"Hey Jack?" Mark said not looking away from his paper.

"Y-Yeah?" I questioned hesitantly.

"Do you mind if I hang with you after school?"

"Um-yeah-sure that's totally fine."

"Good."

He flashed a smile and my heart melted for the millionth time around him. I don't know what about him that makes me so happy. And now I get to see him after school.

Shit. I can't take him to my house. I'll need to take him somewhere else. But where?

"Hey is alright if we go into-er-town later?"

"Yeah, that's fine."

His gaze stayed on his maths work, trying to figure out a problem that he has been stuck on for the past 10 minutes.

"Do you need any help?"

"Is it that obvious?" he chuckles and I scoot over to him, sitting next to him.

I look down at his work and I see it's the same thing we are learning in my maths class. As I'm explaining the problem he's on, I noticed he took his gaze away from the paper to look up at me. I ignore the fact he's inches from my face.

I finish explaining the problem and I look up into Mark's eyes, which are already looking into mine.

"Do you understand now?"

He looks away from my gaze and blinks a few times.

"Not really but thanks for the help anyways." he gives a small smile and looks back at me.

I give him a questioning look. "Is there something on my face?" I start wiping my face and hope whatever it was to be gone.

"No." he gives a slight giggle.

-

Mark and I walked on the pavement, side by side. I so wanted to reach over and hold his hand but i could only dream of doing such a thing. I told him that we were going into town because my mother wasn't home, but of course she is. I'll get hell when i come home from being out so late but a little beating will be okay, right?

I saw the mall which laid basically in the center of town and we made our way into there. We didn't have store in particular we wanted to go to, so we stuck with window shopping. I saw a shop that i heard was a lot like hot topic in america.

"Would you like to-um-go in h-here?" I mentally face palmed at my awkwardness. This was all new to me. The whole 'hanging out' and 'having a small crush on you doesn't help'. No one ever wanted to hang out with me, so why does Mark want to? Surely i thought he would fit right in with the 'popular' kids and bully me just like the others. I could have sworn he would have hated my guts and call me names that i know i shouldn't be hurt by but do. I never in a million years would have thought Mark would be hanging with a nobody like me.

"I would love to!" Mark exclaimed scaring me from his sudden outburst. His smile was adorable and I couldn't imagine Mark being sad. I don't deserve Mark. He would be happier with people who aren't messed up. Broken. Tired of trying for nothing. I don't deserve happiness.

I feel my body jerk as Mark grabs my wrist, pulling me to the store. I feel a flash of red go across my face at his gesture. It means nothing of course, but it means something to me.

It means something because it actually put a smile on my face.

He pulls me through the store to where the posters were. He let go of my wrist and went looking through the assortments of posters. I look down at my wrist where Mark was previously holding it.

"Oh, how do you like this!" Mark nearly yelled in excitement making me snap my head up and look at him. He moved the other posters on the rack out of view as he had another poster in his hand.

"Call of Duty? Really Mark? Are you twelve?" I giggle lightly and he gives me a sassy look in return.

"I'm a proud twelve year old!" We both laugh and he continues looking through the posters.

Instead of just standing there like a loner, I decided to look around the store. I saw a rack of hats and i was tempted to look at them. One hat in particular caught my attention, a gray beanie. I pick it up from the rack and slide it on my head. I look at myself through the small mirror which was hung up next to me.

It didn't look too horrible on me. Maybe i should get it?

No. I'm too ugly for it. Plus if my mum saw it, she would throw a fit.

I take off and place it back on the rack. I brush my hair with my fingers, hoping it wasn't sticking up everywhere.

"Aw, I hope you would have bought it." I jump back from where i was standing when Mark said that out of nowhere. I placed my hand against my chest, catching my breath.

"Godammit Mark, you scared me!" I laugh through the aching pain coming from my slight heart attack. I catch my breath and look back at the beanie. "You think i should buy it?" I looked back at him, waiting for an answer.

He nods. "You looked great in it." He flashed a smile and i felt a blush creep onto my face.

"Well, how can I say no to you?" I smile back at me and grab the beanie from the rack once more. I payed for the beanie with the little cash i had, even though Mark asked to pay for it. I told him i had plenty of money, which is a lie.

We spent another hour at the mall, stopping by the food court and just looking into shops. It was around 5 and i really needed to get home. I was already in a lot of trouble.

Mark and I walked through the automatic doors into the parking lot. We walked to the neighborhood where my house was and it turned out that Mark lived in a apartment not too far from there. He had to go down a different road so he told me bye and that he would see me tomorrow at school. I waved at him and a smile was left on my face.

That smile soon faded as i got closer to my house. The sun was setting in the distance and dusk was soon approaching.

I stood on the porch and i started to feel sick. I didn't want to go in, but i have no choice.

====

woah a cliffhanger

but there ya go. jack and mark finally hung out!

thoughts on mark wanting to spend time with jack?

jack thinking he doesn't deserve mark? thinking he would be a popular bully?

jack having to face his mother?

please vote and comment, it makes my day <3