CHAPTER 41
The Redhead
"So, what's it like living with them?"
Mark looked up from the stack of fries he and Maria were sharing. For a moment, his eyes wandered as he pondered his answer. Though the restaurant they were in wasn't fancy, he couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed. The burgers, fries, and shakes were the only thing they could both afford without jobs. But to his luck, Maria didn't seem to mind, only eagerly chewing her fries and keeping a wide smile. "It's cool," Mark shrugged slightly, biting into his hamburger. "You know, I've been with them long enough now that I don't even think about it. It's like living in a human home," He admitted with a chuckle. "I even get chores to do around the base every so often."
"Chores, on a military base?" Maria asked curiously. "What in the world would they have you do on a military base?"
Mark laughed, leaning forward a bit. "Nothing big. I help dad polish his guns once in a while. Obviously always with his help," Mark explained, then thought it over. "Most of my chores I kinda always offer to do. Because I want to help them out," Maria nodded understandingly. "Last week the ambassador to France came in and I offered to help attend to his needs." He rolled his eyes at the memory.
"I take it there were a lot of needs," Maria laughed.
"Who knew one guy could eat so many M&M's," Mark laughed in return.
"It must be cool though," Maria replied thoughtfully, her eyes locking with Mark's. "Getting to meet all kinds of people from around the world. Have you gotten to meet the president yet?" Mark shook his head, that was a privilege he had yet to get. "Man, you should work on that. I bet getting to meet the president would be wicked cool."
Mark chuckled, but again, shrugged his shoulders. "Politicians are just like you and me," He admitted. "The idea of meeting them being overly exciting has kinda gone away. Though it is really cool to meet them too, it's just not THAT exciting when it happens all the time." He then added with a grin. "But most of them are at least nice. And none of them have been a jerk to me or anything. Minus Coulton, but he's just an official."
Maria nodded her head, playing with her burger a little. It was now that Mark began to panic, did she find him boring? He blushed and pushed his hair away. "I'm boring, I know," Mark bit his lip a little. "I wish I could say I was the most exciting son of an Autobot ever. But mostly I haven't changed," Mark replied honestly. "Other than learning about a whole other culture and lifestyle."
"They've taught you their culture?" Mark nodded as Maria's questioning. "Like their religions? Genders? Even the crazy stuff like sexuality and reproduction?"
Mark nodded in response, a smile on his face. "Dad's been teaching me as much as he can," He explained. "I know a lot but I'm still learning a lot too. Cybertron was just one of a whole system of cultures. Even if it was their home planet." Maria look fascinated by that. "He said if I'm going to be basically raised in two worlds. I should learn about the other half of it," He added calmly.
"That makes sense," Maria nodded back in agreement.
"What about you?" Mark asked, his eyes meeting hers. "What's your story? I mean I get the gist of it. But you haven't really told me everything."
Maria shifted a bit, and looked at her fries again. It was clear that it was awkward to some extent to talk about her story. "I was like you. I was raised by my dad, but unlike you... My mom skipped out on us," She explained, her tone betraying the pain she felt about it. "My grandma moved in with us to help dad take care of me. And since my dad is busy a lot of the time with work, she pretty much raised me." She explained.
"You and your dad don't have a close relationship?"
"We used to," Maria replied honestly. "But things got tough for dad in the last four years. Did I tell you I used to live in Chicago?" Mark nearly spat the coke he had just sipped up out of his mouth. "Don't worry, I don't hold it against the Autobots. They tried to protect us, and one of them even saved us during the fight." She explained. "But we still kind of lost everything in that battle, and dad just became so stressed..."
Mark was silent as he thought of his own father in that moment. James had become very stressed after he had lost his sister in Chicago, though probably not on the same level. He had still spent time with him, and loved him, but he worked more, and Mark would even say he became mildly depressed. "Yeah, the same happened with my dad," Mark shook his head. "He went from being this happy guy all the time to... Something else," He paused a moment. "He was still happy and vibrant around me. But a part of me always knew that Chicago did something to him," He admitted, his eyes moving aside. "He would yell at people a lot, and he'd get this look on his face any time I brought up the Autobots..."
He felt as Maria reached forward, and took his hand gently. Mark looked at his date quietly as she gave a comforting smile. "I'm sorry," Maria shook her head. "You know, I bet if he could see all they've done... He'd take it back," Mark nodded a bit. "You know, I'm glad I met you," Mark looked up in surprise. "I feel like you can understand me on a level everyone else can't."
"Me too." Mark nodded.
"And that's why this is so hard..."
Mark looked up at Maria, who leaned back, and took a sharp intake of breath. "What's so hard?" Mark asked. "Did I do something wrong?" He asked.
"No, no," Maria shook her head. "You're a really sweet guy. But... You're fourteen," Maria replied, honesty seeping through her voice. "And I don't know about you, but I'm just not feeling sparks," Mark frowned a bit, though he had to admit, he wasn't either. "Look, I'm eighteen soon anyway. I feel like if we keep this going without a real spark to start out with... It's not going to end well when I head to college," Mark nodded in understanding. "I want to be your friend, though."
"So you do think I'm just a stupid kid."
"No!" Maria shook her head. "You're a sweet, funny, and interesting guy. Hell, this is hard for me," Maria's eyes locked with Marks. "Some girl is going to be so lucky to be with you. But I don't think you're going to meet her if you're with a girl who's moving away in a year." She explained, a smile spreading on her face. "But I do like you, and if you were a few years older? I might have waited for that spark."
"Really?"
"Really," Maria stood to her feet and smiled sadly. "I'm going to use the restroom... I know you probably don't want to talk to me right now. If you want me gone when I get back, I can call my dad." She explained, looking at Mark sadly before starting towards the restroom in the back of the restaurant.
Mark sat there for a long moment, pondering what had just happened. He'd been dumped, flat out dumped and it sucked. But he understood Maria's sound reasoning, it just wasn't meant to be, not now at least. He ran his hand down his face as the waitress started her way toward him. "Rough night?" She questioned.
Mark looked up to face their waitress for the first time. Standing in front of his was a beautiful girl of fifteen years. Her red hair flowed to her shoulders, with her bangs partially covering her startling green eyes. She wasn't a super model, but by all accounts she was as beautiful in figure as she was in features. "You could say that," Mark muttered. "First date and break-up in one night."
"That bites," The waitress, whose name tag read "Alexis", seated herself in front of him. "Personally, I thought it was going pretty well from where I was standing. But hey, I guess it's like my dad says," She leaned forward. "Some people are just too blind to see a good thing," She explained. "Even if they might as well just slap them across the face and say "hi"."
Mark did spit out his coke that time, chuckling a little. Alexis smiled, her green eyes twinkling a bit as she did. "Thanks, that made me feel better," Mark said as he slowly stifled the rest of his laughter. "Hey, don't I go to school with you? We had English together, or something this year, right?" He asked in realization.
"Biology," Alexis replied. "I was the one that played the prank during the last class. You know, with the paint bomb?" Mark's eyes widened, and she only chuckled. "What, just because I'm pretty doesn't mean I can't enjoy a good prank?"
"You just didn't seem like the type," Mark admitted. "But I have to say, that was awesome. The look on Fitzgerald's face was priceless," He said with a small thumbs up. "I'm Mark, by the way, I don't know if we ever talked during the year." He stated as he held his hand out.
Alexis took it in response, a smile on her face. "Alexis Tanner," She told him, her smile widening. "So, tell me, is your "guardian" the corvette?" Mark raised an eyebrow. "What? I may have eavesdropped a little, or a lot," Mark smirked a little, but finally nodded. "Ho-ly crap, that's sick. Though personally, I always found the Ferari cooler, is he still around?"
"Look to the right of the corvette."
Alexis's eyes lit up as she saw Mirage, her grin widening. "That is sick," Alexis replied. "I would give my soul to have a ride in that car. Like you have no idea," She told him with a hint of hyperness. "Is it true that he speaks in Italian? My friend Aubrey says that's true, but-."
"Only when he's bored or mad," Mark shook his head. "But he has the accent at least."
"Wicked," Alexis replied as a bell sounded out, and she turned towards the owner; who waved her over. "Crap, that's my cue to get moving," She sighed quietly, taking a check out of her apron and a pen. "I guess I'll just leave this here with you. I figure you'll want to get yourself out of here before too long," She explained, scribbling something down.
As Alexis set the check down, Mark took note of the fact that a phone number was scribbled on it. He stared up at her, and pointed slightly. "Uh, I think you made a mistake," Mark pointed out.
"No mistake," Alexis winked. "Maybe you'll want to take me for a spin in that Ferrari sometime. Y'know, if you ever feel like it," She added with a smile, turning to see Maria was making her way back to the table. "You can pay up at the front if you wan.t. Dad'll ring you up there when you're done," She gave a final, flirtatious grin as she walked off. "See you later." She peered over. "Hey Maria."
"Hey, Lexi," Maria waved as she noticed Mark putting something in his phone. "So, should I call my dad now? It'll take him a few minutes to get here," She said, her voice filled with disappointment.
Mark first looked at the phone number he had put in his phone, and then at Maria. He simply stood to his feet, picking up the check and giving a kind smile. "Nah, come on, let's go get you home," Maria's eyes perked up as Mark replied kindly. "No hard feelings," He explained. "Still friends."
"Definitely still friends."
As Maria started towards the front, Mark took one last glance over at Alexis. The young girl met his gaze, and smiled, giving a small wave at him before returning to taking the order of the table in front of her. The boy smiled a little, and finally started after Maria. Maybe this night wouldn't end up being such a total bust after all.
...
A/N: Surprised? I kinda surprised myself here. I always knew with the age-gap, Mark and Maria would never be permanent. But I decided to introduce a long-term love interest for Mark, namely Alexis, earlier on rather than draw out a doomed relationship. So do expect to see more of Alexis as the story goes on. :)