One More Time [A Larry Stylinson FanFic]

Chapter 14: Week Nine

Marley wanted to run right from her room to the stairwell, but she had to wait for everyone else to get tired and stay in. Sheesh.

She was pumped, though. She had texts from some office friends who thought Marley was just watching along with them (wow, were they going to be mad when they found out, Marley thought, crazily), and she dashed off ambiguous answers. She had missed calls and texts from Jenna and Julie, and she was surprised, also Mary Clare.

She called Mary Clare back first and was surprised when she answered. Usually, she was with a patient. "Hey, babygirl! You did great this week! Don't listen to those judges, that love song was pure fire," she said by way of greeting.

"Aw, thank you, Mary Clare! You're so sweet! Is everything okay? Is my mum okay?" Marley asked, trying to keep the worry out of her voice.

"Oh, yeah, Marley. Mum's fine. She enjoyed your duet tonight. She said it sounded like when you would sing with your high school boyfriend, in fact."

Marley almost couldn't move. Her Mum had said that? She'd said that much? And... "Do you think she heard that it was me?" Marley managed to squeak out.

"I dunno, Marley. But I know she enjoyed it. And so did I." Marley heard someone say something close by. "Listen, I have to run to go take care of a patient. But call me when you have a minute, just to catch up," Mary Clare said. Marley promised and locked her phone.

Ohhh, feels. Marley was always something when she talked about her mama. She was sitting for the longest, thinking everything and nothing in the same spot she'd been in, when her phone went off again.

"Girrrrrrrl! Don't go online. Like, ever. Wes is still convinced it's you, but he's keeping it quiet – mostly – and everyone he's talked to thinks he's too bored in his retirement. But the Late Night shows are spoofing you and your boy toy there, with your super romantic duets, and your singing history. So....yeah, avoid that!" Jules said. "Also, hello!"

"You're a voice for sore ears," Marley said, perking up a little.

"You talked to your Mum," Jules said. She could hear it, always.

"Yeah. And now I'm re-evaluating every life choice I've ever made," Marley answered, truthfully.

"Stop that! Isn't there someone there who can smack you out of it? Where's Tate?" she asked, only half kidding. "Or that Mystery Man?" Julie said, smiling now.

Marley couldn't help but smile back. "I'm not meeting him for another half hour," she admitted.

And so, like a good friend, Julie broke down every reaction she had to Marley's performance, from her costuming, to her hand movements, to their choreography – everything. Because that's what best friends do.

Production sent out their assignment for Week 9 right before Marley left for her Tiny Stairwell Concert date with Harry. Everyone had been waiting for the notification since the end of the show. If locals were released until practice Monday, they would need to know what songs to prepare. The theme this week would be Billboard #1 songs. They wanted to know what songs contestants would play over and over when looking back over the years.

Marley flung the door open, and bounded down the stairs, pacing, waiting for Harry. She paced and answered work emails and texts from Jenna after she had waited a minute without Harry. She realized she had been typing for a while, and saw fifteen minutes had gone by. When another ten crept past, Marley texted Harry. He had said he was coming, so what was going on? Did he fall asleep? She didn't get an answer back. When it hit the 45-minute mark, Marley sent another text. "You running late? Or should I bail?" When that didn't get an answer, and there was no Harry by the one hour, then one hour: ten, Marley sent one last text, "Hope you're asleep, getting quality zzzs. See you in the morning for Operation Prison Break?"