Affinity // (GOT7 Markson)

Chapter Ten - Rebirth

A few weeks had passed since the rainy night that Jackson told Mark he couldn't be his friend anymore. Mark went through a series of denial and anger, constantly bombarding Jackson with phone calls and text messages to which received no response. The more Mark reached out to Jackson the more distance Jackson made between the two, going so far as to drop out of the dance class they were in together. After feeling shamed and hopeless, Mark gave into the realization that maybe he was going to live without Jackson after all. The thought created a heaviness on Mark's chest, which started to weigh down on him more when he thought about Jackson. There was nothing more he could do about the situation, so Mark decided to be his own best friend and move on. Somehow, some way he was going to move on.

School had started that week for Mark, a welcomed distraction from the sad and monotonous dark cloud that his life was becoming. Mark settled into his classes with ease, reading ahead and smothering himself in all the school work he could. On his off days when he was neither working nor studying, Mark liked to hang out with Krystal and Lee, who had started spending more time with the two ever since he joined the dance class.

"Wait up Mark!" Lee called as he scrambled to carry his textbooks, catching up to Mark slowly.

"Those textbooks must weigh a ton!" Mark marveled, "How are you carrying all of them at once?"

Lee let out a small flex of his arm, "I eat my spinach, silly boy."

"Right. I forgot you're basically Iron Man." Mark hummed. "What are all these books for anyway?"

"I'm pre-med remember? Which basically means all work no play, and then more work." he groaned, looking down at the pile of medical texts.

"You're really one of the smartest people I know, Lee." Mark said, "I admire your determination."

"Wow, that's really sweet Mark. Thanks!" Lee chirped, blushing slightly at the compliment.

School was something that Lee had gotten incredibly well ever since the start. He was captain of the debate team, as Mark learned, and was a shoo-in to be accepted into a top medical school after he graduates. Mark was only a first year, and Lee was finishing up his third, so he had no idea of the amount of work sitting before Lee, but was in awe at how effortless Lee made it seem.

"Are we still down for drinks later with Kris?" Lee interrupted Mark's reverie.

"Of course. Come by my place at around 7. We'll all get ready together before hitting the club." he answered, smiling excitedly at Lee, who returned the smile and waved as he rushed to class.

***

"Quit thinking about him, idiot. Or I'll make Bruiser eat your favorite Big Bird slippers." Krystal threatened, applying her mascara with pinpoint accuracy. She had gotten oddly good at sensing when Mark was trailing off into Jacksonland, and was quick to rescue him.

"You're right. Tonight is about you, me, and Lee breaking in the new school year." he said with a small head shake, "What was the name of this new gay bar you wanted to take us to?"

"It's called Celebrities. It's right on Davie Street," Krystal responded, now applying her eyeliner like a surgeon with a scalpel. "Because that's what we're going to be tonight Mark, celebrities."

Just as she was finishing up straightening her hair, there was a timid knock on Mark's door. Bruiser shot up in a panic, barking loudly at the visitor.

"Shit, that must be Lee. How do I look Kris?!" Mark said, pacing around the room like an expecting father.

"Calm down you look fierce, babe." she approved. "Why, tryna look good for Lee?"