I Care About You... (a septiplier fan fic)

•Chapter 8•

~Jack~

Finally I had gotten into Mark's head about everything. And by everything I mean: I managed to show him that I meant business by ignoring him for a whole 3 weeks. Things had turned back to normal! Mark did frequently have cravings to smoke again, but together we battled against it. The time flew and he's been 2 years clean! I'm so proud of him. He realized a lot in that time and I did too.

We're now juniors in high school. God how the time flies by. Everyone has jobs now and we all can drive! Well... except for me. I never really wanted to drive, I enjoy walking everywhere. Walking gives me time to think and observe everything that goes on all around me, I like to take in the beauty of nature that's around me.

Mark works at this fancy restaurant at the mall (I don't know how, he is just a walking path of destruction). Cry works at the tech store, he helps me whenever I have issues with my phone and he gives me discounts. Ken works at a sushi place along side Felix, they always give me discounts on my favorite sushi. Marzia and Mary work at forever 21 (I think it suits them, they always were very fashionable). As for me, I work at a little pastry store in the mall, i've admired baking since I was little so working here is like a dream come true. It's not a "masculine" job, but who cares! It's a fun job and I love it.

I've already started looking into my future and I found a college all the way up in Washington state that i'm dying to go to! I just really need to start saving up money. The best part is Mark and Cry promised to move in with me because they want to attend the same college.

Now that Mark promised to move in with me, i'm scared to tell him how i've felt all these years. I don't want him to feel awkward if we ever have to move in together. However, I have noticed we've been hanging out a lot more and he seems nervous around me which is odd. Could he finally like me back? I've been talking to Cry about it, seeing what I should do. We finished our shifts at work and started walking home.

"Hey Cry... you know how I said I still like Mark?"

"Yeah, what about it?"

"I think he may finally like me back. I don't know if I want to tell him or not. I don't want things to be awkward when we move in together and I don't want you feeling awkward because of it..."

"Well honestly Jack, if he was a good friend, he wouldn't make things awkward and he wouldn't be weirded out. You guys have been friends for 6 years for crying out loud! If anything that's a compliment saying you liked him for so long."

"That's true... i'm still scared."

"I don't want you to think that you HAVE to tell him. You tell him when you feel you are ready. " I stopped for a second to think about it. I don't want to wait forever, but I don't want to tell him soon.

"I think i'll tell him when Valentines Day rolls around. It's December right now, almost winter break, that gives me 2 and a half months to prep."

"Perfect! If you think you're ready by then, go for it. If you don't think you're ready either, that's fine too! Do what you're comfortable with."

"Thanks for being such a supportive friend Cry, I don't know what I would do without you." We finally reach my house and i start to walk to the front door.

"No problem dude. It's late, I think you should get some sleep. good night."

"Night Cry, you get some sleep too." I wave to him and headed upstairs to my room. I change into my pajama's and went to bed.

I lay there in my bed trying to think of how I want this to go. I can't believe i'm considering going through with this. I know I have 2 and a half months, but I still feel that isn't enough time. I want to tell him already, i've been hiding this for 6 years.

Should I give him roses? Yes, it's a cute idea, but what color? Should I give him chocolates? Does he even like chocolate? Should I dress nicely or normally? What about my mop of green hair? What will I do with my hair?? What if I wimp out? What if he says no and hates me?

My thoughts take over and it all scares me. All through the night these questions danced around my head until I fell asleep.

*Jack's dream world*

I stood there in the halls of school. My nice white button up and my best looking jeans and for once I actually brushed my hair. In my hands I held a small heart shaped box of assorted chocolates, a few white roses, and a few pink balloons. I feel beads of sweat form on my forehead.

At the end of the hall, I see Mark standing there talking to what looks like Felix and Marzia, I couldn't clearly make the faces out. I slowly approach them, everyone stared at me. How I hated when all the attention was on me. I stood there in front of Mark, all eyes on us, I brought myself to speak the words I wanted to get out for the past 6 years.

"M-Mark Fischbach, for th-the past six years o-of strictly friendship, i-i've always had these feelings d-deep within me as soon as I l-laid my eyes on you. T-today, I have finally brought the c-courage to tell you." I held out the various presents that I had bought for him.

"And i-if you just want to be friends, i'm cool with t-that. I'll treasure that friendship forever." The halls were silent, everyone awaiting an answer from him. He stared at me and looked me up and down.

Finally he spoke.

"Jack, all of this for me?" I nod to reply. I'm shaking i'm so nervous. This has been built up for 6 years and i'm finally letting it out.

"Jack..." He leaned in closer to my face.

"...this is..." Does he like me back?

"... absolutely pathetic." WHAT?

"There's no way I could ever date someone as pathetic as you. Of course I dated Yami, but YOU? HA! And the only reason I ever told you I would move in with you is so that you weren't sad and alone when you're older. You're so pitiful." Chatter filled the halls, the flowers in my hand began to wilt, the balloons I held popped. The way he said it, it didn't make me sad, it made me disappointed and angry. This doesn't sound like Mark.

"I understand that you don't like me back, but did you REALLY have to say it like that you heartless bastard!" I threw the box of chocolates at him.

"I've showed you so much affection and that I cared about you. And THIS is how you treat me? You're just like fooking Yami, a self centered, heartless, cheap, spawn of satan." I stormed out of the hall, crying. I head down the hall and towards the exit door.

I hear Mark running for me, he tried to grab my wrist, but it was too late, I already left.

When I opened the door, I fell.

*end of dream*

I jolted awake in a cold sweat, gasping for air like I had been holding my breath for too long. I look around my room, making sure I had snapped back into reality, everything felt like a daze. My phone started ringing and I jumped at the sudden noise. I looked over to see it was Mark.

Jack: Hello?

Mark: Shit sorry Jack, I didn't mean to wake you!

Jack: No, no. It's fine. What's up man?

Mark: Just wanted to see if you wanted to see the new dead-pool movie and get some coffee. I have work later and I really want to see the movie.

Jack: Yeah! that sounds great. I'll be there in half an hour maybe... actually, maybe an hour.

Mark: Hey, are you okay? For some reason you sound shaken up. I've known you for 6 years and I know when something's up.

Jack: I'm fine, don't worry.

Mark: Okay... i'll see you in a bit!