To Catch a Sunset

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

It was beginning to get dark outside, Ally had been at Marcus's house way too long. She still had things to finish up at home. She was pleased how well the drapes looked. She had been so taken back by him, how kind and easy going he was being. She couldn't help but stare at him. She enjoyed observing him, she found him very interesting. The way his light brown hair, complimented his bold blue eyes. She had never seen a color blue like that before. It was almost electric. Suddenly he makes eye contact with her, she quickly looks away.

"What is it?" He asks, her cheeks reddened.

"Oh I'm sorry, I was in another world." She fumbles out, he softly laughed, he was secretly flattered. She excuses herself for a bathroom break. She notices that the bathroom isn't in working condition, paint cans and broken tiles litter the floor.

"Oh wait, that one is not working, use mine." He says in a rush. She walks in his room, instantly noticing the row of pictures sitting on a tall dresser. She is drawn in by one of Marcus and an older couple. He is wearing a cap and gown smiling big while hugging them. Obviously a graduation, she can't help notice how happy he looks. "My parents, high school graduation." He says.

"Very sweet, do you see them often?" She asks.

"No they live on the east coast, I'm on the west coast, but I talk to them all the time." He replies. She smiles sweetly at him, he can't help but notice how genuinely sweet she is. Not to mention, gorgeous. He points to the bathroom, and she closes the door. She looks in the mirror and shakes her head.

"Get it together!" She whispers to herself. As she's leaving the bathroom she notices another picture with a much younger Marcus and a beautiful girl, she appears to be the same age as him. However this picture isn't in a frame, it's just lying on his night stand. She's about to pick it up to get a better look when Marcus walks back in. He gives her a cold look, not sure why, she smiles at him to soften the moment. "Your sister?" She asks.

"No!" he snapped, "What are you doing?" He demands, this feels familiar to her, she has seen this guy before.

"Hey, I was just looking at your pictures, sorry if that upsets you!" She fires back. She walks briskly out of his room and collects her things. Chastising himself, he follows after her.

"Hey, look sorry, I'm just a very private person, I shouldn't have snapped." He says sweetly as he walks closer towards her. She is busy trying to find her house keys, she's not making eye contact. She continues to search for her keys, she spots them on the coffee table. She grabs them and starts toward the door. He wants to grab her and make her stay, he wants to tell her he hasn't been this comfortable around someone in a long time. Instead he watches her as she storms out. As she opens the door she pauses, turns around and says.

"You know I'm not sure who you are, the great guy I've been hanging out with all day, or the jackass, who can't help but be nasty to someone who wasted her day helping him!" She notices that sad look in his eyes again. She won't let herself feel bad for him, not after she spent most of her day helping him. She pushes the door open and begins to walk out.

"Hey, I am sorry, and I do appreciate your help!" He says humbly.

"Yeah, well you have a terrible way of showing it! Now if you'll excuse me I have things to do at MY house that I have neglected all day!" She says coldly. She makes her way across the street, she can't help but wonder why this bothered her so much. Why she was letting it get to her? She walked in her house and immediately began working. She needed to focus on anything but him. She had a small hole she had to repair in the bathroom. She found herself sanding and focusing on the repair, losing all track of time. About an hour and a half had gone by and she was still in there working, she was almost done when the doorbell rang. When she reached the door she found Marcus on the other side smiling holding a bag of food from the place she mentioned to him earlier today. It was her favorite. She had to fight back her smile. She couldn't let him off that easy.

"I got your favorite chicken salad on croissant, toasted with tomatoes just like you like it." He said in a sweet manner. She gave a big sigh. Boy he was good she thought to herself.

"Come on in." He made his way to her kitchen, noticing how much their homes were alike design wise. They were set up pretty much the same layout was the same just switched up a little bit. However her style was much more vibrant and happier than his. She walks toward the hall and shouts out, "I'll be right out, gotta wash up, make yourself at home. I promise not to yell if you look around!" He laughs

"Yeah but I can't promise that I won't yell." He joked.

She finds herself eating dinner with the strangely nice, sometimes moody neighbor. They sit at her bar next to each other, silently enjoying their food. He nudges her and says "not bad" as he points to his sandwich. She nods.

"Yeah they have the best food there." She says between bites.

"So, I just want you to know that I'm a jerk, I'm not used to people being in my house and I was out of line." He says as he picks at his food.

"You know, you have apologized to me more in 2 days than most people I've known for years!" She says laughing, he nods and laughs.

"Yeah, well I'm kinda not social, well not these days, but I want to be your friend, I don't have many here and you're pretty cool." He says softly, making sure he looks her directly in the eye.

"Well I'm not sure about you, but I'm thinking you're a nice guy somewhere in there. Just stop snapping at me." She says as she gently brushes his arm.

"Ok got it, so friends?" He asks,

"Friends!" She replies with a nod. Somehow being his friend makes her warm all over. She sighs and continues to enjoy his company.