Mare's smile grew into a grin. "Awesome. It's a date."
She paused, mentally slapping herself. "I meant, like a moment in time. Like a time. Like, it's the 5th of November. That's a date," she rambled, trying to repair her slip up.
(AaAaAaAaAaAah—– wait I've said this before
how come?)
Marianne quickly helped her cover it up, hoping that she was, in fact, covering it up and not just correcting a mistake. "Yeah, don't worry I got you. There's this cute café a ten minute's walk away, want to give it a try?"
(sorry I forgot I'd said the same thing on the other XD)
"Sounds great," Mare answered quickly, desperate to smooth over her dumb, though honest remark. Well you were painfully quick to mess up, she thought scoldingly to herself. She walked towards the school doors, ignoring the other people around her except for Marianne. But she didn't dare reach for the girl's hand no matter how much she wanted to.
(lol np I do it a lot)
"Dykes."
Marianne whirled around, trying to pinpoint the source of the remark. She saw no one who looked especially suspect, so she turned around again, heart clenching painfully. Ignore it. "So, Mare," she started, hoping her friend hadn't heard anything. "Hungry?"
Mare bit her lip upon hearing the remark. No matter how much she told herself she didn't care, it stung. A lot.
"What? Oh, uh, yeah. Very, actually. Haven't eaten anything since yesterday lunch."
"What??" Marianne immediately turned concerned eyes to her friend, mind jumping to the worse possible scenario, i.e. anorexia. "Why? You need to eat, especially since you dance so much!"
Mare, caught off guard by Marianne's reaction, let out a nervous laugh. "I haven't eaten because I dance. My ballet company needs all of their dancers a certain weight for costumes, so I'm just making sure I'm in the right percentage," she explained.
The reply did not help to ease Marianne's worry. "But that's ridiculous of them to demand of you, it's not healthy! You need to eat!" she protested, brow furrowed.
Mare shrugged. "They make you start young enough for your body to be able to adapt and function normally with a smaller amount of food than average. So it's as if I was eating normally."
She lay a hand on Marianne's elbow, trying to calm her down. "Seriously. It doesn't affect me."
Marianne shook her head. "It's still not the amount of food you need daily. And besides, you've got good figure already, what more do they want?" She blushed as soon as the words were out of her mouth, realizing how they could be interpreted.
Mare bit down her smile, but decided to skip over the comment for both their sakes. "That's ballet for you. How about, as consolation, I let you buy me whatever you want, however big a portion it is, and I'll finish it." They exited the school building and were finally free of the stares.
Mare had a though and looked up eagerly. You know, if this hasn't disgusted you of ballet you should come to my show. It's in a couple weeks."
She rubbed the palm of her hand with her thumb, a nervous habit she'd de developed.
Marianne, relieved both at the fact that Mare seemed to have missed her regrettable comment and that she was finally going to eat, smiled widely, the sun playing on her hair. "It's a deal, and I would love to see your show! How much are tickets?"
"30 £/€/$ (idk where you are). I'll send you the link if you give me your number," Mare said tentatively.
($ is fine, lol thanks, hbu?)
Marianne's pulse immediately sped up. Stop, it's just a friend thing you idiot. "Yeah, sure." She pulled out her phone, opening her contacts app and giving Mare her number.
(I'm in £ :) )
Score.
She happily took the number. "Awesome. Now we're officially friends."
Friends. The word pained her.
( 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.