"Just hold onto the dog," Marcus muttered as he lugged a bag of food the size of his torso.

Marco ran in front of me, wagging his tail in the process. "I'm a fan of free parenting. Let the dog run I say!" I cheered loudly.

Marco ran up to a woman who was walking down the hall and nudged her with his rather large nose. She screamed.

Marcus shifted the bag into one of his massive arms and bent down to reach for Marco's collar, holding him back. "You were saying?"

I grimaced, "Okay, so maybe I'm still learning my parenting technique. A little more discipline. I got it."

We arrived in front of his apartment and Marcus cleared his throat. "So, I'm not working tonight but I'll be out tomorrow if you can look after him then?"

I nodded enthusiastically, bending down to hold onto Marco's squishy face with both hands. "I'll see you later, boy! I'll miss you! Aw, aren't you the cutest guy around!"

I gave Marco a smooch before making my way to my apartment. Marcus gave me an odd look so I scrunched my nose at him annoyingly until he laughed, opening his own door. As I stepped inside, my phone dinged and I saw a message from Jackson, my heart immediately jumping into hyperdrive.

Jackson 🏈🏋️‍♂️👩‍❤️‍👨: Hey, some of the guys are getting together for drinks tomorrow night. You free? You can bring friends with you

He wants to see me again! I couldn't fathom why after that disastrous date, but I wasn't complaining. I pumped my fists in absolute glee. Everything in my life was lining up. Finally.

Though realistically, I was not looking forward to meeting a bunch of other random people that I didn't know. I had a hard enough time socializing with people I had a rapport with. (Let's not forget I professed my love for Jackson upon our first meeting).

I stared down at the message, contemplating how to message back. I hated how it didn't flow easily. I hated how I had to pause before I replied to him or I had to run my thoughts through a filter around him.

That took time, I reasoned. No one was comfortable right from the beginning. But I almost wished I was to prove to me that this was right.

After several attempts, I texted back.

Mabel: Sounds fun! Let me know where to meet you!

My phone rang at that moment and I checked the ID to see Mom staring back at me. Superb.

"Hey mom," I answered as I prepared myself for the next fifty questions.

"Hi sweetie!" She answered chirpily. "How are you?"

"I'm doing good. How about you guys?" I asked as I flopped on my couch, leaning on my elbows to hold me up.

"We're good. Your dad's been a bit under the weather, but totally natural of course." Of course. "We'd love to see you soon though. Do you think you can make it home for the holidays?"

If I was being honest, I had missed my parents a lot. I mean, I'd spent my entire life literally in the house with them. It was odd to be so far away from them. When I turned eighteen, I needed that distance, desperately. Now, I appreciated the closeness that I had with my quirky parents. I guess I had to get my quirk from somewhere.

That didn't erase the resentment I had against them whenever I met a social road block in my life. There was a lot of baggage that I hadn't quite gotten over. Though, everything with Jackson was looking up so I supposed I got take it easy on them for now.

"I'll be there," I replied.

"That's great, Mabel. We can't wait to see you. I love you sweetheart."

My heart clenched. "I love you too, mom."

I placed my head face down onto my couch just as I heard, "No! Morbid! Not the pillow, Morbid. Morbid, no."

I leaned my head back up as I heard Marcus chastise his dog next door.

"No... Marco," He said finally. "Oh, that you listen to? You ungrateful thing."

My phone dinged and looked down.

Marcus 🧙🏼‍♂️🧞‍♂️♋️🧦🤯: You've turned my dog against me

I laughed as I looked down at the screen, typing without taking a second glance.

Mabel: He knows what true respect is and won't go back now. He knows his self worth

I spent a moment listening to Marcus shouting a procession of 'no's' to his dog. I made a mental note to remind him about the hands off parenting technique.

I grabbed my phone and dialled Amanda quickly.

"Hi," She answered seriously.

Whenever Amanda was knee deep in school, she sounded angry at the world. "Are you studying?"

"Hm," She replied.

"Hold on."

"-No, Mabel-" I put her on hold as I dialled Connie.

"Hey, Mabel," Connie greeted. That was more like it.

"Hi!" I replied. "Hold on."

"Here we go," Connie sighed.

Okay, so I may have used the group call function a little too liberally. I got my privileges revoked for using it when I couldn't decide on my order at a Taco Bell and used a group call to figure it out. How was I supposed to know Amanda was with her parents at a work meeting and that they didn't appreciate taco talk?

"Oh, you're both here!" I gushed, "What a coincidence."

"I'm in the middle of writing an essay, Mabel," Amanda groaned.

"I'm about to start work," Connie chimed in. "But what's up?"

I always roped Connie in first.

"Connie, we agreed after that intervention that we weren't going to support this behaviour anymore," Amanda chastised.

It was true. They staged an intervention and told me not to use a group call when they told me they were busy. But this was important. So I pushed forward as usual.

"Guys! Jackson invited us all to a date thing. Group date. What would it be called?" I trailed, searching for the appropriate label.

"A hangout?" Amanda asked. I could practically hear her roll her eyes.

"What do you mean he asked all of us?" Connie asked quietly.

"I mean, he asked me out with his friends and told me to bring my friends. And as such friends, you have to come tomorrow night. And help talk me up."

"Mabel, I'm not sure I'll have time-" Amanda began but I cut her off immediately. I needed her. I needed support.

"I will cook your favourite brownies, Amanda!"

"Nah. I'm trying to cut out sugar for exams. It makes me break out," Amanda replied.

I sighed. "I didn't want to do this but you give me no choice."

"There's nothing you-"

"-Two words, Amanda," I teased. "Leather jacket."

It was quiet on the other end.

"Fine," Amanda groaned.

I squealed, "Thank you! Thank you!"

"Yeah, yeah." Amanda chuckled, "I expect a direct payment in my hands tomorrow night. It'll be so nice to finally be reunited."

"You'll be there right, Con?" I asked hopefully.

"I'm sorry, Mabel. I have to babysit my cousins tomorrow night," Connie sighed.

Amanda gasped, "I'm sorry, if I'm going, you're definitely, Connie."

"I'm really sorry," Connie rushed. "I really wish I could but I'm kind of in a bind. Shoot, I'm sorry guys I have to go. Love you!"

Click.

"What the-" Amanda began.

"-hell," I finished.

"Weird right?" I asked.

"Weird." Amanda confirmed.