29

So I said I wasn't going to repeat artistes, but I have already gone twice with Billie so why don't I go with other favorite artiste of mine ;)

Loren Allred- Never be enough

~

"When did you start caring about basketball?" Ace Danvers asked, his eyebrows furrowed. Finally, they had returned back to their natural state as the weirdo duo, away from the prying popular's, and Ace... Wasn't exactly happy with the information.

Marcos Gomez, on the other hand, kept his eyes staring down at the court below him, his face filled with glee. His hair was packed in two pigtails, glittery green eyeshadow and peach coloured lipgloss, wearing a see through shirt, tucked into a high waist plaid skirt.

His hair still had it's butterfly clips, his beauty almost blinding lately, though everyone around him noticed it more than he did. He was still... Shy, and uncomfortable with crowds, but it didn't stop him from joining in other school activities. Not the ones that put him in public eye, no, he was more of the community work type.

That also, didn't stop people from trying to talk to him.

It was no surprise that Marcos was the most beautiful boy in all of Wystwood High, but it was the first time he was actually trying his best to interact with them, so clearly, it was an opportunity to take advantage of.

Half the school had found out Marcos was extremely photogenic, and most of the photography club students had asked him to be used as a project of theirs, which meant uploading numerous pictures of his on their social media accounts, which also equalled to him becoming more popular with every passing second.

And asides from the fact that he had many admirers but kept them at arm's length for some reason, he and Paris Holmes, once most popular student of Wystwood, ex Prom King (though that 'ex' might be gone soon if he led Wystwood High to victory,) and very possible valedictorian was now his friend.

His very close friend.

No one truly understood their relationship though they could all see there was clearly something between them. Boyfriends? They didn't know. Asides the fact Paris moved around the school like a ghost, only ever interacting with his team (in truth, he was just completely irritated with the fools surrounded around him) and wasn't homophobic anymore, they didn't have that lover's spark.

It seemed older, purer. And whatever it was, everyone wanted to know about it.

Marcos never planned for all of this to happen in his Senior Year. He had... Wanted to just keep himself preoccupied for the time being, happy, and he was, he felt better than it had in a while. It was the first time people that weren't... Her, seemed to appreciate him, truly, even though most of it were his looks, but he liked it nonetheless.

Paris had said about it once, "Ah, you're getting my narcissistic talent. It seems you're not as useless as I thought you were,"

"There she is," Ace said dryly, his face in faux disgust as he stared down at where the cheerleaders sat, his now ex girlfriend, Eleanor something, chatting with a benched basketball player. That obviously had a bigger dick than he did, which truly destroyed his ego. "Nymphomaniac."

Marcos paused, taking his eyes away from the court, then turned to his best friend as he said with a small chuckle, "You don't even like her."

Since he was slowly becoming more comfortable with himself, more than he ever was, he had his hair in it's natural state, wavy and brown with make-up on, wearing his butterfly choker, a black net halter top, cream off shoulder sweater and a pink pleated skirt with pink and white thigh high socks, his crescent and star ring being the only accessory on his finger.

"But my reputation, my ego," Ace stated, sighing. "She's destroyed it. Kaboomed it. Even my toaster treats me better than this."

Ace's relationship with the cheerleader had apparently ended with the female saying that the only probable reason for him being 'aromantic' was because of the size of his dick. Which wasn't true, but that didn't stop her from spreading it.

Soon enough, there was that out there, and stories of him being mean, cold and always threw her out when they had sex which wasn't even true. One, he genuinely thought she was cool and they watched movies together, two, cold? Ace couldn't even be cold if the whole world was freezing over and he chased her out?

They literally used her house because his grandmother was so ready to marry him off to the first person that would enter their house. Male or female or Enby.

"Plus, she makes me out like this predator," Ace said, snickering. He was always a jolly soul. Pretty much always optimistic, but lately, that whole ordeal had taken a toll on him. "I already feel like shit because I can't experience romantic attraction for anyone, but that was just cruel."

"You shouldn't feel like shit for that, Ace," Marcos sighed, "You're not a sociopath, or psychopath. You're a boy that spends half of his day with his grandma, trying his best to make sure she never gets sad for a minute and refuses to sell the truck that belonged to her husband, even though you need the money and it'd help with so many things in the house. You're considerate. You're funny. You're kind, and you're sweet. Just because you don't feel romantic emotions doesn't stop you from having actual normal feelings."

"I know that, but I don't know. If I had romantic attraction, somehow, perhaps—"

"Do you really want that?" Marcos cut in. "To have your heart go crazy when someone's beside you? Abandoning all sense of reasoning when someone you care about is mentioned, always, constantly, putting someone else before yourself, and let's not forget the fact that they're all you think about?"

"Eww, no," Ace said, a distasteful look on his face. "Why do you have to put it like that, dude? Jeezus."

He laughed, turning back to the basketball court as the other school cheered. "Exactly. Besides, you'd regret doing anything for someone in the long run, because worst case scenario, they abandon you, cannot be with you at a certain point, you hate yourself more than you currently do."

He heard his best friend snicker now. "Oh yeah? Did your future valedictorian boyfriend teach you that?"

Marcos smiled as he spotted Paris. He was sweaty, running around in his jersey, half the players trying to cover him up as he was the star player for their school. "Perhaps my secret girlfriend did."

Though Ace still had no idea of her, Marcos now liked to talk about a certain someone that he has... Had feelings for, and he knew it tormented his friend that he had no idea who the person was.

"Besides," He continued with a shrug. "You're lucky enough not to have go through the torture of losing someone you love."

"Ah ha! So she died,"

"She didn't, Ace."

"So she's alive? Yes! The first clue in weeks!"

"That isn't even a clue!" Marcos chuckled, but a smile was on his face now.

"Have you ever wondered what you're going to do after school?" Ace asked, "Like I know that I'm gonna work at a car shop, y'know, to be close to my Gram's and because I might have a thing for the new engine and stuff. But you? What are you doing?"

He tilted his head, his voice small as he said, "I don't know yet..."

Marcos had never been one to think of his future. He had always let Alex decide everything for him, although lately, all his choices had been his and somehow, surprisingly enough, he hadn't fucked anything up yet.

"What about hacking?" Ace asked now. "You're good at that. And all those geeky things."

Marcos felt his cheeks redden as he said softly, "It's really just a hobby. I'm not sure I'd like a 9-5 job,"

"You don't have to do that. They're other job opportunities out there that'd clearly need your ability. Dude, you have the ability to hack into anything. You're the reason I'm even a Senior."

"Darling, I don't think you should be saying that out loud."

"What? It wouldn't be new though. Everyone knows I'm stupid."

Marcos didn't argue about it, not because he agreed but because he knew Ace was smart, just not on the way school levelled it. His brain worked better with cars, and there was nothing he didn't know about them.

A loud roar rang out through the crowd as the buzzer rung out, Wystwood winning by 150 to 80 points. The cheerleaders had already ran into the court, half of the school left the bleachers, yelling and scream but he stayed on his seat, legs crossed as he stared down at his hermano mayor.

He was sweaty, and pants left his lips as people gathered around him, yet... He had never looked so much in his element. Granted, he didn't act as the King of Wystwood anymore, but anyone could see that he was the true ruler.

How he behaved. How he spoke.

Paris Holmes acted like the world was his, and though Marcos thought that was alright, he still found himself worried a little.

He still remembered the day Paris and Elise had walked into his house, saying they had no where to go and asked if they could spend the night. His Mother had hit the male over his head with her wooden spoon and told him he could do his wedding there if he wanted because he was familia.

The first days had gone... Normal. They shared a room as Elise stayed in the spare one, and co existed perfectly. Only difference was Paris doted over him, treating him like Marcos was his younger brother, even calling him his hermanito, and Marcos liked that.

But some days after Paris had done that weird call with him, he walked into the kitchen. His face was emotionless, like he didn't want Marcos to read him, his voice low. "Mr Parker gave me a job and— And it entails me having to be around Alexandra."

Marcos had frozen, but only for a second as he continued cleaning the kitchen, a rag cloth in his hand as he said quietly, "Hezekiah?"

"No, Alexander."

"Oh," A small smile graced his face now. "I bet her Father doesn't know about that. Xander always has something up his sleeves when he hides things from Kiah."

"Look," Paris walked closer. "If you don't want me—"

Marcos looked at him immediately, causing the male to pause in his steps as he asked, "How will I not want that?"

Paris stared. At those words, the mask had fallen. Shame and guilt written all over his face. Marcos shook his head, turning around, setting the cloth down on the counter and folded his arms, the small smile still on his face. "I wouldn't keep you away from her, even if it hurt me, but it doesn't, Paris. I— I have spent a very long time with her and even though she doesn't remember it, I do. You didn't, at least not so much. It'd be good for you to form a sort of relationship with her, something you can add to your collection of memories."

Quickly, he brushed a stray tear, chuckling slightly as he said, "Plus, it'd be good for one of us to be there, by her side, because unlike me, you wouldn't crack and all of that. You're stronger than me, so you're perfect to be our spy. Make me proud, hermano mayor."

And after that day, he just... Changed.

It seemed as if he was trying to prove to Marcos that he was strong. He came home late at night, most of the time with bruises and cuts, but he never told him about it, but he didn't ask. Marcos realized something was complete different when someone had said something homophobic to him and Paris had fought with them.

And the school didn't even call him out for it.

It reeked and smelled of the work of Alexander Parker.

It felt like A all over again. Her secretiveness, her act of always looking strong and as much as he wanted to know what was wrong, he knew unlike Alex, Paris would never admit his weakness to him. She had been the one able to that.

"Aren't you going to go there and wrap your arms around your King?" Ace asked, a tired look on his face.

"No," Marcos replied, standing up. "He's busy with his peasants. When he's ready, he knows where to find his Queen."

Ace made a gag sound, standing up. "I don't know what's worse. You admitting you're his Queen or sounding like the slutty bitch in every horror movie that dies first."

Marcos laughed now, picking up his white purse and wrapping his arm around his friend. "Come on, let's go home. I'm sure my Abuela misses you."

They walked out of the gym, the male resting his head on Ace's shoulder till they got to his motorcycle. He let him go then, folding his hands as his best friend got on it before turning his head side ways, pausing when he noticed the crowd forming some feet away.

"Hey,"

He turned back to Ace who nudged his head towards the bike. "Are you getting on?"

Marcos turned back to the crowd. It was obvious they were gathering around someone, and for some reason, he wanted to know who it was. He was never the type to like crowds but... But something there called him.

He shook his head now. It didn't matter. It was a good thing that their attention was somewhere else.

Marcos walked to the bike, ready to sit before he heard someone call him from behind.

He turned, his eyes falling on a tall, muscular male wearing black glasses, and a black suit, his hands folded behind his back with a stoic look on his face. "There is someone that would like to speak with you,"

Marcos stared first. His heart racing as one thought came to his head. Andrea Steinfeld had found him and was ready to pay him hell, but that thought vanished when Ace asked who it was and he heard the man say, "Alexandra Parker."

He looked up at him now. His light brown eyes glowing, a feeling in his chest that had died out in the weeks that had passed growing all over as he asked, "A-Alexandra?"

The man nodded. "If you would come along with me, I'd take you to her."

She was— Here? Looking for him? But... But why? He knew she couldn't remember anything, it was obvious from Paris' attitude when Marcos asked of her wellbeing that he hated the fact she couldn't. So what would bring her here?

"Wait, hold on," Ace said, "The Parker? Like dark skin, gorgeous goddess, cold eyes, seductive aura Parker? My Parker? What could she want with Marcos? He's not done anything, has he? He couldn't. Well, yes, lately he's been a little too eager to take her spot as most beautiful creation of Wystwood but I still remain utterly devoted to her, so she never has to worry."

Marcos mentally facepalmed.

"Could you—" He tried to still his hands, letting out a small breath. "Could you excuse us? For a moment?"

He nodded, and moved away. Not too far off, but away from whatever that he couldn't hear what they were saying. Sighing, Marcos turned to look at his best friend, his cluelessness wafting off him as he said, "You don't have to wait for me. You can go home. J-Just tell Paris where I'm off to, so he doesn't have to worry,"

"Wait, how do you even know she's taking you somewhere?" Ace asked, "Plus, I don't really feel comfortable with you going. Granted, she's Angelina Jolie's rival, but you're—"

"I like her."

His friend paused, his eyes slowly widening before he suddenly exploded with one word, "WHAT?!"

Marcos nodded, nervously chuckling. "Y-Yeah, but I didn't say anything because you liked her—"

"Well, I do like her. She's cool, but not a like like, " Ace pointed out, face still in shock. "Why did you say anything? I could have added you to my Alex fan page!"

"There's a— fan page?"

"Well, I'm the only one, BUT, with your popularity, we could get other people there!" Ace said, now excited before he rose his eyebrows, folding his arms. "Wait, I thought you said you liked someone else?"

Seriously? You can't pinpoint that she's the same person?

"Just do as I said, okay?" Marcos asked, and without waiting for a response, walked back to the male, saying with an exhale of his breath, "I'm ready,"

The burly man nodded, bowing slightly asking him to go ahead. Marcos did so, walking with his head down and the moment they were close to the crowd, felt the man's arm around his waist, clearing out a path for him through them till they were out of it and he saw her.

Alexandra Parker stood, resting on the bonnet of a black sports car. Her head was still short, though now, some parts of it curled around her head, her glasses on while she had on a black shirt tucked into ash and black checkered pants with an ash coat over her shoulder and behind her were replicas of the one beside him.

As he got closer, he found himself noticing every single new detail. She looked more... Free than he had ever seen on. Her shoulders relaxed, an uncaring look in her eyes. The aura radiating from her demanding obedience and awe from every single person.

She was... Glowing. And he had no idea if that was a good or bad thing.

When Marcos was close enough, he realized she had grown taller as well, the look in her eyes showing she noticed she was some inches taller than him. For the first few minutes, all they did was stare at each other, her looking as if she was noting some things about him before she said, "You look different than the last time,"

Even her voice was different. Slow, steady. Graceful even. He had been with her in years, and yet this state of hers was a version he had never seen. "S-Sorry, I was in the wrong room at the time—"

"It's fine. It suits you," Alex cut in, her eyes never once leaving his face.

She smelled of something strong, powerful. It made him want to drop into both his sub space and little space, two places he hadn't been since... Since a long time. "School is over and you don't have anything else doing today, so I would like to take you on a date."

D-Date?

And how did he had nothing doing?

Plus, being this close to her... It felt choking. It was choking. It seemed like everything he had been doing to forget her was useless. That as long as she existed, his soul knew who it's true master was. "I— I can't—"

"I rephrase," Dark eyes stared down at him, cold and unyielding. "You will join me on a date."

Marcos felt his adam apple bob, his head going down. Tears were beginning to grow in his eyes and he wasn't even sure why. Alex was here, wanting him to go on a date with her, in front of the whole school...

Something she would never have done.

Still, he found himself sitting in her car as it drove them, head bowed down. Marcos realized at that moment that he was wearing a skirt and his face reddened as he remembered what used to happen when he wore that around her.

"Do I truly make you that uncomfortable?"

He looked at her now. She had her hand rested on the car door, head on her hand as she stared at it, face still bearing no emotion. "N-No,"

"Don't lie," She said, but not angrily. "From the moment you met me, you have been fidgeting, your face reddening every second after. If it was happened at the hospital—"

"No." His voice came out stronger than he expected it to, her face even reflecting surprise from it. He didn't want to talk about that day. "I've never been on a date before, so I'm— I'm not sure I'm in appropriate wear..."

As his voice trailed off, he felt her hand on his chin, turning him to face her.

Alex stared at him, eyes slowly moving from his head, to his eyes, then gradually moved down. Marcos, on the other hand, couldn't breathe. He knew she was checking him out, marking things in her head and it was taking all of his strength not to react to it.

She let him go and a relieved breath left his mouth, moving back as she returned back to her casual position and said, "I just realized that even if you came along naked, I would have no problems with it."

His cheeks flamed up.

"But there's no need to worry about your attire," She stated. "I— I have been in need of something like this as well."

He looked at her. "Can I— Can I ask why?"

Alex said nothing for a while, her eyes staring outside the window before she said, her voice low, "I just needed an escape, with someone I do not know, and you're the only one that my brain brought up."

Someone I do not know.

His chest tightened at the words but he said nothing. She turned now. "But my reasons for this date would be brought up after it. You don't have to worry. You will enjoy yourself."

Enjoy himself? Marcos strongly doubted that.

And yet, somehow, he did.

First, they went to a movie theater. He knew Alex's movie preference and a part of him already died at the thought he'd have to watch a horror movie with a version of her that didn't know him, but she had gotten them tickets for a romcom instead.

She sat beside him, quiet, and though she didn't react to any single thing, he could tell that she kept him as her central focus.

One time, he had gotten so excited that his popcorn bucket nearly fell over but she caught it, putting it on her laps and saying she'd feed him herself till the movie was over.

And she did.

After, she took him to a shopping mall. Marcos refused to get anything. They weren't... Together anymore, so he didn't have to.

Alex's reply to that was, "Then I'd get you clothes to try on. I'd like to see you model for me."

His reaction to that was shock, then it morphed into panic. He didn't understand why she would want that, why she asked that. Did she... Did she perhaps find him attractive? Did she remember anything?

Or... Or did she want to hurt him?

Of course, that possibility existed, but— But he couldn't say no to her, at least not when she asked for something like that so he complied.

For an hour, he tried on different clothes and dresses while she stared at him. Her eyes still unreadable, but he could tell from her body language that his sight appealed to her somewhat. And— And it turned him on to do so for her.

Lastly, she took him to an arcade, this time doing all the work. He had told her countless times that he could play the games there but she mentioned something about not wanting him hurt, which made him laugh because he could tell she actually believed that.

It was dark when they walked out of it, a blue large teddy bear in his hand with a pink heart shaped balloon in the other. As they got closer to the cars parked waiting for them, Alex stopped in her walking first and Marcos followed suit.

Her gaze stayed on his, her lips in a thin line before she asked, "Did you have fun?"

He— He hadn't expected a date of theirs to ever be like this, but at the same time, he had been happier than he been in a long time. It was obvious that wanted to please him all day, even holding his hand at certain parts when he felt like it.

But he doubted she enjoyed it as much as he did.

Still, he smiled, nodding. "I had fun." Then the smile broke a little as he asked, "D-Did you?"

Cold wind blew through them, Alex's features still blank before she said, "I told you I'd tell you my reasons for asking you out on a date after it was ended, didn't I?"

The smile fell this time, and slowly, Marcos nodded.

"I honestly did want some space to myself, away from the people that I know," She said, "But I also needed you more comfortable around you so I could study you."

"S-Study me?"

Alex nodded, "Paris— Paris spends time with you and I know he has a tendency to keep people away from him. Except you, so I wanted to know what was special about you."

Marcos felt a tiny crack in his heart though he acted unaffected as he asked, "Why? Why would you— Why would you care about who he spends time with?"

"I have feelings for him."

I have feelings for him.

His heart throbbed at the word, a small choked sound leaving his mouth though he doubted she heard as she continued, "You are clumsy. Have low self esteem. Is easy to manipulate. Would do anything to put yourself in a good light. Carefree. Not on the same intellectual prowess as any of us. Lacking the same class that we both possess," Her eyes narrowed. "I don't understand why he seems connected to you."

Marcos kept his face down, a small chuckle leaving his lips. Don't cry. Don't cry. "Found all of that in one day, huh?"

Slowly, she raised her face to look at him, and this time, there was a smile on her face. The first time since they met that she was showing any reaction on her face. "But I know that you are special. I— I have not been this relaxed since the hospital. Thank you,"

You make me calm, Eros.

At those words, his cheeks puffed but before the tears could betray him, he quickly brushed them away, looking down. "Y-You're welcome,"

A small chuckle left her lips at those words before he felt her drape her coat over his shoulders, her scent and warmth enveloping him then pat his head, saying softly, "Just because you have flaws doesn't mean that you're not good enough. Don't ever forget that."

And then walked off to the cars parked in front of them. When she was in and had driven off, his phone buzzed.

Slowly, he took out from his purse, seeing messages from Paris and his Mother, but one particular one stood out.

A

I have ordered for an Uber for you. It should be there in a minute to take you home.

And for the clothes that you tried today, I have sent them to your house as well. They were too perfect for me to return.

As his lips shook, a smile still fought it's way to his face.

It didn't matter if she couldn't remember it, what mattered was that she was alright and okay, and that she was still his Alex.

That was what was more important.

~

… One more. One more chapter for us to go through.