Family

Breakfast

A week later, Marco woke up to two texts from Jean. They had talked some the days before, but these were different.

-Jean: Hey you should come over

-Jean: Emily's been asking nonstop when she can see you again :P

So Emily had been asking for him. That's sweet. Marco had always loved kids, and it was nice that a kid liked him, too.

-Marco: where do u live??

-Marco: i can be there in 30 min

In their previous conversations, Marco learned that Jean lived in a house on his own with Emily. It wasn't long before Jean replied.

-Jean: 46773 Stallion Dr but it's a ways out

-Jean: Might take longer than 30 minutes

-Jean: Now promise you won't sneak into my house in the middle of the night

Marco giggled.

-Marco: haha :P if it makes u feel better i promise:3

-Jean: Good :P But get a move on!!

-Jean: If you leave right now I'll make pancakes ;)

-Marco: jean kirstein are u trying to seduce me??

-Jean: ;)

-Marco: ahaha leaving now x3

Marco grabbed his car keys and ran out the door. Stallion Drive was a ways out, that's true, and Marco had one stop to make on the way. He drove for about fifteen minutes, then pulled into a parking lot with a grocery store at the front of it. He parked and ran in, running for the breakfast meat aisle. He grabbed a pack of thick cut bacon and ran to the checkout, pulling his cash out on the way. He wanted to make this as quick as possible, because he really wanted pancakes and bacon. And to see Jean again. But food came first, always. He rushed through checkout and ran back to his car, slamming the door shut as he started the engine. Pulling out of the parking lot, he called Jean.

"Hello?" Jean said, his voice morphed by the bad signal.

"Sorry, the signal's kind of bad where I am, and I was going to text you but I'm driving," he said, turning on his left blinker.

"Yeah, I don't want a dead Marco," Jean said.

"Neither do I," Marco chuckled, pausing at a stop sign. "Anyway, I was just calling to say I have a surprise for you two, and I'llbethereintenminutesbye."

"Wait what-" Marco heard Jean say before he hung up, and he grinned. He loving messing with people just enough to get a good laugh out of it. There was a line, and Marco knew where it was and he never crossed it. Some pranks do more harm than good, and Marco never liked those.

He pulled onto Stallion Drive and started looking for number 46773. He probably would have missed it, were Jean and Emily not sitting on the grass in their front yard. Marco parked his car by the curb and got out, holding the bacon behind his back so they wouldn't see it. As soon as he reached the grass, Emily ran up to the freckled teen and hugged him. Marco, though surprised at first because, well, he only met her two days ago, tossed the bacon to Jean and hugged the young girl back, not missing a beat. After pulling away from Emily, Marco looked up at Jean. He was just staring at the bacon, his eyes wide.

"Is that fine?" Marco said, a little worried now. "I wanted to make it a surprise so I didn't ask, but if you don't want it...."

"No, it's fine, we love bacon," Jean assured. "I just haven't had it since before...." Jean turned back to the house, and Emily ran ahead of him. "No, it's nothing. Thank you, though." Marco, though, being intuitive as he was, sensed something was wrong and placed a hand on Jean's shoulder to stop him.