The Only Exception // (GOT7 Markson)

2

"Ahhhh!" she screamed as I scrambled to help her regain her balance. She was an elderly lady with salt and pepper hair neatly tied into a bun. She was carrying a basket full of laundry.

"I'm so, so sorry m'am." I said in the most apologetic voice I could muster up. I patted her shoulders and rubbed them lightly.

"It's okay, really!" she smiled deeply in a soft and understanding voice. "You must be Tyler's friend. I'm Monica. I'm his mother. I heard you two come in late last night. Must have been quite the study date. Anyway, I'm really glad you're friends with Tyler. He could really use them these days. It's so nice to see him getting out and socializing. Will you be staying for dinner?"

I was stunned. This guy's mother seemed incredibly sweet, and she was talking about his as if he was a ten year old. The whole situation made me extremely uncomfortable and only made me want to escape quicker.

"No, sorry. I have to run some errands this morning, but thanks for the offer." I said, not waiting for a reply from Monica. I waved behind me and headed out the backdoor.

When I reached the alley I stopped and caught my breath. God, the shit I get myself into. I walked at a leisurely pace towards the end of the block before hailing down a cab. When the cab pulled up I dug in my pocket and took out the small piece of paper with Tyler's number on it. I shook my head playfully and scoffed a little. With a slight grin I crumpled the paper up and tossed it into the steel garbage can next to the street and hopped into the car.

*

When I got home I took a shower almost immediately. I needed to clean myself up, both mentally and physically. After a change of clothes and a quick shave, I wandered around my condo, unsure of what I was going to do.

Tyler was right about one thing, I did take the rest of the week off from work. I hadn't exactly made any plans outside of my escape, so now that I finally was free of the awkward situation I was completely clueless as to what I would do that day.

After about ten minutes flipping through Netflix and finding nothing that grabbed my attention, I decided I should go for a walk to Steepz and pick up a coffee. I promptly grabbed my coat and made my way out.

The green door closed behind me with a familiar ring as I walked into the coffee shop. The smell of dark roast beans filled the air along with the sounds of light chatter and cups clinking.

I waited in the line for about two minutes; it seemed to be going a lot quicker than the last time I was here. Mark must be learning quick, I thought.

As the line pressed on and I inched closer towards the front counter, I felt my heart rate begin to speed up, and my hands get a little clammy - a foreign feeling to me, and not something that happened a lot. It was then that I knew this boy was something else.

When I finally stepped up in front of Mark, I was once again met with the same awe struck sensation.

Mark stood at about 5'8, his hair was full and fluffy, falling into his face nicely. The visor he wore wasn't hiding his eyes this time, and they were large and glistening with a nervous energy as he greeted me once again.

"Hey there. Caramel macchiato, right?" he questioned me.

He even remembered my drink, wow.

"Uh, yeah." was all I could mutter. I'm such an idiot.

"Sure thing. $3.49 please." he said, grinning at me. I melted into myself, staring at his olive skin and perfect complexion.

I smiled and slid my credit card to him. He picked it up and inserted it into the debit machine, then turned away to one of his co-workers while I punched in my PIN.

As he turned away, I was able to catch just the faint outline of his ass. It was cute; as it hugged his pants, it outlined the cheeks enough to get a picture of what was below the fabric. A walking definition of a bubble butt, if I ever saw one.

I sat there, dumbstruck, and nearly forgot to put my PIN into the machine before a lady behind me nudged my back. I found myself daydreaming about Mark, and what it must be like to touch and feel his naked body. But the most curious thing was that I didn't exactly want to just have sex with him. Of course, that was on my mind, but for once I felt a different feeling - a feeling I didn't quite know how to explain.

Sitting there in the Steepz lineup, staring at this stranger and nearly frothing at the mouth, I found myself falling in lust with Mark. I felt a deep sense of territoriality over him - I wanted to protect and care for him. How odd, that a boy who I have barely talked to is able to make me feel this way.

"Can I get a name for the cup? Sorry I didn't ask last time." Mark said in a husky yet shy voice.

"It's Jackson." I said confidently, shooting him what I imagined was my warmest smile.

"Here you are." he said back, sliding a hot drink my way.

I grabbed the drink and nodded, turning away reflexively. I made it halfway before I paused and turned back to him.

"Uh-" I sighed. "Just one thing. When are you off today?" I couldn't believe my own voice was forming these words. What the fuck was I doing?

"I'm off at 2PM today. Why?" he said, looking a little apprehensive.

"I was wondering if you maybe wanted something to eat, or to go watch a movie?" I immediately blushed, and regretting even opening my mouth at all. Why couldn't I just stop?

"Uhm" he huffed, letting out a massive breath of air. "I dunno. I'm sort of, like, busy today." Mark scratched his head and gave a large and awkward half laugh.

"Oh, right. Yeah, no problem. Maybe another time." I said, nearly choking on the ball that was forming in my throat.

I didn't wait for a response before I turned away and sped walked out of the shop. I wanted to create as much distance between myself and the disaster that I had just created.

When I got back to my apartment I nearly slammed the door off its hinges and threw myself onto the couch, smothering myself in the nearest pillow I could find. Screaming into the grey cushion I felt wave after wave of embarrassment and disappointment wash over me. Why couldn't I have just kept my goddamn mouth shut? Since when does Jackson Wang ask anyone out, and in a coffee shop nonetheless?!

I probably ruined any chance of dating Mark now, and probably any chance of being his friend at all. How am I supposed to go back to the shop now? Oh god, I'll have to drink Starbucks now. What if he laughs at me next time I'm there?

The thoughts coarse through my mind at a million miles a minute. I feel my head getting heavy with stress.

In an attempt to calm myself down I popped an Advil into my mouth and retreated to my bedroom. I shut the blinds and turned the lights off, hiding myself under the covers like a child that was scared of the bogeyman. Except this time the bogeyman was me and my impulsive and reckless behavior - and there was no way of hiding from it, not even under my warm blankets.