( Ooh coolio )
The tiniest flicker of disappointment appeared in Marianne’s eyes, confusingly paired with a rush of warmth. She smiled brightly, making sure that her hands brushed Mare’s when the phone exchanged hands. “I’m surprised I didn’t ask you earlier.”
Mare felt the tingle of Marianne tracing her fingers over her hand, and let the warmth from it envelop her.
"We have different crowds, it seems."
“Mm,” Marianne agreed. “But Lena and Jace (friends) moved away for this year, so I guess my friend group is smaller now. At least you’re in it.”
She gave an enthusiastic grin and a thumbs up. "Glad to be in it. Where'd Lena and Jace go?"
“Lena moved to Prague, Jace moved to some private school. Humber, I think it’s called?” Marianne shrugged again, but there was a slight sadness to it. “Where are your friends? I haven’t seen them around lately.”
Mare's face fell. "Long story." She looked around desperately for a change of subject. "I think we're almost there. I recognise they neighbourhood," she said drily.
Marianne’s brows drew together in worry, but she stayed silent for a moment. A beat passed, and she spoke. “Yeah, it’s around the corner.”
"Cool, I'm starving."
They got to the place not long after. Mare opened the door and stood to the side.
"After you."
"Thanks." Marianne smiled, stepping through and into the warm café. Delicious smells lingered in the air; cinnamon, warm bread, hot cocoa. She breathed them in, turning back to Mare. "Want to grab the seat by the window?"
Mare nodded, looking around at the cafe. She hasn't been allowed any food-related luxuries since her last show; she felt guilty, of course, but the pure of joy being here with Marianne overshadowed that guilt.
She went and sat down, smiling widely at Marianne. "This is amazing," she said honestly.
Marianne's smile only grew, a tinge of pink returning to her cheeks. "I agree." She paused, not knowing what else to say, then regained her tongue. "We should do this again. Other than tomorrow. More times than two."
Mare nodded slowly. She grabbed the menu before bursting out laughing. It took her a minute to calm down.
"I can't believe I've agreed to you picking my lunch for me. I'm gonna end up with five portions of poutine and three burgers."
She shook her head, still laughing. "To be honest I'd probably be able to finish it all."
Marianne grinned back. "You're in on my big secret– stuffing you with food."
She flipped through the menu as well, lips twisting into an even larger smile. "I know what I'm going to get you~" she sang teasingly.
Mare took her head in her hands in fake catastrophe. "Oh mon dieu. I'm listening?"
Marianne grinned. “Uh-uh. I’m keeping this a surprise until it’s set right in front of you.”
"No!" Mare gasped dramatically. "I can't take surprises!"
She crossed her arms and pouted, staring evilly Marianne. "Can you at least tell me what you're going to have?"
Marianne burst out laughing at the look Mare was giving her. “They make the best poutine here, so probably that. Or a club sandwich.”
She ran a hand through her tangled hair, grinning. “Your meal, you’ll just have to find out….”
She sighed loudly through a grin. "Fine. Okay." She caught the attention of a waitress and waved at Marianne to place their order.
Marianne smiled politely at the waitress, motioning to Mare to plug her ears.
She placed their orders with a joking wink at her friend, folding her hands in her lap as the waitress left.
Mare's shoulders shook with silent laughter. She waited until the waitress had left to unplug her ears.
"Oh my. The suspense is killing me," she breathed, falling back into her chair.
Before she could stop herself, Marianne blurted out an answer. "I know CPR."
What the hell are you doing??? You idiot!!!
Mare froze. She straightened in her chair and stared at Marianne. Oh god. "Oh god."
She took her head in her hands and shook it. She couldn't handle this, not now.
Marianne froze as well, just for a second. "I'm so sorry…" she said in a horrified whisper, pushing her chair back from the table and fleeing into the washrooms.
Once inside, she slammed her back against the wall, covering her face with her hands. The look on Mare's face– she'd looked disgusted. Scared, almost. Oh my god– You ruined everything– ohmygod– She took in a quavering breath, an awful lump of despair settling in her stomach.
"Marianne!" Mare called after her friend. She took off from the table and raced to the bathroom just in time to Marianne cover her face with shaking hands.
Mare crept up to her. "Marianne?" she asked quietly.
Marianne flinched back when she heard Mare’s voice. “I’m so sorry— I just blurted our the first thing that came to mind—“
"Marianne, wait a minute." She set a calming hand on the girl's shoulder. "I have to tell you something." She inhaled deeply, breath shaking. "I've got to tell you the, uh, reason that… that my friends aren't around anymore." She sat her and Marianne down. She looked down at her interlocked hands.
"Will and Charlotte, by the way. My friends." She paused and looked up at Marianne. "I came out to Will: he didn't like it and told Charlie, making it sound as though I was coming onto her– they just gave up on me." She said all this in one breath, not pausing and shaking more and more.
Marianne’s head snapped up. Came… out. Came out. To her friends. And they— oh my god. Immediately, she reached forward and pulled Mare into an almost fierce hug. “I’m really sorry..” she whispered. “That’s awful— I’m sorry.” Her mind was reeling from the onslaught of information.
Mare shook her head violently, voice hard. "I'm not. If I hadn't told them, our friendship would've been a scam. And if they reacted that way when I did tell them, they couldn't have been the best friends I'll ever find. Those will come along, and until then I can't apologize for who I am," she said firmly. She pulled out of Marianne's hug and smiled at her friend. "So. Please don't worry. You're fine."
“I meant— I’m sorry that you had to deal with that. You’re— you’re really brave. Marianne withdrew back to the wall. She hated herself, hated how her stupid heart pattered weakly, hated the fact that she couldn’t keep her goddamn mouth shut, hated how incredibly insensitive and idiotic she was.
"Seriously, don't be. I'm glad it happened when it did." Mare shook herself off and, not wanting to dwell on herself, hastily changed the subject. "Let's just eat."
She walked out of the bathroom without waiting for Marianne and leaned against the wall. Tu es officiellement conne. Tu fous quoi la, a dire ca a tout le monde? She drew in a shaky breath, regretting her decision to open up. Marianne probably hadn't even been insinuating anything and just joking. But, judging by her reaction… Mare disspelled the thought. Nothing was going to happen. She ran a hand through her hair and put it up into a loose bun to still her trembling hands.
