Princess & the Player

twenty: interlude by the ocean

a/n: steamy finish to this chapter. 

Marco's POV:

Linnea was engaged. 

I walked in the door and my parents were in an uproar. My sister was Skyping on the big screen in the living room with her boyfriend next to her. My parents could sign though not comfortably - they always had to pause to translate in their heads. But they could understand the ring on my sister's finger flashing and the world had gone berserk. 

My mom dragged me by the arm in front of the camera before I could even drop my duffel. Like when we were kids, it was up to me to be the translator of the serious things. 

Hey, ugly!

Hey, stupid-face! I signed back. Mom and Dad are freaked out. Tell me you won that ring maybe bowling? 

Ha, ha. She stuck out her tongue. 

She told me yes. She can't take it back. Her boyfriend, uh, fiance, Brian interrupted. He and Linnea had been dating since sophomore year so it wasn't a great shock that he'd proposed just as they were graduating. 

Tell me, I ordered. I drove so many miles today already. I need sleep. 

I got the whole story about a proposal with cherry blossoms and teaching jobs for fall and a wedding at Christmas. I spent 20 minutes translating crap like engagement party plans and dates and colors and who and what between everyone and then threw my hands in the air to congratulate them before stomping off. 

I just got out of the bathroom when my phone flashed. Skype. Linnea. I pulled on a pair of boxes and tapped the icon. 

Ew. Put clothes on!

I'm going to sleep, I reminded her. What's up?

Thank me. My news distract mom and dad.

From what?

Your hickey, she laughed, pointing at my neck. You finally got girlfriend?

I exhaled. The sign my sister used was specific - it meant a serious relationship person. 

She saw my hesitation. Girlfriend? She used the sign for a casual dating person. Kind of a high school sign. Sweetheart? F*ck-buddy? Boyfriend? Hey, maybe you have news for mom and dad, also?  She laughed. Couple?

Couple-start, I finally agreed. 

Name?

M-a-g-g-i-e H-e-l-g-e-n. Means saint.

Like us?

Yeah.

Cool. Go to same school as you?

No. She's only 18. Know her brother at school.

Huh. She won't become younger after this. More important, is she good to you?

Yes. She's amazing. 

Pretty?

Of course. I'll send you picture. 

Yay. Happy for you. Want you not lonely. 

Hey! I have many many girls. Fan club. 

Liar. 

You don't know. But this is recent start. Being careful.

Become happy. Like me.