Marc�s Tale

 

By Staine

 

Act iv

 

My head is battling with my heart

My logic has been torn apart

And now it all turns sour

Come sweeten every afternoon

 

Sway

Bic Runga

 

Unless I get some sort of brilliant inspiration, assume this is the final chapter of Marc�s Tale. Oh, Marc will still be around pulling random cameo appearances in other things but the days of him being in the spotlight are probably over. I�ve done pretty much all I wanted to do with him as a main character and short of making him gay or getting him to screw animals (neither being even remotely palatable options) there�s nothing else I really wanted to do that concerns him and him alone. He was never going to be all powerful or take over the world anyway� Hope you�ve had as much fun in his world as I�ve had writing it.

 

Oh, and just to make things a little less confusing, single quotes (�) enclose stuff that Marc�s saying to himself and if the next paragraph begins with italics then that�s the other side of his brain answering the �first half�.

 

 

It was one of the few times Chalmes was absent and no substitute teachers were available to oversee the class. There was a semi-important math test in two days so a couple of the more earnest hopefuls had their noses buried in their textbooks but they were a small minority. Most of the class was more interested in discussing music, movies, the latest social gossip or anything else, that, by no stretch of the imagination, could be considered as academic criteria.

 

Marc frowned. �I still don�t get it.�

 

�That�s because you�re not paying attention!� Allen said haughtily as he rolled his eyes in feigned exasperation. �Now look here, this thing�s supposed to be in 3D, yeah?�

 

Marc nodded. �So?�

 

�So you tone blind twit, that bit there has to be shaded. From what you�ve already done, the light source is here,� Allen pointed to a spot on the page, �and coming in this way so that means that this bit is going to have to be darker than that bit and you�re gonna have to apply a bit more smudging down along there.�

 

�I think he�s right.� Alec volunteered his unsolicitous opinion. �But then you�ll have to do that bit as well.�

 

Marc glared at the pair of them with barely concealed loathing. �What? Have you two suddenly become art connoisseurs?�

 

�Well, I can sorta spell �art��� Alex admitted, �But I do know what a woman�s body looks like and if you want to do this right, you�ll have to colour in that bit of the neck and halfway down the right shoulder...�

 

�First up, colouring is what Dougie does with newspaper pictures and crayons, this is called rendering.� Marc shot back acidly. �And secondly, if you�d brought your ugly face any closer you�d have noticed these fine lines here,� acidity took on an icy quality, �over the neck and shoulder, that mark out where I need a darker hue. At the moment I�m using 2B and B lead combo, for those bits I�m gonna have to switch to 4B and smudge it with talcum powder and a cotton applicator.�

 

An amused tone, definitely female, interrupted. �Hmmm, naked girl again.�

 

All three looked up to see Andrea standing before Marc�s desk, her eyes on his sketch. �Not bad Marky, who did the modelling?� She asked innocently batting her eyelashes at him.

 

Marc stared back at her, irritated by the slight reddening of his ears. �You know damn well who did the modelling.� He hissed feeling strangely distressed. There was an odd queasy sensation forming in the pit of his stomach.

 

Allen sniggered loudly while Alec sported the barest hint of a grin. Marc wasn�t half-bad with lead pencils and it was obvious at a glance who his model had been but they were perceptive enough to notice his awkwardness and malicious enough to add to it. Alec gave Allen a covert nudge and Allen, taking the hint, glanced at the windows and then cocked his head to one side while taking great pains to appear to be studiously noting the effect light had on Andrea�s features.

 

�Yeah dude, and see how-� he reached out, cupped Andrea�s chin and turned her head slightly. �See how the light hits this side of her face and where the slight shadow of her nose sits? And then you�ll have to darken the��

 

�Oh fuck off, the lot of you!� Marc snapped looking particularly flushed as he slammed his sketchpad shut.

 

�Fine.� Alec shrugged. To Allen, he said in tones designed to convey hurt, �C�mon mate, I can see our honest constructive criticism isn�t appreciated here. Let�s go honestly criticise Dougie. He�s not nearly as vulgar with his comebacks.�

 

�That�s only because no one�s taught him to say �fuck off� yet!� Marc called out after them.

 

�Why lover, I do believe you�re blushing!� Andrea said leaning forward slightly. �Now what brought that on?�

 

Marc said nothing. He had no real reason to feel embarrassed, at least no discernable reason he could think of. It was just� what? He wasn�t normally touchy about his sketches as a rule because he didn�t really take them seriously and for the most part, he didn�t care what other people thought of them. The pencilled drawings were usually just a means to whittle away time. But if that was the case, then why was he feeling so irked?

 

�Was it because of me?� Andrea asked, her tone accusing.

 

Marc looked up as if he�d just been slapped. That felt a bit too close to home for his liking. Andrea�s voice had held a trace of anger and something else. It took him a torturously long moment to realise it was a mixture of panic, anger and uncertainty. The implications were dangerous and he had to sort this out then and there or risk an all-out confrontation.

 

�Course not!� He said quickly. �It�s just that I-�

 

�What?�

 

�Just that I don�t like taking flak on my work.� He lied defensively. �It�s got nothing to do with you.� The words came out sounding harsher than he had intended.

 

�Yeah it does.� Andrea insisted stubbornly. �How can it have nothing to do with me when the drawing was of me?� Her bottom lip was quivering slightly and Marc could just make out a light sheen of perspiration on her forehead. Andrea�s hazel eyes were locked on his and if anything, she looked more hurt now than angry.

 

What the fuck have I gotten myself into? He cursed inwardly. This was the first time he�d seen Andrea genuinely upset and troubled him more than he�d imagined it could. God, I�m getting soft in my old age!

 

�Well?� Andrea demanded. To Marc it was obvious her bravado was feigned. Her eyes showed the first hints of moisture and he couldn�t help wincing. If there was one thing he couldn�t stand, it was people crying. Not because he saw himself as a particularly compassionate person, but more because emotional displays embarrassed him and he thought they were best kept private. This was one of the few occasions where he didn�t want Andrea upset because�

 

He tried a little introspection. Because it�ll make me upset? The thought felt alien to him. If it was Callie, then okay, it made twisted sense, but Andrea wasn�t living with him, wasn�t related to him, wasn�t really what he�d call a close mate. Hell, she wasn�t even his girlfriend! Then why is her being hurt about something I really don�t understand feeling so shitty? He asked himself. Hell, why was I feeling shitty in the first place?

 

He tried to tick off points in his head. Kay, I don�t love her, at least I don�t think I do... That was followed with an inward slap on the head and one half of his brain asking the other what the hell love had to do with anything. Still, the part of his brain that suggested the train of thought was persistent: but what if you do?

 

�Yeah but aren�t I supposed to know if I was in love with her? I mean that�s logical isn�t it?�

 

Love and logic in the same area code? Give me a break shit fer brains! He answered himself.

 

�You�ve got a point Marc me lad, but seeing as we�re in triage at the moment, lets try to tone things down a bit and keep love out of the picture shall we? What if you just like her, you know like being fond of or� or having affection for��

 

Yeah, that�s a lot more palatable. He decided. Aydie�s nice enough when she�s not being a bitch� yeah, liking her isn�t so hard to swallow. Okay, I like her, so what am I supposed to do now?

 

�How the hell am I supposed to know? Tell me, when you had a look in the mirror this morning, did ya see a fucking shrink staring back atcha? Nope, didn�t think so.�

 

Cunt! He shot back and realised this argument was going nowhere. If he was alone, he�d happily drag it out for a while just to amuse himself but it had wasted several precious seconds and by the look on Andrea�s face, she was only moments away from hitting him, bursting into tears or both.

 

C�mon dumbarse, say something! The inner voice urged.

 

�Like what?� He demanded.

 

I dunno, just say something, anything, hell, tell her she looks pretty�

 

�It�s true, but I really don�t think she�s in the mood for that sort of crap at the moment.�

 

Well if you�ve got a better idea, I�m all ears.

 

�Remind me to give you a good kick in the nuts later you useless arsehole of an alter ego!�

 

Just then the bell rang to signify the first break. �The heavenly posse and the deities of righteous timing be praised!�  Both sides of his brain chanted in unison.

 

Marc reached out and grabbed Andrea by the wrist, �C�mon,� he said half leading half pulling her out the door. More than a few pairs of eyes watched them go. The public familiarity would undoubtedly be something discussed over the short break.

 

�Where�re we going?� Andrea asked looking momentarily confused.

 

�I dunno but someplace quiet.� He shot a quick glance at Alec who was a couple of steps behind him. �Dude, I need a-�

 

�Soundproof room where you�re not likely to be disturbed?� Alec asked tactlessly. Allen was turning bright red as he tried hard not to break out in an uncontrollable bout of giggling.

 

Marc shot them both a killing stare that should have fried them to a crisp had he been a mage and this was a D&D type of story. �Screw you sex-crazed hippies, I need to talk to her!�

 

�Yeah, sure mate, talk. Uh-huh�� Allen�s face split as his giggling broke through whatever miserable restraints he had employed to keep them in check.

 

To Marc, Allen looked like nothing so much as than a sniggering hunched over rodent and he wished he�d had a can of Zippo fuel to set Allen�s hair alight. Now that�ll be amusing, he thought to himself.

 

Alec glanced at Andrea and held her gaze for a moment as if reading something in her eyes. Then, turning to Marc he said, �Why don�t you try the music room? I know there�s a class in there for the seventh period but it should be free until then. Take your time, first class back is biology and I�ll see to it that neither of you will be missed.�

 

Marc nodded gratefully. Alec had always had a way of ensuring he was never missed in class. At first Marc had suspected he was blackmailing or bribing a handful of the teaching staff but lately for no reason he could put his finger on, he�d gotten the distinct impression it was more than that. Alec was keeping secrets too. The �wagging class� trick was something he�d have to get Alec to explain but that was something to discuss after he got himself out of his current mess. Still, however it worked, what was important was it worked and he was sure Alec could �arrange� for his absence.

 

Still holding Andrea�s hand firmly, he led her down the long hallway to the music room on the other end of the wing, his heart hammering furiously the whole time. This felt almost as daunting as the first time he�d gotten laid. Once inside the music room, Marc grabbed a stool and propped it under the doorknob before getting another two for Andrea and himself.

 

�Marc what�s all this about?� Andrea asked, her eyes glancing around the room and then the barred door.

 

�Privacy mainly.� Marc admitted looking sheepish. �I�m not a fan of public displays�� He paused, uncertain of how to continue and wished for nothing more than a little hole in the ground or a plane ticket to Antarctica. Andrea wasn�t making matters any easier by staring back at him levelly.

 

�Okay, shit, uh� see, it�s like this�� He bumbled along feeling like the world�s biggest dumbarse and trying to look everywhere but at her. �I� I mean I�� His face was turning red and an irritating itchy sensation was spreading across his face.

 

�What?�

 

Marc finally managed to look up at her. �I don�t know, I just freaked.�

 

Now Andrea looked strangely amused. Tucking a dark lock of hair behind her ear she said, �There must be a reason behind that?�

 

Marc bit his lip looking like a caged animal. �So the logic of Newton�s third law tells me but I don�t for the life of me know what it is. Things just felt weird which is weird in itself because I�ve never really minded getting corrections on my work if it�s from people who aren�t total idiots.� He rolled his eyes in exasperation. �Well, I can�t explain it properly but...� The words, starting out in an unchecked rush, trickled off abruptly.

 

Then that irritating inner voice returned unbidden: C�mon Marc, yew ken due it!

 

�Remind me to wear steel caps when I wreak your love life you fucking prick!� He told himself. Still, the inner prick had a point. He had to get it out and hope for the best.

 

Clearing his throat, he said, �Fucking hell� I like you okay! I really like you and things just felt totally screwed up back there. Don�t ask me to explain why I felt the way I did or ditto for my reactions because I can�t. I just didn�t mean to stomp all over your feelings okay.�

 

Andrea leaned back slightly, her expression unreadable. �Oh.� She said.

 

Marc, filled with unspeakable dread, just stared dumbly at her. �Great asswipe!� He told himself. �Thanks for totally screwing up my life.�

 

Then she smiled.

 

�         �            �            �            �            �

 

�Whaddaya reckon they�re doing?� Allen asked offering Alec his pack of Griffins. As was the norm, they�d snuck out one of the smaller back gates to have a quiet smoke away from all the usual authority figures. Smoking was banned on school grounds and the fact there were smoke alarms just about everywhere made smoking outside school the sensible alternative to sparking up in the toilets.

 

�Oh I imagine they�re having a quiet, very serious chat.� Alec replied after lighting his cigarette and exhaling a plume of smoke.

 

�Chat?� Allen laughed. �Whatever! Marc and Aydie alone together and all they�re doing is talking? I don�t think so. Ten bucks says if they show up for biology at all, we�re gonna see some tousled hair and dishevelled clothing.�

 

Alec frowned thoughtfully. �Somehow I don�t think so. Strange as it may well be, I think Marc may have unknowingly swallowed the hook while under the impression he was still only nibbling at the bait.�

 

�Oh course he�s swallowed the hook!� Allen snorted. �After Allison, Andrea�s about the hottest chick in Turnam State. What hot blooded male with a functioning dick wouldn�t have swallowed the hook?�

 

Alec shook his head in irritation. �No, you�re missing the point, I mean swallowed the hook as in hooked.�

 

Allen�s eyes widened in horror as comprehension dawned. �What, hooked as in hooked? As in emotionally hooked? As in wistful daydreams and singing in the rain hooked? As in butterflies and daffodil filled meadows and gay-arsed Enya-ish harp music, hooked? As in prancing down limp-dick lane fer cryin� out loud hooked? As in-�

 

�Yep.� Alec interrupted with a sad resigned smile. �And another one bites the dust.�

 

�Fucking hell�� Allen breathed, looking very shaken. �Jeez, who would have thought�? I mean Marc, the self-appointed reigning Lord the of Cold Heartless Evil Arseholes Association, of all people. Are you sure? I mean absolutely bloody sure? This is way too fucked up to be a laughing matter.�

 

Alec nodded, the barest hint of a mocking grin now appearing on his face. �Pretty sure. I could see it in Andrea�s eyes, and in the way Marc flipped when we started taking pot shots at his drawing� of her.�

 

�Bugger!� Allen breathed, still looking comically bug-eyed.

 

�         �            �            �            �            �

 

Marc pressed Andrea hard up against the whiteboard, his lips frantically seeking hers. She purred into his mouth as her fingers locked themselves behind his head and held him to her. Finally, out of breath Marc broke free and took small a step away from her. The queasy sensation returned as he drank in her features, the dark sultry eyes, straight symmetrical nose, the gentle swell of her slightly parted, pouting lips�

 

Unable to stop himself, he lowered his head and gave her a quick close-mouthed kiss and slowly pulled away again, his eyes locked on her face. Her smoky gaze met his and Marc was barely able to stifle a gasp. Besides the obvious physical need, he saw a certain something else in those beautiful hazel orbs. A something else that scared the living crap out of him because he instinctively knew his eyes held a mirror image of the same thing.

 

�I�� His voice sounded hoarse and the rest of the sentence seemed to be painfully lodged in his throat. Andrea�s lips parted and grateful for such a lush escape route, Marc promptly engaged them again.

 

What started out as a slow passionate kiss quickly escalated into an almost bruising demand for acceptance. Foreplay, something they both usually enjoyed was forced into the back seat. Andrea simply bunched her skirt up around her waist and yanked the crotch of her cotton briefs to the side. Marc, his trousers and boxers still tangled around his ankles, leaned into her, burying himself to the hilt in her warm embrace with a long drawn out hiss.

 

They were too hot to start out slow but despite the frantic pace, Marc could feel something more that just animal lust at play here. There was a certain almost passionate feel to their� fucking? No, not fucking. For once the word didn�t feel right.

 

This was more than just fluid transfers.

 

To Marc, the thought was as scary as it was invigorating.

 

He pressed his mouth against her swollen lips and after a long intense kiss that left him weak kneed and gloriously light-headed, buried his face into the side of her neck unmindful of the fact his forehead was bumping into the whiteboard in time with his thrusts.

 

Then without realising there had been any shift in their positions, he found Andrea leaning forward over the lectern that usually held the conductor�s music sheets, her uniform skirt still bunched lewdly around her hips. It came as no surprise however, that he was still behind her, still making lo� hold on a second, have things gone that far? A voice of caution cried out in his head. The thought lingered for a moment before it was brushed aside by more pressing concerns.

 

Andrea�s groans, soft at first rose alarmingly and Marc had to clamp his hand over her mouth against the chance of being overheard. He grabbed a handful of her hair and slowly forced her to turn her head slightly exposing the soft skin of her throat to his lips.

 

Andrea was the first to go, but unlike her usual very vocal orgasms, she merely shuddered against him, her eyes clenched shut as a low contented sigh left her lips. Then, before Marc could slop himself, he was flooding her already very wet passage with his spend.

 

�         �            �            �            �            �

 

Allen glanced at his watch. �That must be one helluva long talk dude.� He smirked careful to keep his eyes facing forward.

 

Alec waited until Chalmes was again facing the whiteboard before he whispered, �I imagine Marc would have difficulties finding the right words. All thing considered, the delay isn�t too surprising.�

 

�They�ve been gone for almost an hour now. Next you�ll be telling me he�s trying to recite all one hundred and something of Shakespeare�s crappy sonnets?�

 

�How would I know?� Alec hissed irritably. �Do I look like a frigging mind reader to you?�

 

Allen shot him a covert grin. �You can barely read a book, let alone a human mind. But in any case, the bet�s still on.�

 

�         �            �            �            �            �

 

Marc sat with his back to the wall on the non-descript industrial carpet of the music room, Andrea was curled up on his lap with her head resting on his shoulder.

 

�That was nice.� She cooed softly.

 

Marc found himself playing with her hair, idly rolling the dark silky locks into ringlets with his fingers. �This is nice.� He murmured enjoying the warm tingly sensation flowing through his veins.

 

�Mmmm, it is isn�t it.�

 

�Very, but we�d better get dressed.� He said with obvious reluctance. �It�s almost lunchtime and we�ve been here nearly one and a half hours.�

 

�Oh my God!� Andrea sat suddenly. �We totally blew off biology! Chalmes is going to have our guts on a stick!� Then a warm hazy smile floated onto her face and she nuzzled her forehead into Marc�s cheek. �Not that I mind so much now.�

 

�Forget Chalmes,� Marc said looking around nervously, �What about our lot? D�ya think Tracey and Allen and the rest are just going to let us slip off and not come looking?� They would too, he thought, the nosey bastards!

 

Andrea kissed him again, her lips lingering for a long delightful moment before she nodded in agreement. �In that case lover-boy, we�d best put some clothes on.� She got off his lap and reached out for her discarded skirt.

 

Marc watched her getting dressed without moving from his spot. �Um, Aydie, what about us?� He asked feeling a prickly wave of uncertainty flow over himself. The stomach ache was back with a vengeance and it took all his willpower to keep from trembling outright.

 

Andrea froze, her blouse only half buttoned. Any other time would have seen Marc�s eyes riveted to those perfect breasts but this time he was busy searching her face.

 

�There�s an �us�?� She asked keeping her voice carefully neutral as her eyes met his.

 

Marc forced down a particularly large lump clogging his throat. �I� I kinda� well, that is, I really, um, hope there is...�

 

�Then there�s an �us�.� Andrea beamed, her eyes surprisingly bright. She held her hand out to him. �C�mon, as much as I love looking at you in your birthday suit, I don�t think we can afford to walk out of here with you looking like that.�

 

�         �            �            �            �            �

 

Allen and Alec were lounging in the shade at their usual table on the far side of the oval.

 

�Just talking eh?� Allen smirked as Marc appeared, one arm possessively wrapped around Andrea�s hip. The pair had been missing for three periods and it was now lunchtime.

 

They had done a good job with their clothing but Marc�s tie was slightly askew and Andrea�s hair had an almost tousled look to it. Something she would never had allowed to happen normally. The most obvious giveaway however, was Marc�s idiotic grin and Andrea�s almost glowing countenance. The hickey peeking out just over her collar didn�t help their case either.

 

Alec waited until the pair was within earshot before glaring at them disapprovingly.

 

�Great, thanks to you two bloody lovebirds, I�m not gonna be able to afford lunch today.� He grumbled digging into the back pocket of his trousers for his wallet. �I hope my starvation at your expense weighs upon on your rotten consciences until you both find yourselves unable to live with the guilt and commit ritual fucking suicide.�

 

�Mate, you can curse them til ya teeth fall out, in the meantime, pay up.� Allen held out his hand expectantly.

 

Alec thrust a ten dollar bill at him and growled, �Here you greedy bastard, go choke on a sausage roll.�

 

�With the utmost pleasure,� Allen bowed mockingly before trotting off in the direction of the cafeteria.

 

�What was that about?� Andrea asked glancing first at Allen�s retreating back and then at Alec who wore a particularly disgruntled expression on his face.

 

�We were talking about what you two were doing.� Alec grunted without bothering to look up. �I said you guys had something you needed discuss, he bet me ten bucks all you�d be doing was exchanging DNA and there goes my lunch money.�

 

Marc was unable to contain his laughter but Andrea looked appalled for a moment before she too was giggling.

 

�I�m glad my plight amuses you.� Alec spat disgustedly. �A pox on both your fucking houses!�

 

Andrea tried to force a serious expression onto her face and failed miserably. Leaning her cheek against Marc�s shoulder she said, �Well we can�t have you starve on our expense, we�d feel absolutely rotten wouldn�t we Marky?�

 

�Not really.� Marc chuckled.

 

Abandoning the attempt to look serious, Andrea tried to look sympathetic and was only moderately successful. �Ignore him Alec, we�re heading off on our munchie fix anyway. C�mon, lunch is on me.�

 

Alec jumped up, grabbed Andrea by the shoulders and enthusiastically propelled her in the direction of food.

 

�You compassionate soul you,� he laughed happily. �You�re a legend Aydie, I love you!�

 

Marc had to hurry to catch you with them. �No, wait, hey hang on a second, you take that back right now you arsehole��