Soon it was lunch and Anastasia and Marcus made their way to their usual place. It was a small table tucked away in the corner of the courtyard, away from the crowds and noise. It was their own little spot, where they could relax and unwind after a long day. Anastasia loved it. Sometimes large crowds could get too much for her, and this was the perfect place to escape.

"So, how's your first day been?" Anastasia asked as she sat down at their table, digging into her lunch.

"Not bad. I've had worse." Marcus shrugs. "You?"

"Same. It's been good, nothing too bad." Anastasia answers, taking a bite of her sandwich. "I'm glad Ginny has Max though. She needs a friend, someone to help her through her first day."

"Yeah. My sister can be a lot, but she's a good friend." Marcus agreed.

Anastasia nods in agreement, continuing to eat her food. "Hey, I'm gonna grab a drink from the vending machine. Want anything?" She asked as she stood up.

"Nah, I'm good." Marcus said, smiling up at her.

As Anastasia made her way to the vending machine, she couldn't help but smile at the familiarity of their routine. The courtyard was bathed in sunlight, casting a warm glow over the surroundings. It was moments like these that made the hectic pace of school life bearable. She reached the vending machine and grabbed a soda, feeling relaxed and content. She paused when she felt like someone was looking at her. Her gaze landed on Lance, her face flushing at seeing standing a short distance away. Lance had a soft smile on his face as he watched Anastasia, his eyes filled with warmth.

Anastasia's heart skipped a beat at the sight of him. She took a deep breath to steady herself, feeling a rush of excitement and nerves all at once. Lance gestured subtly for her to come closer, and she walked over to him, trying to keep her composure.

"Hey." Lance said softly as she approached, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Hi." Anastasia replied, her voice tinged with a mix of shyness and happiness.

"How's your day been so far?" Lance questioned, glancing around to make sure no one was looking before he pulled Anastasia gently aside, out of the immediate view of others in the courtyard.

Anastasia, feeling a mix of curiosity and nervousness, follows Lance's lead. They found a quieter corner where they could talk more privately, away from the bustling lunchtime activity. "It's been alright," Anastasia replies, her voice hushed. "Nothing too eventful. How about yours?"

Lance smiles warmly, his eyes meeting hers with a gentle intensity. "Better now that I've seen you."

Anastasia blushes, feeling a flutter of butterflies in her stomach. Lance had a way of making her feel special, even in the simplest moments. "That's sweet of you to say."

"I mean it," Lance said earnestly, reaching out to gently brush a strand of hair away from her face. "I've been thinking about you."

Anastasia's heart raced at his touch and his words. She leans in closer, feeling the pull of their connection. "I've been thinking about you too."

Their conversation continued in the quiet corner of the courtyard, away from the bustling lunchtime activity. Anastasia and Lance were drawn to each other, their words soft and intimate amidst the background murmur of students.

Lance's gaze was steady, filled with a warmth that made Anastasia's heart flutter. "I've been hoping to run into you today." He admitted softly. His hand lingered on Anastasia's arm, a gentle touch that conveyed reassurance and affection.

Anastasia smiles, feeling a rush of happiness at his words. "I'm glad you did."

Lance chuckles softly, a sound that made her smile widen and heart flutter. "Me too."

They stood close together, their proximity comforting yet charged with a subtle tension. Anastasia felt a mix of excitement and nervousness, unsure of what would come next but captivated by Lance's presence. They talked for a bit longer before she knew she had to head back to Marcus, he was probably wondering where she was. 

"Lance, I... I should probably get back." Anastasia said reluctantly, her gaze flickering briefly towards Marcus's direction.

Lance nods understandingly, though a hint of disappointment flashed across his face. "Of course. I don't want to keep you."

Anastasia smiles gratefully, touched by his consideration. "Thank you. I'll see you around?"

"Definitely." Lance replied with a warm smile, his eyes lingering on her as if trying to memorize every detail.

They exchanged a lingering gaze before Anastasia turned to walk back to her table. She couldn't shake the feeling of warmth that Lance had brought into her day, nor the anticipation of seeing him again. As she approached Marcus, he raises an eyebrow and smirks a little. "Took you long enough. You found yourself a new friend at the vending machine?"

Anastasia chuckles softly, grateful for Marcus's light-heartedness. "Something like that. Hey, I thought you said you didn't want a drink." She pouts when he grabs her soda and he takes a sip of her soda while she sat down by him. "That's mine."

"Well, I changed my mind. You're slow. You took too long." Marcus teased, grinning at her.

"It wasn't even that long!" She protests, laughing as he continues to drink her soda. She rolls her eyes and opens the second soda she had. "Good thing I figured you would do that and got another one."

"Smart girl." Marcus smirked, nudging her gently with his elbow.

She nudges him back, her smile softening. "I try."

They sat in silence for a few minutes, enjoying the moment. There was no need for words, they understood each other without them. It was one of the many things that made their friendship special.

Finally, Marcus speaks up. "So, how're you feeling about the year? Any worries?" He asked, glancing over at her.

"Not really. Just the usual stress." Anastasia admitted, shrugging her shoulders.

"Yeah, me too. But it's nothing we can't handle." Marcus reassured her and smiled at her.

"Definitely." She agrees, returning the smile. "We've got this." She reached over to do their handshake they'd made when they were little.

"Heck yeah." Marcus chuckled, rolling his eyes a little as he completed their handshake. She grinned at him, feeling better. As long as she had Marcus by her side, she knew she could face anything.

****

The rest of the day passed by in a blur. Soon they were on they were on their way to her house to hang out and play some Wii as promised since Marcus beat her to the school. Anastasia was looking forward to it. She always enjoyed their time together. Marcus told her he would come over after he dropped his stuff off at his house. So she quickly went to her room and changed out of her clothes into more comfortable ones. She now wore a tie die sweatshirt with the word 'sunshine' on it and black sweat pants that had lines on it on the pant leg matching the color of the sweatshirt. Her hair was now pulled up into a messy bun and her makeup was all off her face as well. Her jewelry (besides her rings) were off too into her jewelry box on her dresser. 

(anastasia's outfit for this part of the chapter)

As she did this, she got a text from him and sighed. Marcus had gotten grounded since his mom found out be was smoking weed last night. She rolled her eyes. She didn't understand why he was doing that. She didn't like him doing drugs and had even gotten into an argument with him about it, but he didn't listen. He said he liked the way it made him feel.

She sighed again, knowing it was useless. She was just worried about him and his health. She'd seen what drugs could do to people. She didn't want him to go down that path. She cared too much about him. She decided to lay on her bed after grabbing a book and tried to get lost in the story. She got a few pages in before suddenly she heard movement from her window. She looked up, surprise to see Marcus climbing into her room through the window. 

"M?" She whispered, confused by his sudden appearance. 

"Hey." He smiled sheepishly, closing the window behind him.

"What are you doing? You're grounded." She pointed out, putting her bookmark in her book and setting it aside. 

"So? I couldn't stay away. Besides, being grounded sucks. I need my best friend." Marcus replied, plopping down on her bed dramatically, laying his head on her lap. He then grabbed her hand, pulling it into his hair.

"Seriously?" Anastasia questions, arching her brow at him. She had a feeling she knew what he wanted and resisted the urge to roll her eyes. He just pouted, looking at her with his puppy dog eyes. She sighed and rolled her eyes, relenting. "Fine. You're lucky you're cute." She muttered, running her fingers through his hair.

"Oh, so you think I'm cute, huh?" Marcus smirked, a teasing tone to his voice.

"Don't get cocky. Your ego is already too big." She retorted, smacking his chest gently with her other hand. She grinned down at him, enjoying the playful banter. It felt good to have him here, even if he was supposed to be grounded. She couldn't stay mad at him for long.

"Hey, what can I say? Can't help it if I'm irresistible." Marcus joked, flashing her a grin.

Anastasia rolls her eyes again, but couldn't help but smile. "Yeah, yeah. Keep dreaming, bubs." She teased, shaking her head. She continued to run her fingers through his hair, a comfortable silence settling between them.

As she played with his hair, his hand grabbed her free hand, absentmindedly playing with one of the many rings she wore. She always wore different rings, each with its own unique design and meaning. It was something Marcus had always found fascinating about her.

"You really love wearing all these rings, huh?" Marcus commented, his tone soft as he examined the intricate designs on her fingers.

"Yeah. It's kind of my thing. I've worn them for as long as I can remember. They're like a part of me. Plus, they're pretty." Anastasia explained, a small smile playing on her lips as she watches him examine her rings.

"They are." Marcus agrees, his thumb tracing the intricate designs. He then held up her hand, kissing the ring he liked the most. It was a simple silver band with a rose carved into it. She blushes, smiling shyly. "I like this one." He murmured. 

"It's my favorite. My aunt gave it to me. Said it's been in the family for generations and that it symbolizes love, beauty, and strength." Anastasia explained, her voice soft and a hint of nostalgia in her tone.

"It suits you." Marcus replied, his gaze meeting hers. There was a warmth in his eyes that made her heart flutter.

She smiles warmly at him. "Thanks." She muttered, her heart pounding in her chest. She didn't know what to say, so she simply resumed running her fingers through his hair.

This seemed to soothe him, his eyes slipping closed. They sat in a comfortable silence for a while, the only sound being the gentle breeze blowing through the open window. His hand messing with her rings continued, laying on his chest. She didn't mind. She actually quite liked it .She glanced down at him, noticing how relaxed he looked. He was always so guarded and on edge, but right now he looked calm and peaceful. She felt a sense of satisfaction knowing that she was the reason for his peace. It was a nice feeling.

The sun was starting to set, the last rays of sunlight streaming through the window. The whole room was bathed in a warm glow, giving everything a cozy and inviting feel. She couldn't imagine a better way to spend the evening than with her best friend. She glanced back down at him and saw that his eyes were still closed. She leaned down, gently pressing a kiss on his forehead. He stirred a little, his eyes slowly blinking open. She smiled softly at him, feeling her heart swell with affection.

"What was that for?" He murmured, looking a little confused but he had a small smile on his face.

"Just because." She replied, her voice just as soft as her gaze.

He looks up at her, a look of adoration in his eyes. She felt her heart skip a beat, butterflies filling her stomach. She never got used to seeing that look. It always made her feel like she was the only person in the world. "Since it seems like you're gonna be here for awhile, wanna play some Mario Kart? Bet I can beat you this time." She suggested, trying to lighten the mood.

"Oh, you're on." Marcus grins, sitting up. "I'll win, no doubt."

"We'll see." She smirked, getting up to turn on the Wii and grab the controllers. She tossed him one, plopping back down beside him. They soon got into a fierce competition, each trying to outdo the other. Their laughter filled the room as they raced against each other in Mario Kart, the competitive spirit between them alive and well. Anastasia couldn't help but feel grateful for these moments with Marcus, where everything felt right in the world.

As they played, Anastasia couldn't shake off the feeling of warmth that enveloped her whenever Marcus was around. He was more than just her best friend; he was someone she trusted implicitly, someone who knew her inside and out. And yet, there was always that lingering tension between them, an unspoken connection that seemed to pull them closer together with each passing day. Despite her attempts to bury her feelings, she couldn't deny the truth that lay beneath the surface. She cared for Marcus deeply, perhaps even more than she was willing to admit to herself. But she was secretly dating someone else. And she didn't want to ruin the great friendship they had. 

Lost in her thoughts, Anastasia didn't realize Marcus had won the race until he nudged her playfully, a triumphant grin on his face. "I win again!" He exclaimed, holding his controller up in victory.

"Ugh, you cheated." Anastasia pouted, crossing her arms.

"Did not. You were just distracted." Marcus teased.

"Whatever." She rolls her eyes, but couldn't help but smile. Her gaze turns towards the window, noticing the sun had almost fully set. "We should probably get to bed. School tomorrow and all." She sighed, not wanting the night to end.

"Yeah, I guess so." Marcus agreed, looking disappointed as well.

As they both stood up and turned off the Wii, Anastasia couldn't help but think about how much she was going to miss him. With him grounded, they wouldn't be able to see each other for the next week, which felt like a lifetime.

"I'm gonna miss you." She said, her voice soft as she hugged him.

"I'll miss you too, bubba." Marcus murmurs, his arms wrapping around her. "You know I'll find a way to see you."

"I know." She smiled, squeezing him tighter. She knew he would find a way. He always did. They stood there for a moment, simply enjoying each other's presence before reluctantly pulling away.

"I should probably go before your parents find out I'm here." Marcus said, a hint of sadness in his voice.

"And before yours find out you left. Probably a good idea." Anastasia agreed, her heart sinking at the thought of him leaving.

Marcus reluctantly pulls away before he leans forward to kiss her forehead. "See you later, Stas." He whispered, his lips lingering for a moment before he turned and headed towards the window. Anastasia watched him climb out the window and disappear into the night. She walked over to close the window and sighed, already missing his presence. She hoped they could spend more time together soon. She always felt safe and content when she was with him.

She went over to her bed and flopped down, her thoughts a jumbled mess. She couldn't deny her feelings any longer; she had fallen for her best friend. But she didn't know if he felt the same way. As she stared up at the ceiling, lost in thought, she made a silent wish for things to work out between them. She didn't know what she would do if she lost him, if their friendship became ruined by her feelings.

She got up and did her nightly routine, changing into her PJs, brushing her teeth, and washing her face. She then got into bed and pulled the covers over her. As she lay there, her mind replayed the events of the night. She felt her heart warm, a smile forming on her lips. Despite her worries, she couldn't help but be grateful for the moment they had shared. It had been perfect, just the two of them and the setting sun. It was a memory she would cherish forever. With that thought in mind, she drifted off to sleep, dreaming of what could be.

A/N marcus & stas <3 but also lance & stas <3 i love them both