Mary Mae and the Boys

Chapter 16

"Mars, Mary! Are you in there? Open the door!" Shouts came from the other side of the door as Mary's eyes widened. She sat up quickly, disheveled by the unfamiliar surroundings. She was confused as the voice continued calling her name and it took her a few minutes to realize that it was Brian and Luka calling for her.

She sat up quickly, rushing to the door and unlocking it.

"Took you long enough!" Luka scowled, grabbing her arm and pulling her downstairs with them. She felt like she was dreaming.

"What happened? Luka stop pulling me." Mary pulled her arm away.

"Your boyfriend happened." Brian chimed in. Mary Mae wondered when he had arrived, she'd believed he wasn't going to be here tonight.

"I don't have a..." she bit her lip as thoughts of Zach and Gilbert filled her mind. "I mean, I'm not exclusive with anyone."

"Explain that to the two morons who knocked each other out downstairs." Luka sounded angry, which was strange since Luka rarely was ever mad. He was always goofy and full of jokes. This was probably only the third time in her life she'd seen Luka being serious.

"They what?"

"Exactly what I said." Luka repeated before placing both hands on her shoulders and turning her toward him, "we're you... crying?" Luka asked.

"N...no." Mary Mae lied.

"Why were you crying?" Luka maintained. He shook his head and frowned.

"Why are you so nosey?" Mary Mae added. "Did they actually fight?" She asked, realizing how immature it was that they couldn't talk things out.

"They've been arguing with each other for the past ten minutes and won't stop shouting, it's killing the vibe."

"Why is that my fault?" Mary asked, "Luka I want to leave." She said, this time wrapping her hand around his bicep and facing him. They were halfway down the stairs and she could hear the shouts and the enthusiasm of the crowd listening.

"Ok," Luka said, "I think that's what's best for everyone at this point. I'll have Zach take you home." Luka said and Mary Mae's distraught look gave him the answer he needed.

"I'll drive you home." Luka corrected.

"Bro... but Rita." Brian muttered, audibly enough for Mary Mae to hear as well.

"I'm not gonna leave Mars alone when she feels like sh*t." Luka snapped at Brian, warming her heart fully and completely. "Let's go." It was strange that Luka was putting words and feelings into Mary's persona when she had just woken up in a total daze.

Luka held Mary's hand as he led them toward the door, inches away before Zach spotted them and rushed over. Mary scanned the room for Sylvia, who was no longer in attendance. Gilbert stood in a corner talking to people and Mary wondered what the 'fight' that had happened even was. They seemed fine to her.

"Mars, where'd you go?" Zach asked.

"Where's your ex?" Mary asked, venom in her voice. She scowled at Zach. He looked hurt for a second as his eyes landed on her and Luka's intertwined fingers.

He raised a silent brow as Luka pushed past him, walking toward his car.

"Where are you going?" Zach growled, glaring at Luka with such intensity that Mary was honestly afraid. They stepped outside and the cold air splashed against their faces. She was so confused by what happened in all in the short amount of time she'd been asleep. It seemed that nobody else had paid them any attention; the tension was only visible between their small group of friends.