Click.

I got up and headed downstairs, only to find Marcus heading up the same direction.
"Elaine went home?" I asked, not meeting his gaze.
"Yeah, she said something came up at home and wanted me to tell you that." He replied.

"Oh." Was my reply as I watched Rainie pad down the steps. His stare was unnerving, as if he was trying to see through me. When I tried to brush past him, he caught my arm and turned me around to face him.
"Why are you avoiding my eyes, Serene?" His voice was hard, I gulped.
"Cause you're too damn tall," I lied sarcasticly. "If I look at you, the light would get in my eyes."
He sighed and dragged me across the room, and onto the couch. He knelt infront of me and said, "You can look me in the eye now, right?"

Still, I couldn't bare to look at him.

His hand gently lifted my chin up, and stared hard into my eyes.
"Tell me what's wrong, Serene." He demanded.
"Nothing's wrong," I lied, trying hard not to waver my gaze from his.
"Come on, we've been childhood friends, you can't hide anything from me." He probed.

I just kept staring at him. Sure, I can't. but can he tell me how I felt?

For long moments, he waited, peircing me with his eyes, searching me. I bit my lip and looked away. He then slowly stood up, ever so briefly caressed my hair, and closed the door behind him. He's gone. I broke up into tears.

♥♥♥♥♥

Days passed by ever so slowly. Marcus didn't contact me afterwards. Maybe he just wanted to give me time to think, I tried to console myself. But it didn't really help at all, having Elaine always rushing up to me, babbling about her conversation with Marcus. I didn't know they had even exchanged contacts. There wasn't a single day without his name in it, and soon, I gradually got irritated. I couldn't stand it, it was like they were the ones who were childhood playmates.

Until one day...

"Serene!" Elaine called as I was walking to school.
"Hey Elaine, lemme guess, Marcus again right?" I asked as I waited for her to catch up.
She giggled in response, that was all l needed for an answer.

"You know..." She told me in a quieter voice. "I think that I..."
Then she broke off into a fit of embarrassed giggles.
I rolled my eyes, already guessing the answer. Elaine would always be Elaine.
"Yes yes, save your breath. I know, you think you like him." I looked off into the distance as I said it, trying hard to control the emotions that threatened to rise.
Again, she breaks off into another fit of giggles.

Third period, History.

"Serene..." She whined. "He ain't replying me!"
I rolled my eyes behind my book.
"And I thought you were always the calmer one. Anyway, he might be busy. He doesn't have his cellphone glued to his hand, y'know."
"But..." She stared at the screen of her phone, eyes solemn.

Then we suddenly felt a vibration.
Instantly, Elaine flipped open her phone, only to find out it wasn't hers. I then picked up my phone, wary of Elaine's prying eyes. Leaning away from her, I checked my message.

And my heart skipped a beat.

Marcus

Oh perfect, just perfect.

Hey... How hv ya been? Feeling btr? Elaine had been rather strange...

Halfway through the message I had thought he was actually worried for me. Then the topic abruptly jumped to Elaine. I sighed. Noticing Elaine was staring hard at me with hopeful eyes, I shook my head.
Not him, I lied through my eyes. She then fell to despair.

I'm fine... What's with Elaine? I typed back.

And so the conversation went on. About Elaine.

♥♥♥♥♥

Back at home, nothing felt better than lying on my bed, snuggling up to Raine, thinking of absolutely nothing at all. Well, before my phone rang, anyway.

Marcus

Argh, what now?

"Hello?" I answered nonchalantly.

"Serene? Hey..." His deep voice answered.

Before I got to open my mouth to speak, Marcus had shot off.

"Y'know, Elaine's actually pretty sweet. Sweet face and all. It seems like we could really get along." He laughed. "I think I kinda like her."

I think I just felt my heart stop. Like, literally.

"What?! But- But I thought you already had a girlfriend!" I exclaimed, stuttering.

"That was what I was trying to say that day..." He explained. "We broke up."

My mouth hung open, but no words seemed to be able to escape. When it seemed like I wasn't going to reply anytime soon, he went on.

"Do you think I'll get a chance with her? You'll help me, right?"

At this point of time, unfortunately, I was suddenly, utterly, sick of all this crap.

"Yeah, fine. Do whatever you like. You know what? Ever since you met her. Ever since you set your eyes on her, I felt nonexistant! All you guy talk about is each other! Serene! Marcus this, Marcus that. Serene! Elaine this, Elaine, that! You know what? I'm suck of this!" I cried, hanging up the phone with a snap.

Raine patted my cheek with her paw, and snuggled against my chest. It was then I realised that I had been crying. How long was this going to last?

Ooooh this sucks.