Chapter Seven

I gently untangles myself from Marcus and the blanket and made my way to the kitchen. I wanted to make Marcus and Alice breakfast so I got out the pancake mix and turned on the stove. Humming to myself as I made the pancakes I danced around the kitchen. I wasn't paying attention to anything other than my pancakes, so when I noticed Marcus leaning against the counter I about jumped out of my skin.

"Marcus!" I yelped.

"Adrian!" He mocked with a smile.

"W-when did you wake up?" I stuttered nervously.

"I woke up when you did," he replied, "I just went to the bathroom instead of following you into the kitchen."

"...s-so you noticed how w-we were sleeping." I blushed and turned away, busying myself with the pancakes.

"I did, and it was really comfortable," he chuckled when I almost dropped the spatula out of shock.

"Oh, o-okay."

Just then Alice walked in. "Whatcha guys talking about?"

"N-nothing." I stuttered quickly.

"How comfortable the position was that we slept in last night." Marcus corrected.

I turned to glare at him and he just laughed at me.

"Well," said Alice as she waved her phone in the air, "I know I got some super cute pictures!"

"WHAT??" I yelled. "Alice!"

Marcus had the opposite reaction. "Really? Can you send them to me?"

Alice laughed, "for sure dude."

Suddenly there was a knock on the door. A violent knock.

I was about to open the door but Marcus stopped me, "Let me get it, it might be Blake."

I nodded and stepped back.

Marcus opened the door and his whole demeanor changed, he went from calm and cheerful to rigid and tense.

"What do you want, asshole." He said in a strong voice.

"Wow, that's no way to greet your roommates old friend." Blake pushed past Marcus and walked into the apartment.

He reached towards me and I quickly pulled away, "Go away Blake."

He pouted, "why is everyone so rude to me?"

Alice got all up in his face, "because you beat the shit out of Adrian on a daily basis!" She shouted, "if anything you should be in jail."

"Now get out of our apartment." Marcus growled, forcefully shoving Blake towards he door.

He rolled his eyes and smirked, "I'll be back, baby boy, and you better be ready." He winked and walked out the door. Marcus slammed it behind him.

"What was the point in him even coming here?" Alice said loudly, "Just to say that??"

"What an asshole," Marcus grumbled.

I looked at him and we locked eyes, he was pissed, like really really mad. I've never seen him this mad, he's kinda scaring me. I thought. He started walking towards me and I instinctively moved away.

"Adrian, you're shaking." Alice pointed out quietly.

I looked down at my hands and saw that they were shaking, just like Alice said. I looked back up at Marcus and he still looked pissed off. So I backed away from him even more.

"Adrian?" He asked, "Are you okay?"

"Y-yeah, I-I'm f-fine."

He shook his head, "No you're not." He said in a gruff voice.

I started shaking even more. "P-please d-don't. You're scaring m-me." I whispered.

Immediately his eyes softened, then they held sadness in them. Oh no, I made him sad, I didn't mean to make his sad what if he hates me now. I thought. I could feel my eyes start to well up with tears.

I took a deep breath and looked at my feet, "I-I've never seen you t-this mad before and...and it reminds me of when Blake w-would come h-home drunk and..."

I felt strong arms wrap around me and I looked up only to be face to face with Marcus.

"I didn't mean to make you remember any of that," he whispered, "I'm not mad at you, please know that, I'm mad at Blake." He buried his head in my neck, "I just don't fucking understand how he could do that to someone like you, someone as amazing as you. You don't deserve anything but happiness."

I wrapped my arms around him and let my tears fall freely, I felt safe in his arms, and I didn't want that feeling to go away. It's been a while since I've felt like I was safe in someone's embrace, I thought.

Marcus eventually pulled back and let go of me, I noticed that his eyes were red and puffy and his cheeks were wet.

I reached up and touched his cheek, "you were crying." I pointed out.

He smiled a sad smile and chuckled, leaning into my hand, "of course I was crying dumbass, I don't want to see you get hurt."

I pulled my hand away, "well you just hurt me," I pouted, his eyes widened and he started to panic, "you hurt me right here"-I pointed to my heart-"when you called me a dumbass, dumbass."

I laughed as his expression changed from confusion, to amusement, to are-you-kidding-me-right-now in a matter of three seconds.

He laughed and pulled me in for another hug.

"Okay boys, now that Adrian ruined the lovey-dovey mood that was goin' on, can we have breakfast? I'm STARVING!" Alice insisted while flailing her arms.

I blushed and Marcus chuckled, but we sat down to eat our pancakes. That were cold by now, and tasted like crap, but we didn't care.