𝐒𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐘 | 𝐦. 𝐣𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬𝐨𝐧

5

"Huh?" I say to Marlon, wondering what he had mumbled because I couldn't hear it. Marlon's eyes meet mine and he perks up a little. "Oh- I was just saying maybe you should leave, but you could stay if you want," he explains. "Just stay close by me," he tells me, walking towards me and interlocking arms with me. I'm a little confused by what he means so I ask him. "Why?"

He starts taking me back outside and I follow him. He looks over in my direction,

"Just incase my brothers get a little handsy."

"What?"

"Just incase my brothers get a little crazy."

I could've sworn I heard him say something else but I didn't think of it much. "Anyway, girl, it's your choice if you wanna get home or stay and meet Joe," he says as we make it outside. Marlon's brothers look at our interlocked arms and look like they know something that I don't, but they don't say anything about it. "If you wanna go home, I'll walk you, so no one snatches ya" Marlon tells me with a goofy smile. I nod and grin at him, "Marlon, I'm a big girl, you don't have to protect me," I chuckle and he playfully rolls his eyes. "A damsel in distress always needs a knight."

I notice Michael and Randy making their way over to us. "Uh, Joe is turning down the street so we're gonna go inside," Randy tells us. "You coming, Tonya?" Michael asks and I hesitate and little, looking in Marlon's direction who smiles reassuringly. "Come on, girl. I'm sure it'll be fine. How are you the one scared now?" he giggles and I blush in embarrassment. "Shut up. Tell them how I had to hold your hand on the way here," I say, and he gets quiet when his brothers laugh at my remark. "I was just teasin'," he speaks up finally and I smile, "I know you were."

"Will y'all stop flirting and get inside?" I hear Tito's voice as he walks over to us. I try not to get flustered at his words. I'm sure Marlon's brothers always tease him around girls, but now that I think about it, I'm his only girl friend. Well, only girl best friend. I tried not to let my mind wander because I knew his brothers were only messing around, but I couldn't help but have the thought of being in a relationship with Marlon cross my mind. Wait, what am I thinking?

I felt an arm wrap around my shoulder. It was Marlon. "Y'all just can't hide your jealousy, can you?" I hear him say to his brothers with a smirk. Oddly enough, this made me lose track of thought of the thoughts I was thinking before, because now all I could think about was the warmth of Marlon's body against mine. It felt.. loving, in a sense, like he was ready to protect me from anything. But why was I thinking this? Of course he'd be loving and protective, he's my best friend. And with this thought, I slowly pulled away from him because I couldn't place this feeling that I was feeling. It was different than the loving feeling that I got when he gave me physical affection as best friends.

"Let's go inside before Joseph comes, huh?" I say to Marlon and his brothers, a quick attempt for a subject change, and they nod and make sounds of agreement. I see Marlon look a little disappointed when I pulled away from him, but I thought it was just my mind playing tricks on me again. Even seeming bothered or upset, he still remained the most beautiful guy in the world to me. Friends can compliment friends, right?

A/N: sorry this chapter is a little short, I've been having a little writers block 😔 but it seems like Tonya is finding out about her feelings for Marlon, do you think she'll push him away or talk to him about it? I hope you all are enjoying the story! God bless ❤️

~ Aaliyah 👸🏽💞