Perfect Strangers |Complete|

Chapter Tweleve

What will happen today? Only one way to find out. Read and comment your thoughts!
"Lyla, they're here!" I smile, walking past the kitchen table, the aroma of my mother's lasagna filling my nose as I head to the door.
I open the door, smiling as Marcus and Annie lock eyes with me.
Marcus smiles. "Hi."
I open the door behind me, letting them in. "Ready to lose?"
He laughs, smiling at my mother. He holds out a bouquet of flowers. "These are for you."
Her eyes light up and I grin at Marcus. "You didn't have to."
He shrugs. "I wanted to."
Annie laughs. "He can be a gentleman."
Affection for him flows through me as my mother bites back a smile. "Be nice girls. Thank you Marcus."
He nods and we all head towards the kitchen. Marcus and Annie scan the table, their eyes widening.
Mom made her lasagna and bought a fresh loaf of bread to compliment the salad she cut from our garden. Marcus meets my eyes as she sits down. "Dig in."
Annie sits down and I smile as Marcus pulls my chair out for me. "Thanks."
He nods, sitting next to me.  Annie turns to my mother, grinning. "I was told to expect some embarrassing stories about Lyla."
My mother grins and Marcus leans forward. "This should be good."
I sigh. "That's not necessary."
Marcus and Annie nod. "I disagree. It is most definitely necessary."
My mother locks eyes with me. "Majority rules."
My guests laugh, and I sigh. "Fine."
Annie smiles. "What was something Lyla did as a toddler?"
My mother smirks and I take a sip of water. This could get bad...

Marcus glances at me, his eyes wide in disbelief. "You're telling me that Lyla would have to be held down to get clothes on her as four year old?"
My mother nods, as my cheeks go even darker red. "That's right. It's a miracle we got her to preschool on time."
Annie laughs. "Do you happen to have pictures of that?"
I shake my head, reaching towards the photo book that's been pulled out and is sitting on the coffee table right next to the couch. "We've seen enough."
I close the book as Annie bites back a laugh. "But I want to see more blackmail material."
Marcus laughs. "Lyla in pink is great blackmail..."
I glance at my mom and she laughs. "I love your friends."
"Thanks for the support."
She nods. "Anytime. Now should we play blackjack?"
I grin and go to get the cards. I pause as I come back, my mother's voice reaching my ears. "I'm really glad she has you too. I don't want to think about how she would be without such supportive friends."
Marcus' voice follows. "It's the least I can do. She's been there for me just as much. And she's just an amazing person."
Annie's chimes in. "She really is. I admire her for being so strong."
I blush as my mother speaks again. "She's stronger than I could hope for."
I take a step towards the couch and set the cards down onto the table. "Ready?"
Marcus and Annie quickly nod and I deal out the cards.
My mother smiles. "I'll be the banker."
I nod and Annie smiles. "Watch me beat you guys again."
I laugh. "You wish."
Marcus turns to me. "Are you good at this?"
I shrug "That's for me to know and you find out."
He smiles. "That's fair."
My mother smiles. "Marcus, hit or stand?"
He pauses. "Hit."
I glance at his cards. "Hitting with 15?"
Annie smiles. "What could go wrong..."
My mother deals with him another card and I laugh.
He sighs." It had to be a king."
I laugh. "I told you."
My mother grins. "Annie, you next."
She smiles. "I'll stand."
"Smart girl."
Marcus shakes his head. "Why do I always get made fun of?"
I laugh. "Because you make it easy."
"That's true."
My mother grins. "Lyla, hit or stand?"
I smile. "Hit."
She smiles and hands me a Jack. I grin, looking at the eight and three I already had. "I win."
Marcus sighs. "Poker?"
Annie laughs. "You're really aiming to lose aren't you?"
My mother laughs. "Let me get the poker chips."
Annie and Marcus turn to me. "Do you play any games that aren't played at a casino?"
I pause. " Uhhh how about monopoly?"
Annie smirks. "That's my specialty."
Marcus laughs. "I'm not too bad at that either."
"Too bad as you'll lose but not a huge loss?"
He sighs. "I refuse to answer that."
I laugh just as my mom comes back. "Twenty chips to start."
I nod as Marcus and Annie grab their twenty. "I'm going to win."
Annie grins. "You're on."

One round and three wins later, my mother glances down at her watch. "Let me turn on the news."
Annie hands her the remote as I glance at Marcus. "How's your ego feeling?"
He glares and I laugh.
The opening to the seven o'clock news starts to play and I lean forward.
"Tonight an update on one of the biggest cases in town. Tearing apart an entire high school, this high profile case has been in everyone's mind since it happened.
I lean back and Marcus meets my eyes. I force a smile and he moves closer to me.
The reporter continues. "And in just three months, this case will go to court. And now to talk to our legal analyst."
I glance at Marcus, leaning my head on his shoulder. He stiffens but then relaxes. "We'll figure it out."
Annie meets my mother's eyes. "Here you go." She collects the poker chips, putting them back into the container. "I think we're done."
I smile at her as my mother goes to head towards her office. "Let me call Marcus' mother and let her know about the story."
Annie stands up, heading to the bathroom.
Marcus meets my eyes. "The bullying will get worse."
"Thanks, captain obvious."
He laughs. "But we'll be okay."
I bite my lip. "I don't want to be okay, I want it to be over."
Marcus sighs. "I know, but we only have three months."
"That's a long time."
He smiles. "Three months of me glued to your side will be a lot."
"So you'll leave me alone after the trial?"
He laughs. "So you're using me for my body guarding abilities?"
"Maybe." He sighs and I laugh. "You're also a great friend."
"I'll take it."
"We can figure this out tomorrow."
I nod and he stands up to go drive Annie home. "I'll text u later."
He nods. "It will all work out."

The next day, I glance at Marcus as we drive to school. "Ready for a disaster?"
He nods grimly. "Never been more prepared."
He parks the car and we get out, glancing at the crowd.
Marcus meets my eyes. "Stay close."
I nod and Annie walks over to us. "Let's do it."
Before we even walk into the building,  Jack, Peter, and Toby walk over to us.
I freeze. "What do you want?"
Peter and Toby glance at Jack and he steps forward, forcing Marcus, Annie, and I back towards the corner of the wall. "To keep your mouths shut for starters."
Annie steps out from behind me, whispeing in my ear."I'm going to get a teacher."
I nod and Marcus smiles. "Keeping my mouth shut is quite boring."
"It truly is."
Jack's arm shoots out, pushing me back into the wall and Marcus's smile fades. "We don't need to get violent..."
Peter smiles. "Too bad you didn't keep your mouth shut."
He takes a step towards me, punching me in the stomach and I bend over in pain.
Marcus moves towards me and Toby shoves him up against the wall, punching him square in the nose.
He holds him there just as I straighten up, looking Jack in the eyes.  "I would recommend you leave us alone."
He smirks. "You're not in the place to be making such demands."
I try to get off the wall and he shoves me right back to where I was. "We have teachers coming."
He looks around. "Such a shame I don't see any and we all know they won't do anything."
Marcus meets me as Jack punches me in the face. 
I bite my lip as a teacher pulls him off of me and I walks towards Marcus as a the principal pulls Toby off of him. She meets my eyes. "Go home."
I nod and Marcus meets my eyes. "You okay?"
"I won't bruise. You on the other hand.."
He shrugs. "Nothing we can't handle."
I smile. "We heading to your place?" He nods and we get in the car, driving in silence to his house. "Try not to freak your mom out."
"You couldn't ask me anything easier?"
"Nope."
We get our and I open the door, stopping in my tracks as Marcus' mother meets my eyes. "I'll call your mom, Lyla."
I nod and walk to the bathroom, dragging Marcus behind me. "Sit."
He sits on the edge of the bathtub and I turn to him. "Where's the paper towels and antibiotic ointment?"
He points behind me."In the medicine cabinet."
I turn and open the cabinet behind me opening the cabinet and pulling out the paper towel. I put it under the water and add some soap, then walk over to Marcus. I start to wipe the blood off of him and he forces a smile. "You could be a nurse by the time this is over."
I laugh, wiping the last of the blood off of his face. "Let's hope not. For now, let'a get some ice on that nose. "
"And your face."
We walk back into the kitchen to meet my
mother's worried eyes as she talks to Marcus's mom."
She smiles grimly. "We're getting you two bodyguards."
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