Baby Steps (Mark McMorris FanFic)

Chapter 21

You guys are going to hate me so much after this one ;)

“This is so much fun!” I yelled, directly into Craig's ear. We were still up on a coffee table, swaying our hips in time to Problem by Ariana Grande. By now, my face was flushed and I could feel beads of sweat forming on my forehead. I saw Mark emerge from in the crowd, finally back downstairs. Without consulting Craig, I jumped off the table and walked to Mark. “Hey stranger” I called loudly.

Mark laughed in disbelief. “Who are you and what have you done with Liz?” He asked jokingly.

I scoffed and replied “This is Liz having fun, and this is Mark dancing!” I grabbed his hand and led him back into the group of dancers, giving him no choice but to join in. With a goofy grin, Mark began bopping to the music, still holding onto my hand. Even in the huge crowd of people, I couldn't help but feel a jolt of electricity go down my spine. I mean, I was dancing with the Mark McMorris. It was crazy.

5 songs later, we decided to step outside to cool off. It was late and very cold, so we were the only ones brave enough to venture onto the deck. We sat on a porch swing and started swinging back and forth in a mutual, but not awkward silence. Mark noticed me shiver, and without saying a word removed his sweater and handed it to me.

I smiled in surprise. “Thanks, you don't have to give me this though.” I told him, flattered by the gesture. I thought that was something boys only did in movies.

He shrugged “I'm warm enough anyway, I'm not used to dancing up a sweat.” He told me with a wink that made my heart melt a little bit.

After another few moments of silence, I spoke up. “So are you having a good time?” I asked, trying to make conversation. At my question, Mark's face lit up like a Christmas tree.

“I actually am having a blast.” He started, clearly excited. “In fact, Matt introduced me to this girl, Coco Ho? You may have heard of her, she's a professional surfer, from Hawaii! Anyway, he introduced us and man, she is smokin' hot! And later, when I was talking to Matt, he said Coco has a bit of a crush on me. I mean, how sick is that!? I'm planning on getting her number and asking her out tomorrow! Isn't that awesome?” He looked at me expectantly, as if awaiting the approval that I just couldn't give him. It felt as though he had personally reached through my chest, ripped my heart out, and stomped on it right in front of me. I should have known that our time together had been just too good to be true. How in the world could I, Liz May, compete with a professional surfer, who was famous and probably had a fit body, perfectly tanned skin, and, most likely, bouncy blonde hair? Before I could paste a smile on my face and fake a positive reaction, the front door of the cabin swung open, and an unfamiliar figure stepped out, making a beeline straight towards Mark.

“Mark, there you are! Matt said he saw you come out here! It's a beautiful night isn't it? I-Oh, hello.” The guest cut off her speech, eventually noticing that Mark was currently engaged in a conversation. I didn't even have to ask our "guest's"  name. The girl standing before me was a knockout-in her twenties with long golden hair, a sun-kissed complexion, and a pair of strong looking, toned legs. I knew that I was meeting Coco Ho.

I awkwardly cleared my throat. “Hi, I'm uh, I'm Liz. I'm...a friend of Mark's.” I couldn't even look her in the eye, because mine were beginning to fill with tears of frustration and sadness.

“Oh, that's so cute! It's nice to meet you Liz, I'm Coco!” That was the first and last time she spoke to me. She proceeded to take a seat on the other side of the swing, plopping herself as close to Mark as she could get without sitting right on his lap. I was hoping that Mark would break the news that he was in the middle of hanging out with me, but it never came. I don't know if I had been that disappointed since my basketball team was cut.

I could only stand to sit and listen to the two most perfect people I had ever seen flirt for so long. Swiftly I got up and made my way into the cabin, still wearing Mark's sweater.  I don't even think he saw me get up.