1001 Love Stories Darker

marked (47)

A/U: when you have an unrequited love it leaves a tally mark on your arm. They stay until someone loves you back.

If that person grows to hate you the line gets another crossed through it.

Say a person has four and gets their fifth. Id that person falls for them all five disappear.

Matt's POV

Wise man say. Only fools rush in.

Im a fool.

Sixty four. That's how many times I've been marked.

"Holly shit! Six?! Max what the fuck!" Some guy jokes with his embarrassed friend.

"What can I say. Im a hopeless romantic." He says and I only lower my head pulling down my sleeve.

"Matt." Noah says a small smile crossing his face causing me to look away.

Noah was mark number four.

He has only one. Its reasonable. He doesn't have to hide.

They show up like self harm scars and people stare just as much.

He hands me a coffee and with a smile shows me his now bare arm.

"It changed last night. I think I was her mark for a long time. I didn't think of her like that but when she kissed me. Both our marks disappeared and there was no denying it. I loved her." He says and I smile.

"Im happy for you." I lie.

There's a stigma for those with more then ten marks. They're clingy. Get attached too easily. Their the type to say I love you on a first date.

True weirdos.

I don't think I'll find anyone who's willing to get close enough.

Its common on first dates or even in passing to ask about others arms.

*

I sigh splashing water on my face in the bathroom.

I only sigh before I see a familiar face.

"Matt?" He questions and I instantly pull down my shirt sleeves.

"Wow." He says and I glare.

He hadn't seen the worst of it.

"What do you want Grant!" I bark and he only smiles softly.

Grant was smart funny handsome. A stupid over achiever. That even I couldnt fall for.

He's one of the few people with no marks at his age.

He was a player who only loved himself.

"I don't think I've seen someone with more then twelve before. That's gotta be over twenty right." He jokes and I only grab him pushing him against the wall and suddenly he seems shocked at me.

"Drop dead will you!" I say before leaving.

Grant's POV

The moment he leaves the bathroom I look down at my wrist and the sight of the burning.

One deep line.

I only look back at the door.

Matt.

*

"No way seriously you got marked? Who was it?" Jonathan asks and I roll my eyes.

"No one important." I say and he gives me a deadpan look.

"Yeah need me to explain what that line means. It means you loves her. Amd its your first line. Your literal first love." He says and I roll my eyes.