As The World Turns

Chapter 12

Marshall stood alone, unsure what to do with himself. Denaun had just texted him that Jodie had arrived and was on her way up. Leaving Marshall to wait until they reached the top of the building he'd chosen for their date.

With a little help from Denaun, Royce and his brother, even Haillie and Alania had turned up to give their approval. In the end, They'd managed to transform a normal apartment buildings roof into what Marshall saw as the perfect romantic spot.

Little flower-shaped lights had been strung up on the edge of where the door stood as well as along the walls that enclosed the whole of the roof. Candles, that Marshall had been lighting when he got Denauns text, sat glowing brightly around a picnic blanket he'd managed to dig out of the back of one of his cupboards; of course, he'd given it a quick wash before bringing it with him. Then there was the small cooler full of food he'd brought it up.

To him, everything appeared to be perfect. The only thing that made him nervous was, what if Jodie didn't like it? What if she took one look at everything and just left? Then a sudden thought of her and Denaun sneaking off somewhere and going on their own date as part of some cruel joke. Glancing down at his match and seeing five minutes had passed since he'd been told of Jodie's arrival, fueled the last thought.

Fortunately, he'd need not worry anymore because just seconds after he'd returned his gaze back to the door, it burst open revealing something he had not been expecting. A giant, fluffy Unicron obscured Denaun as he came through the door.

''I was told not to ask so I ain't, but I hope this ain't some weird Kinky shit man,'' Marshall was smothered by the Unicorn as Denaun threw it straight at him.

''Oh my god no. Just no De,'' Marshall smirked as he heard Jodie's disgusted tone, although slightly muffled via the Unicron in his arms blocking the sound from reaching him.

''Ok, ok. I'll leave you two to it I guess. Night Yall,'' Marshall waited for the door of the roof to shut before he moved the fully Mythical creature away from his face so he could finally get a look at his date.

She'd interpreted the not just how he had hoped she would. She was wearing what appeared to be leggings paired with a loose-fitting camo coloured top, accompanied by zip-up hoodie which was currently unzipped. The on her feet he spotted a pair of black traditional style converse shoes. While his gaze flickered over her face, he took in the minimal make-up she'd put on and the fact she hadn't done anything fancy to her hair. All those things were things he'd wanted; he'd just wanted to see her and so far in her appearance that had been what he got.

''So do you like him,'' Marshall frowned for a second, before then realising she was talking about the toy in his arms.

''Him, you give him a name?'' He questioned raising an eyebrow as he turned the soft toy around so that its face was facing Jodie.

''Yeah, look on the little tag. Here,'' Jodie stepped closer to him aiming for the tag that was clipped to the Unicorns ear. She struggled a little as she was trying to keep the blanket she held under one arm from sliding out and down onto the ground. Eventually, she managed to open the tag and flash the name at him.

''Whoa, you did not call him Ken really as in...'' he didn't even get to finish his sentence before she answered him.

''Yep and please don't do the voice it creeps me out,'' Jodie added on the end. Marshall bit back a laugh as he cheeks adopted a slight tinge and he couldn't help thinking how she was possibly embarrassed by that.

''Noted, if I wanna scare ya then I'll just do the voice,'' he wigged that Unicron at her adding the breathy noises that Keniff would make.

Jodie giggled as the Ken the Unicron came into contact with her face. Marshall made sure to have him smother her for a few seconds before he moved Ken away. He figured it was time she knew what the date was going to entail.

''Um so thanks for you know following all the instructions and I guess you wanna know why?''

''Actually, I get why. you're not one for big romantic dinners or gestures, but to be honest Marshall this is pretty romantic,'' Jodie smiled at him, proceeding to grab him by the arm and pull him over to the picnic blanket that she had spotted when she had first stepped foot on the roof.

''Er pretty romantic I think this is incredibly fucking romantic,'' Jodie's laugh echoed across the roof and it was then Marshall knew he couldn't let her go ever. The woman got him a Unicorn for god's sake, who'd let that go. So as they sat down on the blanket for the first time the interaction that occurred was their goofy smiles as they continued to joke.

+++

''Can I ask you a question?'' Jodie nodded, popping another Strawberry into her mouth before wiping the cream away with her thumb. They'd had a little fun squirting the cream at each other when Marshall had first pulled it out of the cooler. However, now they had filled a small plastic bowl with it snacking on Strawberries and cream throughout the course of the evening.

''It's kind of personal though,'' he pointed out, making Jodie lift her head from where it had been resting on his shoulder. This way she could look at him fully.

''Marshall just ask it, I'm not time type of person who is offended by a personal question if it's rational,'' he nodded before taking a deep breath.

''You're sister um, how... no, I can't,'' Jodie shook her starting to laugh a little, ''What?'' Marshall asked confused by her sudden outburst of giggles.

''You were gonna ask how's is she, my sister, when my dad is like ancient.''

''I mean I wasn't gonna call him ancient, but yeah she's five right and I wondered if you're a mom was like young. You showed me pictures of her earlier and I can't put any of it together,'' Marshall explained stumbling over his words slightly, causing Jodie to allow more giggles to escape her mouth.

''She's not my real sister, we adopted her. My mum loves kids and so when she couldn't have anymore naturally because she got too old, she took a gamble and decided to adopt one just one time,'' Jodie explained, angling her body so she could assume her position of not quite laying on him, but very close, ''I think it's because the first one she ever had was a miscarriage so maybe she feels obligated to take care of one more child,'' she added stifling a yawn as she pulled her fully blanket closer to her.

''That's so...'' Marshall wasn't sure how to finish it. Thankfully Jodie knew what he meant.

''Yeah it is,'' she spoke turning her head so their faces were level, ''tonight was amazing by the way, thank you. But I got one thing that's gonna make it so much better.''

''Yeah what's that?''

''This,'' she whispered before bringing her face even closer to him. Their lips touched creating an electric charge to travel throughout the both of them. Their lips moved in sync slower, both wanting to savour the moment for as long as they could.