M A R L E Y S • P O V

"Marley! Pizzas here," I heard Dad call.

I stood up from my desk, abandoning the English reading response and heading out towards the aroma filled kitchen.

"Yum, I smell pepporoni," I salivated as I opened a box sitting on the countertop. Dad retrieved some plates from the cupboard just as Andrea skipped in to the kitchen. We piled our plates up with pizza and sat down at the table together. I loved that we ate together as often as we could. It was something that I missed out on at boarding school and I didn't realise how much I loved it.

"So I have some exciting news!" Andrea sang as she clapped her hands. "I got a job!"

"Honey!" Dad paused before he bit into his apricot chicken pizza. He smiled with such pride and I could tell that it meant a lot to Andrea. "That's fantastic news."

"That's awesome Andy," I agreed, taking a bite of my pizza. "What's the job?"

"It's a reception job at a magazine. Apparently like an hour before I went in, the current receptionist handed in her resignation, effective immediately. So they gave me an interview to save time advertising the job, and I got it!" She beamed. "I start tomorrow."

"Gee's, if only it was that easy for everyone," I mumbled.

Andrea and Dad nodded in agreement. There was no denying that she was blessed to have stumbled upon something so fast. And at a magazine no less. Perhaps if she stuck it out for a while, she'd be able to set me up with an editor after college.

I turned to Dad and prepared to ask him what had been on my mind for most of the afternoon. "So, Dad, I was curious. If someone, enjoyed boxing, like they were into the sport, would that competition on Saturday be of interest to them?"

Andrea squinted her eyes at me with an obvious suspicion.

"Oh yeah for sure," Dad said, wiping his hands on his napkin. "Its a heavy weight championship, its a big game in the boxing world. A boxing enthusiast would definitely be interested in a game like that."

"I was wondering, if maybe I could have those other two tickets for Saturday night?" I quietly asked. "My friend really likes boxing. I thought I would give them to him."

Andrea's face lit up and she almost bounded out of her seat. "It's for the cute guy isn't it?!" She squealed and claps her hands. "It totally is!"

She was right. She had a cunning wit about her and she picked up on these things far too well to be normal. But still, I ignored how she hummed with excitement and focused on waiting for Dad's answer. Josh was a boxer so I figured he might appreciate the tickets. I wasn't entirely sure why, but I just felt the need to do something nice for him.

"You can have the tickets Marley, that's not a problem," Dad smiled.

"Thanks Dad."

At school the next morning, I pulled my French text book out of my locker and shoved it into my back pack. Before I zipped it up, I checked the time and realised that I still had a few minutes before homeroom, so I retrieved the latest Jodi Picoult novel that I was reading and leaned against the locker while I picked up where I left off.

"Jenny Gilbert looks so fat in that sweater, someone teach her how to dress."

I repressed an exasperated sigh and tried to block out Dehlia and Hannah's loud gossiping.

"So, did I see you arriving with Josh and Blake today?" Hannah said with scandal in her voice.

Okay, it would be a lie to claim that I wasn't listening just a little. A moment passed before Delhia said anything. I kept my head down, not wanting them to realize that I was listening as I kept my eyes scanning over the book in front of me, without actually reading any of the words.

"Yeah," Dehlia finally said in a loud whisper. "I was with Josh this morning, if you know what I mean."

Hannah gasped as Dehlia giggled. I tried to fight the disappointment from crawling through my vains. I had no right to be disappointed. Josh and I had, had nothing but a few friendly exchanges. Yet the thought of him being unavailable stung a little bit, especially considering that it was Dehlia that he was seeing. I shouldn't be surprised though, what Dehlia wants, Dehlia gets.

I pushed all of the feelings aside. Josh was out of my league, simple as that. I didn't know why I let myself even fantasize about anything happening between us. The bell rang so I snapped my book shut and sulked off to french. 

I had forgot to pack a lunch this morning, so I hopped the cafeteria line and bought some wedges and a drink. I quickly made my way to the far corner table. . . as far from the 'cool kids' as I possibly could. They were all standing around the two front tables being loud and obnoxious as usual. I sat down and opened my book, slowly nibbling through lunch.

Reading was a shield for me. It not only assisted in opting out of social situations that I didn't want to be apart of. But it took me to a far better place. A place where I could delve into an alternate universe. Characters joy could be mine. Their romance could be mine. Their strengths, their triumphs. I could live vicariously through a story that I knew would have a happy ending.

"Hey Thompson," I glanced up to see Josh pulling out a chair before he sat down next to me.

"Uh Josh?" I scanned the space around us before my gaze fell back on the gorgeous dark haired boy. "What are you doing?"

He gave me a puzzled stare as I hesitantly peered over to where Dehlia, Blake and the rest of them were standing. Some were shooting me evil glances, some just looked confused and others weren't paying any attention at all; most likely not consumed by trivial high school matters.

"Sitting," he slowly answered, his palms face up as if to say 'what the hell does it look like.'

"You're kind of risking your reputation by sitting there," I informed him with a nervous laugh. "They look pretty annoyed."

I gestured my head towards his friends. Josh turned and looked at what I was referring to. His shoulders dropped before he turned back to me and rolled his eyes. "I really don't care about my reputation," he said with finger quotations. "Honestly, do you think that I would talk to you in private and avoid you in public?"

I broke away from his eye contact and bit on my lip with embarrassment. That was kind of a rude assumption to make about him. He was surprising me more and more each time we spoke. He was different. That's for sure.

"Besides, the popularity thing is purely by association, you know, because king Blake over there is my cousin," he scoffed.

"What?!" The shock in my voice was obvious.

He and Blake were cousins? It made sense I suppose, he did say that he lived with his cousin and they had been hanging out since school started. I just assumed that they had been friends before he left.

I suddenly felt a little bit nervous about the whole situation. What if Josh and Blake went home and laughEd about loser virgin Marley? What if this was just some joke, 'make friends with the loner and report back to us after?'

No? Surely he wouldn't do that.

"Yeah," he sighed, acting as if it was no big deal. "That's the only reason that I'm popular," he used the finger quotations again.

"Yeah and because you're hot."

The words fell out of my mouth before I could physically stop them and I froze, staring down at the table top and cursing my big mouth as Josh grinned. Ugh that grin, that perfect gorgeous grin. He frazzled my brain so much that I had forgotten how to think before I spoke.

"Thanks," he winked.

I cleared my throat and gave him a tight smile. I needed to change the subject so I quickly spoke again. "So you're seeing Dehlia?"

Okay, that wasn't really any better as far as conversation starters go. He knit his brows together, a frown forming on his lips and all I wanted to do was disappear into a hole.

"No, why would you think that?"

"Oh she just said something this morning to one of her friends," I left the explanation vague.

He rolled his eyes and leaned back in his chair. "She was at our house this morning, something about needing to get a top that she left in Blake's room months ago. Blake told her to get a ride with us," he shrugged. "Dehlia is definitely not my type."

I began to wonder what his type was. Was he not into blondes. . . perhaps he preferred brunettes?

"Oh!" I suddenly remembered the tickets that I had for the boxing match. "I have something for you!"

I unzipped my bag that was laid out on the table in front of me and slid the two tickets across the table. He picked them up with a small puzzled smile. His eyes scanned the words for a moment and then he picked up the papers, his face growing in excitement.

"Front row tickets to the heavy weight championships?!" He flicked his face towards me, his eyebrows raised and his mouth ajar. "You're giving me these?"

I nodded

"That's amazing Marley, thank you!" He was leaning his elbows on the table, still staring at the tickets with pleasant surprise. "Why are you giving me these?"

"Oh I won them, online," I lied. "I figured you could use them since you enjoy boxing, unless you already have tickets," I internally face palmed, having only just considered that a possibility.

"No I don't," he said shaking his head. "They sold out before I arrived in the country, only way to get them was to win them through radio stations and stuff like that."

"Oh, well, there you go then," I chirped clasping my hands together, a warm feeling spread through me at the fact that he seemed so genuinely excited about it.

He gave me one of his broad smiles. The one that touched his eyes. After a moment, his face became thoughtful before he glanced away. Clearing his throat, he started to shift in his seat. He almost seemed. . . nervous? Something I hadn't seen on him before. Looking back at me, he took a deep breath.

"So I'll pick you up at seven then?"

I was momentarily confused, until I realised what he was suggesting.

"Oh, no, Josh, you don't have to take me just because I gave you the tickets! Take who ever you want!"

"I want to take you," he locked his eyes on mine. There was no humour in his voice or playful grin on his lips.

I straightened up a little and felt an unmistakeable thump in my chest as he pierced me with a sincere gaze. "You. . . want to take me?"

"Yes, I want to take you," he still looked as serious as he had before. "As in a date, I want to take you on a date."

What the fuck?

I didn't know what to say, I just stared at him with my mouth hanging open like an idiot. I started glancing around the room quickly. Was this a joke, was someone hiding with a camera, ready to punk the loser getting asked out on a date by the schools most gorgeous senior. I looked back at Josh, his eyebrow was raised, waiting expectantly but patiently for an answer.

"You want to take me out on a date?" I asked pointing at my chest. "Is this a pity date? Or a joke?"

"What?" His eyes became wide but he still watched with a gentle nature. "Of course not. I like you, and I want to get to know you more. That's how people do it right? Go on dates? I saw this opportunity just now and I thought I would take it. So would you like to go on a date with me?" He almost looked nervous that I would say no.

I took a deep breath and nodded. "I would love to go on a date with you."

I held my breath, waiting for the laughing and mocking to start, waiting for someone to jump out and scream with hilarity when he tells me that he would never date someone like me. But it didn't happen.

Josh grinned triumphantly and his shoulders relaxed. "Well, awesome," he tapped on the table top. "I'll pick you up then."

"Ye— yes— yeah, that sounds good," I stuttered, tucking my hair behind my ear as I smiled at him. He held my gaze and pushed his seat back as the bell rang. The moment was over far too soon.

"Cool, so I'll see you saturday," he snapped his fingers before pausing with a thoughtful expression. "Oh well, obviously I'll see you before then. School and all," he chuckled.

I stood as well and slung my backpack on. "Actually yeah, we have Chemistry now."

He let out a deep laugh and put his hands in his pockets. "Alright, so its not one of those moments where we make the plans and I walk off with a bounce in my step while you sit there and grin ear to ear?" He said with a cheeky smirk on his face.

I couldn't help but giggle at his adorable pout. "Not this time, no," I said as we made our way out of the cafeteria and towards our chemistry class. Of course, I was still grinning ear to ear.

I sat at my desk that afternoon, doing some editing for the paper when I heard the front door shut before Dad sang out an enthused greeting.

I hadn't been able to stop thinking about Josh since he asked me out on a date. I just couldn't wrap my head around it. He was beyond perfect. I saw the way all of the girls in school stared at him. He could have any one of them, but he asked me out.

But I needed to ask Dad for a favour before I could get too excited about it.

As if sensing that I needed him, he tapped on my door and popped his head in.

"Oh good, Dad, I need to talk to you about something," I told him as I got up from my desk and gestured for him to come in. "Its about Saturday night."

He looked as though he had something to say but paused and let me continue, folding his arms across his chest.

"So, the guy that I gave the tickets to, well, he asked me to go with him, as a date."

He smiled when I felt a heat creep on to my cheeks. I was extremely open with Dad. I didn't keep things from him. But I hadn't had a conversation like this before. It felt a little odd but still safe.

"Its just, the thing is. I didn't tell him that you gave me the tickets. I kind of said I won them. And it just might be kind of awkward to sit next to my Dad, on our first date," I spilled the words so fast it was almost in another language. "So I was wondering if I could just pretend I don't know you for the night."

I gave him a tense smile, hoping that I wouldn't hurt his feelings. He put his hand on his chin, looking thoughtful while he scratched the short stubble around his jaw. "That probably won't work sweetheart," he mused with a sigh.

"Of course it will, he hasn't met you yet. And when he does finally meet you. . . well we can just cross that bridge when we come to it."

If we come to it. Assuming that he'll meet my father was getting a bit ahead of myself.

"Honey I'll just swap my tickets with someone else, it won't be hard since they are front row," he said, clapping his hands with satisfaction. He seemed proud of his solution but it just caused me to feel awful. 

"Oh no Dad! You don't have to do that."

"I don't think it will work any other way."

"Why not?"

"Because I think that I just met him a minute ago when he knocked on the door. Josh, isn't it? He's waiting in the living room for you," he said it with mild amusement.

My heart started to speed up. What was he doing here? I suddenly connected that when I'd heard the door before and Dad saying hello he had been answering the door; not arriving home. Which I should have realised so much sooner considering that he was home before I was.

How am I so slow?!

"Are you going to stand there like a statue or go out and see him?" Dad brought me back to reality and I quickly dashed past him, muttering obscenities as I went. Once again, I felt ambushed in my own home. But it was exciting nonetheless.

In the living room, Josh was standing beside the front door, gazing over the framed family photos on the wall. There's so many of them in most rooms of the house. Andrea does most of the decor. Well she did before she got a job. I cleared my throat and felt it close up again when he turned to me and flashed his show stopping smile.

"Hey Marls."

"Hey, what are you doing here?" I gently questioned.

"I was just about to go for a jog, wondered if you wanted to join me?" He crossed his arms over his chest. He was wearing grey sweats and a fitted long sleeve black top that hugged his muscles. I had a feeling that he could wear a plastic bag and he would look delectable.

"I don't jog," I grimaced, thinking about how pathetic that sounded. But I left out the rest of what I had been thinking. Which was that I especially do not jog in front of people, let alone, guys as good looking as him.

He laughed. "What about walking? Do you do that?"

"I guess I could manage a walk," I sighed as though the thought alone exhausted me. The joke earned me another of his splendid laughs and I revelled in the sound.

"Great. Shall we?" He gestured for the door.

"Just going for a walk Dad," I called out.

Dad yelled back an okay from the kitchen and we headed out the front door. 

As we walked, we talked about light topics, school and projects. He asked about the school paper and I told him what being the editor entails. He told me about what school had been like in Australia. He was a little vague about it, I got the feeling that he didn't really want to talk about his time there; I didn't want to push him though.

The conversation flowed easily between us. We ened up walking in to a small clearing that resides down a bush track, it opened up to a large open space of grass and trees with a little river that flowed down beside a bank and past the trees on the other side of the space. There was a rustic little gazebo just off to our left and Josh steered us towards it.

"This place is beautiful," I admired as we walked into the gazebo.

"Yeah I used to come here a lot before we moved," he smiled as he looked around, his face serene and relaxed. "So how's that article for Dehlia coming along? Still refusing to send it to print?"

I leaned against the wooden railing and shrugged. "Not as long as she's still being a horrible bitch. The intimidation. The names. It's not like I'm jumping at the chance to help someone who's made my life pretty unpleasant so far."

"Yeah I get that," Josh scratched the back of his neck. He almost appeared nervous again. "People can be pathetic."

"That's an understatement," I scoffed. "I mean Virgin Marley. How could they not have come up with something more creative?"

Josh groaned with embarrassment. "I was hoping you hadn't heard that one. It's childish. There's nothing wrong with being a virgin."

"Oh," I tucked a piece of hair behind my ear. "I agree. But I'm not. A virgin I mean."

Josh's eyebrows quickly shot up, but he tried to hide the look of shock from his face. It really wasn't anyone's business whether I was a virgin or not. But I also didn't want to lie about it and let him think that I was when I wasn't.

"That's fine too," he quickly nodded and I blushed with light laughter. We were both feeling a bit awkward.

So I explained. "It was just one guy. When I was fifteen, in boarding school, I didn't have my Mother or sister around to give me advice on clothes or make up. So I was a little clueless. But I had a crush on this guy, I really liked him actually. But he had no idea I existed.

"Anyway, my friend told me, if I wore the right clothes, and did my hair and make up a certain way, he'd notice me. So I started doing that, and I actually really enjoyed it! I liked getting dressed up and putting make up on. It worked too, he started talking to me and flirting with me," I took a deep breath. I hadn't talked about this in a while. Josh watched me intensely. Hanging on to every word I said. "So eventually you know, we.. had sex. A few times, until he decided that he was bored of me and started sleeping with my best friend."

Josh's face fell as he looked away.

"I was pretty devastated, but not just with him, with myself. I had put so much effort in to changing my appearance to get someone else's approval and he had just used me. I promised myself after that, I would never conform to society's standards just to get someone's attention, ever again. If a boy ever wanted to be with me, it'd have to be for me. I won't lie though, its been pretty hard, because as I found out, no one really likes my plain old natural self."

Josh turned back to me, a look of sadness still on his face.

"But then you asked me out, and well, I don't know what that mean's exactly. But it gave me a little bit of hope."

His features changed into something that I couldn't really describe, wonder, awe. I couldn't quite tell. "Marley, I like your intelligence. I like the fact that you have passion for things other than clothes and gossip columns. I like that when you read something you're interested in, your eyebrows are slightly raised and your lips are parted.

"I like how your voice raises an octave when you're describing a book you love to me, I like how when you talk about how annoying your family can be, you can't help but smile and laugh because that's exactly why you love them."

Josh had somehow ended up just a few inches away from me, his eyes roaming my face and landing on my lips. "I thought you were gorgeous the first day I laid eyes on you," He slowly raised his hand and cupped my face, his thumb stroking my cheek. My heart was pounding so loudly and I thought that he must have been able to hear it.

He glanced from my lips, to my eyes and back down to my lips again. "And I think the fact that you were able to share all of that with me and be completely honest, is so fucking brave."

Just like that, Josh's lips were on mine. My head began to spin as he moved his mouth, slow, gentle. There was no tongue and it remained soft but it almost knocked me over with how powerful it was. It felt right and my body hummed, slight with euphoria.

We broke apart after a long moment and his exhale fanned against me, his eyes were closed as though he was savouring how wonderful it had been. I let out a shaky breath and smiled as his lids flittered open and his eyes found mine. He grinned and planted a kiss on my forehead.

"Sorry, I was just dying to kiss those lips from the moment that I saw them," he murmured, his thumb grazing over the bottom one.

It was hair raising. . . his touch, it was igniting, setting fire to my body. I had never responded to someone like that, ever.

"You're something else Marley," his hooded eyes scanned my features. "I can't wait to get to know you more."