❝ would this have been easier if i knew it all before? ❞
In which emotions change and Marcie finds out just how complicated her life can get.
[ heartstopper || season 1 -
extended summary inside
a LOVER'S CHOICE book ]
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With her feet resting on the coffee table, protected from the cold by fluffy socks, Mars divides her attention between the TV in the corner of the conservatory and her boyfriend who has his head in her lap. He has his arms wrapped around a pillow that he rests on his stomach, eyes flitting between his angelic girlfriend and The Dragon Prince, an animated series on Netflix the two decided to watch together. Their own series.
Unlike Reggie, Mars isn't really used to sharing a series with someone. Her family will watch movies together because they can be finished quicker and in one sitting. They're not always home at the same time, Mars is home alone until five in the afternoon on school days and her dad doesn't come home until six. A movie is the only thing that allows them to spend time together, sometimes there are game nights —— which have happened more often than movie nights because movie nights without Jax feel wrong. They'd tried watching a series as a family before, but with the busy schedules they all lead, the time between episodes began to go from days to weeks.
As she watches the TV, Mars plays with Reggie's hair absently, brushing her fingers through his dark locks. They're about ten minutes in, watching the end of the small fight scene in the town square when Reggie speaks up.
"West is spending more time with Patrick," he voices, his eyes on the screen in an attempt to appear nonchalant, though his tone and the way his lips press together after he's said it sets a different picture.
Mars stops playing with his hair and, knowing that this will turn into a conversation, grabs the remote and pauses the episode. "What's wrong with that?"
"I don't like it. Patrick hangs out with Harry."
"Used to, past tense," Marcie corrects calmly. "He's the one who gave Harry that black eye at his own party."
As Mars holds the air in her lungs, staring at the frozen animation in the TV, Reggie groans. "I know, but Nick got mad at him and he went back. Harry has them wrapped around him like he's a yo—yo." Mars looks down at Reggie and he looks up at her, sighing. "I just don't want West to get caught in the middle of what could be a sick prank."
Her face falls in sympathy, realising that he just wants the best for his brother. She chooses her next words carefully, not sure why he's so worried about his brother's friendships. "Do you think. . . there's something more there?" she asks, getting Reggie's attentive eyes back on her in an instant. "Is that maybe why you're worried?"
