C I N D E R ― An MCU Spinoff.

S I X T E E N

Marlene walked into the school auditorium, arm in arm with Sagittarius, who she managed to convince to be her Homecoming date, somehow.

"I still can't believe we had to go together as a couple."

"We are a couple, aren't we?"

Marlene questioned, looking sad as Sagittarius rolls her eyes and kissed her cheek before holding her hand firmly.

"Maybe, Mar. I'm just concerned Flash will come over and parade us around like he did to Michelle and Alessa when they were a thing ages ago."

Sagittarius says and she saw how confused Marlene looked because she shrugs and made her way over to the buffet table, hoarding food for herself and Sagittarius, because she decided to be nice this once and share the delicious glory with her instead of being her usual bubbly and gluttony self.

Marlene glanced around the auditorium, food on her plate. Everyone was dolled up and beautiful and dancing around and having fun.

She could see Alessa and Kyle in one of the corners, obviously uncomfortable with the large crowd but were holding hands and smiling at each other shyly.

Are they a thing now or are on a date??? I should give them some cake to congratulate them??? Or take their pieces of cake for myself??

She also sees Joshua arriving with his homecoming date, a nice looking guy named Dash (who often gets called Flash by accident because of their similar sounding names) who had a good sense of humour and was friendly and even offered to beat up Flash for them if he picks on any of them or Peter again.

When Dash went away to get food, Marlene raises a brow at Joshua.

"Still crushing on Christina?"

"Obviously, you butthead. But I've been crushing on this guy too so leave me alone."

Joshua grumbles with a sour face before following after Dash, Marlene shrugging her shoulders as she nibbles on some biscuits.

But no Peter or Christina showed up as of yet.

She knew he had asked Liz to Homecoming and was probably going to pick her up—but Liz was already here, talking with some of her friends.

Maybe he was outside, having some fresh air before coming in and having to spend the rest of the night with a bunch of noisy teenagers who he didn't really talk to?

Marlene then sighs, finishing off whatever food she was holding onto and made her way over to Sagittarius who was seated at one of the more isolated tables, a brow raised and a concerned frown forming on her lips.

"I'm fine, just wondering where Pete is."

She reassured her and sat down next to her. "He's usually prepared for events like this, I guess?"

Sagittarius says out of the blue, patting Marlene's shoulder in an attempt to calm her down as it looked she was about to panic—which was very unusual.

Marlene then blinks as Sagittarius turns her chair around so they were facing each other; and she took notice of how serious yet nervous she looked.