Marcus hasn't hung out with Maddie at all that week. He tried to catch her after school on Thursday but he didnt see her when she left. He stopped by her house after school but her mom said she had been hanging out with a friend every Thursday for the past 6 weeks. That's strange Marcus thought but he didn't read too much into it. He went home, finished his school work, and handed a snack when he heard the food open. He heard laughing followed by a familiar voice. "Yeah well it was my first time trying something like that, and doing it in the woods wasn't exactly comfortable." "You weren't complaining when you did it, it wasn't bad either. Not the best but if we practice it the way I showed you, you'll be good at it in no time." Was that Blake and Maddie? What are they talking about. It can't be what I think it is… right? Marcus came out of his room and darted down the stairs. He was shocked when he found Maddie standing next to Blake in the kitchen laughing, both covered in dirt with leaves in their hair, visibly out of breath. "Oh hey Marcus!" Maddie said as she said as he came into the kitchen doorway. "My mom called and said you came by my house after school, what do you need?" She asked acting just like she always did. "Um nothing, what are you doing here?" He asked confused "Oh um, Blake and I were just-" Blake quickly cut her off before she could give an explanation. "I thought you had tutoring on Thursday, what are you home early for?" He asked as his body tensed and he looked agitated and hostile. He was laughing a minute ago but the atmosphere changed as soon as Marcus entered the room. "I have tutoring on fridays. You still didn't answer my question, what were you two doing?" He asked this time more assertively, like he needed an answer more than he wanted one. "Don't worry about it, Maddie was just leaving anyway." he said as he nudged her shoulder in a way that let her know she overstayed her welcome. They walked towards the door "Um, ok. Bye Marcus." She said waving as Blake opened the front door. "Ok, you said goodbye. Now get out you stupid bird." Blake said, showing her towards the door. "Technically bats aren't birds, they're mammals of the order Chiroptera, but I guess the common dog doesn't feel the need to know the difference." She said walking out the door. "You looked that up just so you could say it when I called you a bird." Blake said, looking at her as she walked backwards to the sidewalk. "I guess you'll never know, it could just be common knowledge!" She shouted as she turned around and started walking home. Blake scoffed and closed the door. "What was that about?" Marcus said still in the kitchen doorway. "Nothing, I'm gonna take a shower." Blake said as he stuffed his hands in his pockets and headed up the stairs to his bedroom. "What? Are you two friends now or something, last time i checked you couldn't stand her." "Marcus, if you know what's good for you 'll buy out." He nearly spat the last word trying to look like he cared. "Why are both covered in dirt, what were you doing?" "It's none of your business. If you wanna know, ask her, but you're not gonna get any answers from me. I don't need you poking around in my personal life." "Personal life. Now Maddie's a part of your personal life." He paused for a moment, his mind jumping from one scenario to another. "Are you having sex with her!?" He yelled walking into Blake's room with a horrified look on his face. "Marcus, you have no idea what you're talking about." at this point his way laying on his bed staring at his phone doing god knows what. "You didn't answer the question!" "God! NO! Were not having sex, why do you care anyway its not like you called dibs on her or something!" Blake yelled sitting up on his bed. Marcus only standing a few feet away still unsure if Blake was telling the truth. "If you wanna date her, be my guest, but don't get jealous over something you don't understand." He said trying to look like he didn't care. He didn't mean it, he liked Maddie but he would never admit that. He let his wall down when he was around her, she didn't realize but that's not what bothered him. It was the fact that Marcus had started to notice. He was less hostile when she was here, they were even laughing. Marcus thought as he exhaled slowly and walked out of Blake's room. Even if I did want to date her it means nothing if she doesn't feel the same. Why did she have to look at him like that, and why was he bringing her home when he thought I wasn't here. What would they have done if I wasn't. Maybe she has feelings for Blake, he obviously has feelings for her. Marcus couldn't help but think about what it would be like if Blake and Maddie started dating. He eventually stopped thinking about that and proceeded with his night like usual. After dinner he thought about what she would say if he asked her to spring formal. Maybe shes say yes, maybe shes say no, he'll never know if he didn't try. Spring formal was in three weeks so he decided he would ask her sometime next week and hope to get lucky.