STOPS

Friday Night

Barry was scanning the station intently, trying to catch a glimpse of Quinn anywhere. He didn't know her schedule or how regularly she took the subway but he thought that since they were already there, he might as well look for her.

"Dude do you have a copy of Mrs. Ollie's homework questions for tomorrow?" Mark asked as they waited on the platform. Barry didn't tell him about his encounter with Quinn the other day. 

"Yeah, I got it covered" Barry answered. "Do we have anything to eat at home?" He asked

"Milk and there's some ham on the fridge I think," Mark answered.

"We never should have taken English at night, it makes me so hungry after and there's almost nothing left open this late" Barry groaned, "I can't believe I let you drag me into this." 

Mark laughed bitterly. "The documentary about Shakespeare tonight was so bad, I fell asleep two times and when I woke up it was still on" Mark laughed. "I honestly couldn't keep my eyes open."

The station was hauntingly empty as Barry took one last hopeful glance around. 

The train was finally here and he soon forgot about potentially seeing Quinn as he heard his stomach grumble for the 3rd time. 

"Lea left me her number" Barry suddenly boasted out of nowhere as they took a seat opposite each other inside. As if to give proof to his conquest, he took out a  crumpled piece of paper from the front pocket on his jacket.

"Lea Reyes? The head of the debate team Lea who never looks twice on anyone she deems ugly, cheerleader Lea?" Mark laughed, "you're joking"

"nope" Barry grinned

"Do you even like her?"

"I guess I do now? I mean she made the move on me first" 

Mark smirked because this is what you do when you support your best friend in his stupid conquests of nonsense. 

The doors were starting to close when a panting young girl in a slightly loosed plain dress, reaching to her knees, under an open jacket ran inside.

One of her shoes almost fell off.

QUINN'S POV:

I silently cursed myself in shame at having almost dropped my shoe. I could've just gotten on the next train, there was no need to actually make a fool of myself. One of the perks of riding the subway train late at night is that only a few people are in it, and they're scattered all over plus they were probably so tired already that they didn't even see the girl running for her life get in. 

I watched the doors closed and sighed, sticky sweat ran down my neck to my back. When the car started to accelerate speed I went to find a sit to collapsed on. 

MARK TATE'S POV:

Quinn? Quinn Barrett sweating and panting entered the train, running for her life. 

Mark gazed at her in disbelief. He knew that she went on to study at their school too but he's never seen her around yet. Barry used to have a freshman minor class with her at first and he would say things like how she saw Quinn in class but they had totally different courses and eventually, they just didn't see each other anymore.

"Quinn" Barry greeted. He was the first one to speak.

QUINN:

I was taken aback when I turned to look in the direction of Barry's voice

There was Barry, and to his left was no freaking way, Mark Tate.

MARK:

"Hey Quinn" Mark kept his calm but his heart just jumped, in fact, it was still jumping.
Not the good jumping but the worst kind of jumping, the one that's gonna keep you up at night.

QUINN:

"Hi," I said, forcing myself to smile and totally freaking out on this whole weird situation that I have found myself in.

"You were able to catch it, good for you" Barry grinned teasingly.

"Oh, yeah, yeah of course," I said. I let my backpack slid down from my shoulders then went over to sit on the seat opposite Mark, besides Barry, still trying to catch my breath.

"I've never seen you around before. It's so good to see you." Mark said. His voice didn't shake nor did it offer a hint of weakness. It was strong and sure, just like he has always been on a lot of things. 

I can't peel my eyes away from him because I haven't seen him in such a long time. We were friends since forever but ever since college he just slowly faded away from my life. I've never even seen him ever since I got here. 

I had a class with Barry during my first year and he always talked about Mark this and Mark that but we never saw each other which was quite odd, come to think about it now.

MARK:

He looked at her head to toe. 

QUINN:

"Yeah, I know it's weird" I smiled, bringing myself to look him in the eyes. I hate eye contact. "it's good to see you too, are you living with Barry?" I asked.

"Yeah, we're roommates, Barry's sister allowed us to use her apartment for free as long as we keep it clean and feed Pancho her dog, pay for our own expenses, and for whatever we will break, it's a pretty good deal" Mark explained.

"Lucky" I smiled. "You guys are not gay though, right?"

"What? No" Barry answered, a little too loud. He had a clever retort to that but it was too soon and he couldn't bear to add more density to the tense cloud between the former lovers already. 

"What would give you that idea?" Mark laughed. He wanted to say that "we were once in love with you both at the same time." He knew Barry had that retort on the tip of his tongue.

"It's the bag isn't it?" Barry asked, pointing to the dark green messenger bag hanging on Mark's shoulder.

"What?" Mark looked at his messenger bag, "no"

"No" I laughed, mostly because of Barry's insane reaction. "It's just a clarification, forget it."  I just didn't know what else to say. 

"We're straight" Mark clarified.

"Always been" Barry added. "I mean if that wasn't established yet"

"Okay," I smiled, putting my hands up as if in surrender.

"Where do you live?" Barry asked

"Oh, uhm my cousin and I are also sharing an apartment with his older brother. He goes to Lincoln University so the apartment is kind of our middle ground."

"Not a lesbian?" Mark asked

"let that sink in," I said. "Not the gay joke but the incest one"

"Oh yeah, I'm sorry, you said it was your cousin" Mark shooked his head. 

Barry laughed, "wrong strike dude"

"I apologize B," Mark said. I froze, my eyes widen in shock.

B.
No one has called me that in a long time. There was only one person who called me that, it was his term of endearment.

MARK:

The letter shocked him as much as it froze her.
Second wrong strike.

Only Barry kept his cool.

"Hey Quinn, I think this is your stop," Barry said. I looked outside, it was my stop, he remembered.

"Bye" I said, standing up, offering them both a smile then ran out before they could reply.