until you believe it

'Cause baby you're worth it

So don't act like it's a bad thing to fall in love with me

Cause you might look around and find your dreams come true with me

Spend all your time and your money just to find out that my love was free

So don't act like it's a bad thing to fall in love with me, me

It's not a bad thing to fall in love with me, me

Now how about I be the last voice you hear tonight?

And every other night for the rest of the nights that there are

And every morning I just wanna see you staring back at me

'Cause I know that's a good place to start

I know people make promises all the time

Then they turn right around and break them

Then someone cuts your heart open with a knife

Now you're bleeding

Don't you know that I could be that guy to heal it over time

And I won't stop until you believe it

Cause baby you're worth it

So don't act like it's a bad thing to fall in love with me

Cause you might look around and find your dreams come true with me

Spend all your time and your money just find out my love was free

So don't act like it's a bad thing to fall in love with me, me

It's not a bad thing to fall in love with me, me

Not such a bad thing to fall in love with me

No I won't fill your mind with broken promises

And wasted time

And if you fall

You'll always land right in these arms

These arms of mine

Don't act like it's a bad thing to fall in love with me

Cause you might look around and find your dreams come true with me

Spend all your time and your money just to find out that my love was free

So don't act like it's a bad thing to fall in love with me, me

It's not a bad thing to fall in love with me, me

Not such a bad thing to fall in love with me