The duo sat in the room in silence.
It was no longer the awkward silence from before, instead, the room was filled with a raw mixture of emotions and unresolved feelings.
"Marcus," Luna called out softly as she raised her head to look in his direction.
Marcus remained silent as held their face in his hand.
He was frustrated with himself, angry that he treated Luna so poorly. Hearing how she was attempting to grow closer to him, only for him to lash out at her was aggravating to no bounds.
"Marcus." Luna began to speak once more, this time in a slightly louder tone so Marcus could hear her.
"What?" Marcus replied in a muffled voice.
"Are you still mad?" She asked.
Marcus shook his head no. "If anything you should be mad at me, I don't understand why you're even in the room with me, because I'd be pissed if I were you."
Luna signed as she began fumbling with her fingers. "I was confused, and I didn't realize it at first but I was hurt as well, fifteen days really gave me time to mull over things."
Marcus slumped his shoulders as his guilt grew.
"But I was never angry Marcus, you deserved to be angry with me, we've spent over three months together, and I've only recently made an attempt to be nice to you, before then you served me whatever I asked for, spent your money you earned just to buy things for my curiosity."
"I had to," Marcus replied. "You were couped up in my room all day, I couldn't take you to train with me because Kenji didn't like you, I couldn't take you to school for obvious reasons, and even in my own home, you couldn't roam because of my mother and sister. So when you asked for something, no matter how ridiculous it seemed, I bought it, because I believed you deserved it."
"Still, I could've treated you better," Luna replied.
Marcus sighed as he dropped his hand from his face, revealing his exhausted expression. "I could've treated you better as well, and I still want to, if I have the chance."
Luna's silver eyes widened at Marcus's words. "Are you saying we can still be friends?" She asked almost in disbelief.
"If you want, I know I'm not the easiest kid to get along with, I'm emotional, irrational, and stupid, so you'll have your work cut out for you."
Luna smiled as silver tears began forming on her cheeks.
Marcus glanced over at her and was quickly surprised. He had never seen/ heard of an anomaly crying before, so for Luna of all people to be the first was strange to him, yet it brought him a strange comfort.
"I'd like nothing more, Marcus," Luna said with a genuine smile. "I know it's hard to deal with me, but please I want to hold your hand again, sit with you, and just go back to before all this happened."
Marcus smiled as he wiped his tears. "Ok then," he said with a light chuckle. "Let's start over from the beginning."
"How?" Luna asked.
Marcus smiled at Luna as he reached out his hand, "My name is Marcus, Marcus Fall."
Luna stared at Marcus's outstretched hand with a perplexed expression. "But I already…" suddenly her expression softened as she realized what was happening.
She then smiled as she hopped down from her chair and approached Marcus's hospital bed.
She reached out her small hand towards his, and he grabbed it gently. "What's your name?" Marcus asked.
With a large smile, Luna spoke. "I'm Luna, Luna Fall." She replied.
Marcus chuckled once more. "You're stealing my last name now?" He asked.
She nodded. "You chose my first name, and I picked my last name, it's only coincidental that they're the same," Luna said playfully.
"Sure." Marcus said skeptically, "Well Ms Fall, would you like a seat in my hospital bed, it's cozy and has just enough room for someone small like you."
Luna nodded, "Yes, I'd like that."
With that Marcus reached both hands down to Luna and lifted her onto his bed.
Marcus placed Luna directly across from himself, placing her between his feet.
Once she was settled Marcus spoke once more. "So what are you interested in?" He asked.
"I enjoy reading and carving figurines, you?"
"Caffeine and computer games," Marcus said with a chuckle.
Luna giggled as she spoke again.
The duo continued their conversation for what felt like only a few minutes, but in reality, it had been a few hours when a sudden knock came at the door.
"Can we come in?" Lieutenant Lance's voice sounded from the other side of the sliding door.
"Yes," Marcus called out in response.
Without a second word, the door to his room hissed open as the door slid open, revealing Lance and Felix standing side by side.
"Hello sir," Marcus said towards Lance. "Is something wrong?"
Lance shook his head as he stepped into the room. "No, it's good news, I promise," Lance said with a wink.
Marcus turned his attention towards Felix, who was dressed in casual clothes with two packed bags in his hands.
"Hey Felix," Marcus said with a wave of his hand.
Felix smiled. "Sup bro." He replied as he placed the large bags on the floor beside the door.
Felix then turned his attention towards Luna and gave her a nod. "It's good to see you two back together, it was strange seeing you two apart for so long."
Marcus nodded. "Yeah, those two weeks felt like an eternity without her, but what's all this about?" Marcus asked as he gestured towards the bags on the ground.
"Let's just talk first," Lance said as he crossed his arms and approached Marcus. "Firstly I want to congratulate you on passing your test, you did well, all things considered."
Marcus had almost completely forgotten about the test for a moment, yet he did remember finishing it up before he collapsed.
"So I'm not disqualified from the program?" Marcus asked.
Lance nodded. "That's right, you weren't in the lowest five scores, I mean you still did horrible but not bad enough to fail," Lance said with a chuckle.
Marcus exhaled a sigh of relief as he leaned back in his hospital bed. "That's good." He said softly to himself.
"Just do you know, my score was three points higher than yours." Felix chimed in smugly as he dusted off his shoulders.
Marcus smirked. "It's not impressive when you're smarter than an idiot."
Felix shook his head. "You're not an idiot bro, you were just stupid in that one particular case." He said with a grin.
Marcus rolled his eyes as he turned to look at Lance. "So what are the bags for if I'm not getting kicked out?" He asked.
"Well, it'll take a moment for the complex to shift in preparation for the second exam, so usually during this time, we reward the remaining cadets with an all-expenses paid trip to the city. It started yesterday and continues for about a week." Lance answered.
"Wait a minute." Marcus said as he sat up in bed, "What do you mean it already started? Last time I was up we were still taking a test, it couldn't have been that long ago since I woke up, right?"
"Bro you've been sleeping for almost an entire day." Felix chimed in with a chuckle.
"I couldn't have been out for that long." Marcus protested.
Lance shrugged. "Don't think about it too much, your body needed sleep kiddo, anyway you ready to head out with Felix?"
Marcus hesitantly nodded. "Uhm yeah, but you do know I'm American right?"
Lance nodded, "Yeah, accent gave it away, your point?"
"Well, we're in England." Marcus continued, "Wouldn't I stand out?"
Lance's expression grew perplexed. "I guess, why does that matter exactly?"
"I don't know." Marcus answered, "It's just before now I had never even left Florida, I doubt I'd fit into a European city very well."
Lance nodded his head, "Sure, but you have Felix, he's German, remember?"
Felix looked offended by Lieutenant Lance's words, "How could you compare my beautiful fatherland to this place?" He said with a laugh, "But no, bro you are overthinking this, don't be afraid of the English, they can't hurt us."
Marcus chuckled. "I'm not afraid, I was just being cautious."
Lance shook his head, "Don't think, just get up and get moving, you two are the last cadets here."
Marcus nodded. "Ok, what do I do?"
"Get out of bed and join us, I'll be chaperoning your guy's trip into Manchester, already have the hotel rooms booked."
"But shouldn't I take a shower first, change clothes and stuff?" Marcus said in confusion.
Felix groaned. "Please bro, just come on, I've already missed the first day waiting for you, don't you have a heart?" Felix pleaded.
"Don't worry, the hotel room has a shower, and Felix already packed your bag with all the essentials," Lance added.
Marcus sighed with a smile on his face as he raised his hands in mock surrender. "Ok, ok." He said softly as he pulled his legs back and swung them off the bed.
As his feet touched the ground Marcus slowly stood up, his body was now fully rejuvenated and almost full of energy.
He was still extremely hungry.
His stomach growled loudly as stood up.
"See." Felix said as he pointed toward Marcus's belly, "Even your stomach knows what's coming."
Marcus and Lance laughed in unison as Luna quickly made her way off the bed.
"Come on, I got a van waiting for us outside," Lance said with a grin.
The group moved from Marcus's hospital room to the van at a quick pace.
When they reached the van, Marcus was greeted with a sleek, black vehicle that reflected the surroundings on its shiny exterior.
Its doors were open revealing a large spacious interior that was clean and modern, its seats made of wide black leather, and the dashboard was filled with screens.
Felix was the first to step into the van, tossing both his and Marcus's bags into the back, before taking his seat. Marcus and Luna followed him inside, with Marcus sitting on the opposite side and Luna sitting between them.
Lance made his way to the front seat where he quickly hopped inside. Lance waited until everyone was settled into their seats before starting the van.
He then pulled away from the complex and past its gates. Marcus gazed out the window with a smile as he watched the scenery pass by, the forest that the complex was hidden in slowly giving way to a long stretch of street with the occasional building sitting aside the road.
It wasn't long before Manchester itself, began looming in the distance.
"The first thing on my list is visiting the Academy," Felix said in excitement.
"Oh?" Lance called out in curiosity, "I didn't know you were interested in studying, there are some classes back at the facility if you want to take them."
Felix shook his head. "No, you misunderstand me, I'm not visiting for the books," Felix said with a devious smile. "I'm going for the café, it's where we're all the rich girls with too much money hanging out, and I getting myself one."
"Felix!" Lance called out in disbelief.
Marcus couldn't help himself and laughed.
"What!" Felix said defensively, "You had me couped up in that place for two weeks doing nothing but training, I need a break and more specifically I need a woman, someone to whisper sweet nothings into my ear as I eat pastries with a smile on my face."
Lance fell silent for a moment as he glanced at Felix through the rearview mirror, his expression struggling to resist the smile that was starting to form.
Felix then glanced at Marcus. "Tell me I'm wrong." He said with a grin.
Marcus shrugged. "I wouldn't know, I've never been good with dealing with women romantically," Marcus answered honestly.
Felix nodded, "I see, well hey, I'm sure there are guys at the café too, it's a very welcoming place bro."
"No, no, no!" Marcus rushed to clear this misunderstanding as he waved his hands drastically, "I mean I'm not good with girls, not that I don't like them."
Felix's eyes widened as his expression turned relaxed. "Oh." He said with a chuckle, "That makes sense, well hey, when we get to the hotel I'll let you freshen up, then we'll head out into the city where I'll teach you a few things."
Marcus raised an eyebrow at Felix's words. "What kind of things?"
Felix grinned mischievously. "Oh, just the basics, when dealing with girls it's all about how they perceive you, do you come off as a creep or a loser? Are you smart or dumb? If you can make yourself look good in their eyes then you're golden."
"Not to be that guy, but my mom told me you can't fake yourself when dealing with women because when she realizes who you truly are, you'll lose them," Marcus replied, hoping to get more insight into Felix's teachings.
Felix nodded. "That's true, but we're only here for a few days so that doesn't really apply here, not to mention I never said anything about faking who you are, just play it up for the camera a little. Don't come off as boring or rude."
"But what about being your truest self and finding true love?" Marcus asked jokingly.
Felix snickered. "Excuse my language, but that's genuine bullshit because be honest with yourself if a girl came up to you and start telling you she liked watching grass explode in her free time, would you accept it or would you be concerned?"
"I guess I'd be a little concerned," Marcus answered honestly.
"Exactly!" Felix said enthusiastically. "It's the same when flirting and chatting with girls, you can definitely be yourself around them, but if you just so happen to like seeing cows do somersaults in the air, it's best to keep that hidden."
Though Felix's analogies were strange, Marcus did feel that they held weight.
"I see." Marcus said in a reflective tone, "Then I guess I'll follow your lead."
Lance, who had been slightly listening to their conversation, finally spoke up. "Felix has some solid advice on how to talk to women, but I doubt he's ever kept one longer than a week."
Marcus chuckled as he turned to look at Felix, who now had a sheepish grin on his face. "I don't do long term," Felix says defensively as he struggles to his smile.
"I guess we'll see because we're here," Lance said with a chuckle as he parked in front of a modern hotel that sat between two other buildings.