Two of A Kind *ON HOLD*

Chapter 8: Nicknames

The only sound in the I couldn't help but laugh about the red on his cheeks, "Stop." He groaned. I continued to giggle, "Okay, Okay" I giggled, "I'll stop."

He nodded with appreciation.

I sat back and looked up," Marcus Gilbert Ridinger" he shook his head while I laughed again," has a nice ring to it."

He grinned, "What's yours?"

"Do I have to? I mean it's not that bad but still."

"It can't be as bad as your last name." He teased.

I grunted but told him, "Jeanette."

He smiled, "Ettie"

"What?"

He smiled even bigger, "The 'ette' in Jeanette. Your new nickname."

I shrugged, "That's a new one."

"What nicknames have you been given." He asked.

I hummed," Clari, Cleo, Ladybug, Cookie monster, Angry bird" he snickered," Casserole, Dustin's little sister, Shortie, Strawberry Shortcake." I said counting with my fingers. I looked up from my fingers and he was genuinely laughing.

"How'd you get Cookie monster?" He cackled.

"I don't remember" I admitted.

"And Dustin's little sister?"

"When he broke up with me he started treating me like a bratty kid sister. Pulling on my backpack, messing up my hair stuff like that."

He nodded," He broke up with you?"

I reluctantly nodded, "That was in the past."

He didn't hear me he was pondering on what I said. "Then why does he care?" I heard him mumble.

My eyes grew, "What do you mean? Mark." He couldn't hear me, "Mark. Mark. Marcus!"

He jumped then looked at me, "Oh.. Sorry about that."

"It seems to me this isn't a date... You were on the phone with him in the restroom weren't you?"

His eyebrows rose, "I-I uh..You're pretty smart but you don't understand-"

"So what? Did he ask you to take me out? Is he trying to spy on me?" I angerly stood up grabbing my jacket and cross-shoulder purse.

He stood up cautiously, "Ettie-"

"It's Jeanette I-I mean Clarissa. And no, I'm going home."

I began to walk out, "Let me drive." He called behind me. I noticed the restaurant grew quiet and we were making a scene but it didn't make me shy.

I scoffed, "You thought I was going to walk?" I began to walk again, "I'll be outside." I called behind me.

I went out and waited by the car. I lent on it a bit and at one point I got mad and kicked the tire. It made no damage but that's good because I don't want another bill to pay for.

He came out and had a bag with him, "What's that?" I asked.

"Our leftovers." I couldn't help but say thank you. Not just anybody would've done that.

He nodded, unlocked the car and opened the door for me. I smiled again,"Thank you."

I got in then he shut it and got in his side stating the car.

"I'm sorry." He apologized.

I nodded, "Why did you take me out?"

"I thought you were cute."

"That's not it," I said angrily.

He sighed, "I thought you were cute and Dustin noticed.. he told me to take you out. He gave me a brief backstory saying you were annoying and that you hated him that's why he never made a move. Sooo he said if I took you out I had to make sure I treated you well that's why he told me to call. He wanted to make sure you were having a good time. It was my curiosity that got the best of me."

I shook my head," He said I was annoying?"

"I would use stubborn." He butt.

"Whatever. And that's why he never made a move? I don't like him because he doesn't like me."

He chuckled," Both of you are so oblivious."

"What?"

"Nothing."

"Okay then. Please take me home." He nodded and pulled out of the parking lot.

"Um, you turned the wrong way. We're in a movie theater parking lot..."

He turned off the engine got out the car and made his way to my side to open my door," Come on, the movie starts in twelve minutes." He smiled holding out his hand.

I was confused but took his hand and obeyed. I asked him to take me home didn't I?

...

"Oh my gosh, it was amazing! I LOVE Kevin Hart!!!!!!!"

Mark laughed," It was a great movie wasn't it?"

"Great movie? More like a WONDERFUL movie! Or maybe it seems wonderful because I haven't seen anything but Sleepybye and Dora for two years." I shrugged.

We walked to the car and got in, "So what was your favorite part?" Mark asked.

I hummed," Hm probably the part where they were running and Kevin Hart had to get on Dwayne Johnson's back OOH or the part when they got their character info and Kevin-"

"So all the Kevin Hart scenes?" He laughed.

I laughed, "What can I say? I love to laugh and that guy.. He is funny."

He nodded," Yeah." He had a weird quiet moment. What's wrong?

"Mark?" He hummed, "What's on your mind?"

"...You should give Dustin a chance" He said as he pulled up to my apartment.

I rolled my eyes," Him again?" I tried to open the door but he pushed the Lock button," Hey!"

"I mean it."

I sighed, "Fine under one condition."

"Fine, what is it?" He compromised.

"Make him say sorry." And I pulled the handle and ran out. I ran until I got inside my apartment, I locked the door behind me and sighed in relief.

I knew he'd try and follow me because the last thing that Dustin would do is apologize.

I know that for a fact.