Behind the Mask

C H A P T E R F O U R

Emalyn's POV///
It's been a week since I last saw Marcus, although we text every night I still want to see him in person. It is currently time for me to close up shop. I walk over to a table by the window to pick up the garbage someone left and I see a pair of cute blue eyes looking back into my own. I smile and tilt my head to the right to gesture him to too door. I unlock the door and I'm engulfed into a hug. He smells so good. I nuzzle my head more into his neck and squeeze him tighter-if that is even possible.

"I'm glad your excited to see me too." He laughs.

I giggle and unfortunately let go and grab the plate filled with stale crumbs from an uneaten muffin. Why do people have to waste such good food? I make my way behind the counter and set the plate in the sink after scraping the crumbs off. I grab a rag and start wiping the counter that's separating Marcus and I.

"So what brings you to Starbucks at 9:00 at night?" I ask as I finish wiping down the counter.

He looks down sheepishly," I was wondering if you wanted to go on a date tonight."

He looked up at me with hopeful eyes and stuck out his bottom lip.

"I was going to say yes; you don't have to give the puppy dog face." I giggled.

I swear this is the happiest I've been in years. Whenever I'm around him I just feel so light and full of joy. He jolted me out of my thoughts when he grabbed me and spun me around while chanting "Yes!" and "Finally!"

He sets me down and hold out his arm," Shall we?"

I giggle once more at his goofiness," We shall."

I locked up the shop and he lead me to his car. After a few minutes we arrive at a nice little Italian restaurant a few minutes away from the Walk of Fame. He gets out and quickly runs over to my side and opens the door," Such a gentleman." I love to joke with him about stuff like that. We head in and the server leads us to a table. He pulls out my chair for me and I set down and he walks over to his seat and sits down. I looks at the menu until I see set of perfectly manicured nails on the table. I look up to our waitress and she was really pretty. Well this date just got ruined I bet Marcus would choose her over me any day. I look up to see Marcus looking at me. He wasn't looking at the waitress? The girl blows a bubble and pops it rudely.

"What would you like handsome?" She tried batting her eyelashes but she looked deranged.

I cringed and Marcus laughed while still looking at me," I'll have a Coke, what do you want Em?"

He hasn't looked at this girl once. "Um I'll have the same." The girl rolled her eyes and left.

I looked over at Marcus and I was about to ask him about something when little miss desperate came back with our drinks. "Here ya go!" She said with fake cheerfulness, "Now, what do you want to eat?"

Marcus's eyes were once again on the menu," I'll have the Lasagna with extra cheese."

He finally looked up at her and handed her his menu while grabbing my hand.

"I'll have the shrimp pasta." I say nervously. This girl gives me the creeps.

"Ya sure." She had obviously pulled down her shirt in an effort to arouse Marcus but he didn't notice because his eyes were on me. The girl huffed and stomped away. I looked at our hands then back up at Marcus. "Why are you being so loyal and we aren't even together? You didn't even look at that girl even though she was way prettier than I am and she was trying to impress you- "

"I didn't look at her because I only have eyes for you, second of all I noticed her but it doesn't matter what any other woman tries to do because you're the only one I'm trying to make mine." He had a sincere smile on his face as he said every word. I tried to say something back but all that came out was an embarrassing squeak. My hands shot up to my mouth and I covered my face in embarrassment. "Don't hide your adorable." I blush at his words and our food arrives along with a very Grumpy-I looked on her name Tag-Megan. She sat down our meals and out our ticket down. I know someone who isn't getting a tip. I dig in and it tastes a little funky then again so did my drink so I'm pretty sure she did something to it. I pick around at my food and eat the little pieces of shrimp that didn't taste funky because I was hungry. I look up at Marcus and drop my fork causing a loud clattering noise and a few uncomfortable stares from the table next to us.

"I don't get it." I rest my head in my hands.

Marcus took a sip of his drink the took a bite of his Lasagna," What don't you get?"

I sigh," How someone as attractive as you would want to be with someone like me when a model basically took our order." He laughed. This little mother-freaker laughed. I glared at him and he stopped laughing but a smirk took over his face. "She was trying way too hard to get my attention, sure she was pretty but nothing compared to you. I've seen a lot of girls in my life and you're the one who has been on my mind all the time. You don't even have to try and your still more beautiful than any other girl I've seen. You caught my attention without even trying, even though I know nothing about you, there's something about you that makes me want to keep coming back."

I looked down smiling as a bright red blush spreads across my cheeks," W-we should get going, but I have some movies at my house that me and my friend were going to watch but she canceled. W-would you like to watch them with me?" He brought his hand up to his face and stroked his chin in a joking manner. "Have a movie marathon with the most beautiful girl in the world or stay home alone...I'm gonna go with the first option." I smiled at his joking behavior and at the compliment. I stood up from my chair and held out my hand," Shall we?" He stood up also and grabbed the check," We shall."

This has been the best date ever.

Author's Note///
So whatcha think?
-Jess <3