#however i would argue that even then your first worry shouldnt be assuming that everyone you see could be hiding a knife trying to kill you

[transmasccofee]

kusuke is winning worst brother of the year award for sure

[anastasiaskarsgard]

X Marks the spot

Part 3

Brooke POV

Midsummer

Selling a house was so much more work than it seemed. Mark was a godsend. I don’t know what I would of done without him. I knew I had to keep my guard up tho.

Don’t get me wrong, he’s an absolute gentleman. Always respectful. Never tries anything. I wasn’t cautious of him because how he treated me, it was because the way people reacted to him.

Every time we ran to the hardware store, or grabbed a bite to eat, he knew everyone. I understand when you live in a smaller town it’s like that, however, it was either almost hero worship reaction... or hate.

And if it was a female, they were clearly not impressed with me.

But I knew that with a guy that all the girls like, and all the guys worship was dangerous. It was tough, cuz he was so gorgeous and tall, and oh my god, how his muscles look when he was working in the yard.... the man was delicious.

Plus, his creativity with his work. He added this cute cobblestone path and an adorable bridge that gave the yard an almost fairy tale feel. He built a few planters and moved some trees and flowers around and it was wild how different the house looked. It was so welcoming. You’d never guess it had the history it did.

I assumed they’d cleaned up all the blood after that terrible night. I thought they would of gotten rid of the bloody carpets and shower curtain. The toothpaste tubes and the bath toys. My little nieces nightgown and her slippers.

Nope. It was all still there, covered in blood. I wasn’t sure if it was my sisters blood or Nicks’ blood,but when I went up those stairs, I crumpled to the ground, and I couldn’t breathe. I had never had a panic attack in my life, but I knew that’s what had happened. I don’t know what I would of done, if Mark hadn’t been there to sweep me up, and take me downstairs.

I don’t even know if he realized I blacked out a moment. I just remember waking up to his worried face, and thinking; ‘He is so beautiful’. For a moment, that’s all there was, his face.

Then it all came crashing back down on me, and I needed to be held. And he did. He didn’t object when I straddled him. Who does that to a guy they just met?

It surprised me when I snapped out of it, and realized how intimately i was holding him. I didn’t feel any signs that he was aroused, and was slightly taken aback. What 20 year old has that kind of self control? Not to toot my own horn, but I’m not ugly, and he’s a guy.

(Flashback)

“Brooke? Baby?” Mark asked me as I straddled him, and nuzzled into his neck.

“Baby?” I asked incredulously, pulling back to look at his face.

He was blushing. He’s so fucking adorable.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t call you baby. You’re not a baby, you’re obviously a grown woman. And I’m a man, so calling you baby.... where the fuck was I going with this?” He looked like he might cry.

I wanted to kiss him so bad. We sat there, just staring at each other for several minutes. Finally I got off of him, but I can’t forget the look in his eyes when I did.

He looked lost.

(End flashback)

After that, he’d made me a list of things to go pick up while he single-handed cleaned everything upstairs and got rid of all the bloody stuff.

Fast forward to now; He showed up everyday for a few hours for the past month. Even after the yard was done, he saw it through to the end.

now the house was finally ready to be listed. I should be excited, but I’m terrified. I’ve grown to enjoy Marks company, and now today was our last lunch. There wasn’t anymore reason to see each other after today.

I nervously looked for his truck. What if he didn’t show up? he was 5 minutes late and he was never late. I ordered another drink and decided to wait a bit longer. I got to chatting with the bartender, and when I told her who I’m waiting for, she bought me a shot.

Some girls that were also at the bar knew Mark too, and they bought me a shot as well. And then I bought them shots, and then we decided fuck yes kareoke! Who cares if it was Applebee’s. We. Were. Smashed.

I didn’t care though, because I thought I’d been stood up, so I was on the mic serenading these bitches, when guess who finally walked in?

“Motherfucking Mark is here ladies! 43 minutes late!” I said into the mic so everyone could hear. Did I mention this was At Applebee’s?

Mark turned red and rushed over to me. “Brooke what are you doing?” He asked quietly, pushing the microphone down.

“Oh no no don’t touch my microphone Mark!” I sang into the mic. I looked around, and everyone was staring.

“Brooke you’re drunk at Applebee’s in the middle of the day.” He gritted thru his teeth, trying to block everyone else out.

“I don’t like your judgey tone Marky Mark! Not. one. bit.” I walked over to my new friends that were trying to avoid eye contact for some reason. “You see these glorious bitches right here? They know what a dick you are and they bought me drinks! And I bought them drinks! And then we drank more drinks and they told me all about you buddy!” I handed the mic back to Ashley or maybe Em, fuck if I know.

“Sarah. Ashley. Em.” Mark smiled at the girls and they all started giggling like idiots.

This was not the reaction I was expecting, so I stumbled back dramatically. “Wow wow wow!” I said nearly falling, but Mark caught me. “Hands! Pretty boy!” I yelled as I slapped him in the chest.

Mark rolled his eyes at me. “I think we need to go.”

“Wait wait.” The one named Sarah jumped up and wrapped her arms around Mark. “I’m drunk too.”

“What’s new?” Mark said venomously.

“HOLD THE PHONE” I yelled way louder than I’d planned. “You’re Sarah? Stalker Sarah? You cannot be that Sarah!”

“Excuse me bitch what did you just call me.” Sarah turned around to come at me but Mark grabbed her shoulders.

“BROOKE GO GET IN MY TRUCK NOW!” Mark ordered.

“You don’t have to yell. Jesus Mark.” I slurred. “Can I get a to go cup?”

“BROOKE. Now!”

“Fine!” I said as I grabbed my purse and marched outside.

The sunlight, combined with the fresh air made me realize I was really fucking drunk. I really shouldnt drive in this condition I thought and then couldn’t recall why I even came out here. I decided to go back in.

When I turned I saw Mark headed straight for me. He looked pissed. He also looked sexy. I bit my lip as he came closer. What was I going to say?

Not far behind him there was that girl from the bar chasing him. Just as I was about to tell him, he scooped me up and threw me over his shoulder.

“Oh my God Mark! This! it’s like the first day I met you! You fucking caveman!!! Your hair smells nice.” He opened his passenger door. Threw me in and buckled my seatbelt. “Fucking hero status.” I slurred as I booped him on his nose.

He ran around the front, and got in and started the truck. All of a sudden the back window busted out. I screamed and ducked.

That’s one way to sober the fuck up. Mark peeled out and I poked my head up and looked behind us to see my drinking buddy only wearing one high heel. I looked in the back and spotted a black crystal Louboutin heel. “Fuck yes!!!”

“What?” Mark asked..

“My first Louboutin!!! I always wanted a pair of these but they’re like thousands of dollars. Oooh maybe she’ll give you the other one to pay for your window, and then you give it to me and I’ll buy your window.”

“Are you really scheming in this condition?” Mark chuckled.

I turned my obnoxious drunk Brooke off, and tried to be serious as possible. “Mark I am not drunk at all. I just wanted to leave, and use the alcohol as an excuse to yell at you.” I was so full of shit. There were literally 2 of him.

“Why would you want to leave with me?” Mark asked with one eyebrow up and the cockiest smirk on his gorgeous face.

“Because you’re going to take me to your house right now, and you’re going to fuck me into oblivion.” I settled back in the chair staring straight ahead. That was the craziest, bravest thing I’ve ever said. I couldn’t look at him. I was being cool Brooke. Unfazed Brooke. Confident Brooke. Slutty Brooke.

“Wow. Ok. Can’t argue with that.” Mark said as he grabbed my hand and laced his fingers through mine.

Holy shit, this was happening.