Mocked: A Marcel Fanfic

Chapter Ten

Chapter Ten


I know we are going to have to leave this place of escape and reenter reality, but my entire being is screaming to not go away. This is where I want to be: on a beach with Veronica without a care in the world. But we watch the sunset together, our bodies seated so close to each other that I swear I can feel her heat even with the wind whipping around us, and I know we will leave after the sun completely disappears. It makes me upset.

"Veronica, when we leave this place, am I taking you back to school to get your car?" I dig my feet into the sand. I had removed my dress shoes and socks after she yelled at me for wearing them on a beach.

"I wish we didn't have to go back," she whispers and I wonder if I'm supposed to hear it. I stay quiet and stare at the distant waves. "You can take me to Aiden's house. He took me to school today so I don't have my car at school."

Aiden. Her boyfriend. I feel my heart swell and them deflate. How could I let this one day blur reality and make me think she actually enjoyed me? That she could maybe want more from me? I push my glasses up my nose, the action grounding me back to reality. I'm Harry Styles. Marcel. Nerd. Geek. Not a boyfriend option.

I agree with her and we get off the beach, gathering our things. I can feel sand in all of my clothes and I know I have to figure out a way to get into the house without tracking any sand in.

"Why are you biting your lip like that?" I turn to Veronica and release my lip from between my teeth. I hadn't realized I was doing it.

I unlock my car and get in. "I didn't know I was," I say when she gets in as well. I start the car and ask her where to go and she once again starts dictating directions. Of course I wish I wasn't driving her there, but I have no other choice. This is what she wants.

"Hey, you haven't said much at all," Veronica suddenly interrupts the silence we had been driving in. "Are you upset or something?"

I can't help but feel like she actually cares about me. It's something I've never had experienced with. "I'm just worried about my mother. She's going to have a fit when I come home, hours overdue, and covered in filth." At least that answer was sincere. Mother really will be pissed.

Veronica points at a house and tells me to pull over. It's got a lot of lights on and people are flooding out of it. "Th-this is Aiden's house?" I ask, watching as a group of guys throw another guy across the yard.

"Yup. Another party. Always another party." The way Veronica says it makes me think she's exhausted. It must be from the day we had at the beach. There's no other explanation really.

"Okay, bye." I unlock the doors for her, expecting that she jump out. But instead she sits there and turns to me slowly, a wide grin forming. "What?"

"You're coming in with me!" She says like it's the most brilliant idea she can think of.

"No, no. No definitely not. No way. No," I stutter through answers, wishing she would just get out. If she expects me to be able to go in there and come out alive...well she's mistaken.

Veronica huffs. "Oh come on, Harry. This is your day of spontany-ism." I close my mouth instead of commenting on her use of the word "spontany-ism." It's spontaneity.

"I don't fit in. I'll be hit in the face again! I already have this bruise," I point at my face. "Besides, I've got to get home."

I expect her to argue against me and demand I come along. That's what normally happens, right? Nope. Instead she opens her door and steps out. Just like that.

"I'll see you at school tomorrow," she says, her voice devoid of emotion, almost as if the entire afternoon didn't happen between us.

"See you at school," I say back, but she's already gone, laughing and screaming with the other "cool" high school students at her boyfriend's house.

Her boyfriend.

I push the urge to climb out of my car and join her at the party away and drive off. I could never walk in there. I shouldn't even try to forget who I am. Even if Veronica makes me feel like Marcel doesn't exist...doesn't mean he doesn't. At school he's still there. A constant reminder that I will never be the same. That I won't ever fit in.

I get home and park my car with shaking hands. I don't want to go in the house where mother will once again reprimand me. I know she will. I'm home later than I've ever been and it's only 8:27.

Taking a deep breath, I leave my car and go inside my house. At first it's silent and I breathe out relief.

I scream when mother pops up out of nowhere, blocking my path to the stairs. Her eyes narrow at me and she stares at the shoes I hold in my hand instead of on my feet.

"Harry Edward Styles, where the hell have you been?!" She launches herself at me, grabbing me around my shoulders and pulling me into a hug before I can do anything. My eyes widen. This isn't what I expected.

"I was out with a friend." I leave out the fact that the friend is actually a girl.

Mother holds me at arms distance and looks me over. Once she realizes I'm in one piece, no new bruises, she let's go of me and shakes her head. She glares at me and points angrily at my chest.

"You gave me a heart attack. I thought you ran away. Or got in another fight. If you show up late again, I'm taking your car."

I sigh and hang my head. And welcome back mother.

"I'm sorry. I lost track of time."

"And where the hell are your school things? Why are you carrying your shoes? And what is all this dirt you're tracking in?!" Her questions hit me, her words spitting out at a rapid pace. Veronica was right, that does get annoying.

"I left them in my locker by accident but it's fine because I've finished all my work already for this entire week. And the dirt is sand from a beach." Mother gasps at the word beach. "I didn't go in the water. I just walked around a bit. That's all." I'm way too tired to argue with her.

Mother shakes her head. "You're irresponsible. What is getting into your head?!"

I look down as Veronica fills my mind. "Nothing. I'm sorry for losing track of time." Please just let me go to my room.

"Fine. Go to your room." Mother walks away just like Veronica did: without a single glance back at me.

I trudge upstairs and take a shower. And under the comfort of warm water, I think of the day I spent with Veronica.