𝐒𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐘 | 𝐦. 𝐣𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬𝐨𝐧

23

Tonya's POV

When I woke up this morning, I thought I was dreaming. But when I saw Marlon already awake, doing his hair in the hotel mirror, look at me and smile with a certain glint in his eyes, I knew it was real. Shyly, I smiled back. The confidence I had last night was now nowhere to be found, but I'm glad it came at the moment it did.

The usually playful "good morning, beautiful" that came from his lips now sounded different, as if he meant it. "Morning, handsome," I decided to counter, and this seemed to take him by surprise because he laughed bashfully. It was around 9am. We had the whole day ahead of us and I already felt it was going to be great.

"Michael, Tito and I already showered 'cause we got up a little earlier than you so the bathroom is free. They're downstairs eating breakfast with the guys. I wanted to let you sleep since you seemed so tired," Marlon tells me, being the sweetheart that he is. "I totally would've let it be 'ladies first' if you were awake, though," he grins, making me laugh.

"Alright, thank you," I smile, getting my bags and hygiene products and taking it to the bathroom. I closed and locked the door and hopped into the shower. Once I finished, I got dressed in the bathroom, brushed my teeth and did all my hygiene routine. Luckily, the warm water wasn't used up. My hair was already in its signature afro style so I just combed it out nicely and put an orange headband on to go with my outfit.

Once I walked out of the bathroom, Marlon looked completely mesmerized when he laid eyes on me. "Tonya, wow.. you look.." he started to speak, but was speechless. I felt my cheeks heat up, growing shy under his gaze. "Stop, you're being dramatic," I giggled shyly, bringing my bags and things back out to my bed, but his eyes never left me.

"I'm sorry, you just look.. real beautiful right now," Marlon smiles, shaking himself out of his trance or whatever he was in. I grin, "thank you, Mar," I tell him, packing all my things in my bags because I know we'll be leaving after breakfast. "You ready to go?" he asks me. My eyes scan over the hotel phone. "Let me call my mom first. She's probably worried."

I make my way to the phone, dialing my mother's number and she picks up quicker than I anticipated. "Tonya? Tonya, is that you?" she asks, worry laced in her voice. "Yes, ma. Hello?" I quickly say to her. "Girl, are you alright? You had me worried sick. You called yesterday but you didn't say anything!"

What? What is she talking about? "What..? I never called you..." I tell her, very confused. But then I remember yesterday. When me and the boys played truth or dare, and they dared Marlon to call someone he liked. Wait... it was me?! "What?!" My mother exclaims, clearly more worried. "Wait, ma! Sorry, I forgot. I did call you! Sorry, I wasn't thinking straight," I explain to her, glancing at Marlon.

"Oh... well, alright then. Don't let nobody give you no trouble, alright? Tell Marlon he better protect you!" she exclaimed. I giggled at her, "alright, ma. I'll talk to you later, alright? We gotta get to the show," I tell her. "Alright, baby. Bye, mama loves you," she says, and I tell her I love her too before hanging up.

"Who'd you call yesterday?" I ask Marlon after setting the phone down. "What do you mean?" He asks me, tilting his head. "When your brothers said call someone you like, who'd you call?" I interrogated him playfully, but he actually looked shy. "I.. didn't call anyone."

"That's funny, 'cause my mother said I called her yesterday and I didn't," I tell him, moving closer. "Alright, yes! I called her. I... I li-"

Before Marlon could finish, Randy banged on our door. "Come on, y'all! We gotta eat breakfast and get going!" he exclaims before running downstairs. I internally groan. Why is our moment ruined so often? Marlon shyly rubs the back of his neck before making his way to the door. I sigh. I'll find out next time.

"Well, let's go downstairs if you're ready. I heard they've got good breakfast here," Marlon tells me with a smile. We leave the hotel room, making sure to lock the door and Marlon looks over, reaching his hand out to me. Hesitantly but happily I took it, and as we walked, I intertwined our fingers together just like last night.