one.
The scenery of autumn filled the disrupted ambience of the cafeteria-noisy girls gossiping, study groups murmuring lines of Shakespeare's various works, the loud THUD coming from trays slammed on to tables. "An ordinary day again." Audrey thought to herself.
At least until the cafeteria doors bursted open and found her boyfriend between them, knuckes bleeding with a black eye, glancing around the hall until he saw her. He gave her a glare, and she understood perfectly. She left the empty table with half-eaten sandwiches and ran towards him and rushed off through the crowded hallways.
"What did you do this time?" She snapped.
"I'll explain everything later." Marcus reassured her with a smirk.
They both got in his car. Nothing fancy, as Audrey would describe it. On the dashboard stood various figurines of DC comic book heroes. She'd recognize Batman and Superman in the center as she remained clueless with the rest. The car started, engine roared and they drove out of the parking lot and into the roads, wherever it will lead them.
"Well, I-uh got into a fight again." He said, breaking the awkward silence.
"Thank you, Captain Obvious." Audrey muttered. Marcus gave a chuckle, which she found the most adorable even in his condition.
"I really didn't do anything this time. I was going to have our usual lunch until one of those guys from the football team grabbed me from the back and beat me senseless and-"
Audrey placed a finger on his lip. She didn't want to interrupt him in a way he'd find insulting. But as for her request, Marcus zipped his lips. Audrey grabbed tissue and alcohol from inside the glove compartment and wiping the blood clean off his knuckles.
"Look." Audrey choked on her words. "I don't want you getting into messes like this again. Sooner or later our parents will be finding us. We can't escape this and you'll get in trouble again."
Marcus kept his eyes on the road, his jaw clenched and his teeth gritted, but his eyes showed fear and longing. Like he knew what was going to happen when he comes back home. He hated being told he was wrong, but with Audrey, he knew how to control his temper. His hands tightened around the wheel and she understood he didn't want to talk.
An hour later, Audrey found herself staring out at the buildings they pass. Her mind was far away from that car and she felt herself zoning out bit by bit. Marcus didn't feel so comfortable with the silence they had, so he asked the same question he'd ask Audrey every afternoon when they meet in the corridors.
"How are you doing?" He asked. Audrey regained the feeling of being human.
"Zoning out." She admitted. "I guess my mind just can't process anything right now."
Her stomach grumbled so loud that it made Marcus' laughing and snorting sound like a whisper. She looked away from him and stared back at her window, hoping he didn't see her blush.
Marcus couldn't find any restaurants or diners in any street they passed. A few blocks later, they end up in a pizza place near the corner. As he parked the car, Audrey hopped off fast and rushed to the Pizzeria and ordered the kind of pizza her appetite spoke of. They ended up eating inside the car while listening to the outbursts of his radio.
"Promise me you won't go into those things again? Audrey asked.
"I promise you. If I break this promise, I might as well break your heart." He said.
"You wouldn't want that to happen." She gave him a small kiss. Marcus closed his fingers except his pinky. A pinky promise- his most honorable act of trust. As Audrey's pinky intertwined with his, a promise was made. No turning back.
The back seat's leather felt rough on her soft skin, although she succumbed to the pain. Marcus stroked her cheek and kissed her softly. Audrey pushed aside the pizza box and scooted beside him. She felt herself being pulled closer to him as his soft lips was on hers and let herself drown in happiness.