I Care {Darkiplier}

(Chapter 37)

Turns out, it was a smart idea to link arms with one another. Due to the holiday, a lot more people were out and about. More than you really thought there would be. It was a bit jarring, to see more people out and about, especially this early. It was only a Wednesday after all, you thought despite the holiday, it may still be kind of dead given it is in the middle of the week, but nope. Not in the slightest.

Even with your own bewilderment, you found that you didn't necessarily mind it, despite your own surprise. It just made things a bit more interesting...surely that wouldn't be a bad thing. Right?

Well, it wasn't, at least not entirely. There were some awkward moments where you had to shift a bit to dodge oncoming people or to make way for those who were on the same path as you.

You tried to keep it minimal so as to not catch the man's attention beside you, but it was inevitable.

Case and point, like now. You once more adjusted how you walked, keeping closer to Mark as you both waltz down the bustling sidewalk. You keep your gaze averted, not able to exactly look people in the eye as you and he make your way down the smoothed, concrete pavement. Noticing the subtle shift in movement, Mark did similar, tightening his grip on your arm enough to keep you tethered to him, but gentle enough that it wouldn't hurt. You glance over at him, shooting him a thankful look. He noticed it from the corner of his eye, based on the way his head tilted and then in your direction.

His smile he returned back at you was softer, before he decided to speak, distracting you from how busy the space was.

"You holding up okay there?" He asked, his voice loud enough for you to hear, but quiet enough so that other people that passed by, wouldn't hear. Even with the volume of it, you note the slight worry lacing his words.

You don't immediately answer, a bit caught off guard. In all honestly, you suppose you were not awful...Still adjusting to being out and about, but still, you were okay enough. So, you give a small, quick nod, signifying that you were. Along with that, you match his projection, speaking aloud, "Me? Yeah, I am...Don't worry too much about me." You weakly laugh afterward, almost sheepishly causing him to worry.

Mark doesn't immediately reply, his eyes flickering to you and forward again, making sure he wouldn't indirectly run into anyone. When he replies though, his eyes land on you once more. "I just wanted to make sure...I honestly wasn't expecting things to get this busy...If I knew that I would have just ordered us a cab." He winces slightly, shaking his head a bit as he helps you past another wave of people.

You follow his steps, growing slightly relieved when you note the restaurant across the street. You both have been walking for quite some time. The lack of food was slowly getting to you.

You glance over to him, letting a small smile grace your features as you respond, giving another nudge as you point out how close you both were. Just a way off.

"Well...I don't think we'll have to worry about that...I mean we're pretty close. Just a bit more to go."

Mark blinks, his gaze still lingered on you as you talked. After registering your words he glances across the street, at the restaurant. As he finally acknowledged it, you took the time to shuffle over to the stoplight post, clicking the right crosswalk button before stepping back to be at Mark's side again.

You can practically see the grin in his voice as he talks, even without looking at him. "Huh...Would you look at that? Alright- Alright... Maybe you have a point here." A brief chuckle rumbles from him following his lighthearted banter.

You find yourself returning the sentiment, laughing softly following his words, as cars continue to pass for the next moment. "Don't I usually?" You joke as he tilts his head a bit, smiling in amusement. You find yourself grinning back, as a short, comfortable silence settles between you both. You turn, glancing to the road, watching as both lines of cars, drive and buzz past each other, before the stoplight hanging off the thick metal pole, signals for both sides to stop. After a moment, once all the cars halted, were you both finally allowed to walk across the street, and were able to get to the other side.