Different: A Markson Story

Chapter 10: The Blowout

"So how's the training been going?" Bambam asked Jackson. As much as he didn't want to admit it, Mark had been starting to do really well. He almost danced as well as Jackson had been dancing...almost. The older male had definitely improved leaps  and bounds since that day and Jackson was starting to see a newfound determination, focus and seriousness from Mark he never saw. Maybe it's because he didn't know Mark before this, but this "new" Mark kind of left Jackson starstruck. Mark was impressing him and definitely earning his respect, something that was very hard to do. Jackson was so prideful, so egotistical. He didn't know why but with Mark everything felt different. Jackson looked forward to training with Mark and it made him happy. "It's alright I guess," Jackson muttered, downgrading his response, trying to mask his true feelings.

*later*

After practice ended that day Mark and Jackson stayed behind to practice as usual. "Go Mark!" Jackson commanded the Taiwanese male. Even though Mark was older Jackson loved being the one to boss him around and tell him what to do. Mark did as the younger commanded and began dancing to the routine. Though he still didn't talk to Jackson a lot, he definitely noticed a change in the young Chinese male. Jackson complimented him a lot more and wasn't rude to him as much...just reminding Mark every now and then that he was better at dancing than Mark was, but that's about it. He couldn't believe it. Jackson was becoming a bit softer whether he realized it or not. Though he focused on doing well in practice to make Jackson respect him, part of him began to believe Jackson was breaking down his stubborn and rude front and trying to become Mark's friend.

As Mark began to think of this, it affected his dancing. Mark did a spin but his feet got caught up causing to him to trip and fall. Jackson had been smiling watching Mark perform...until the fall. "Mark what the hell was that!?" Jackson suddenly cried out.

"Don't yell at me Jackson!" Mark yelled back.

"If you keep messing up you'll never debut and you're going to bring the whole group down!"

 "I'm trying why can't you see that!" the older attempted to plea.

"Well try harder! This is why the instructor told me to train you! You need as much help as you can get! You're a klutz! And if the instructor sees how bad you are, you know how much that'll affect me!?" Mark looked at Jackson in disbelief. This entire time Jackson was still only worried about himself. He didn't care about helping Mark, he only cared about throwing the fact that he was better in Mark's face...he only cared about himself.

"You're so reckles--" 

"YOU THINK I DON'T KNOW THAT JACKSON!?" Mark's sudden yelling took Jackson by surprise, causing him to jump a bit. 

"My god Jackson! I'm trying so hard to impress you but clearly I'm never going to be perfect enough! You're so worried about yourself and proving you're better than me! You think I don't know that!? I'm trying so hard everyday but you're so selfish! You're only concerned about yourself and how my mistakes will affect you! You don't care about me at all!" Jackson stared at the older, the shock written all over his face. He didn't think Mark would have snapped like this. He was speechless. 

"So it looks like I'll just have to help myself." Mark grabbed his things and ran out of the practice room leaving Jackson alone.

"Mark wai--!" he tried to call out. But it was too late. Mark was already long gone. Jackson suddenly felt a ton of guilt. He didn't want to consider Mark his rival, and he just wanted to continue to show the older that he was better than him...but now, for once, Jackson felt bad for one of his victims. But why? The guilt tore him up as he thought about Mark and how upset he had made the older. His gut became warm with an indescribable feeling just thinking about Mark. Jackson kicked one of the practice room walls in frustration, thinking about what he just did to the older. "I wish I just told him. He was impressing me. He was getting my respect. It was fine that he messed up. He was doing fine," Jackson thought to himself. He was just too prideful to help Mark and encourage him, instead letting his bad boy nature command his actions...and now he was regretting it. This entire blowout could have been avoided had Jackson just spoke up and said how he really felt. It was then that Jackson finally put his pride aside and saw one of his and Mark's major differences. Jackson was an asshole, Mark was not.

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FInally back after a few days with an update lovelies. I had fun writing this chapter, I hope you enjoyed it...even if Markson had a fight. Don't worry things are gonna start turning around soon...just hang on for a few chapters. I promise ;)