┊┊┊┊ ➶ ❁۪ 。˚ ✧

┊┊┊┊ ➶ ❁۪ 。˚ ✧

Pins her against the wall, tells her she's beautiful. She says she's going home, that's when he said: "Smoke whatever you've got left, it's getting late and we don't have much to lose." Well she said: "English girls they just like sex" I couldn't believe when he said, "I got news for you, American boys do too." — The Maine, "English Girls" (2015)

—

When Mark Lee got back to the U.K. after his wonderful summer in Hawai'i he felt like a changed man. At least on the inside he did. He had watched someone break another persons heart in the worst way possible and it made something with him.

He promised himself that he would never hurt a person like this.

So when he came back and the new term started, he poured all of his energy into his studies. He got the acceptance letter from the Concordia University of Chicago in mid September and immediately went to his professor to speak about it.

His professor was sad that his smartest student was leaving for a "University that does not even have the same standards as Oxford". Mark only rolled his eyes and told his professor he would stop studying at Oxford after his bachelor degree.

His parents were more than ready to support him in everything. When Mark told them he wanted to do his MAT in Chicago they sensed that it had something to do with Meredith and the Seo family, but they never asked Mark about it.

Mark promised to travel to Toronto first so they could plan him living in Chicago.

"We can't ask the Seo's to house you for two years, Mark" his mother had told him in a Skype session. "We need to either find a dorm for you or rent a flat close to the university." Mark nodded and rubbed his temples.

"I think I already missed the application time for the school dormitories, Mum" he confessed and Mrs. Lee sighed. "Oh, son, what are we going to do with you?" She shook her head and Mark scratched his nape nervously.

"We better look around for a flat or an apartment close to the university. I mean you have a license but an apartment and a car? Mark, we can't pay so much things."

"Mum! I never asked any of you to pay anything for me, okay? I'm glad both of you want to help me with this, but please don't go bankrupt because of me. I can still ask the Seo's to help me."

Marks mother stayed quiet for a while but shook her head. "The Seo's are our friends. We won't disturb them because of things like this. Your father and I will find a solution, okay? You concentrate on your studies until you have that bachelor in your hands, okay love?"

Mark nodded. He knew he could count on his parents, plus they still had four more months until Mark had to move to the US. He couldn't wait for 2023 to happen. He was glad for all the experiences he collected in the UK, but he was more than ready to be closer to Meredith.

He missed her daily. Especially after seeing her break down like this in August. Whenever he missed her, he scrolled on his phone to see the pictures of her on the beach in Hawai'i or the secret pictures he took of her and the Manta Rays. He was glad for the waterproof case of his GoPro.

Today was another day where he missed Meredith a lot.

He glanced at his phone. It was currently lunchtime, which meant that it was 9 p.m where Meredith was living. She was probably already in her dorm, studying for her last few exams. He was a bit jealous that Meredith would finish her bachelors at the end of November, a month prior to him.

She would fly home to Chicago in the beginning of December. She had told him all about it, when they had FaceTimed a few days ago. Meredith had told him, with that blinding smile on her lips, that she already finished the paperworks for the jobs she wanted to apply for.

She seemed happy to start working.

And to Mark it seemed that Meredith was getting over Seokjin pretty good. He was happy that she was healing from this ridiculous break-up.

Mark stopped daydreaming, when his professor called him, after the lecture ended. He quickly packed his backpack and walked over to him. "You called me, Mr Brown?", he asked and his literature professor nodded.

"I thought about it for a while, and you probably already enrolled at your new university, but I wanted to give you this. It's a recommendation letter. Add it to the submission and it'll probably help them decide." Mr Brown shook his shoulders and Mark smiled. "Thank you, Professor. This means a lot to me. I did already submitted everything, but I'll add the letter of recommendation."

"You have to answer me one thing though" his professor said, while he watched Mark put the letter in his backpack. "Why a catholic school in Chicago? You could've done your MAT here as well."

A warm smile spread onto Mark's lips and he scratched his nape. His cheeks were turning pink and he looked at his professor once more. "Let's just say that Chicago offers me more than just a quick way to become a teacher."

"Oh, so there is someone in Chicago whom you can't get out of your head?"

"I can't get her out of my head or my mind, Professor."

Mr Brown chuckled and shook his head. "Love surely makes people do crazy stunts. But I'm happy you're following your heart, Mark. You always been a very smart and passionate student." He nodded and Mark thanked him once more before leaving the classroom.

— ❤️‍🩹 —

Hallowe'en 2022.

September and October passed quick, much to Mark's approval. He was counting the days until he would travel from London to Toronto to spend Christmas and New Years with his parents and then on January 2nd he and his parents would fly to Chicago to finish the last touches of Mark's apartment.

Mr and Mrs Lee hadn't managed to help Mark by their own. They weren't happy that they were unable to pay the flat by themselves, but Johnny Seo came to their rescue. When he heard, from Mark, that his parents were struggling to find him a place to stay in Chicago, Johnny offered to rent Mark his studio apartment in downtown Chicago.

"Oh Johnny, we can't let Mark live in your house!", Mrs Lee had complained, but Johnny only shook his head. He promised Mrs Lee that he wasn't really living there, he was currently renting it out as an AirBnB.

"If Mark needs a place to stay, he can become my tenant." Johnny smiled at the Lee family through FaceTime. Mr Lee was the first one to thank Johnny. But Johnny only shook his shoulders. "As long as Mark pays his monthly rent, everything's fine."

And that's how Mark became Johnny's tenant. Johnny's studio apartment came fully furnished. It was a beautiful room with a little loft area, accessible through a ladder. On the loft area was the bed. Under it was a closet and a few book shelfs. Then there was the small kitchen, furnished in black and white and the living room.

It was better than anything Mark had ever seen online and he was glad that it was Johnny's flat. Now Mark only had to bring his own stuff down to Chicago and he would be ready to live in the USA and finish his studies and start working.

Once he would earn more money, he would move out of Johnny's apartment. He didn't want to take it away from him for longer than necessary.

"Yo, Mark! Daydreaming again?"

A young man, dressed as Deadpool, joined Mark at the bar of the pub he was currently visiting. Mark was dressed as Robin Hood. He felt a little silly wearing the shorts and the white tights under it, but he went all out.

"Sorry, I was a bit in thoughts" the Canadian chuckled and looked at his friend. Deadpool's name was Rupert. He was in Mark's courses and had been one of his good friends from day one. They had met at orientation and were inseparable ever since.

Mark liked Rupert. But Rupert would never be one of his best friends and he knew he wouldn't really miss the guy, once he moved to Chicago.

"Want another pint?", Mark asked, nodding at his empty glass of Guiness. "Nah, not really. I just picked some eye candy for us, bruh" Rupert said and nodded at the small dancing area of the pub.

A group of girls, dressed in various costumes with glittery makeup and big hair, were dancing to the music the DJ was playing. "The ginger one is Brianna, she's from the med department" Rupert said, "she's a five course meal and I never had any fling with med school chicks." Rupert gently shoved Marks side and the Canadian lass lifted an eyebrow.

"Go and get her then" he said but Rupert shook his head. "Nah, man. You need to help me. Be my wingman, please. Girls seem to love you!" Mark lifted an eyebrow. "Buy me a pint and I do it" Mark said with a teasing grin. Rupert immediately nodded and turned to the barkeeper. "Two pints please!", he grinned, before turning to look at the girl Brianna once more. "And a Margarita!", he called.

"Tell Brianna this ones from me" Rupert said with a pink hue on his cheeks. Mark rolled his eyes and waited for the Margarita. Equipped with the cocktail he moved through the crowd until he arrived at the girl group at the center of the dance floor.

"Good evening, miladies" Mark greeted the girls and bowed curtly. Some of the girls started giggling. "I bring a cocktail from this fine gentleman over there" Mark said, nodding at his Deadpool friend by the bar. "It's for Lady Brianna", Mark smiled.

Brianna was dressed as Sailor Moon and held a hand in front of her lips. "For me?", she asked with a girlish grin tickling her lips. Mark nodded and handed her the drink. Brianna chuckled and wanted to take a sip, when a pink haired girl stopped her.

"Wait, Bri" she said. The pink haired girl was wearing a care bear costume and got a little slip of paper out of her purse. She fumbled around with the drink and took a look at the paper. "It's clean", Care Bear said and Mark looked over to her.

Brianna was taking a sip from the cocktail, waved her girl group and went to see Rupert by the bar. Mark still looked at the Care Bear, who was fixing her pink Cheer Bear onesie. A smile crept up Mark's lips.

All the other girls in her friend group wore revealing clothes, but she wore a onesie.

"Hey Cheer Bear", Mark spoke out loud and the girl looked up. She cocked an eyebrow. "What?", she asked, slightly defensive. "Was that a test to see if there were roofies in that drink?", he asked and Care Bear tilted her head.

"And what if it was?"

"Just wanted to know. It's kinda cool that you care for your friends like this."

Cheer Bear looked at Mark and pursed her lips. Mark realizes she had glittery eyeliner on her eyes. Her make-up looked well done and her cotton candy hair fell in soft curls onto her shoulders.

"In times like these, girls can't be careful enough. But you seem okay, Robin Hood." Cheer Bear smiled. "Want to dance?", she asked and Mark lifted his eyebrows and pointed with his finger onto his chest. "Me?", he asked and Cheer Bear nodded.

"I don't see another kind Robin Hood nearby" Cheer Bear crossed her arms in front of her chest. Mark clicked his tongue and rolled his eyes. "Smooth" he said and held out his hand for Cheer Bear to grab it.

Cheer Bear waved her friends and let Mark drag her onto her dance floor. They danced together for quite some time. Their bodies sometimes bumping into each other. With each dance, Cheer Bears cheeks turned pinker and her smile got brighter.

After thirty minutes of funny dancing with each other, Cheer Bear dragged Mark to the bar. Rupert and Brianna were making out, next to them. Mark ordered a pint of Guiness and Cheer Bear got herself a Sweet Mimosa.

"Lexi!", Cheer Bear said over the music. "My name's Lexi!", she repeated and took a sip of her drink. "I'm Mark", he introduced himself and shook Lexi's hand. Lexi smiled brightly. "It's kinda rare finding genuine guys like you and Deadpool over there" Lexi said, "but I'm glad Bri and I stumbled into you. I'm on my third year at med school" Lexi said and Mark nodded impressed.

"I'm almost finished with my bachelor in literature!", he grinned. "Whoa! Congrats, Mark!", Lexi grinned and looked at him from her pink bangs. "What are your plans after this?", she asked and Mark told her he wanted to get his masters in teaching.

"Middle schoolers!", Lexi laughed and shook her head. "I was a menace in middle school!", she told him.

It was nice talking with Lexi. She was smart, easy-going and Mark had to admit he kinda felt attracted to her. Even in that ridiculous Care Bear onesie.

So it was no surprise to him, when Lexi asked him, if he wanted to come home with her. He agreed. Maybe he was a little tipsy, maybe it was the adrenaline rushing through his veins, but as soon as he reached Lexi's little flat he pinned her against the wall and kissed her soft neck hidden behind the cotton candy colored curls on her head.

A path of clothing items led from Lexi's entrance to her queen sized bed. Mark's worn out sneakers, Lexi's onesie, the Robin Hood hat, the white undershirt Lexi had worn, Mark's pants and dress shirt, a white lace bra, a white t-shirt, socks, tights, pants and briefs.

The quilt and bedding was off the bed, as Mark and Lexi gave in to their pleasures.

The sun was rising as Mark woke up. Lexi was curled up on his side, her hand resting on his naked chest and her right leg draped over his crotch. Mark smiled down at the pink haired woman and gently lifted her chin with his index finger.

She stirred awake and smiled at him, before leaning up, grabbing his cheeks and pressing another hungry kiss onto her lips. Mark immediately melted and felt himself getting hard once more.

He watched Lexi climb onto his lap and let out a generous moan. She looked at him from above and for a split second Mark imagined seeing Meredith instead of Lexi. His body froze and Lexi seemed to feel it. She stopped moving and looked at Mark.

"Are you alright, Mark?", she asked and Mark ruffled his black hair. "I-I don't think I can do this, Lexi." He looked at her and she smiled knowingly. "I saw your lock screen" she confessed. "Your girlfriend?"

Mark shook his head. "She's my best friend. But it's complicated" he explained and Lexi smiled. She climbed off his lap and drew patterns on his chest with her index finger. "This doesn't have to be something serious" she whispered. Her voice sending shivers down his spine.

"I don't think I need friendship plus in my life right now."

"Then let me at least give you another thank you for last night and a small goodbye gift, Mark", Lexi smiled at him and sat up. Mark watched her crawl to his crotch and immediately understood. A smirk played on his lips.

"You weren't Cheer Bear for nothing, huh?", he asked as Lexi went down and gave him head.

— ❄︎ —

𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠!

𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞.

𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮.

—𝕤𝕟𝕠𝕨𝕗𝕝𝕒𝕜𝕖𝕤𝕠𝕟𝕞𝕪𝕝𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕠𝕡