dancing with the devil

School was another story though. You were well aware of your boyfriend’s near paralyzing social anxiety. Hell, it was hard enough getting close to him for the first time, and if it wasn’t for Hanging around Nora, you might not even be where you are today. Besides, Having to factor someone else like a partner into the mix was hard when most of the time Mark was trying not to be perceived as much. That’s fair enough. He has an entirely different persona he doesn’t want anyone to know about. However, you thought it would be nice to see him a bit more comfortable being himself around people. Not a character like Hard Harry, but just Mark.

Friday came around, and you had made food plans with Nora and Janie. Mark met up with you at the school sign, hopped in your car, and he let out an exasperated sigh.

“What’s goin’ on, Love?” You asked, turning the key and pulling out of the student lot.

“Just drained, that's all.” Mark murmured back. He ran a hand through his hair, and pressed the back of his head against the headrest.

“That bad?”

“Yep”

“We don’t have to go out with the girls if you don’t want to. I’m fine with going straight to yours if that makes you more comfortable.” you were almost cut off with a tired hum

“No, I still wanna go. Talking to strangers, and interacting with people that I don’t know is what’s hard. It’s different with you and Nora n’ Janie. My social battery doesn’t go down as fast.”

“Good to know you’re not tired of me yet.” you joked.

“Lovie, you and I both know that can’t happen.”

You pulled into a bowling alley in the local plaza that had a pizza place inside. You already saw Janie’s car in the parking lot, and since it was just after school, and it wasn’t quite evening yet, the plaza wasn’t crazy packed. Once the car was parked, your boy pulled you in for a kiss, and exited the car.

You could spot Janie pretty quick just by seeing her from behind. Her long blonde hair was pretty unmistakable. A stark contrast to her more punk leaning girlfriend who was nowhere in sight.

“Hey guys! Still waiting on Nora. Detention again.” Janie shrugged “Should be here soon, though.”

Once you and Mark ordered up front, you returned to your table and talked with Janie for a while until a familiar red lipped face popped up in the window behind Janie. It startled you just a tad, and Mark smiled before Nora made a ‘shh’ motion and crept into the restaurant behind Janie as she was still talking and grabbed her girlfriend from behind the chair. Janie let out a scream that made patrons look toward the table, and the other three of you cackle.

“Surprise!” Nora said with a wink and a kiss to the cheek.

“Babe!” Janie hid her hands in her face and giggled. Nora plopped down next to her girlfriend.

“Sup!”

“What happened this time?” Mark asked.

“See, the art department got Creswood’s permission to put up a mural on the side wall near the senior lockers, and they put me in charge of the design, but as soon as it crossed into human rights territory, it’s ‘Vandalism’”

“Christ.” Mark scoffed. “It’s not even a problem with artistic expression anymore, this is human fucking rights they’re trying to take down!” you could tell Mark was getting heated, and the rest of the school was definitely gonna know about this by tonight. As the conversation went on though, you couldn't take your mind off an idea that popped into your head a little earlier.

You had a nice weekend with Mark. He had told everyone over a broadcast to start up a petition and do what they can to convince the school board to get the mural back. Once you were back at school on monday, there were crowds near the senior lockers, and you couldn’t help but smile at the little movement your partner helped stir. Speaking of, you saw Mark at his locker near the crowd, alone with an opportunity you were gonna take. The sound of the herd of students at the mural drowned out the sound of your charging toward your boyfriend’s back.

“SURPRISE!” you exclaimed as you tackle-hugged Mark from behind. He gasped, and almost dropped whatever he was about to put in his locker. For a moment, you wondered if you’d crossed a line until he started laughing along with you. You didn’t see Mark smile a whole lot at school, and seeing a grin on his face as he spun to meet your hug.

“Yes Y/N?” you pulled back a little, and gripped the sides of his jean jacket, thumbing the buttons.

“Look whatcha did, babe!”

“Yeah, well it wasn’t just me. Nora was the one who actually wrote out the petition, and gave it to Mazz to spread the word. I just mentioned it.”

“Give yourself more credit, love.” you pulled away, grabbing his hand and giving it a light squeeze before going to class. Mark didn’t know what he’d do without you at school, but instead of thinking about it, he smiled to himself, and finished packing his things.

The second time you hugged him was once school let out that day. You made sure you were a little late to your meeting point by the sign in the senior lot, and once Mark was waiting in sight, you crept up behind him, and threw your arms around his torso. His whole body tensed, and he turned with a look of mock exasperation.

“You’re gonna kill me one of these days, Y/N” You didn’t let up on the hug even as he faced you, and you looked up at his flushed face from his chest.

“What a way to go though.” you felt his chest rise and fall as he sighed.

“You’re right. Adorable heart attack? Best way to go out. Can’t fight you on that.” Mark kissed your forehead, making you smile before he managed to untangle you from his chest, took your hand, and walked to the car.

You studied for an exam at Mark’s later that evening, and ended up staying over. Homework and notes were splayed all over the various coffee tables, and you crashed on one of the bigger sofas, completely out. You had fallen asleep about a half hour ago, and it was only 11. Mark had been on the air for close to an hour reading letters and talking into the abyss.

“It’s been one hell of a night folks, but right now, all I wanna do is carry my wonderful partner (who's been sleeping like an angel on the couch) to bed, and give them hugs n’ kisses. Speaking of which, I’m gonna ask something of all my love sick listeners out there. If you have a partner, give them the biggest and most unexpected hug possible. Show them you love them! Make them jump, scream, kiss you, hit you, hug you back, whatever! I want to come to school tomorrow and see everyone pleasantly surprised by their partner. Fuck it! Doesn’t have to be your partner! Go up to someone you love! I don’t care if you’re in class, on the football field, or even fuckin’ detention! Give your partner a hug. I know I will.”

You woke up in Mark’s room the next morning feeling shockingly refreshed. Your boyfriend however, was nowhere in sight. You threw on one of his t-shirts and a flannel, pulling on your jeans from the day before. You took a moment to read a note on Mark’s door before leaving that read:

‘Morning, lovie! Had to meet with Emerson before school, food’s downstairs, see you later face-hugger ;) XO, Mark’

You followed through with the rest of your morning, left the house and made the short drive to school. 8:00 rolled around and you got out of the car. Mark usually met up with you to walk to 1st period, but he wasn’t there. You figured he could still be with Ms. Emerson but this wasn’t really like him to not give you more of a heads up. You didn’t get much time to think about it though, because once you turned a corner, you saw a boy from the tennis team approach his girlfriend from behind for a surprise hug. The sight made you giggle a bit. However it felt like a bit more of a coincidence when you glanced at a seating area under a tree nearby, and saw another girl aggressively embrace her partner as well. The more you focused on people arriving at school, everyone was tackle-hugging each other. You were so lost in the confusion and chaos that you were completely caught off guard by a pair of familiar arms that wrapped around your waist and lifted you almost a foot off the floor as you screamed.

“SURPRISE!”

“Mark! Holy shit!” it felt like all the blood in your body was everywhere and nowhere at the same time. You were ecstatic.

“I’ll admit it. All this is my fault.” Mark said in between kisses pecked on all sides of your head. You turned, beaming.

“I hardly know what’s going on, but yeah, I gathered.” You laughed.

“I love you so much, Y/N. I'm sorry I have a hard time showing it around people. I know how much you do for me. Wanted to return the favor a little more publicly, is all.” He turned you around and pressed a sweet kiss to your lips.

“Love you too, Mark. Don't apologize. even if you did give me a little heart attack.” you ran your hands through the sides of his hair as he leaned a tad into your touch.