𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 [𝟑]

chapter ten.

      

     HE TOOK another deep breath, "I miss you..." He whispered and looked down, sniffling. "I told myself I wouldn't cry. But fuck, all I can see is your smile... Hear you laugh and... I wish I can see or hear both again. I'd do anything for that, Si." He glanced up, the tears stream down his face then he chuckled.

"I'm sorry, Kate, for making you feel like a third wheel, right now... I just miss you both so much." He sniffed and smiled softly. "I can't take this... I know we fixed it, we-we put back Sarah Fier's hand with her body and found out it was all the Goode family's doing... And we killed him, but I still feel like shit. All. The. Time. And I think it's you two bitches' fault, man, all I did was spend time with you guys... Now I have no one." He said kind of timidly.

"I mean, I have Andy and Ziggy, they're great... But I haven't told them about the dreams... I don't know if I can tell anyone. It's that bad." He sighed and suddenly looked towards Simon's grave. "You know, despite being too young, I was always looking so ahead for us, leaving Shadyside together... Living together. Maybe even getting married or something, having kids... I guess the reality is we were two silly young kids with puppy love or whatever." He sniffled again as he wiped away his tears with the rough fabric of his long sleeve shirt. His skin turns pink a bit from the contact.

"I can still see Kate on that breadslicer... I can still see the look you gave me. After you pushed me out of the way, so that I could live and you would..." He pauses suddenly, shaking his head with an angry look. "Why did you think I'd be okay with that, Si? Why? I don't wanna live without you... either of you."

Andy looked over at her nephew to see him literally bawling on the ground and she sighed, looking over at Ziggy. "Let him... cope, I guess. It's the only way." She shrugged and Ziggy nods. "I was a mess for weeks after... that night too, especially after you know, blah-blah-blah, you went on a date with Nick or whatever." She said as she waved her hand.

"Yeah, mm-hmm. Bet you couldn't live without me." Andy says, confidently nodding as Ziggy rolls her eyes at her lover. Suddenly, the backseat car door opened and Marcus hopped in, immediately putting on his seatbelt only to look up and see Ziggy and Andy's watchful gazes on him. "I'm fine..." He says.

Andy glanced at Ziggy who looked back at her. "You sure, buddy? You know you can tell us anything..." Ziggy says as she looks back at the teenage boy who just nods. "Yeah... I'm fine." He smiled widely at the pair who just finally give in and turn around in their seats.

The packing began, they'd be leaving in a couple days and Marcus would finally say goodbye to the home he knew for the past seventeen years. "Hey." He turned around to see Deena, Sam and Josh walking up to him as he was bringing stuff out to Andy's vehicle, to take over to Ziggy's where the moving van was.

"Hey..." He said, walking over to them and Deena sighed. "Heard from a little birdy you were moving to Chicago?" She says and he just nods. "If the birdy was Martin, he was right. He's basically besties with auntie Andy and Ziggy, so of course he'd know." He shrugs.

"Why are you leaving?" Josh suddenly asked and Marcus glanced at him. "Uh... after everything, I felt like that was it for me in Shadyside, you know? We helped Sarah Fier stop the Goodes, we... avenged Kate and Simon, and everyone else. But, you know, that still took a toll on me. And I feel like a brand new place and a new start will be good for me." He says.

"So you're just leaving us?" Deena asked and Marcus sighs. "I'll be honest, I was never close to any of you... but through Simon and Kate, we all had a connection. I'll always cherish that, but it's not enough for me to stay, Johnson... and little Johnson." He said as he glanced from Deena to Josh who looked upset.