Epals

Chapter 22

Ace POV

Three days later, Marco and I are walking to my pace after stopping by the Café we met the first time at. It's a rather nice day out, so we opted to just walk. Since heading back home, I counted that our hands have brushed each other 4 times. There's one block left to go when we brush hands again, only this time Marco intertwines his fingers between my own and gives a gentle squeeze. Blushing, I squeeze back and neither of us let go until reaching the house.

"What would you like to drink?" I ask, unlocking the door and walk inside. Marco follows as we go to the front room.

"Water is just fine." I nod, and head to the kitchen as he sits down on the tan couch. Returning a moment later with a water and can of soda, I turn to brows the DVD collection.

"We should watch a movie. Any ideas?"

"Hmm... Do you have Thor Ragnarok?"

"Of course, I do!" I chuckled, grabbing the movie and slipping it into the DVD player, "I will go make some popcorn." I stand up from my kneeling position, and Marco simply nods. He goes to say something, but his phone starts to ring.

"Sorry, I should probably get that." He digs the phone from his pocket, brow furrowing as he looks at the collar ID. I give him a concerned look, before heading the kitchen to give him some privacy to talk. The conversation isn't very long; when I enter the room again with a bowl of freshly popped food, the image of Marco on the couch bent over with his elbows on his knees, and hands covering his face isn't what I expected.

"Marco? What happened?" I sit down next to him, bowl on the table, and reach out to put a hand on his shoulder only to find it shaking slightly. Marco slowly turns his face to look at me, his eyes shining with tears threatening to fall.

"He's gone. My dad is gone."