Oh, Marcel!

"MARCEL!"

~Marcel~

The short drive back had been quiet so far, but it wasn't awkward. I had driven to her house to get her things. She decided she didn't want to stay home with her parents. Besides it was saturday after all.

I looked over at Ember sitting beside me as I pulled up to a stop sign. She had her elbow propped up against the door, her brows furrowed and I could tell she was thinking about something.

Was she thinking about how to get her phone back? Because I was puzzled over that myself.

I open my mouth and want to ask her what she is thinking about, but I decide silence is better and I press down on the gas pedal, the Camero grumbling forward.

A blue car passed me and Ember shot up from her resting position. I quickly turned to look at her and tried to keep my eyes on the road.

"That's Jimmy!" She screams out pointing at the blue Ford that is speeding away. She looks at me, waiting for me to do something. But I do nothing, I just continue to drive home. Ember sighs and sits back, but doesn't put her elbow back on the door and her eyes are trained on the road ahead of us.

Maybe I should have chased him down. Maybe I should have been brave for my new best friend. But the old Marcel had taken over again, pushing the new one deep down.

I let out a breath that I hadn't realized I was holding in and pressed gently down on the brake, slowing the car enough to turn onto my road. The car made a smooth transition and then I tapped the accelerator just enough to coast to my driveway. I made the turn and pulled up to the garage and put the car in park. Ember was still quiet as we both stepped out of the car, me grabbing her bags as she walked up to my door and waited.

Ember's face was all twisted up and she was chewing on her thumb. I could almost see the millions of things that must have been doing circles in her mind.

I balanced the bags in one hand while I found my house key and shoved it into the lock twist the knob to open the door. I let Ember in first, still busy biting her thumb she walked in ahead and took off her shoes.

I set the bags down by the door deciding that I should give my parents a ring to find out where they were.

"Ember you can go in the kitchen and help yourself if you're hungry or something. I'm going to call my mom and tell her what's going on." I say looking at her concerned. She just looked up at me and nodded as she headed towards the kitchen.

Sighing, I grabbed my cell phone out of my pocket and went to my room for a little more privacy. I dialed my mom's cell and listened to the ringing, just waiting for her chipper voice to come on the line and say 'Hi, this is Marion Anne Styles. Please leave me a message!'

"....Hello...?" A voice came across suddenly and I sucked in air fast. It was a deeper, slower voice, much like my own.

"Uh, Mom?" I whispered, afraid of the answer.

I heard rustling around and a few seconds later my mother's voice rang through.

"Marcel honey?" I relaxed a little, but I was still confused.

"Where are you at?"

"We're in California! I thought I told you? We won't be back for at least another week. You'll be okay right? You're eighteen and I can wire you some money to your account so you have some. However there should still be enough in there." She rambled on.

"I'll be fine, Mom. Thanks for not telling me." I say my voice clearly dripping with sarcasm.

"Oh you're welcome honey! But I have to go! So kiss, kiss!" She said ignoring my response and the line went dead.

Well shows how much my own mom cares about me. I guess it didn't really bother me as much anymore. She had done this so often to me before, she doesn't listen to me, it's almost as if I'm just a dog to them. Letting the air leave my lungs slowly, I pushed my phone back into my pocket.

The only thing I forgot to ask her was who answered the phone. It was obviously a male, but he sounded young and his voice was deep. It for me was like hearing myself on tape. Weird.

My parents always seemed happy together, so I don't think there was any problem there. This was going to bug me until I found out.

Should I tell Ember? Maybe she could help me.

No, Marcel are you dumb? The poor thing has tons already piled on her plate, why does she need your added drama?

The voice was right. She didn't need it right now. So I swallowed it down and tried not to mention anything as I walked back into the kitchen. Ember was scurrying around looking through all the cabinets. She hadn't noticed me standing in the doorway yet, so I watched her for a little bit. She must have found something she was looking for because she sighed and pulled out a box.

It looked like a box of fruity pebbles. My fruity pebbles. I used my long legs and tiptoed up close to her as she poured herself a bowl. She held the box close to her as she closed it.

"Hey, those are mine." I said using a deeper voice than normal.

The box thudded to the ground and flecks of color spread everywhere on the floor. I watched it fall and then looked up just in time to dodge a hand that had flung out at my arm.

"MARCEL!" Ember screamed and burst into laughter. I couldn't help it and cracked up too. It was like we had been best friends for years instead of two days.

"I got you good, huh?" I grab the broom and dust pan from the corner as she picks up the bright red box. A few more fall to the ground with little taps as she seals the bag shut.

"Yes! I'm sorry for spilling your cereal..." Ember says her laughter fading and her face growing sad.

"Oh it's okay. We can always buy more. That made my day so it's all good!" I finish sweeping up the pieces into a pile and then bend over and sweep them into the dustpan. I was still bent over when I heard a soft giggle above my head. I looked up to see Ember standing over me.

"Look I'm taller than you Mars!" She giggled into her hand and put her other one on my head touching my gelled hair and then quickly pulling away.

I stood up and smiled slightly at her, my mouth opened, but she cut me off.

"Ew! How about I finish cleaning and you go wash that goop outta your hair!" She is staring disgusted at her hand that touched my head. Ember took the dust pan from me after I had emptied it into the garabage. Then she ushered me off to the bathroom and told me to shower.

"Now, get that out so I can see your real hair!"

"Fine!" Then I go off to my room in a huff, pretending that I'm mad. She giggles and walks back to the kitchen to finish cleaning up her mess.

She sure seemed a lot happier than when she had been earlier. I wonder what made her so withdrawn. And what made her so happy. Did I make her happy?

The shower squeaked on as I turned the knob, the sound filling the room and I felt the warmth radiating from it. I went over to my room and grabbed a pair of khakis and a blue polo. My thoughts drifting to Ember again.

Could I really have made her happy? Me,Marcel? The loser? Make someone happy? That is just so unheard of.

Sighing at myself, I hopped into the shower and let the warm water wash away my thoughts and for Ember's sake, my hair gel.