Back at home Mark had just finished his tenth push-up and was now taking a breath after the exercise session. After two weeks of this he had gone from five to ten and although it wasn't perfect, it was better than the first day.
As he got up from the floor he was wearing a simple white shirt and grey sweatpants. The shirt stuck to his back, damp with sweat, the cotton clinging where it shouldn't. The floor was cool against his palms where he'd been, a faint outline of sweat left behind. He felt like his body was starting to improve. The changes were minor — no one else would notice them — but he did.
His chest had just started to get defined and a faint line was starting to appear down his stomach. Of course this wasn't some big anime glow-up, but it was progress and he was satisfied with it.
He went to sit at his study table where he'd already set up a map and a guide book to help him understand how to read the map. The paper smelled faintly of old ink and dust. He opened his phone to check messages.
Most of them were useless so he just scrolled through.
Maria: hey it's me, I'm creating a group chat for our group so hope you don't mind
Mom: hey sweetie I'm coming back home early today so don't start cooking without me
As he read them he focused on his mother's message and replied with an ok. It seemed destiny had given him an opportunity to tell his mother about the troubles he'd been facing in this city. He put that thought aside though and focused on studying the map. It was a map of Brookhaven province, not just the city, and it was way bigger than Mark had thought.
Aside from Brookhaven city, there were three more cities, some towns and villages here and there.
'I guess Brookhaven is huge.'
Mark thought as he looked at the map. He got to work trying to understand how this thing works and how it's read and it didn't take him much time. After all Mark was a fast learner by nature in terms of academics. The only thing that could throw him off were number-heavy subjects like Mathematics and Accounts, but for something like a map, his fast learning and observation skill were great assets.
After ten to twenty minutes he could pretty much read grid lines and point out the right coordinates, but now his real test was about to come — the calculations. He already knew he wasn't going to enjoy this part. He decided to suck it up and do it, but before he even put his pencil on the map the door opened with the sound of two girls giggling. The hinges creaked low, and their laughter bounced off the hallway walls. One was Mary. He wasn't quite sure about the other one so he went downstairs to check.
As he made his way down he saw Mary playing what seemed to be a unique girly version of rock paper scissors with a cute brunette he immediately recognized as Alicia — the girl from the party and the alley — but he had wanted to forget that particular memory.
"Hello runt."
Mark said casually, ruffling her hair.
"Hey you punk, don't do that. Do you know how long it takes to make my hair?"
Mary says punching at Mark, but he evaded by leaning back. He felt the wind of the blow brush past his nose. Sharp, fast.
"Damn, that could have killed me."
He said with a slight nervous chuckle as he looked to the side where Alicia was just watching the scene with a smile.
"Oh hey, party expert."
Mark teased, causing Alicia to shyly look at her lap with a smile on her face, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her skirt.
"How are you, Mark."
She said, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. The soft scent of her shampoo cut through the air for a second.
"All good and you?"
Mark replied casually. Since the moment at the party and the fact that Alicia was now besties with Mary, he had gotten comfortable around her so it was no trouble talking to her.
"I'm great."
She replied softly.
"Good to hear."
Mark said, giving her a small smile, then went to the kitchen, leaving her practically melting. The kitchen tiles were cold under his bare feet.
---
After he went to the kitchen Mary looked at Alicia with a knowing smirk, leaning an arm on the couch.
"W-what?"
Alicia asked as she regained her composure but this seemed to make Mary's smirk widen even more.
"Oh you know what, you like my brother don't you."
She said as more of a statement of fact than a question.
"W-what, no I don't."
Alicia said, her cheeks turning pink, heat crawling up her neck.
"Oh come on girl, all the signs. Besides I'm not judging. Well maybe a little — why do you like my brother anyways."
Mary said, playful tone, eyes bright.
Alicia finally gave in as she let out a breath, shoulders dropping.
"I don't know, he's just different."
She murmured, voice small.
"Oh so you're into scrawny loners huh?"
Mary teased, smirk still fixed.
"Hey he's not that scrawny."
Alicia defended, her cheeks puffing out a bit.
"Damn girl you've got a serious case of crush syndrome."
Mary continued which made Alicia start lightly slapping her shoulder. Soft, embarrassed thuds.
"Hey stop teasing me."
Alicia pouted while slapping her.
"Not a chance."
Mary giggled as she started running around the room, bare feet slapping the tiles, while Alicia chased her, cushions bouncing.
Meanwhile in the kitchen Mark didn't hear any of this because he was wearing earbuds listening to some music while eating. The bass was low and muffled in his ears, the fridge humming. As he listened to the song he couldn't help but think of Bruce, the guy who had scared him most in Brookhaven aside from that brown dreaded guy from the alley that day.
The thought of finally being able to end his little game was a thought that brought Mark joy but the thought of facing him was undoubtedly scary. But even in that fear there was an unrefutable feeling of excitement in him, tight and buzzing in his chest.
'Am I becoming a fight junky or a masochist, both don't sound good at all.'
He thought as he finished his pb and j sandwich — peanut butter sticky on the roof of his mouth — and went back to the living room. But as he exited the first thing he saw was Alicia flying towards him and before he could react she fell on him, a blur of hair and heat, causing them both to fall to the ground with a heavy thump. Mary who was the cause of it winced as she saw the impact.
"You two ok?"
She asked but none of them answered. Mark was on the ground groaning from the sudden impact, back hitting the rug hard, while Alicia was on top of him paralyzed with embarrassment, her breath caught. The silence lasted for a good few seconds, only the music leaking from one knocked-loose earbud, until Mark broke it.
"Are you okay?"
He asked softly causing Alicia to snap back to her senses getting off him in a rush. She nods energetically.
"Mmhmm I'm fine you don't have to worry about me."
She murmured while turning her back to him so that he couldn't see how red her face was, ears burning. He also got off the ground and saw the mess around the room — cushions on the floor, couch skewed.
"I've only been in the kitchen for five minutes… how did you manage to do this in that small time frame."
He said in Shona and Mary just scratched the back of her head while chuckling, sheepishly.
"I guess we got carried away."
She responds also using Shona. Mark shakes his head as he let out a soft breath, dusting his shirt.
"We should really clean this up before mom gets back."
He said now switching back to English. Mary hated the idea of cleaning but she knew her brother was right so she nodded as she started to pick up some scattered cushions on the ground. But as they begin to put everything in order the door opens — keys jingling, lock clicking — to reveal none other than their mother.
"Hey babies I'm back home."
She said with a smile as she entered the room, grocery bags rustling, the smell of outside air and faint perfume coming in with her.
---