#justrightkpop

The first week of classes went by so quickly. Maybe it was because labs hadn’t started yet, or that I only had to go to two or three classes a day. Regardless, the week flew by and it was already Friday.

Amanda and I sat in chemistry (Who in their right mind thinks it’s a good idea to have college chemistry at 7:40 in the morning on a Friday?) chatting as we waited on Jackson to show up. “Are you going to Alpha Sigma Phi’s party tonight?” Amanda asked suddenly, excitement glimmering in her eyes.

Oh shit. I’d completely forgot that was tonight. “Yeah,” I sighed, “Jackson roped me into when one of his teammates who’s a part of AS Phi invited me.”

“Ooo,” Amanda giggled, “first week and you’ve already caught a frat boy’s attention. Not to mention he’s on the baseball team, too. I love this for you.” 

I laughed. “I don’t know,” I said, shaking my head. “I’ve only talked to him once and I got this kind of weird feeling after.”

Amanda cocked her head in confusion. “Good or bad?”

I didn’t get to answer. I was cut off by Jackson’s cheerful voice. “Ladies, I come bearing a new friend!” Amanda and I looked at Jackson and his said friend.

Speak of the devil.

Mark smiled and waved at me.“(y/n), you already know him. Amanda, this is Mark,” Jackson said motioning to the the brunette boy. “Mark, Amanda.” Once introductions were over, Jackson and Mark squeezed passed Amanda and I, slipping into the seats next to me.

“That’s him,” I mouthed to Amanda.

Amanda’s eyes widened, as she tried to hold back an excited grin. She looked back and forth between Mark and I before nodding her head vigorously. I rolled my eyes, heat rising in my cheeks. Jackson eyed the two of us as all of this happened. “What are you two not talking about and why am I not included?” he whined.

Amanda and I laughed. “Nothing,” I said. Jackson pouted, shooting me puppy dog eyes. Dammit. “I’ll tell you later, okay?” Jackson sat back in his seat, a satisfied smile on his face.

“Good morning class.” Like an angel sent from heave, our professor began class.

I don’t know what compelled me to do it, but I peeked over at Mark. My eyes met his brown ones. He smiled at me and winked. I felt my cheeks heat up and I quickly looked away, trying to suppress the my smile.

*     *     *

The day passed by fast and before I knew it, I was in my dorm chatting with my roommate and getting ready for the night. Thoughts of Mark continued to occupy my mind throughout the rest of classes. The glances and captivating smiles continued the entire chemistry class, leaving me with a smile on my face and a swirly feeling in my stomach. I hadn’t felt like this since sophomore year of high school. It felt good.

“Wait, how long have you known him?” my roommate, Allie, asked. I was confiding in her about my Mark Tuan predicament. Despite knowing her for only about a week, we’d become as close.

I hesitated, not daring to meet her gaze, and instead choosing to keep looking in the mirror as I clasped my necklace. “I met him Monday,” I said. Allie raised and eyebrow as me. I sighed, “I know, I know. I haven’t talked to him a whole lot either. I’m just as confused as you are.”

Allie leaned her back on her bed, and shrugged. “I don’t really know, (y/n). I mean it sounds like it’s just a surface level crush. I mean, it’s normal to be attracted to people based off of looks alone. Just be careful. Frat boys tend to be nothing but trouble,” she said, rolling her eyes at the lost part.

“Don’t remind me,” I groaned. 

I looked in the mirror one last time. At least I felt cute. My hair and make-up were done. Nothing glamorous, just enough to feel good. I’d put on my favorite black shorts, and a cropped grey tank top that showed a peek of stomach, but not so much that I was going to feel self conscious.

There was a knock at the door. “Come in!” Allie and I called in unison. Jackson walked in, a bright smile on his face and looking as stylish as ever. He said hi to Allie before looking at me. He gasped. “You look so good! Well, you always look good, but you know what I mean.”

I laughed and thanked him as I grabbed my keys and phone. When I turned around, Jackson was digging through my closet. Before I could ask what he was doing, he held up a black flannel. “Put this on he said. I don’t want you to get cold.” I smiled and put it on, saying bye to Allie before heading to the party with Jackson.

*     *     *

The house was already bustling with people by the time we arrived. I could feel my nerves getting the best of me. Jackson seemed to notice, too. He gave me hand a reassuring squeeze. “Hey, you know I’ll be there when you need me. Just find me or text me,” he said with a gentle smile.

I smiled and nodded. “Thank you,” I responded softly.

Jackson nodded. “Of course,” he said, his smile turning into a grin. “I’m sure Mark will take care of you, too.”

I rolled my eyes, my cheeks getting warm at the thought. “I barely know him.”

“Okay and? It’s obvious that he’s attracted to at the very least,” Jackson responded. I stayed silent, my cheeks getting even warmer. Jackson snickered at this, throwing his arm around my shoulder. “At least talk to him. He’s a really good guy.”

“Okay, fine,” I sighed. “I will.”

I was glad Jackson had me put the flannel on because it was so packed in the house that people were literally rubbing against each other just to squeeze by. Jackson introduced me to a few of the guys on the baseball team, then went off to be the social butterfly that he is. “Don’t forget, text me if you need anything,” he said before disappearing.

I continued to mingle a bit, talking to a few people that I had class with. Eventually, I made my way to the kitchen to get a drink. I was going to need one if I was going to be here for a while. There were coolers packed full of beer, hard seltzers and vodka, and water for when people needed to sober up a bit or for those who weren’t drinking. I grabbed a drink out of one of the coolers, twisting the top off.

I walked around, sipping on my drink and enjoying the music, despite how loud it was. I continued to talk to a few people and even met a few new people. I was actually having a pretty good time.

“(Y/N)!!!” a very familiar voice shrieked. I turned around to see Amanda scurrying over to me. She looked even more stunning than normal with her hair up in a chic bun and big hoop earrings. Amanda threw her arms around me. “AAH, I’m so glad I found you! You look so good!” 

I laughed and hugged her back. “Thank you! So do you!” She thanked me, striking a pose in typical Amanda fashion. Her cheeks were a little pink from the drink in her hand. We continued to talk and laugh. “Ya know, I’m glad I sat down next you in chem on the first day. I consider you one of my best friends here.” Amanda said, as she swayed to the music, a smile on her face.

I smiled back. “Me too.”

Suddenly Amanda gasped. She pointed a perfectly manicured finger. My gaze when to were she was pointing across the room. Mark. “It’s your maaan,” she sang, a grin on her face.

I shook my head, my cheeks getting warm for the second time that night, and it wasn’t from the alcohol. I shook my head. “He’s not my man,” I said.

Amanda rolled her eyes. “Oh, come on. He clearly has a thing for you, and you definitely feel the same way. I saw you two looking at each other constantly during chem,” Amanda replied with a smirk. “Plus, frat boys are fun. Even if it’s not something serious.” Before I could respond, Amanda was calling and waving Mark over.

Mark looked at us, his eyes locking on mine. His face lit up. Excusing himself, he made his way across the room to us. It was like he was moving in slow motion. Mark looked so good with his messy hair falling in his eyes ever so slightly. He took long strides, his jeans fitting him just right. He wore his shirt unbuttoned, the white t-shirt underneath exposing just enough of his collar to let the imagination wander. I kept telling myself that somebody with a face that pretty was nothing but trouble, yet I didn’t really seem to care.

“I’m glad you guys came!” He said as he finally reached us. He looked over at me and smiled. It was different then how he smiled at others. There was a twinkle in his eyes.

“You guys did a great job on putting this party together!” Amanda exclaimed.

Mark rubbed the back of his neck shyly. “Thank you, I’m glad you guys are having a good time.”

There was small talk for a bit, until Amanda held up her now empty bottle. “I’m going to go get another and find Jackson,” she said before making her way to the kitchen and leaving Mark and I alone. Well as alone as we could be at a party.

Mark chuckled a bit. “She’s fun.” I smiled and nodded in agreement. We stood in silence for a bit. I’d never been alone with him before and didn’t exactly know what to say. I was getting that excited swirly feeling in my stomach again. “Are you actually having fun?” Mark asked suddenly, catching me off guard. He looked at me, laughing lightly when he saw the confused look on my face. “Jackson told me you don’t like parties that much.”

I made an ‘oooh’ shape with my mouth and looked down. Now I felt bad. I looked back up at Mark. His eyes met mine. They were soft and kind. “I really am,” I said, smiling at him softly.

Mark smiled back, charming and sweet as always. “Good. The last thing I’d want is for you to have a bad time.” 

It was quite again. Oh my gosh, why are you so awkward, (y/n)! Mark cleared his throat. “You look really pretty,” he finally said. His voice was shy and his cheeks were a bit flushed.

I fidgeted with the ring on my finger, trying to hold back the smile that was making it’s way on my face. “Thank you,” I said, finally meeting his eyes again. “You look really good, too.”

Mark smiled and finally looked away. “I don’t think I ever asked and now that I’m thinking about it, it’s such a lame thing to ask at a party, but what’s your major?”

I giggled a bit. “Civil engineering,” I responded.” And it’s not lame. It’s an essential question in college. A person’s major says a lot about them. Mine just so happens to give away how much of a nerd I am.”

Mark grinned at this. “I guess we’re both nerds then. Mine’s chemical engineering with a minor in math.”

I laughed, grinning back at him. “Oh so you’re a super nerd. The only thing that says more about a person than their major is their minor,” I teased.

Mark laughed. It was high pitched and honey sweet. I could feel myself melting more and more with every passing second. “Yeah, you’re not wrong.”

We continued talking, about everything. He told me about baseball and how he met Jackson. Turns our Mark is a sophomore and already the star catcher for our school’s baseball team. We laughed about stories from high school and even talked about our plans for the future. 

I hardly noticed how close we were to each other. We were both leaning against the wall. He was borderline hovering over me, but I didn’t mind one bit. “Okay, but what makes you happy?” he asked me.

I titled my head slightly as I looked up at him. His face was so close to mine. “What do you mean?”

Mark hummed as he thought, searching his mind for the right words. Oh, how I’d love to search the darkest corners of that beautiful mind. He smiled and finally said, “Like, what makes you feel alive?”

I thought for a bit. “I’m not totally sure, to be honest. I mean, I really like to travel. Going to San Diego with Jackson was probably one of the best times of my life.” Mark smiled at this. “What about you?”

As Mark was about to answer, he was cut off. “Maaaarrrrk,” a voice sang out. We both looked in the direction it came from. A pretty girl sauntered up to us. She had long brown hair and glowy skin. Her skirt hugged her just right. She glanced at me, annoyed, then threw her arms around Mark’s neck. I couldn’t help but notice how his hands immediately went to her waist. “Markie, baby, I’ve been looking for you aaallll night.”

Markie? Baby?

I looked between her and Mark. Instinctively, I pulled my flannel tight around me for comfort. “I’m going to go find Jackson,” I said to him, trying to hide my disappointment. Mark pushed the girl to the side lightly, but it was too late to say anything. I was already gone.

I squeezed passed people as I made my way through the house. It wasn’t hard to find Jackson. All I had to do was follow the excitement and I’d find him at the center. I could feel myself getting worked up. My stomach was tying itself in knots.

I finally spotted Jackson. He was laughing and dancing with Amanda and a few others. “(y/n)!” Jackson said, but his smile was quickly replaced by a look of concern. Him and Amanda pulled me to the side. Jackson kept an arm around me. “Hey, what’s wrong? What happened?” he asked in a gentle voice.

I told them about what happened with Mark and that girl. I don’t know why I was so upset about it, he wasn’t my boyfriend or anything after all. Still, I couldn't help but sniffle as my eyes began to water. Jackson pulled me into a hug. “Hey, hey, it’s okay,” he said. “I’ll talk to Mark next time I see him. For now, why don’t we get out of here?”

“Oh, hun, it’s going to be okay. She’s lucky I just got my nails done,” Amanda said, muttering the last part with a frown. “Boys are stupid, not offense Jackson.” Jackson feigned hurt, making me laugh a bit. “How about we go to the diner a few blocks away? We can get fries and milkshakes!” 

I smiled a bit and nodded, wiping away tears with the back of my hand. Jackson kept his arm around me as we left the party, acting as a wall between Mark and I when we passed him. The three of us walked to the diner, laughing along that way. 

I felt a bit better by the end of the night, but the feeling in my stomach still lingered. I was right, somebody with a face a pretty as Mark Tuan’s is nothing but trouble.

*     *     *

Next Part

@mara-twins​

I stood on Allie’s desk taping fairy lights along the top of the wall. “Maybe she was just some random girl who had a few too many,” Allie suggested.

I sighed. “I don’t know. She didn’t seem that drunk, and it seemed like she knew him pretty well.”

“Frat boys are nothing but trouble,” she said, frowning and shaking her head, her curly hair bouncing with the movement.

I sighed again. Thoughts of Friday night and Mark were swimming around in my head. I kept thinking about how his eyes would sparkle when he started talking about something he was passionate about, like his major or baseball. Or how he’d throw his head back when he laughed really hard. But then I kept thinking about how he’d held onto that girls waist, in a borderline protective manor. I needed to distract myself. 

I taped up the last part of the lights and hopped down from her desk. “Wanna go to the cafe and get dinner?” I asked. Allie’s eyes lit up and she nodded. Food would surely take my mind off things.

We slipped on our shoes and grabbed our things. Then, just as we opened the door to leave, we met a familiar person outside our door. Mark Tuan. His eyes were wide and his hand was raised, ready to knock on the door. Allie raised an eyebrow at him. “Um, can we help you?” she asked, clearly confused.

Mark’s eye’s met mine as he let his hand fall. I looked down. “I’m actually here to talk to (y/n),” he answered nervously. “But, I can go. You guys seem kinda busy.”

Allie glanced at me. My eyes were trained on Mark’s sneakers, and I was nervously wringing my hands. Things seemed to click in her head. “Oh - um - no, we aren’t. We were just headed to dinner,” Allie responded. She turned to me, her voice more gentle when she spoke. “I’ll wait for you downstairs, okay?” I nodded. Allie glanced at Mark and I before heading down stairs.

Things were silent between Mark and I, the air between us thick with tension. I hadn’t even thought about what I was going to say to him. I didn’t even know if I wanted to confront him. What would I confront him about? Not telling me about that girl prior? Playing with my feelings? I’d only had one actual conversation with him, and he isn’t obligated to tell me anything. Making any accusations certainly wouldn’t make the situation any better either.

Finally Mark spoke up. “I’m really sorry about Friday.” I looked up at him, finally meeting his eyes. His looked tired and his hair was messy, but not in a relax or effortless fashion. 

“It’s alright,” I hesitated, not totally convinced by my own words. By the look Mark gave me, I could tell he wasn’t either. I sighed. “Okay, so it’s not, and I’m actually really upset about even though it shouldn’t be. I barely know you so it’s not like it’s any of my business anyway.”

Mark smiled at me gently. “I want you to know me though,” he responded. “And I really want to know you.” 

My cheeks heated up, making him smile wider. I couldn’t help the smile that started to creep onto my face. “Even during a serious conversation, you still manage to flirt,” I teased, hitting his shoulder playfully. Mark laughed. It was that same high-pitched, honey sweet laugh that I heard of Friday. I could feel the tension beginning to dissipate. 

However, there was still one question that was keeping me from letting go and losing myself in all that was Mark Tuan. And It was absolutely none of my business. If he wanted to tell me, he’d tell me, and I knew i should respect that. But I couldn’t stop myself. “Who was that girl anyway?” I finally blurted out. “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to, thought.”

Mark sighed, running a hand through his hair. Despite being ridiculously messy, it looked soft. It was hard to keep myself from reaching out to touch it. “No, you deserve to know. Her name is Summer. We dated last school year. It ended really weird. We were still talking before this semester started. Nothing serious, but still talking.”

I my spirits fell a little bit. “Ah, I see,” I replied, desperately trying to hide any disappointment.

“But then I saw you with Jackson, and I was immediately interested,” he said with a smile.

I couldn’t help but smile back. “Really? Why?”

Mark shoved his hands in his pockets and leaned down a bit so his eyes were level with mine. “Because you’re really pretty and I wanted to find out who you were,” he answered, his voice soft. It reminded me of silk. “Jackson mentioned you - a lot actually - but what he didn’t tell me was that you’re stunning, in every way possible.”

He left me speechless. My cheeks were warm again and my stomach was swirling. “Mark,” was the only thing I could respond with.

Mark stepped closer to me, a warm smile on his face. “Let me take you out sometime. Like I said, I want to know you. I want to know the things that make you nerd out and the little things that annoy you. I want to know how you think and understand the inner working of your mind,” he said, the silkiness still present in his voice.

My head was spinning. My heart was pounding. My stomach was no longer swirling, but doing back flips and cartwheels. Nobody had ever made me feel this way before. Nobody had ever wanted to know me like how I wanted to know them.

Finally, I responded. “I’d like that a lot.”

Mark grinned like a kid in a candy store. I couldn’t help the little laugh that escaped. “Great! How does tomorrow at seven sound?”

I pretended to think for a second, humming to myself. I tilted my head slightly, the smile on my face getting bigger. “That sound great.”

Mark and I exchanged phone numbers before he walked me downstairs to where Allie was waiting. “You look awfully happy,” Allie commented as soon as Mark left. “Spill.”

I laughed and shook my head. “I’ll tell you after we eat. I have to tell Jackson and Amanda, too, or else they might kill me.”

*     *     *

“Well, what’d he say?” Jackson asked impatiently. Him, Allie, and Amanda were all grinning at me.

I tried to hold back a smile of my own. “He asked me on a date,” I answered, childlike giddiness in my voice.

Amanda and Allie squealed. Jackson started bouncing on my bed next to me. “I never thought he’d do it!” he exclaimed.

“Why not?” Amanda questioned.

Jackson leaned back against my wall, a goofy grin still adorning his face. “I don’t know if you noticed but Mark is pretty shy. Dude barely talked when I first met him.”

“Are you sure you didn’t just talk so much that he couldn’t get a word in?” I snickered.

Jackson bumped my shoulder with his. “NO,” he retorted. We all laughed.

Amanda smiled dreamily. “I love this for you,” she gushed. “Ya know, I heard he’s the dream boy of the baseball team. Apparently, all the girls drool over him.”

Jackson rolled his eyes. “Dude, if only you knew. Girls will watch us practice just to see him,” he grumbled. “When’s the date?”

“Tomorrow,” I replied.

Jackson gasps, causing Allie, Amanda, and I to look at him in confusion. “What are we doing then? We need to pick out what you’re going to wear!”

I sighed. He was such a drama queen sometimes. “Jackson, it’s not until tomorrow night.”

He shook his head and pushed himself off my bed. “Nonsense, (y/n). You should always be prepared, especially if things go horribly.”

I rolled my eyes. “Thanks for boosting my confidence,” I muttered.

Amanda pointed at Jackson, nodding in agreement. “He’s not wrong thought. It’s important to be ready for anything. You never know when you may need to flex on a bitch.”

We all laughed again. Finally Allie spoke up. “I think it’d be fun. We could have a girls night and do face masks!”

Jackson made a noise of protest. “Hey, what about me?”

I laughed and climbed off my bed, pulling out my stash of face masks and miscellaneous skincare products. “Jackson, we’ve been over this before. You’re always included in girls night.” Jackson let out a pleased squeal, then proceeded to dig through my closet.

*     *     *

I stood in the mirror sending Jackson and Amanda pictures of my outfit for the evening. Somehow I knew they were going to demand to see it even though they’d already seen it last night. Jackson picked out jeans and a cute top for me, claiming Mark would more than likely take me someplace casual. And as always, he made sure I had a jacket. I used to take his all the time in high school until he started making me bring one everywhere, so it’d become a habit of his to make sure I had one.

I played with my hair in the mirror to distract myself from the anxiety that was building in my stomach while I waited for Mark. Jackson and Amanda were blowing up my phone with positive affirmations. They’d even gone as far as to create a whole group chat with the three of us just for this date.

Amanda: Make sure you take chapstick!! ;)

Jackson: H E Y

Jackson: Mark may be my homeboy and as much as I support this date, there will be NO KISSING, do you understand me young lady?

I snickered and typed back.

(y/n): Yes sir  :P

Jackson: Oh, (y/n), don’t forget you’re jacket!!!

Mark had finally texted me to say that he was here. I grabbed my bag and jacket, saying bye to Allie as I headed for the door. Right as I was about to leave, Amanda sent me one last text in our private thread.

Amanda: Hey, I know Jackson’s just looking out for you, but don’t take the jacket. Trust me. Have fun, love bug! Text us the details after!!

I stared at her message for a second before shrugging and tossing my jacket on my bed. I didn’t quite know what she was getting at, but something told me to just trust her. With that, I headed downstairs to meet Mark at the entrance of my dorm building.

He was waiting by the door for me when I got down stairs, leaning against the wall scrolling through his phone with one hand in his pocket. I felt my stomach flutter. Mark had this cool boy vibe about him. His messy hair, dark shirt, and black denim jacket only added to it. There was something mysterious about it, and that only attracted me to him more.

He looked up as I approached him, a smile spreading across his face once his eyes met mine. He pushed himself off the wall, taking a step forward to meet me. “Hey,” he breathed.

“Hi,” I replied softly.

“You look really pretty,” Mark said shyly, the tips of his ear turning red. 

I smiled, my cheeks flushed. “Thank you.”

“Ya know, it’s really cute when you blush at the things I say,” he chortled. 

I rolled my eyes, trying to ignore the heat crawling up the back of my neck and darkening the tint on my face. “Oh, let’s just go already,” I replied, unable to keep the small smile off my face.

“Yes ma’am!” Mark grabbed my hand and lead me out the door to his car. His hands were warm and soft, which was odd since he played baseball. But hey, who says athletes aren’t allowed to moisturize. Plus, I liked the feeling of his hand in mine. It was comforting.

Mark opened the passenger door for me before hopping into the drivers seat and taking off to where it was we were going.

*     *     *

I looked around in awe. Colorful lights flashed all around and laughter filled the air. Children were running ahead of their parents, high school students were grinning eagerly as they waited in line for rides, and workers watched in boredom as people tried to win the nearly impossible games. 

“I hope you like fairs,” Mark said as he rubbed the back of his neck shyly. “I didn’t think to ask before hand.”

I looked at him with a smile. “I’ve never actually been to a fair before.”

Mark’s shy demeanor was replaced with one of shock and excitement. “Wait, really?”

 I nodded in response.

Mark grinned and grabbed my arm, pulling me towards the ticket booth. “Oh, this is going to be so much fun!” Mark decided that we were going to get the full access wristbands, insisting that I needed to get the full experience. “What do you wanna do first?” he asked, looking at me.

I looked around at the brightly lit rides and booths. There were so many. And they were all so intriguing in some way. It was overwhelming honestly. “I don’t really know, there’s so many,” I answered, then I looked up at Mark. The way the light reflected off his skin was pretty. It was like he was standing in a room lit by neon pink and electric blue. 

Mark looked over at me. I felt my cheeks heat up, but I didn’t look away.. He’d caught me staring at him and there was no denying it. A large grin spread across his face. “(y/n), you’re supposed to be looking at what you wanna do, not me,” Mark teased. “Unless...”

“You are such a boy,” I sighed, my cheeks darkening and a content smile on my face. Mark laughed. It became more melodic every time I heard it. “Anyway, why don’t you show me you’re favorite things to do?”

Mark nodded, his eyes twinkling with childlike delight. “Sure, but you’re going to think I’m lame or cheesy.” Mark grasped my hand in his for the second time tonight, making my heart flutter a bit.

I raised my eyebrow at him. “Mark Tuan? The most popular bachelor of the baseball team? Lame? He could never,” I teased.

Mark snorted. “Looks can be deceiving then, can’t they?” He shot back, his lips curling into a smirk.

I rolled my eyes at him. “You’re trouble, Tuan.”

This made Mark grin. “Glad you caught on,” he replied, leaning into me a bit as we walked.

I shook my head, but I was grinning, too. “Why would, I think you’re lame?” I questioned, finally changing the topic back to what we were talking about before.

Mark shrugged. “I don’t really care for most of the rides here. I’m not a thrill junkie like Jackson and a lot of the other guys on the team,” Mark said. “I like people watching and the games, even though they’re impossible.”

I smiled. “That’s so wholesome.”

Mark looked at me and smiled back. We stopped in front of a game booth. A metal milk can sat in the middle of a table. I looked up at the sign above us. It read ‘Milk Toss’ in big, bold letters. “This,” Mark began,” is my favorite game.”

I looked at him. He beamed with childlike delight. “Isn’t this game one of the hardest?” I asked.

Mark nodded. “Yeah. I’ve been playing this game since I was a little kid. I would get so frustrated because I couldn’t win. Then, I started playing baseball in middle school.” Mark stepped forwards, showing the man working the game his wristband. The man gave him a bored smile before handing Mark three softballs. Mark held a ball out to me with a gentle smile,” Do you want to try?”

I hesitated, eyeing both Mark and the ball before talking it. “Okay, but you can’t make fun of how uncoordinated I am.”

Mark chuckled. “I promise I won’t make fun of you.”

Focusing on the entrance of the the milk jog, I tossed the ball. My eyes followed the sphere as it went through the air and bounced off of the rim of the milk jug. “I told you,” I sighed.

Mark smiled, reaching over to squeeze my hand. “It’s okay, it’s not you’re coordination.” Mark reassured. He turned his attention towards the jug. He took a second to focus before effortlessly tossing the softball into the metal can.

“How’d you do that?” I asked.

Mark grinned. “It’s all in the wrist.” As he tossed the last ball, making it in the jug again, he explained. “Aim for the back of the back of the rim, and give the ball some back spin. It slows the momentum of the ball down, so instead of bouncing off the can, it slides in the hole.”

“Nice job, kid,” the worker congratulated. “Choose anything you’d like from the top rack.”

Mark looked at me with a smile. “Take your pick.”

I blushed, turning my attention to all the fluffy stuffed animals that lined the top of the booth. It was the big prizes. They ranged from colorful alpacas to Pokemon stuffed animals. Out of the corner of my eye, at the very end, a cow caught my eye. I pointed to it. “The cow is really cute,” I said shyly.

The worker grabbed it off the wall and handed it to me. “Enjoy!” He winking at Mark before turning his attention to the next players.Mark’s face heated up a bit, but he grinned nonetheless.

Mark slipped his hand comfortable back into mine. “C’mon, there’s more for you to see!” I giggled and followed as Mark pulled me along and continued to show me his favorite rides and games.

The moon was high in the sky and families had made their way home by the time we decided to make our way to the most iconic fair and date activity before heading home - the ferris wheel. Mark and I squeezed into the passenger car. The wheel started moving and a cool breeze blew through, making me shiver. It was finally starting to feel like fall outside. Mark seemed to notice. “Cold?” he asked.

I nodded. “Yeah, a bit.”

Mark took off his denim jacket, slipping it over my shoulder. So this is why Amanda didn’t want me to bring my jacket. I thanked him, pulling the jacket around me a bit tighter. It smelled like fresh linen and cologne.

As we got higher, I could see more of the fair below us. It looked even prettier from above. The lights twinkled and created a soft glow that cascaded over the entire area. “It looks so pretty from here,” I said softly.

“So do you.”

My cheeks heated up and I looked at Mark. He was looking at me, his brown eyes soft. They were easy to get lost in. The fair lights below created a soft aura around him, making him look almost angelic. I couldn’t help but smile a bit.

“Would you be upset if I kissed you?” he asked in a tranquil voice.

“I’d be upset if you didn’t,” I answered, my voice just as soft as his, afraid to shatter the air between us.

Mark leaned into me, wasting no time pressing his soft lips against mine. I let myself melt into him, euphoria surging through me. His hand ran up my arm to the back of my neck, pulling me closer to him. His mouth was warm against mine, but goosebumps still rose on my skin. Marked pulled away and I had to stop myself from whining. His forehead rested against mine, the previous rush of adrenaline making us smile like idiots. We stayed like this until our cart reached the bottom of the ferris wheel and it was time for us to exit. 

Mark took my hand, guiding me out of the seat and towards the exit. “Let’s get you home or else Jackson will flip on me for keeping you out so late.”

“Oh, don’t bother. He’s going to flip once he finds out we kissed,” I snickered.

Mark threw his arm around my shoulder, pulling me into me. “Don’t remind me,” he groaned. Mark kissed the top of my head and nuzzled his nose into my hair. “Full disclosure, kissing you is most definitely worth getting chewed out later.”

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