Lifeline (Marc Guiu)

Chapter 6

Another day at uni, another time when Alicia almost ran out of the building the minute classes were over. This time, she wasn't meeting Victoria. She was meeting Marc and it was stupid how nervous she felt.

Because...what were they going to do? Hook up? Not that she thought that was a bad plan but a part of her wanted what they did the other day. She wanted to talk to Marc, to joke and flirt...and if there was some making out in the middle of all that, who was she to complain about it?

"Oh! There he is!"

Alicia had asked Marc to park a couple of streets away from her uni and he had already sent her a text saying he was waiting for her. She stopped for a second to look at a shop's window, not because she cared about the products they sold. But to use it as a mirror. Outfit looked fine, hair looked good, ...she tried to make an effort in the morning without it being too noticeable.

"Hi. Get inside. I'll drive us home".

She nodded and walked to the passenger's side to get inside the car.

Marc mentioned how he lived in two places at the moment, kind of. He still lived with his parents and sister but he was also renting an apartment that he was gradually moving into. Alicia joked asking if he had that apartment rented for his dates with girls and Marc took a bit too long to respond. Not that she was surprised but...she didn't like feeling like she was just another girl to him.

"How was uni today?"

"Not too bad, actually. We have pretty fun classes on Thursday or as fun as university can be, I guess".

Marc laughed and Alicia turned to look at him driving. He was wearing a short-sleeved t-shirt that looked a bit small around his biceps. And those biceps would always be very distracting.

"You didn't have lunch, right?"

"No and I'm starving. Should we stop somewhere to grab some food?"

"Yeah", Marc started to look around. "Do you want to stop at any of those restaurants or should we get something to eat at home?"

Eating at a restaurant felt too much like a date so she chose take away.

"Welcome to my little palace", said Marc, opening the door and allowing Alicia to go inside.

"Thank you. What number am I then?"

"Number?"

"Yeah. How many girls did you bring here before me?"

Marc saw Alicia smiling but it was a weird smile. And she had already made that joke and he hated it.

"You're the first one".

"Really?", Alicia's surprised face annoyed him too. "You don't have to lie. It's fine...".

"I'm not lying. The only women that have been here are my mum and my sister. But you meant something else when you asked how many girls and the answer is you're the first one".

Alicia didn't understand why Marc looked so pissed saying that. It was just a joke. He had joked before about his dating life so why was he so sensitive all of a sudden?

"Ok. Sorry if I offended you".

"It's not...", Marc sighed. "We said we wanted to have fun together but I also want to be your friend, Ali. I don't want you to think I just brought you here to have sex and then I'll kick you out of the door and yell next".

"I didn't think you'd do that".

"I know none of us are looking for a relationship right now and I'm not the romantic perfect guy you think Fermín is but I'm also not an asshole".