The Way It Could've Been

Chapter 11, Julian...

My head was facing the door.

"Bye..." I said, even though he had left. I was so confused. I sighed before turning back to the movie. Marley had woken up when Mark slammed the door. I was worried. Was his mom okay? I grabbed the controller and turned off the TV.

"But I love yo-" The TV turned black and suddenly, I was engulfed with a loud silence. The low humming of the refrigerator. I stood up and the blanket slid off me, falling to the floor. I bent down to pick it up. I began to fold it and put it in the storage closet in the hall where the blankets were kept.

Later that night, I texted Mark.

"Are you okay?" I was lying down on my bed. The sun slowly fell and the moon began to rise. My room getting dimmer and dimmer. I grabbed my L.E.D. lights controller and turned it on. My whole room changed to a purple color.

Mark is typing...

"Yeah, I'm sorry I left. It was an emergency. Anyway, Wyd?" Mark texted back. I smile slightly and begin to type back.

"Laying on my bed with Marley, you?" I asked Mark, Marley cuddled up next to me.

"I'm playing video games." He answers.

"You know I never liked video games that much. I might sound like a total nerd, but I like reading and writing."

"Of course, you do, nerd." He texted back. Putting a slightly smiling emoji. I smiled at the text.

"Oh, shut up." I grinned.

That night we talked about a lot of things. To likes and dislikes. Opinions that led to playful arguments. I like talking to Mark. He was a decent person if he wasn't with Simon.

RING...

The school bell rang as I walked to class, talking and smiling with Mark. It was science. We had finished our project two days before the due date, so we had free time for the rest of the class. And it was spent talking about video games and books. These two different interests from two very different people, but somehow alike in a way.

Ever since yesterday, he's been a little nervous or anxious-looking. Before the class ended, the teacher had us all be quiet since she was explaining something, but me and Mark still never stopped. They were whispering to each other. Laughing quietly.

And in the fifth period, we still talked to each other. Me, out of his actual friends. Was I one of his actual friends now? He acted differently around me than he did with his normal friends. More... I don't know. He wasn't disruptive like he usually is with his friends. Was this how he acted when he was away from his football friends...? I kind of like this side of Mark. A nice, and kind side of Mark.

"So, what's your favorite movie?" Mark asked me, with a slight smile on his face.

"Uh... Probably the conjuring series, even if it's multiple movies. I love it." I speak.

"Mine is Spider-Man and Scream." He spoke.

"Scream is such a good series." I smile at him. "Do you have any siblings?" I ask him.

"Uh, yeah. I've got an older brother in college and a younger brother. My older brother's named Benjamin, and my younger brother's named Henry. Do you have any siblings?" Mark asked me.

"I have a brother named Aaron in college and a sister named Hannah who's an adult now," I say.

"It must be lonely in your house then... I mean. I would've been." He says, his arms on the table now, looking at me with those hazel eyes. I never really looked at Mark for a long time to notice his features. His brunette hair, hazel eyes, broad-shouldered, and his scent. He always smelled good. And looked good.