Safe At Last (Septiplier AU)

Chapter 2- The Mystery Boy

That's what Layla looks like^^
Mark's POV
"Shut up!" I laughed and gently pushed Wade. "Thats not what I meant!"
"Sure." He rolled his eyes and laughed.

Bob laughed, then made a strange face. He arched his neck to see over our heads. I ducked down for him.

"Is something wrong, Bob?" I ask him.
"Well, no," he said without looking down. "It's just... Who is that?" He nods his head over to a group of people.

I look over my shoulder.
"Well thats, um, Sarah, I think, Felix, and I think his name is Ken." I turn back to Bob.
"Well yeah, but who's that guy with them?" He asks.

I turn around to see someone walk out from behind Sarah. Woah. He's... Hot? I think.
"Woah. He's kind of cuu...oool. Looking. He's kind of cool looking. Y'know... With the gauges and everything." Wow, real smooth, Mark. I mentally facepalm while trying my best to keep a poker face.

     "Ooooo! Markimoo has a cruuush!" Wade sings.
     "I do not!" I say as I push Wade.
     "Do too!"
     "Do not!"
     "Do to-"
     "Okay! We get it, Wade, Mark has a crush." He snickered. I turn to him with a sarcastic-astonished look on my face.
     "I thought you were supposed to be the good one!" I pout.

     The mystery boy walks past and I can't help but stare. The girl--Sarah-- turns her head and notices me staring. Still, I can't look away. She was about to elbow the boy to get his attention, but I gave her a pleading look. She sighed and kept walking. I continued to stare until-

     "Hey, Mark, do you know where Layla is?" Bob's voice snaps me back to life.

     "Oh, uh," I watch as the boy and his group disappear around a corner. "No, she'll probably come late today." Bob sighs.
     "As usual." He says.

~*~*MAGICAL TIME  SKIP~*~*

(still) Mark's POV
    "Blah blah blah..." The teacher went on. I couldn't think straight (Hehe...). All I could think about was the mystery boy.

     How could I have never seen him before? Maybe I have...? What was it I felt when I saw hi- I didn't hear the door open but I certainly heard it close. Actually, I think the whole second floor heard it close. Well, more like slam. I look up for what seems like the first time that day since I saw the boy. Layla struts into the classroom and takes a seat at the front.

     "Oh sorry-- did I scare you?" She asks sarcastically. The whole classroom stares at her as she puts her backpack down. She looks at the teacher.
     "Well are you gonna teach or not? Because if not then I'm leaving." She leaned back in her chair, legs crossed and hands behind her head. This is why Layla is my best friend.

The teacher sighed and went back to teaching. The rest of the class exchanged whispers and glances, and went back to taking notes. I looked around and smiled when I saw Layla filing her black and blue nails. I looked down and started doodling in my notebook. I didn't even realize what I was drawing at first until the bell rang, signaling the end of the class. I looked down at what I was drawing. There staring back at me was a portrait of the mystery boy. I had no idea I could even draw...

"Mr. Fischbach?" I look up to see the teacher standing in front of my desk.
"Oh uh-- sorry, I'll leave now." I stand up and pick up my backpack. I sling it over my shoulder and grab the notebook. I was about to close it but the teacher stopped me.
"That's a nice drawing you have there," he said. "Did you draw it? It looks like one of my students." I awkwardly closed the notebook.
"Um... Yeah, I drew it. Which student does it look like?" I say.
"His name is Seán or "Jack" Mcloughlin. He prefers Jack. Is that him?" He gestures towards the notebook. I look down at it and back to him.
"Well... I don't know. Maybe? I just-" the second bell rang, signaling the start of lunch.
"Oh, you should probably go. I don't want to keep you from eating your lunch," he laughed. "You have na very incredible talent there, Mark. You should use it more often." I watched as the teacher walked out. I'm... Actually good at something? My thoughts are interrupted by the yelling of a small group of girls walking by the classroom.

I walk out into the hallway and to my locker, stuffing my books inside. I don't feel like eating today, but I'm not sure why. I walk downstairs and start towards the lunchroom. Sean. Jack. I keep repeating his name over and over in my head. I walk down the cafeteria stairs and to my table where Bob and Wade sit. I'm too busy thinking to notice Layla is missing.

"Hey, what took you so long?" Bob asks.
"Oh um, I don't know." I say.
"Have you seen Layla?" Wade asks.
"It's like Twelve-ish. Twelve-thirty maybe." I say not paying attention to the question. I brought the notebook with me and am staring down at it. I still can't believe I could draw such a vivid portrait of someone who I saw for a good five seconds for the first time in my life. I honestly couldn't believe that I could draw anything at all.

"'Sup, losers." I hear Layla say. I look up for a second and then back down at the drawing.
"Hey." I mumble. I could feel her stare fixed on me. I look up at her.
"Um, can I help you?" I ask. She scowls.
"Yesssss, actually. How about a 'How was your day so far?' or a 'What do you have for lunch today?'. Ooh you know what would be really nicccce? How about a 'I like the new color in your hair! It looks great Layla!'" She mocked me in a funny voice. I couldn't help but laugh. She smirked.
"Well your hair does look great today, Layla. Is that a new shade of blue? Oh is that a new necklace? Very pretty on you! Do a little spin, sweetheart!" I pretended to be a professional designer. She flipped her hair and stood up. She took a little twirl around, then stopped and looked above me with a confused face. I turned around, a little surprised to see nothing. I felt a weight lift off of my lap, and I look down. My notebook is gone. I look up to see Layla holding it in her hand, staring at it intently.

"H-hey! Give it back! Layla!" I complained. I kept grabbing for it but she would pull it just out of my reach. She never looked away. Finally, she grabbed my shoulder and pushed my dowm into my seat. She looked at me and held up the notebook.
"Who is this?" She asked.
"Erm- I'm not sure." I say while reaching for it. She smacks my arm down and I watch as her bright blue eyes trail over every detail of the drawing.
"Did you draw it?" She gives me a confused look.
"Uh, yeah, I did. Can I please have it back now?" I reach for the notebook. She grabs my wrist and looks at me.
"Not until you tell me who it is." She smirked.
     "Ugh okay fine! I'll tell you," I yell, ripping my arm from her grasp. "It's a guy named Jack. I don't really know him, well I actually don't know him at all. I saw him this morning and... I don't know. I've never seen him before, but I think he's a year younger because he was with Molly and Felix." I fold my arms on the table and hide my head in them.

     She puts her hand on my shoulder.
"You should go talk to him." She says softly, taking a seat next to me. I shoot my head up and look her straight in the eye.
"What?! No way! I barely know the guy." I rest my chin in my hands.
"Uh, thats how you get to know him. You don't just look at someone and suddenly know everything about them." She says in a "duh" tone.
"Fine. If it makes you happy." I say in a stern tone.

I turn in my seat and scan the cafeteria, looking for one face in particular among all of the others. I finally spot who I'm looking for, just a few tables down. I stand up and walk over. When I reach his table, I start to freak out. What do I do? What do I say? He doesn't even know I exist! What am I doing just standing here waiting?! Ugh!!! I break out of my thoughts and take a few more steps forward. I stand there waiting for-- him to notice, I guess? The girl Sarah sees me first. She looks at me as if to say What are you doing here? but then she remembers me from earlier. She makes an "o" shape with her mouth and taps Jack on the shoulder. He looks at her, and she points at me. He looks over to me and his eyes grow wide as they scan me up and down. I could only muster one word.

"Hi..."

~*~*~*~*~*~*
WELL THERE YOU GO!!! Next chapter will be super cringey, just saying. WARNING YOU!!!!!! *le sigh* I love writing this book!!! Comment who's perspective you would want to see the next chapter in? Jack's? Sarah's? I'm thinking it will bounce around between Sarah and Jack ;3

But anyways, Thank you everyone so much for reading, and as always, I will see YOU in the next chapter!
BUH-BYE!!!! ❤️❤️❤️
(Mark's Outro)