Good times passes so quickly.

I couldn't even realize that a week had gone by with this little bittersweet relationship with Marcus.

After realizing that Marcus cared about my homework more than myself, a guilt appeared in my chest that made me focus in class and do my homework on time. This was my new normal and I was enjoying because not just Marcus was happy, my teachers were too. And so were my parents.  They could see the change but didn't say anything yet about it.

After seeing Marcus' care for Donnie, a hope had filled in my heart that he wasn't all that bad I used to think he was. This society was truly misunderstanding him and his family. So, were my parents.

School was better place than never when I could see jealous eyes of young girls of my class when Marcus would wait for me at the parking lot. We had given each other space enough but the moment our eyes would meet in the lot, we could see no one else but each other.

The unusual neighbors who were slowly getting along but on a egoistic plus sweet note.

He would never say that I was improving. I would never say that he was being good for not blackmailing this past week for anything.

We were doing good.

But when everything goes up, something has to go down to keep us balanced. To keep us humbled.

I was sitting on the couch after suffering a tired day at school with Mom and Dad on my each side. My eyes were on the TV that was muted because Dad had to announce something serious. They had never talked to me like this.

I was scared that maybe, they got to know about Marcus and I. When all of a sudden, mom let out a heavy sigh and said, "Your Dad had a fight with our boss."

My heart curled up. God, no!

The last time I had heard this, Dad had lost his job from a great showroom of clothes as an accountant. Now, the current one was a great job. He couldn't leave the restaurant. It was vintage and classy. The salary was good and Mom was happy too.

"He was not happy with your mom and I working at the same restaurant," said my Dad while gulping nervously.

"Why?" I asked shakily.

Mom gave me a blank look and nodded. "One of the guests gave me his number written on a slip with some flirtatious comment. The scene ended right there when I told the boss and he politely declined that rich man. But your father had to make a scene by pointing him out and pushing at his chest. Things turned worse when the rich man called the boss and warned about closing the very restaurant."

I gaped at my Dad in shock who was now not meeting my eyes. "Damn! You have that. I never knew. I just thought, only mom was this gutsy."

My father looked at me in shock and chuckled while my mom rolled her eyes. "We are not joking here. He clearly made our boss angry. Now, he wants one of us gone."

"Could you not request him?" I said worriedly, when I saw mom's face falling.

Dad sighed and shook his head. "I am earning more and I can't lose the job. So, your mom is leaving. The man is tart. He doesn't listen anyone but himself."

I looked at mom in pity as she gulped sadly. "But you loved this job. You had worked hard for it. After months, it was finally something suitable."

"Then, maybe. I should leave. I can apply at this showroom, Eden was suggesting me. They were looking for an accountant," said father while Mom shook her head.

"No, please. It's final. I will leave and apply somewhere else. There are so many bakeries. But like you said, you were earning more. So, it's you who should stay."

I looked back at the TV in utter sadness as I realized that just two weeks ago, our inverter died of battery. We had it pending to buy new one. We were even planning to buy a new car in exchange for this old hag we had outdoors that wouldn't start in deep snow. Tears hung at my lashes when I realized, I had even thought about asking mom money to buy a new top. Since, we had the book fair coming to take out Donnie there.

"I am sorry, guys. My luck is just never with me. And anger is always there."

Dad was lying. He was never angry, always the sweetest man I knew. But I could understand his actions when a rich man must have flirted with my mom. He loved her so much. I could relate so well when the first ever day I had seen Marcus after my leg accident in the school, Tabitha and him had looked at each other like two Hawks.

On top of that, she had big breasts while I didn't.

"It's okay. Things happen. Mom is talented. She will find the next job like very soon," I muttered while staring at the news that were playing. "Weren't you talking about a cafe some months ago that had just opened on the red street? You could just check out there."

Mom gave me a faint smile while hugging me on the side. "What happened to you? Who is turning your careless-self into this mature lady growing on me?"

I smiled to myself, chuckling when Dad said, "I can accept that your leg has healed. But accidents happen. You don't have to be that serious. I like my chill princess with those rough hair. Look at this head drowned in oil."

I slapped his hands away as he poked my oily head. I had been following the path of improving my hair length and quality, the moment I realized what was different between me and Marcus' beautiful classmates.

But it was freaking me out equally, since it was making me feel way too girly.

"I am glad, you are taking care of yourself. Not like other people who don't know where to speak and where not," taunted Mom while glancing at Dad.

I chuckled while shaking my head.

"Oh! That was greatest step ever. I will be free from your possessive gaze around the restaurants and could joke around those young girls. Your mom would never let me talk much to anyone. . ." He laughed when Mom threw a cushion while I smiled to myself, thinking that even in sadness they could laugh.

But I knew, deep inside both of them were worried.

________

Rushing towards the street, I panted hard and surrendered.

"I am sorry. I missed the alarm. I am really sorry," I said, while observing Marcus' dark blue muffler that was making him glow. I wish I could compliment him without any care of my ego.

But this boy would fly in the air if I even say a good word in his praise.

"I have been waiting for twenty five minutes," said Marcus while getting up from the street light's little stone where he was sitting.

I had already reached for the back of his bike, ready to sit on thinking, he would come and ride it. But he was standing there, staring at me.

I gulped, confused by his statue-move.

"I am sorry?" I said while observing his narrowed eyes behind those frame-less specs.

Marcus stepped ahead slowly, making me correct my woolen tight pants and red sweater. He observed my yellow beanie and corrected my strands, putting them behind my ears.

"Your eyes are swollen."

My mouth opened in realization. I nervously chuckled, "Yeah. Homework. I am making a habit of it now."

Marcus watched me intently while muttering, "You don't have to put that much pressure, Loretta. It's just homework. I could have done it."

This week of utter sugarcoated words was making me weak. I couldn't breath at seeing warmth in his icy blue eyes.

"But, your eyes are not just swollen. They are red. And your lamp was not lit after nine. That means, you didn't do any homework after dinner. You were done already," he calculated with his genius while I watched helplessly as he gave me sharp look. "You cried "

He asked through tight lips, "What's wrong?"

My heart thumped faster in shock. How easy it was for him to read me? Was I so obvious?

"It's nothing and I didn't cry. I just couldn't sleep early."

He clicked his tongue while I looked back at the empty street. "Marcus, we are getting late for the school." I pleaded with my eyes silently.

He shook his head, flaring his nostrils. "As my girlfriend, you are supposed to share your problems with me. And I know, something is off. What is it?"

He was so interested in knowing it. He was so alert as he watched my every move. With every blink, my heart was melting and tears behind my eyes were collecting.

"I will miss the school if you won't explain it now. I have the whole day to stare at you until you finally tell me about it."

"You won't understand," I said while turning around, thinking about rebelling and walking towards the school.

Since, when did I turn dependent on a boy for going to the school. I had almost forgotten, I could go myself.

A hand came upon my shoulder and Marcus turned me around. That tall handsome, icy-eyed creature wasn't letting it go. His sky blue sweater suited those cream pants so much. I blinked quietly.

"Why won't I understand?" He whispered. "I am your boyfriend."

"But you are not from middle class. You are rich," I almost yelled while removing his arm off my shoulder.

"What is that got to do with you sharing your problem with me?" He stared at me in confusion and a little anger.

"I am not even from the middle class, you see. The category is subdivided. I belong to a lower middle class family. Do you even understand that?" I asked while staring at him helplessly.

He was quiet and blank. His eyes narrowed and eyebrows squinted. He was concentrating.

"When your inverter gets shut or the battery dies, your home is vulnerable to dark if electricity is cut in for sometime. Your father arranges for the mechanic the same hour or the same day in order to not let his family member suffer the lack of light or electricity to play any gadget. The mechanic comes and correct it. The inverter works like before. The problem is long forgotten. Vanished. Think about worse. The battery just doesn't die. Your inverter fucks up. It's ruined and you need a new one. Your rich father can't survive the vulnerability of that ten minute cut of electricity that goes at night because he has money and power. He orders the new inverter the same day. The next day, it's the same as before. The luxurious home."

A tear leaked my eye when he started looking utterly confused but lost.

Cold air left my mouth as I breathed out. "But in a lower middle class family, the inverter can't get repaired or replaced that soon. It needs suggestions, planning, risk of losing savings that you had collected for a new car you wanted to gift your family or for making a permanent home just like the old Lords of this town."

Another tear leaked from my eye and a whole sob broke out from me.

"So, you need an inverter?" He asked very slowly. "I can ask my father for it. . ."

I looked at him desperately and choked out, "My mom lost her job. It was a little argument between their boss and Dad. He ordered one of them to leave. With both their salaries, we were loose. Now, we will be tight as fuck. And it's hard to see my parents hiding their pain with me while they still want to keep me aware of the mistakes they do. So I could learn. It breaks my heart."

I turned around and wiped my nose while sobbing softly.

"That sucks."

"Mom loved her job," I choked out.

"No. It sucks that you belong to a lower middle class family. I mean, I should have seen your status before befriending you. I wouldn't have to deal with this strange topic early in this chilly morning. This is so awkward," said Marcus, making me immediately look at him. Only to realize that he was mocking in humor.

I looked away and sniffled while he sighed and stood in front, towering me. His gloved hands cupped my cheek as he made me look up in his icy-blue eyes.

"Look, it's God who decides that if he should send Marcus to a rich family and Loretta to a lower middle class," he said, full on mimicking my hoarse tone. "But adjusting with your class and dreaming about the highest one is the true path. You wouldn't ever learn to value money if you had been a  spoiled-brat. My father never gives me much shit or money so I could learn the value of money."

"He has earned it with blood and sweat. He doesn't want me to take it for granted which is why I look broke than I should not." He said, while I wanted to correct him that he looked smart, not broke. "Which is why, I have this old rusty bicycle. Not a motor bike like Ted and his tails."

Realization hit my mind and I stared at him. This was why, Marcus never showed off his money. He was being taught well about it.

"If this problem has come in your parents' lap, this means they can solve it. Your mom will find a new job. But it's you, who shouldn't be breaking at seeing them. You should in fact, promise yourself that you will have such a cool job very soon that they won't have to worry about money anymore."

My lips parted in sudden enlightenment while he patted my cheek.

"And no inverter gets that bad so easily. You guys must be switching it off and on again. If you would just leave it alone, it would charge up and work smoothly," he said and laughed when I slapped at his chest. "And that old rusty car suits you guys. Otherwise, so much shine will raise your bars and I might lose my girlfriend to some better rich jock."

I pushed at his chest as he chuckled and wrapped his arms around me, rubbing my back.

"Stop crying. You look ugly with pouted lips."

I gasped while immediately pulling away from him, gritting my teeth when he chuckled again.

"And you look ugly with every fucking expression on your face," I said, making a complete fool of myself.

It only made him smile cheekily at me.

"Oh really! I guess, you need my glasses," he teased while I looked away, controlling the smile that was erupting on my face. "Come on, we are late for school."

I sat behind him while he corrected his gloves and wrapped muffler around his nose. Before starting paddling, he looked sideways and said, "This is the last time I had to ask you about problems. From next time, it must be you sharing it with me on phone. Drop in a message but no calls."

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah! No calls."

A breaker came that made me groan in utter pain as his seat was not that much comfortable and my ass was bony. I collected my beanie on ears as the chilled air was attacking.

"We are a team, remember. If you forget this, I will vandalize your room with this very quote for your mother to see that 'Loretta has a boyfriend to share her fucking problems with'."

I gasped, punching him right at the back.

"My mother will vandalize your face with her regional slang."

He laughed loudly while I chuckled to myself, thinking how lighter it felt after sharing my thoughts with him.

His words were deeply engraved in my mind and warmth of that cozy hug was not leaving me any soon.

It scared me to realize that I needed more of those hugs and that warmth to continue entrapping me forever.

________

"What do you think?"

Please vote and comment.

___

I am so excited to continue this book further. I had just outlined and revised the plot. I realized how great it can turn out if I just give much attention to each chapter. But the lack of time is not letting me do it. Though, I am trying my best.

This will be a weird book with it's weird chapters and their weird topics. I just hope, you like them. Keep telling me, if you do.

Thank you for all the support. I love these two weird characters and you all. ❤️