ʜ ᴏ ʟ ʏ

17.

There was no use in being angry anymore, no use to even muster up enough strength to allow her self to be that troubled by it. It was as she was a woven ribbon intertwined with a single limb. She had her wrapped around her finger. But what was there to do? Beat her senseless and later face the consequences that reckoned? No, that wasn't her anymore, it was what it was. If her past self were to see herself, Marceline Abadeer, being bitched by some mommy's girl and backing down to a fight she would laugh. Her new way of thinking wasn't nothing like her past self, only just a few years back. A girl ready to scrap and use her hands for anything she wanted. Money, love, attention, anything she craved at the moment. That was the norm for her, releasing her vivid thoughts of anger through her fist. She had gone soft, the death of her mother taking most part. "Pussy." She grunted the words in her head. If not now, Marceline would soon give Vivian what she had coming. Something worse than the wrath of her experienced hands. She deserved it. Not only did she trick her into captivity for a month, but Marceline witnessed her engaing in the unthinkable. Lips, firmly pressed against hers. Hand, snaked around her waist. Eyes, giving her the look of triumph. Her lips were planted on Bonnibel's. All of this went down in their room. Marceline wasn't sure why it affected her the way it did but it was better to close the memory away. It was better that than crying, she had done enough of that one. The girl was pouring out her emotions on the bass that suited her hand. She was lucky she remained in the practice room of the band hall, or she would surely get a complaint on the loud music the gutair produced. The strums were loud, loud enough to block out the quiet of the expanse for sure. Her fingers danced across the twine strings, plucking them one by one in an musical song. It was nice. Marceline couldn't say she had enough time to give into the music playing but when she did was a nice way to pass the time. Besides, playing the base was the only thing keeping her from snagging a pack of cigarettes from her teachers purse. She noticed the lack of tabaco rolled sticks a while ago. Maybe she was quitting smoking? Good for her. With a sigh, Marceline whispered a few mellow words as she plucked away at the lines welted to the wood. Just another talent her mother taught her. Her mother was her biggest inspiration at her younger ages. She would spend all day long just singing. Soothing folk songs in the calmest tone was her special ability but she could do plenty more. Old lullabies, melodious tunes from the radio, just anything to keep her entertained. This was years ago, when her father was just starting to get into the business franchise, when her mother was to sick to work and money was scarce, when the family of three resided in a one bedroom trailer, when they were all together. One second, she had her mother, right there in her infrant arms, the next she was dead, buried, and gone. It hurt. It seemed like she had been hurting for sometime now. Bonnibel, Vivian, confinement, her mom, so many things piled on in her chest that brought sorrow, and the happy effect of the base was starting to ease. Maybe the creek would help. Pulling the threaded strap over her shoulder, Marceline discarded her chair and pulled open the sound proof door of the music hall. The room was as empty as a graveyard, a "be right back" note situated on the teachers desk. Not many people came to the band hall on their own time afterschool but Marceline, so she mostly had the hall to practice in by herself, besides the teacher who would peg her on and on about her talent. She never declined his compliments though, she favored the praise. Locking away the treasure bass in the plastic holder and tucking it away in the locker, Marceline made her way outback towards the creek. She wasn't lying when she said she needed a swim and netheir was the weather. The back of the field was bathed in the golden glow of the blazing sun, very few masses of white bestrew above. The sight strongly resembled a vivid pasture within her mind. It was pretty. Even so distracted by the beautiful day, Marceline could still catch the figure from the corner of her eye. She was rested at the center of the barren oak, a book of some sort grabbing her attention. She walked faster. As much as she wanted to speak to her, she had to oblige with the rules that were set. She couldn't get sent back to confinement, she wouldn't even allow herself to get that low again, so she increased her slender slump to a stride. As much as she tried to play it off, she was sure Bonnibel had caught her fleeing frenzy. "Hey!" Bonnibel yelled from over the tree, setting aside the book on the grass. Marceline sprinted faster. "Marceline!" Though Marcy didn't dare turn around to face her, she could feel the girl growing closer and closer to her with a face of spite. She kept walking, and kept it that way all the way up and behind the fence. Bonnibel wasn't giving up, ducking under the cut out metal placed farther away from the school building. And to the creek she almost was, walking in the woods with Bonnibel hot on her trail. Marceline wouldn't expect Bonnibel was as close as she was with the distance she made until a hand was brought to her shoulder. Bonnibel stoped the girl in her tracks and turned Marcy to face her, her back connecting with a tree. "You've got some nerves Marceline! After all the shit I've done to-" Her speech was cut off at the contact. Not any contact to put her in harms way, but a hug. Marceline held Bonnibel in her hold as if her life depended on it, her hands holding her waist securely and her head buried away. All her pent up concealed emotions had been released. Her brain went numb for a second, to fondled to think, but when her functions returned, she returned her favor. She didn't question it, no, she didn't want to take away from the moment. So instead, she pulled her arms up from her side and softly held Marceline. Marceline's heart beat on her ribs like a drum set. She nedded to be held. It had been a while since she had any other contact besides the ones that inflicted pain and Bonnibel was doing a great job subduing her anxiety. Marceline needed this. "Hey..." Bonnibel whispered, her chin pressing down on Marceline's shoulder from the movement. She stroked her hair dimly. Marceline wasn't fully satisfied with pulling away from her hold but she needed to see her. She wasn't even able fully study her since she got out or Vivian would freak. Her eyes held a look of reassurance and her lip tugged into a small smile. Nothing changed drastically but her pink hair, which Marceline missed so greatly. "Wow, so much has changed, yeah?" Marceline breathed out, running a hand through her short black hair and letting out a distressed chuckle. Bonnibel was tempted to peg her to release the answers she wanted but she refrained, she needed time. "Look at you." Bonnibel laughed sadly with gesturing hands, her eye brows lowering but her mouth remaining in a smile. Bonnibel noted to express her liking for her new look. As good as the moment between them felt, Marceline couldn't let her gaurd down and be seen by Vivian. "Creek?" Marceline asked, but didn't wait for an answer, slipping her hand in Bonnie's and walzting their way towards the creek. The duo arrived in a matter of minutes. Marceline sat on the massive rock resting in the ground as Bonnibel neared her. She fumbled with her fingers, a nervouis tactic she had dropped years ago. Guess not. "I know this is gonna be alot to take in but I just need you to hear me out. Please?" Bonnibel shook her head in understandment. Breathing in the outside air and releasing through her mouth, she began to speak. "Vivian got me sent to confinment. She was the one that told her mother." She went blank for the blink of an eye, her mind settling in utter disbelief. The girl who favored her under the right circumstances, the girl who's personality deemed devious as its best trait, a girl oh so manipulative. She should've seen it coming. Never in a million years would Bonnibel see it coming. Marceline shattered at the astonishment plastered on her face. "She got me sent down to the shit hole. They toyed with my head, put their hands on me, hell! They made me sit in the fucking dark for a month." She expressed her anger through her words. Bonnibel couldn't imagine her being treated in such way, anything but that. Of course Bonnibel was beyond angered at Vivian. She got one of her only friends sent away for more time than she liked, and even slept with her (Bonnibel). Yes, she was enraged but the question in the back of her head wouldn't remove itself. It seemed as if curiosity had overcome the filter on her mouth when she spoke the words. "What were you doing with drugs in the first place?" Instanly, the anger was washed off her face. Marceline struggled to collect the words, her mouth a abyss of emptiness. It was now or never that she would break the truth to Bonnibel, so she did. "I was selling them." The words left her mouth in shame. So much shame, her eyes refused to look up at her friend. "Prescription drugs from the school, I sold them. I had earned enough money to.. To." "To what?" She could hear the pain in the tone of her voice. At this point, Bonnibel new the deal. There was no other explanation for the money jar that was confiscated from their room. "To run away, to leave this town." Bonnibel had heard enough. To think of Marceline blowing town and how quickly she would leave her behind at the snap of a finger, like their whole friendship didn't matter left a negative affect within her. Bonnibel didn't know it but she was already on her feet and ready to move. The only reason she was stopped was from the grip on her wrist. "Bonnibel please, wait." She stood facing away from Marceline, the salty driplets concealed behind her hard shell. "I know this whole situation is shit but please, just hear me out. Please." It was the last word that got her, "Please." The deprivation in her voice is what made her stand still on spot. She needed her. With no further words, Bonnibel sat back down on the rock, staring at the murky water of the creek instead. Marceline faced it too. "I-I thought about leaving for some time now." She confirmed. "I've known for the longest that there was nothing here for me besides growing old, getting a job at one of the old places here, and never leaving this place. Just like everyone else who grew up here. I was gonna leave that day, after I sold that last bottle. You were the only thing keeping me here." She paused with a huff of air. "You can leave with me too Bonnie. It'll take some time to earn back that money but when I do I want you to come with me." Bonnibel didn't respond, her heart stiff in her chest. Marceline let her thing in silence. "I'll give you time just.. Think about it, ok?" Marceline didn't elaborate on her words, sparing Bonnibel a few to ponder. Bonnibel kept her attention on the water, slowly washing up the shore and receding back after dampening the sand. It was like that for a bit, just silence and eachothers company to fulfil them. "Vivian, she threatened to get me sent back down to confinement if she finds out we've been communicating in some sort of way. That's why I've been ignoring you." Bonnibel couldn't imagine the things she was going through. Being trapped in a confinement room for more than a month and finally getting out just to not be able to speak to her only friend. She could see why she planned to run away. Vivian was evil. She furrowed her brows and spoke in a hushed tone."We have to get rid of her somehow, keep her away from me n' you." Marceline agreed 100% "I want nothing more than to get her gone." Bonnibel gritted down on her teeth harshly. Marceline had never seen her so angry. "I might know just the guy." She unhooked her legs and planted them on the dirt, the school bell signaling dinner flooding through the open air. "Meet me over here on friday as soon as classes end. And Bonnie?" "Yeah?" " Don't let her know that you know what she's doing.  Just act normal with her." Bonnie could admit, it would be a challenge with all the things she had been informed of, but if it meant taking her down for good it was worth it. "You should get a head start back, you know so-" "mhm." Bonnibel nodded, preparing to exit the rock and looking at Marceline who stared back. She was far different now. Her black locks went about tucked behind her ears and tickling her jaw, the faint healing bruise on her face was hard to ignore, and her icy like eyes pierced her. Bonnibel couldn't help but caress her hand over the rough knuckles with her soothing touch, lifting from the rock and murmuring the words "stay safe." Before her departure.