Girlfriend On Mars

35. "They saw us"

Thirty Five.

"They saw us."

Mya Gash threw her head back dramatically and proceeded to groan about the cancellation of soccer practices due to it being the final section of the year for the fourth time. Marley had been counting. Leanne Kingsley and Marielle Tibbet were just as annoyed, insisting that soccer was their 'life'. Marley had actually thought of soccer as more as time waster, something that could give her leverage, a few more steps towards the best end of year scholarship because she knew the club alone wouldn't get her there. She'd began to consider law school as her future option.

"I can't believe this. I mean, they should've just kept it running—I can study and play!" Mya huffed, walking with her arm slung around Marley's shoulders—to the blonde's discomfort. She was more aware of how sore her shoulders actually felt, how her long-sleeve shirt was probably sticking into the wound.

"I'm really gonna miss playing." Leanne lamented, fixing her ponytail in the frosted reflection of a classroom window. "You know after graduation we should set up a team outside of school. Wouldn't that be cool?"

The girls collectively agreed, gasping and chattering together in excitement. Marley laughed and agreed along with them, knowing that she wouldn't even have to bother with the idea as she would be applying for a law school in Seattle, far from Delray. It was a leap in the direction of a better life—that's what Marley believed.

"Marley, babe, you can stay our captain, of course." Mya grinned, hugging into Marley so that their cheeks were squashed together.

"Wouldn't any of you want to try?" Marley offered modestly.

Marielle pinched the end of Marley's nose, laughing. "How cute! Maybe I will!"

"Marley's such a cutie," Mya gushed as if she were a pet, leaning herself against the shyer blonde. "Don't you leave us all after school ends now."

"I won't." Marley lied quietly.

They all slowed to a stop outside Marielle's locker as she took her bag from it, filing her books back inside.  Marley decided to stand apart from Mya, subtly adjusting her top against her shoulders, which stung harshly. A few of the freshmen that were related to Leanne hurried over loudly then and Marley tried to step out of the circle a little further. She observed them all; Mya, Marielle, Leanne, the screaming freshman—and began to wonder whether she'd miss any of them. Mya was her top candidate. Though bossy and frankly quite untrustworthy, Mya had always been the kindest to Marley, telling her constantly that she loved her and that they were best friends. But whether that closeness would remain after school ended for the seniors was what Marley had to contemplate.

But just as she was thinking of these friendships, she was reminded of the only one that truly mattered—the only one that would most likely keep her up at night months after school finished. Jen swanned past the group, smirking down at Mya, who was scowling intensely. Marley couldn't see with her back facing the open hallway, and due to this disadvantage, she was a little too surprised when she felt Jen's hand smooth across her lower back, just over the waistband of her skirt. She squeaked and straightened up her spine, turning over her shoulder to watch Jen walk off, entirely unbothered.

With her heart drumming at a million miles per hour, Marley turned back to face her friends, who were frowning deeply in her direction. Even the younger girls were.

"Is she still bothering you?" Mya asked, glancing down the hallway again and then back at a blushing Marley. "Because I swear—"

"She isn't! I just jumped because I didn't realise how close I was to the people walking." Marley rushed. "We haven't spoken in months. Not since I kicked her out of the club!"