Thanks so much for the reviews you guys!...and the follows and favourites too! Here's Chapter 7. Enjoy!

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Chapter 7: ...

Anne looked up incredulously at Marco for a couple of minutes. Then she took another step back...and looked at him some more before crossing her arms.

"You know, you're not helping your case here, kid. I accuse you of being a stalker, you say you're not, and yet you want to follow me ho-"

"WALK you home, yoi" Marco quickly interjected.

She ignored him. "Follow me home?" She scoffed. "I'm more doubtful now. Your actions practically scream 'stalker'. And I'll be damned if I have go through this aga-". Anne suddenly stopped short. She realized she had almost admitted something she didn't want to. Her past with stalkers was just that. Past. She didn't see the need to uproot it, especially not to a stranger.

Marco raised a brow. "The stalking...you make it sound like it happens often"

Anne looked a little taken aback."...so what if it does? What's it to you?" She asked brusquely, chin slightly raised.

"Well, I can't help but be concerned. You're not exactly a total stranger to me Anne...I care what happens to you, especially when you make it seem like you're unsafe. Besides, what kind of guy would I be if I let a girl walk home alone even after she's made it obvious she could be in danger...even if she thought the danger was me..."

Anne looked doubtful- he might just be saying that to let her drop her guard. Her arms dropped. "I don't need a bodyguard. I can take care of myself."

"And I don't doubt that Anne...but...still, I feel like it would be...better...if I at least saw you home yoi".

He kinda had a point, and she knew it. But she was a big girl, she could take care of herself...her grandpa had made sure of that. And it wasn't that she wasn't grateful, she kinda was. But still, she couldn't shake off the feeling there was another reason why he was doing this. Because if she knew boys-and she did-, with them there was always a hidden agenda. It couldn't be that he wanted to find out where she lived, he already knew that. So there could only really be one thing he could want, and if she remembered clearly-and she did-, he had made it so obvious the first time they met...

Anne wasn't going to tolerate this kid's urges...wants...wishes?...whatever, any longer. She pointed a dainty finger warningly at Marco and prepared to rant her tongue off. She had barely gotten the first words out of her mouth before she was cut off.

"Anne, I think it would be a good idea if Marco did walk you walk you home."

They both turned towards the voice to find Whitey slowly approaching them. Anne wondered if she had overheard them.

Whitey finally reached them and put a hand on Anne's shoulder. "You've never mentioned you had a problem like this Anne. It's quite serious-even though you seem to treat it like it's not. And you've been going home alone since Monday? Not okay...I think, and I'm thinking of your safety here", her voice calm, she glanced at Marco before turning back to Anne,"You need an escort home. And since Marco is so kindly offering it, you should take it- you seem to know each other well enough." She tweeked Anne's cheek fondly."Better safe than sorry...cutie".

She walked between them and out the door; said to Marco as she went by, not once halting in her steps,"Make sure she gets home safely, Mr. Gentleman". Marco, somewhat amused, watched her leave and turn right on the sidewalk. He turned back to see Anne, her pretty face in a pretty frown. Marco looked uncomfortable under her scrutiny for a while before, to his relief, she sighed and walked out of the establishment. Marco silently trailed after her, they both going the opposite way Whitey had.

Out on the sidewalk, Marco stared after Anne's back. She had made sure to keep at least five feet between them, being cautious. Marco thought it was quite unnecessary, he wasn't a stalker dammit, and this was making him feel like one. But...if doing this made Anne more comfortable, then he wouldn't try to close the distance between them...again. Oh yes, he'd tried to do it before, but Anne had just stopped, shot him a glare, drawn the hood of her hoodie over her head and had pointedly stalked forward. Marco had gotten the point- just walkie, no talkie...got it- and had allowed the distance between them to retain it's original length.

But it wasn't all bad. He smirked. They'd walked several blocks now, and so far, he had a good view from his current position. Well, as good as it was going to get with a big hoodie and a pair of black boyish shorts she had on. At least it gave him an eyeful of her very nice calves. Toned, and covered with no doubt smooth skin, Marco wondered how it would feel to the touch, how it would feel to run his hands up the smooth skin up to the back of her knees and...HOOOONK!

Suddenly, all he could see was a bright light-a car's headlights- and a loud honking that hurt his ears. Abruptly all his thoughts centred to one entity- Anne. His hand reached out blindly and grabbed at her, finding purchase on soft material. He yanked his arm back, hard, just in time as a car to come whizzing by, narrowly missing the dark haired girl. Her back collided with his chest and the force knocked them both backwards. Marco grimaced as he landed painfully on his butt and winced as the black-haired girl subsequently fell backwards on top of him.

The blond boy slowly sat up, cursing out stupid careless drivers in his head and wondering why they were giving out lincenses to anyone these days...until a slight pained groan made him realize his current position. Anne was sitting in between his legs on the ground, facing forward. She drew some hair away from her face, and in understanding of what just almost happened slumped backwards into Marco's solid chest in relief, a little shaken up, her hands coming to rest on his bent knees. Marco finally realized where his arm was- wrapped firmly around Anne's midsection, resting right underneath her generous breasts- warmth seeping through her hoodie to his arm. Although he was shocked, he stayed completely still. Seconds ticked by and finally, Anne seemed to also realize where she was. She twisted around to look at her saviour. Her eyes only reached his chin though, so she slowly began to look up his face and until her gray eyes met with his deep azure ones.

His eyes were captivating. She couldn't see them properly since it was night and his head was bent down to look at her but the light from the passing cars showcased them somewhat clearly. They were like the colour of the sky on a clear day, so blue. She found she couldn't look away. But then something tightened around her and the short spell broke. She looked down and was alarmed to find Marco's arm around her. She made to get up but his arm halted her, pulling her back down against him. Anne looked back at Marco in surprise and barely managed to stop herself from elbowing him hard in the ribs. Marco, for his part, seemed to like their position a little too much to discern that he was preventing Anne from getting up, until she poked him in the chest with a finger, gaining his full attention. She looked pointedly at his arm and back up at him. Embarrased and face slightly flushing, Marco chuckled sheepishly and redrew it.

Anne quickly got up and began dusting off the seat of her shorts, looking on as Marco followed suit. She had no idea why that had just happened. One minute she was thinking about the kid and the possible reasons why he was so bent on seeing her home and the next she was being pulled against said kid's chest, BY said kid. This was the first time something like this had happened to her. She was usually so sharp and focused, but she had been less so tonight...since she'd seen him at her table. She didn't know why. But she did know one thing, that if it wasn't for him, she'd probably be pavement pancake by now...and it humbled her.

"Thank you...Marco", she said quietly. Eyes trained on his sneakers.

Marco stopped dusting and looked up at the sound of his name. He slowly straightened and looked at her. She was trying to look anywhere but at him. Looking for all the world like she was being...shy?

"You're welcome", he smiled. She finally looked back at him, shyness gone, and gave a small nod, before turning back and walking forward, crossing the now empty asphalt street.

Marco was elated. She'd finally spoken to him...without trying to chop his head off- figuratively speaking, of course. Though he wouldn't put it past her to make that a reality. But still, she'd actually been civil to him and Marco did not try to quell the sense of victory it to him.

Also, Marco tried not to fist-pump as another occured to him, she finally said his name.

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After a few more blocks, they rounded the corner of her house, and at the prospect of being inside her home, Anne's steps automatically began to quicken. Even after what had happened, she had still kept a short distance between them. As they reached the driveway she turned around and suddenly asked, surprising Marco, "Be honest. Why did you want to walk me home so badly?"

He hesitated only for a moment ,"Because I feared an opportunity like that won't happen twice."

"Opportunity?" She asked, confused. "What oppor-"

"To be with you, yoi", he said truthfully.

'Be with me?', she blinked at him. This kid was...unbelievable. One moment he was implying sexual innuendos, and the next he was saying...things...that were confusing her, making her heart beat just a little bit faster in her chest. She didn't get it. What the heck did he want?

"Why?" She met his eyes. They were sure and truthful, and she had little doubt when he said it.

"I like you." He didn't hesitate.

Anne stared at the blonde blue-eyed high school student, surprise clear on her face. Like her? He barely knew her! And she was not so fickle to believe that he liked her for her personality. She had intentionally shown clear disdain of him since day one, literally! He couldn't be attracted to mean stares and being ignored- typical rudeness. She was kinda hoping her actions would put him off. But apparently not.

Although soon, the little doubt she had had began to grow in size. Anne wasn't going to give in just 'cause he said he liked her. Guys told her that all the time...and most of them didn't mean it. And thinking about it now, she didn't think Marco did. For crying out loud, he was just a kid. Probably not even out of puberty yet, even though he didn't look like it. And here he was trying to fry big fish. Anne would've thought it was adorable...if only she was in the mood.

"You're not serious", Anne told him, voice clipped. She remembered he had done her a great service just earlier and so tried not to be too rude as she said, "go home, kid"

Marco didn't try to stop her as she turned around and began to walk up the driveway. But his words did.

"I am."

She hesitated for a long while before turning back. To give him a piece of her mind? To accuse him of lying? To show him why messing around with her could get him hurt? She didn't know. And she didn't get to find out as when she turned around, he had already left.

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Marco heart was beating hard inside his chest. He can't believe he just told Anne that he liked her...what had he been thinking. That had not been his intention at all. But Anne had looked at him and she'd looked so confused and beautiful and she'd asked him to be honest and he'd been just that. Honest.

He didn't regret it, not at all, but he was sort of scared that his abrupt confession was going to mess things up even more now. The girl obviously disliked him- she must've thought he was trying to make a fool of her. She'd looked so doubtful...

He suddenly felt the unrelenting sting of rejection.

Marco gave a small sigh and entered his apartment. Thatch was lying in the couch. His head poked above it as his brother came in and his face took on a small frown at the look bordering on a sad kicked-puppy on Marco's face.

"Hey man! How'd it go at the café?" He got up to join him. Marco had texted Thatch earlier out of boredom at the café, letting him know what was going on and he'd be a little late than usual. He looked at Thatch for a moment and said," I told Anne I like her"

Thatch looked at Marco, a bit surprised before saying, stepping closer, "What'd she say?"

"She told me that I wasn't serious." Marco deflated a little on the inside just remembering it.

"And knowing you, you've probably set out to prove her wrong?"

"Yup" Marco said, a small smile on his handsome face. Thatch shook his head fondly, sometimes he knew his best friend a little too well. He released an excited breath.

"Okay! So we'll have to start up a new plan. First of all-" Thatch whipped up a pen and paper from seemingly nowhere and stared as Marco grabbed them away.

"Actually, Thatch, I was wondering...could I go solo? From now on?" Marco asked slowly. He grimaced a little guiltily at the disappointed look that appeared on his brother's face.

"You're...firing me?...why?" A little whine.

Marco had been thinking. If he was going to win over Anne, wouldn't it make sense if he rather did it with his own power, by his own wits? He knew for certain that he worked better alone, that it was the better option, and it was definitely not because he didn't want his super flirty, also good-looking brother anywhere near Anne- not at all! That was being ridiculous.

He was going to win over Anne himself. He was still an amateur when it came to these matters, he knew. But he was going to risk it. That way, in the end, the fruits of his labour will be extremely sweet.

"But I thought I was finally gonna be wingman," Thatch said quietly, his voice broken.

"You're gonna be," Marco reassured him. "I'm still gonna ask you for advice and whatever...just...not as much"

Thatch nodded sadly. He understood. A man had to do what a man had to do. He ran a hand through his brown hair and after a while said,"I made spaghetti...want some?" Marco nodded, a grin on his face.

After his dinner, he spent some time kicking Thatch's butt and getting his butt kicked playing video games. It was pretty late when he went to his room. Marco laid in bed, his thoughts mostly centering on one person. It seemed like she was going to keep him awake for a while tonight as well. It was like he had personally given her a key into his brain and she didn't hesitate going in and moving things around. It wasn't too troublesome, he supposed. Who wouldn't want a girl like that up there?

Besides, it wasn't a school day tomorrow. But still, it would be great if he could get some shut-eye. He was tired from school...and a little sore.

Finally sleep began to creep in. And his thoughts began to slow down and disappear and focus on the one actual thing he wouldn't mind being in his dreams. He thought of the first day he'd met her, how gorgeous she'd looked, how she'd later tricked him and given him something painful to remind him never to say such stupid things ag-

All of a sudden, Marco shot up in bed. His face took on slight horror as he remembered something he'd neglected to do, and for too long.

He couldn't believe it.

He'd forgotten to apologize to Anne!

He groaned and fell back to the bed, rubbing his hands down his face. He has to rectify that. Soon.

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There you go you guys! It's funny, this chapter totally didn't come out as how I'd planned it. (You start on earth and plan to end on earth but suddenly whooosh! you're on Jupiter having tea with her Majesty. It's strange like that.)

But I hope it wasn't too confusing. English is not my first language so sometimes I find it hard to put my thoughts into words...but I try. ^_^. Did you like it or totally hate it? Lemme know...

Confession: I had no idea what to name this chapter...

DW: 6/05/2015