Tara

13.

"Man, I am beat." Marcus yawned as he stretched his arms as Kyle closed the front door, hoping everyone would leave him be for the rest of the night.

"So," Caroline began to say, grinning from ear to ear. "How did it go, Loverboy?" Caroline asked, teasingly as she looked at Marcus.

"Ugh," Marcus groaned as he rolled his eyes, dreading what was to come. "Can we not do this right now?" Marcus asked, hoping the subject would drop

"Why not?" Vicky asked and raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah, why not?" Serena asked, crossing her arms together, wanting to know what happened as she saw how Marcus had looked. She noticed that he did indeed look tired. However, he seemed down about something, and she could tell something had bothered him.

"Was the date that bad?" Kyle asked.

"She really must have been," Caroline giggled and pointed at Marcus. "He rolled his eyes."

"Bloody Mary as a bad date?" Vicky giggled sarcastically.

"What a shocker," Caroline joked sarcastically as she let out a soft laugh. "Not!" Caroline added, laughing harder with Vicky.

"What did you two do on that date?" Serena asked, furrowing her eyebrows and dropped her arms to her sides.

"I really don't want to talk about it, okay?" Marcus asked as he thought about Tara and how much fun he had with her and how it really was fun just being with her and his mind began to wonder back on the date.

"You have a birth mark here," Tara answered as she pointed at his neck on the right side. "You have a small salmon patch." Tara explained.

"I do?" Marcus asked, staring down at her awkwardly.

"Yeah," Tara said and nodded slowly. "You also have an angel kiss right there," Tara added and pointed above his right eyebrow.

"Earth to Marcus!" Vicky shouted, waving her hand in Marcus' face, snapping him back into reality as he blinked.

"Where did you go?" Kyle chuckled as he raised an eyebrow and looked at his brother.

"She and I walked on the beach near our house." Marcus asked, looking back at Kyle.

"He did not mean that," Vicky snapped at him and glared at Marcus. "He means where did your mind take you?" Vicky asked, letting out a soft sigh.

"I'm just tired, okay?" Marcus asked and rolled his eyes in annoyance.

"Did you ask her to go to the party?" Caroline asked.

"No, I haven't." Marcus answered in a soft murmur, slowly shaking his head.

"Why not?" Vicky scoffed.

"Yet." Marcus added and quickly cringed at that.

"You are not having second thoughts like Serena had, are you?" Kyle gawked, blinking his eyes.

"Hey!" Serena gasped as her eyes widened. "I was worried that the prank would be too mean." Serena added.

"It won't be, I promise." Caroline said and rolled her eyes.

"Why haven't you let us in on it then?" Marcus asked.

"Because it is a surprise, my love." Vicky answered and kissed him on the ride side of his cheek.

"Don't tell me you suddenly care about the shark now." Kyle joked as he chuckled softly.

"I am honestly starting to believe and think Serena was right to begin with." Marcus sighed in defeat.

"You spend one date with her, and she has managed to brainwash you already?" Vicky gawked as her eyes widened and she took a step back.

"What did she say to you back there?" Caroline asked.

"Forget it," Marcus huffed, shaking his head. "I am going to bed, good night." Marcus mumbled as he walked away without looking back at anyone and headed upstairs.

"Unbelievable!" Caroline shouted at him as everyone watched him go, glaring at him.

"He is starting to care about the shark." Kyle gawked.

"I am not letting that tramp steal my boyfriend away from me." Vicky growled out, feeling jealous at the thought of Tara and Marcus together.

"Vicky, I am sure she wouldn't." Serena sighed, frowning at her.

"She agreed to go out with him, didn't she?" Vicky asked and glared at Serena.

"Yes, but she thinks that you two are--"

"Then she is willing to be his girlfriend." Vicky said, interrupting Serena.

"It is clear we have to take things into our own hands." Caroline said.

"Can't trust boys to do a simple damn thing." Vicky sighed and rolled her eyes.

"Hey!" Kyle gawked, offended at that as his eyes widened.

"She didn't mean you, hun." Caroline giggled and held onto Kyle's left hand.