A gentle knock pulled Lucy's attention away from the research she'd been consumed by, trying desperately to learn more about the technology of this world and looking for anything on 'The System' she heard in her mind.

Aside from a few fantasy novels, she hadn't found a trace of anything even remotely close to what she was looking for.

Sighing, she stood and stretched - walking to the door distracted and deflated at the lack of progress. The moment she opened her door, though, her eyes went wide and her brain pivoted instantly.

Marco, she breathed in her mind, gosh he's breathtaking...

"Hi, Marco," she smiled, trying to keep her thoughts under control, "what's up?"

"Lunch is ready," he said smoothly, smiling at her warmly - the thought of the cufflinks in his room still in his mind, "you should eat."

"Oh, right. Sure," she agreed, her voice a bit higher than she meant as she nodded quickly.

Lucy! Seriously! Get it together!

His smile broadened and he gestured for her to lead the way, enjoying the way her thoughts betrayed her panic even as she tried to keep her face calm.

Though her eyes told a different story and were far more honest when her gaze lingered on him for just a second longer than they maybe should have.

She scooted around him, careful not to touch him in a desperate attempt to not make him uncomfortable, then led the way despite the way her heart raced.

They're far too nice and it makes it impossible to think when they're around! How am I supposed to function when he's like that?! Why isn't he meaner to Rachel? She threw a vase at him just last week for goodness' sake! But here he is, a badass snake with the coolest eyes on the planet, being all nice and gentlemanly like the perfect husband he is... ugh, I literally cannot with these men!

Marco placed his fist to his mouth as he followed behind her, struggling not to make a sound as he listened to her mentally fawn over him. His eyes twinkled as he looked at the back of her, her walk graceful despite the way her mind spun.

He couldn't help admiring her with a fresh perspective. She still looked like Rachel, and Rachel had never been attractive to him. Yet, knowing Rachel was gone changed the way he saw her now, and she somehow seemed far more beautiful than she ever had before this moment.

Rachel hated that she'd been matched to a snake, stating that all reptiles were disgusting and awful. It bothered her that most non-mammal hybrids were intersex too - something she complained about often even though they'd never been intimate.

She'd even yanked out some of his scales on several occasions as one of her many forms of punishment. It had taken months to heal and grow new ones each time she did that.

Lucy, though, liked his scales... she stared at them with fascination, even thinking more than once how much she'd like to touch them. His scales fluttered at the idea of her running her fingers along them. Would she like the way they feel? Would she hate it? He ran his eyes over her as she walked, unsure but... hoping he would find out someday.

Walking into the dining room, Rory and Evan were standing off to the side chatting. They stopped the instant they saw Lucy, though, and she faltered in her steps for a moment.

Oof, it looks like we interrupted them... maybe I should leave and come back. I hate that even walking in throws them off so badly. Stupid Rachel, ugh I despise the woman. She's lucky I never had the chance to meet her face to face. Maybe I should turn around and come back in a few minutes. Let them chat. I'm only a little hungry, I can wait...

"Rachel," Rory interrupted her thoughts, nodding toward the table, "it's not much, but we put something together for you. Flynn and Jasper are out at the market, so it's a bit simple compared to what you're used to. I hope you don't mind."

Oh gosh! One of these three made lunch? I wish I'd known, I'd have come down and made something! They didn't need to do that, they already work so hard! I can't wait to make them the turnovers later with Flynn. They all deserve that, at least.

"Thank you," Lucy said with a smile, sitting calmly, "it's perfect. I appreciate it."

I almost wish they were meaner. It's crazy how nice they are to someone like Rachel. She doesn't deserve their kindness. She deserved to be strung up and beaten! Ugh, they're too perfect and I can hardly think when they're around me like this!

Lucy's thoughts spiraled as she started to eat, trying to keep composed even as the other three sat down and ate quietly at the other end of the table. The men ate slowly, partially out of self-preservation because more than once she'd think something that would put them at risk of choking, and partially because they were starting to truly enjoy hearing her thoughts. They were chaotic and noisy, but they were also incredibly endearing.

They glanced her way every now and then, especially when her thoughts wandered toward one of them specifically, enjoying how she appreciated each of them individually yet without preference for any one or the other.

I wonder if I can talk to Marco about my questions for school... he's a professor, after all. He'd know all about how that works. Can I test out of the marketing courses, somehow? I only had an associates, but I worked hard to get it after graduating early. If I want to get a job worth anything in this world, I'll need to have an education, but starting over isn't going to work. I need to be home long before I'd finish something like that. Will I even be able to test out? Do the same principles apply here as they do in my world? They have the net... it's basically the same thing, so maybe? Ugh, how do I even start that kind of conversation with him?

Marco eyed Rory, unsure if he should speak up and help her.

He could, of course, answer her questions... and he loved the idea of having an excuse to sit down and speak with her. While they've heard her thoughts for days, they still haven't really engaged in conversation. He wanted to get to know her beyond the topical things in her mind at any given moment, and this could be an amazing chance... if only he could figure out how to do it without revealing he could hear what she was thinking.

Rory, ever the strategist and leader amongst the group, smirked at Marco and decided to take some initiative to help the man out.

"Rachel," he said suddenly, drawing her attention to him, "I noticed you've been reading some of the books I have in the office. Were you looking for anything in particular? I know the selection we have is quite limited."

Lucy blinked several times, processing what he'd said and then smiled as a plan formed in her mind.

A plan all three of the men in the room were struggling not to chuckle at as they heard her think it through.

"Actually, I had been yes. I've been spending a lot of time on the net recently, and saw lots of interesting things about marketing. It's peaked my interest. I was curious if there were books on it, but didn't notice any while I was in there," she said, shrugging in an effort to appear casual.

She failed, miserably, and Evan had to look down and cough slightly at how bad she really was at all of this.

"Marketing is an interesting topic," Marco piped up quickly, sitting straight and engaging his academic tone, "the university has several marketing programs. Are you thinking of pursuing it more deeply, or more as a passing hobby?"

The smile that grew across her face was so genuine, the entire room seemed to brighten. All three men froze for a moment, stunned by her reaction and the beauty they weren't prepared to see in the face of their old tormentor.

"More deeply," she responded calmly, the excitement clear on her face, "I've been doing some independent study, actually. I'm curious if there's a way to test in, or out, of courses, and what enrolling in a program might look like."

"If you'd like," Marco said after shaking his stupor, "we could sit down and discuss it after lunch? I can walk you through the university's programs, discuss testing options - things like that. If you're really serious about marketing, I'm sure we could arrange for you to enroll for the upcoming semester."

Upcoming semester... how long are semesters again? Are they even the same in this world? Mom probably has something like two months, at most - I'm not sure if I have that kind of time. Then again, if part of the point of all this is connections and resources, the university must have computer scientists, a library, and all kinds of research tools... perhaps enrolling could be beneficial in other ways? I can't work right now anyway, so maybe this is a good alternative?

"I'd like that," Lucy agreed, nodding with a smile before adding, "if you don't mind."

"I don't mind," Marco said warmly, his scales fluttering slightly in response to her smiling at him so brightly.

His scales are really the neatest thing, especially when they move like that... I really wish I could touch them. They look so shiny and smooth. I wonder what they feel like. They're prettier than gemstones, I swear. Ugh, why does he have to be so beautiful?! He's so distracting!

Marco blushed, looking at his plate quickly when her thoughts returned to him so suddenly. Her mind jumped topics like crazy, and the whirlwind was sometimes a bit overwhelming - especially when she was actively appreciating him.

They continued their meal in silence, Lucy's thoughts returning to her excitement around the university and the marketing program. Marco listened attentively, hoping to understand her goals so he could best guide her when they sat down together.

Her thoughts often returned to her mother, and each time she'd get lost in thought about how to get back and save her the men would exchange uneasy looks.

They were pretty certain she wasn't going to be able to return to her world, and even if she did... certainly not soon enough to save her mother if she was right about the timeline. They worried how she would handle it as time went on and the deadline she'd set for herself came closer.

Rory thought back to Flynn's suggestions early on, and wondered if he might have been on to something about giving her reasons to want to stay... something, or someone, to tie her to this world and this life that would help her overcome what was likely an inevitable grief when she couldn't go home.

As they finished eating, Evan and Rory gathered the dishes while Marco approached Lucy.

"Would you like to discuss it now, or wait until later?" he asked.

"Now is good," she chirped excitedly, standing quickly.

He nodded, smiling warmly, and led the way to the office where he sat behind the desk with his tablet. Lucy quickly sat across from the desk, conscious of giving him space and distance so he wouldn't have to be near her.

"It might be easier if you sit beside me," he said calmly, focused on the tablet, "bring that chair around, if you don't mind, and we'll look through things together."

Both Marco and Lucy's heart rate were through the roof by the time she blinked through her daze and slowly dragged the chair around to sit beside him. Both tried to appear calm, yet the pink on their cheeks gave them away.

Marco leaned toward her, making her breath catch, as he held the tablet out and scrolled through the university pages for the marketing programs.

"There are three options for you," he said, pretending to be unbothered by her closeness, "and it appears there are testing options for much of it. You'll have to take the tests in order, passing the first one before you can sit for the second. If your independent studies were sufficient, you could test out of as much of half of this program. This one and this one, though, you can only test out of a few of the courses."

He had to speak slowly, focusing on his words as her thoughts exploded and distracted him from what he was saying instantly. Both of their blushes deepened as her mind raced.

He's so close! Oh gosh, he's even more beautiful when he's this close! His scales shift colors and at this angle they're a deep purple, I didn't know they could do that! God I want to touch them, they're so incredible. And I can smell him! He smells so nice! His voice is so smooth, especially when he's talking about his work. He's so impressive! I knew he was smart, but it's clear he's passionate about his work too. Ugh, I can't focus on anything he's saying when he's so close! My body is so hot, this isn't good! What is he doing to me?!

Marco calmly walked through the programs, pointing out the tests she could take and the way to schedule them. Despite the way her mind couldn't focus on anything but him, she hummed at all the right times and nodded - her eyes focused on the tablet as she leaned in.

And as always, she was conscious to not touch him.

Though, they both wanted her to.

"This one is perfect, Marco," she said, smiling at the tablet and reaching forward to click on the program she could test out of the most classes for, "I know it's the least impressive, but it's the best start. If I started taking the tests now, would I be able to get through all of them before the semester begins?"

Don't touch him. Don't touch him. No matter how much you want to look at him, focus on the tablet. Keep it together Lucy! Focus! Marketing, you're supposed to be thinking about marketing! Gosh he's so close!

Unable to resist with her thoughts floating through his mind, he leaned closer under the guise of guiding her through the site until his lips were right by her cheek. He kept his voice calm, even as his heart raced at the closeness.

"Yes, I think that's doable. We'd need to get you started right away, but it's possible," he explained, examining the tablet.

Oh. My. God. I can feel his breath! I'm going to explode! Does he even realize what he's doing?! Does he know how attractive he is?! How am I supposed to resist someone like him? How can he be so casual? I can't even process what he's saying! How can I think when he's right there?!

Lucy's breath had sped up a bit, though she tried desperately to hide how riled up she was. Marco, also struggling, found excuses to keep exploring the site - walking her through alternatives, the scheduling module, and even test descriptions. Anything to keep her close for as long as he could.

I'm going to have to go back through all of this after this. I can't breathe. I can't think. Not when he's... gosh he smells so nice. Don't kiss him. Don't touch him. Keep it together. Oh my gosh, this is too much!

"Rachel," Marco said softly, sitting up a bit and looking down at her, "would you like to go to the university next week with me to get signed up?"

She looked up at him, breathless, her eyes wide, and her cheeks rosy, as she processed his words. Or tried to. Her eyes flicked to his lips, and she had to force them back to his eyes so she could respond.

"Yes," she choked out, struggling to focus on literally anything else but the effect he had on her, "I mean, yes please. I'd... I'd like that."

"Are you okay?" he murmured, studying her face while he had the chance to be so close in a way he never had before when Rachel was alive.

"Yes," she breathed, "I'm... I'm sorry... I..."

"Don't be sorry," he said lowly, a small smirk growing across his face, "it's a lot to plan for. I'll help you though, don't worry."

Why doesn't he look like he hates me? He's not looking at me like someone who hates me, but he must... I'm Rachel, and he hates Rachel. I can't think when he looks at me like that. God I can barely breathe!

"Thank you," she finally managed.

Marco barely contained the urge to reach out and touch her, the way her lips were slightly parted and her wide eyes were fixed on him... it took absolutely all of his self-control to sit up straight and clear his throat.

"I'll arrange for our visit first thing next week and help you get your first test scheduled. I'll make sure you're all set up. It shouldn't be too difficult or take too long," he said calmly, placing the tablet on the desk gently.

Breathing out a sigh of relief at the increased space that helped her mind calm ever so slightly, she nodded with a bright smile as she stood.

"Thank you, Marco. Really, this means a lot to me," then she turned and rushed out of the office as fast as she possibly could.

She raced straight toward her room determined to hide and scream into her pillow until she could get herself together.

Marco chuckled as she rushed out, his eyes lingering on the spot where she had once been.

He sat there for a long moment, willing his body to calm down after the way it had reacted to being so close to her. He shook his head at himself, having never behaved like that with anyone else before. He wasn't sure what had gotten into him, but he just couldn't seem to restrain himself when her thoughts were what they were.

Leaning back, he looked at the ceiling for a long moment and replayed the moments in his mind with a smile.

--

Did you know that voting & commenting on the chapter helps writers on the app out a TON? If you liked this chapter and you'd be willing to vote and/or comment, it would mean a lot to me <3