MARCUS (ongoing)

Chapter 7

The next morning Marcus is awoken by the good scent of bacon in the kitchen.
Chris: [smiles] hey little man you're up. Right on tim.....
Marcus: [moves closer angrily] what did you just call me??
Chris: yo yo wait what did......
Clare: Marcus calm down. Come with me.
Chris: [stands in wonder].

They go to his room and sit.

Clare: Marcus, Marcus listen.....
Marcus: how dare he call me lil' man?!
Clare: Marcus, look at me. Listen, I didn't tell him your story he doesn't know anything yet. He thought it sounded cool please forgive him. He's just trying to relate with you.
Marcus: ...........
Clare: Marcus?
Marcus: I figured, it's just everything came back in a flash and [sheds tears] I just snapped. I didn't mean to......
Clare: it's okay. Um... come on now let's have some bacon it'll make you feel a lot better. Thankfully Chris is a great cook so.... yeah.
Marcus: [smiles] does that make you all red too?
Clare: [laughs] oh look at you. Come on.

Clare: um [clears her throat] listen he prefers to be called Marcus only. Other names are not entertained.
Chris: oh, I'm so sorry Marcus I had no clue. I......
Marcus: it's okay it's my fault for over reacting, and Clare don't say it like even 'boy' is a horrible name.
Clare: [short laughs] my bad. So let's eat......

Marcus: I was raised in a house or a city of a gang crew, the skull crew. I was picked up by their leader Kingson who taught me a lot of sh** like how to steal and beat up somebody. I suffered real hard there, constantly beaten whenever I tried to leave or find money by my own means. I was there over two years before Clare got me out. Kingson and everyone there called me lil' man, in all honesty I know it just means a kid who's gonn' be a grown man or can be a grown man even though he may be a kid. It just reminded me of it that's all.

Chris: .......... I'm really sorry you had to go through that Marcus and I'm glad you got out safe. No kid should have had to face such, in a way though I blame it on her. She told me you're her little cousin when I tried to ask further she said [says it skittishly and with attitude] don't ask me questions.
Clare: I don't sound like that.
Chris: agree to disagree.
Marcus: I agree [laughs silently].
Clare: really? [Putting plates on the table].
Chris: I do have a question though. I don't get it, how did she get you out?
Clare: [she gave him the "oh really" look]
Marcus: that's why I agreed with you mahn. She scared the sh** out of them with the 'tude' [laughs]
Chris: [laughs]

Clare: oh that's how it is now? Really boys? [They're still laughing] wow, wow okay okay. I'mma get you back soon just you wait.
Marcus: come on laugh a little.
Chris: I love this dude.
Clare: ha ha there. Now let's eat please I'm starving.

Later she left for class while the two stayed back together.
Marcus: you don't have school today?
Chris: my program isn't busy like that........... Can I ask a personal question?
Marcus: yep.
Chris: just out of curiosity so what do you plan on doing now? Do you have family or?

Marcus: not necessarily. Family is the reason I ended up at Kingson's. My dad's family is a piece of crap they hated my mom so they hated me too. They always told my dad to leave us I honestly don't know why they treated us like that. Anyway, on my birthday or what was supposed to be my birthday my dad just decided we leave the country since my grandaunt came in that day as usual yelling at my dad because of the two of us. We were on a long trip when we crashed into a truck. When I woke up my parents were already dead and all I could do was walk towards the city lights I could see at a distance to look for help. When I woke up, I found myself in Kingson's house calling me lil' man then I tried to leave well obviously he said no and found a use for me as a drug middleman since no one could suspect a kid. Basically I have no family hence no place to go.

Chris: I'm so sorry Marcus. You're a strong dude though I gotta say.
Marcus: yeah?
Chris: yeah you are. Tough life has a tendency of making people grow up so fast that's why you're like a twenty something old man in a six year old body which is pretty cool actually.
Marcus: ..........

Chris: listen mahn I know it's only been about a week since we met but I'm cool staying with you for as long as you need. It'll be real fun to have you around.
Marcus: [with teary eyes] really?
Chris: yes really. In fact you and I can be a new family if you like.
Marcus: [got up and hugged him tight] thank you so much Chris it really means so much.
Chris: [hugs him back] no worries, like they say us assholes gotta stick together.
Marcus: [sits back and laughs a little] what? Who says that?
Chris: it's just a phrase [laughs] they're plenty around you'll get the hang of it soon.
Marcus: ...........

Chris: what's with the serious face, what are you thinking about?
Marcus: I'm sure they're looking for me tirelessly.
Chris: definitely I mean you're a really cool dude and all [smiles while Marcus laughs]. Trust me this is the last place, in fact they'll never think of looking for you near a university in a whole different country. This country has quite the security stop worrying. We will never let anything ever happen to you.
Marcus: thank you, that means a lot......... So what time does she get back?
Chris: hmmm it depends, these medical programs of theirs is so stiff.
Marcus: .............. How about you? What's your story?
Chris: hmmmmmm a little later for now I want to hit a few melodies. Come on come with me first there are a couple of things to do.