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[color=slategray][sub]A [@Silent Observer], [@Lovely Complex] & [@Universorum] Collab
Featuring: [color=997fdb][b]Marshall Radley[/b][/color], [color=dc143c][b]Kylie Lyon[/b][/color], [color=15603a][b]Trixie Kingsley[/b][/color] & [color=a52521][b]Owen Lyon[/b][/color]
Mentions: [color=31ba9f][b]Jamie Callaghan[/b][/color] [@smarty0114]
Setting: Wednesday, late after school, from The Lyon Residence to the 365 Combat Club[/sub][/color]
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[indent]It had been a day so far. After his early morning debate with Principal Evans, Marshall chose to keep his head down for the rest of the day. With the hangover long-passed, Marsh was feeling more like a ball of tangled up emotions instead. On one hand, he was ecstatic and had a fresh romance to look forward to, and on the other hand, he was miserably nervous, and guilty. The photo album in his backpack hung as heavy as an albatross upon his shoulders.

The uncharacteristic nerves that were built up in his stomach caused Marshall to act very unlike himself for the remainder of the school day. He didn’t talk to his friends much at all, he skipped lunch in favor of burying himself in vocal practice, and he’d only seen Jamie once or twice between classes. Marshall was doing anything he could to distract himself and keep his mind off of what he planned to do after school. But now, here it was, after school.

Marshall carefully put his backpack into the passenger side seat of his [url=https://i.imgur.com/yEM7CDa.png]purple Mini Cooper[/url]. He unzipped it and took out the photo album, running his thumb along the leather cover for a moment before letting out a deep sigh. Marsh stared at the roof of his car for a few minutes as he gathered himself. With another long exhale, Marshall put on his sunglasses, started his car, and sped out of the school parking lot towards his destination. 

The Lyon Residence. It was massive, like many of the other houses in Beverly Hills. Owen’s house was far larger and nicer than Marshall’s, and it was always fun to hang out there. As Marshall pulled his purple car into the driveway, it dawned on him just how long it had been since he had last hung out here. His stomach tied up in knots as he killed the engine and looked over at the front doorway.

Was this a stupid idea? They weren’t near the school, Marshall was approaching Owen on his home turf. He could finish up with his intent to murder Marshall, and no one would be any wiser, because Marshall didn’t even tell anyone that he was doing this. The only person that might be able to figure out where he went after school might be his sister, because Marty saw him open up the birthday gift from Owen that morning.

Marshall got out of the car and hugged the photo album against his chest as he approached the front door. The pathway felt like it took eight years to walk across, it also felt a bit like it was made out of hot coals rather than cobblestone. But that was probably just in Marshall’s head. Swallowing and taking a preparatory breath,  Marshall knocked on the door.

The person who opened the door was not the person Marshall was seeking, but it was a face he would remember fondly. The matriarch of the house dressed in a pink sports bra and yoga pants smelt like the stew she was cooking, as she eagerly approached her son’s ex-best friend. Kylie’s stew was one of Trixie’s favorite meals! There was a brief pause when she registered who was at the door. Emotions flooded her insides and as a result, she pulled the slim boy into her arms, his face straight into her chest, tightly squeezing the life out of him, [color=dc143c][b]“MARSHALL! IT’S SO GREAT TO SEE YOU!”[/b][/color] No volume control, as per usual. Swaying him in her arms like he was her own child, she continued to ramble, [color=dc143c][b]“What are you doing here? Did you and Owen make up? Are you sleeping over? Should I bake a pie? I should bake pie.”[/b][/color] 

[color=997fdb][b]“Oh, uhh…”[/b][/color] Marshall stammered as he was caught off guard, suddenly being pulled down against Mama Lyon’s chest. It would be an uncomfortable situation if it wasn’t something that he had grown so accustomed to in visiting the Lyon’s in the past. Kylie was expressive and emotional, even more so than himself. [color=997fdb][b]“It’s good to see you too, Mama Lyon. I… uhm… I am here to talk to Owen. I should have a long time ago… but...”[/b][/color] Marshall chewed at his lip and looked around behind Kylie. [color=997fdb][b]“Is he home?”[/b][/color]

[color=dc143c][b]“Oh wonderful. No baby, he’s at the gym. You know him! He’s gotta’ keep that body up, like I do for my ass.”[/b][/color] She released him from her anaconda hold. 

Marshall chuckled at that and smiled. [color=997fdb][b]“Yeah, same.”[/b][/color] He’d missed Kylie, she was fun to be around.

Kylie gave him a curious stare, [color=dc143c][b]“...[i]for a boy???[/i] Last time I checked you had that… Toby… kid! You still with him? He was a little weird, right?”[/b][/color] 

[color=997fdb][b]“Well, not exactly for a boy, but I guess their attention is a nice side effect.”[/b][/color] Marshall said with a grin. [color=997fdb][b]“And nooo, Toby and I broke up just before last summer. I’ve been single since… mostly…”[/b][/color] He broke eye contact with her for a moment as he reflected on his summertime activities, but quickly recovered. [color=997fdb][b]“Anyway, I do have a date on Friday, so there’s that. We’ll see.”[/b][/color] Marshall considered what he should do now. Should he leave? He wasn’t brave enough to face Owen unannounced at the gym, that was asking for trouble, as Jamie had learned a few days ago. Plus, there would probably be other students there, and he really wanted this conversation to be as private as possible. [color=997fdb][b]“Maybe I should just come back later? Can you let me know when Owen’s home?”[/b][/color]

Deciding she and Marshall needed more time to catch up, Kylie called out to her husband, [color=dc143c][b]“TROY WATCH THE STEW. I’M GOING TO THE GYM.”[/b][/color] 

[color=3545c4][b]“...Yeah, it’s not like I’m doing anything important at all!”[/b][/color] He wasn’t.

[color=997fdb][b]“I can drive, it’s no big deal…”[/b][/color] Marshall started to protest nervously. He really didn’t want to go to the gym, let alone have Kylie drive him there. Then again, he knew that there was no sense trying to fight it, this was how it was going to happen. Kylie wins.

[color=dc143c][b]“Love-you-so-much!”[/b][/color] With that, Kylie reached for her purse and motioned for Marshmallow to follow her to one of the many sports cars in the garage. The one in particular she chose: Troy’s [url=https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/247450444152963075/480860881429856266/1969doverZ10.png]Camaro[/url]. [color=dc143c][b]“I can assure you, this is the best day for you to talk to my son. He’s not too much in his feelings and if he lays a finger on you, I’ll be close by to prevent any pain. Also, I [i]must[/i] drive. So you can focus on telling me about this date of yours and who you’re sucking tongue with.”[/b][/color] 

Marshall raised a brow as he looked over to Kylie when she mentioned the possibility of Owen getting violent. [color=997fdb][b]“So… I take it you saw the video from the party, then? I mean, if he does want to lay a finger on me, I get it. I have kind of been a shitty friend, so I deserve it.”[/b][/color] Marshall looked down at the luxury sports car appreciatively. If he was going to die, at least he’d have a stylish hearse. Sitting in the passenger’s seat, he answered Kylie’s questions. [color=997fdb][b]“My date is with Jamie Callaghan. Coincidentally, also the same person I have been, uh, sucking tongue with.”[/b][/color] He laughed and, because this was an adult he was speaking with, also blushed a little bit at admitting that.

[color=dc143c][b]“Ooooh, I know Jamie. Owen hates him! But that’s not saying much. My boy hates a lot of people.”[/b][/color] Kylie was careful when she drove this car in particular. She knew if she did a hiccup and burned the transmission, her husband would hang her. [color=dc143c][b]“And Marshall, I don’t need to watch a video to know how my son is, but yes, I did see it. He wouldn’t have done that if he didn’t feel cornered. Whether he’ll ever admit it or not, he still cares about you. It’s hard to stop loving a best friend…”[/b][/color] 

She took a gentle turn to the left before shaking her head, [color=dc143c][b]“People do shitty things when they’re hurt, but I’m sure once you guys finally talk, all misunderstandings will go right out the door. If it’s meant to be, it’ll be.”[/b][/color] Kylie glanced over to Marshall and gleamed a loving, motherly smile. If anything, Marshall’s only crime was believing lies and not siding with the person he [i]should[/i] know better than the person other’s were painting her son to be. She doesn’t fault him. People that are hurt, hurt people. If Owen can forgive Trixie, he most certainly could forgive Marshall.

Marshall nodded and shook his head solemnly. [color=997fdb][b]“You’re right.”[/b][/color] He hoped. [color=997fdb][b]“I guess we’ll see soon. I was hoping to talk to him alone, I hope the gym has pretty much cleared out by now.”[/b][/color] Marsh sighed and looked down at the photo album in his lap. [color=997fdb][b]“Did you know he was doing this?”[/b][/color] He asked, gesturing to the album as she drove.

Kylie shook her head. No, she didn’t. [color=dc143c][b]“You may not believe this, but only recently he started sharing things with me again. After Trixie called him a mama’s boy in that article of her’s, he chose to live at the gym and only come home when he absolutely had to. The past week or two, things have taken a turn for him. Like he’s finally realizing what’s important to him. The gift he gave you… is to be expected. I mean, he never did cancel the flowers for Trixie. Every week, on a Monday, a single flower would be sent to her to start her week off right. I’m sure Julie’s kept all of them. I have no doubt that killed her on the inside, but that’s just the type of man my son is. He goes out of his way to make people feel good about themselves. If there comes a day he takes a gift back, that’s when you know you really fucked up.”[/b][/color] They were at a stoplight now, just one more block and they’d be at the gym. 

[color=997fdb][b]“Oh.”[/b][/color] Marshall looked down at the album again. He hadn’t really considered the fact that Owen purposefully didn’t cancel the gift being sent to him. Marshall assumed he had just forgotten about it. [color=997fdb][b]“Yeah, I think I remember Trix mentioning the flowers. No… wait… that might have been Stella and Luna who told me. I don’t know. Either way, that’s sweet, and really romantic. Well, here’s hoping I haven’t really fucked up.”[/b][/color] Marsh leaned his head back against the seat, it wouldn’t be long now. Come what may.

[color=dc143c][b]“I’m sure you’ll do just fine. You’re too lovable not to forgive.”[/b][/color] After two minutes, the car pulled up in front of the gym,  [color=dc143c][b]“Well, here we are. The moment you’ve been waiting for.”[/b][/color] Kylie didn’t park, instead she made sure there wasn’t much distance for Marshall to walk from the car to the door. She’d be lying if she’d say she wasn’t a little excited, hoping this ended well so she had more people at her table for stew. Her stew was da bomb! Because really, it was her mama’s stew… still she’ll take credit for tonight’s stew even if the recipe wasn’t her’s. 

Marshall look up at the gym and, wow, the place had never looked so intimidating. [color=997fdb][b]“Thanks, Mama Lyon.”[/b][/color] He said before opening the door and carefully closing it. God forbid he put a scratch on the Camaro and anger the [i]other[/i] Lyon. For the second time that evening, Marshall took what felt like a very long walk to the front door. He opened the door to the gym and the little bells signified his arrival. Looking around, he didn’t see anyone right away. [color=997fdb][b]“Hello?”[/b][/color]

Once again, the person to reveal themself was not the person he was looking for. It as Trixie wearing one of Owen’s shirts with booty shorts on. Her long, dark hair was in a ponytail and she had sweat gleaming down her forehead, [color=15603a][b]“MarMar? What are you doing here?!”[/b][/color] Trixie was delighted to see her partner-in-crime. She hadn’t been on social media much, since her attention has been solely on Owen, so the only thing she was aware of was Riley’s breakdown. Making her way to him with her confidant saunter, she grabbed his hands,  [color=15603a][b]“Were you successful? With Jamie?”[/b][/color] 

[color=997fdb][b]“Trixie? I—”[/b][/color] Marshall was once again caught off guard, but this time he was also confused. [color=997fdb][b]“I could ask you the same question.”[/b][/color] He looked at her outfit that screamed of ‘I just had sex with Owen Lyon in the gym’s sauna’ and then looked back up to her eyes. [color=997fdb][b]“Or maybe I don’t need to. Yes, things went really well with Jamie. We talked, just like I promised you we would. I take it you did too, since you’re here, in his clothes? Is… is Owen here still? I, uhm,”[/b][/color] Marshall gestured with the album he was holding. [color=997fdb][b]“I think I need to talk to Owen too.”[/b][/color]

[color=15603a][b]“Oh, of course. I’ll take you to him.”[/b][/color] Letting go of his hands only with her left hand, she used her right to lead the way. As a gesture of comfort, she gave him a small squeeze, [color=15603a][b]“After we went our separate ways, my night took a turn for the worse. If it wasn’t for Jamie, I might’ve not made it to Owen, but we’ll talk about that later. I’m sure you have enough on your mind.”[/b][/color] It wasn’t the time or place to talk about how she punched Ophelia in the face and almost committed suicide. 

When they came upon Owen, his back was turned to them and he was focused on the task he was working on: hitting a heavy bag. Owen was working on breathing control, and with every strike he let out a breath. The same combo, over and over. Left hook, right hook, kick. Without looking away, or stopping, he spoke to Trixie. [color=a52521][b]“Who was it, babe?”[/b][/color] If Marshall was intimidated by Owen outside of the gym, it was worse on his home turf.

Owen was shirtless and barefoot as he hit on the bag, and when he didn’t get an answer as fast as he wanted, he spun on his heel to face Trixie and… Marshall. Owen’s eyes narrowed, and he grumbled. [color=a52521][b]“Oh.”[/b][/color] And then he spun again, back to the bag. Now, though, he seemed to be hitting it harder.

Marshall looked thoroughly spooked as he rounded the corner with Trixie to see Owen doing, well, Owen things. Shirtless, muscled, hitting things really hard. To make matters worse, he greeted the sight of Marshall with nothing but an ‘Oh’ before he went right back to punching. Jesus Christ, was he on the set of a movie or something? Was he being Punk’d? Feeling suddenly sweaty, he looked over to Trixie and wished, as much as he loved her, that she could just go away for a little while. This was embarrassing enough to go through alone, let alone have an audience.  [color=997fdb][b][sup]“Can I just, uhm, have a few minutes?”[/sup][/b][/color] he whispered to her before turning to face Owen again.

[color=15603a][b]“You don’t have to ask twice.”[/b][/color] Releasing him from her protection, she dismissed herself to the office. She would keep her attention on the surveillance TV. Just in case.  

[color=997fdb][b]“Hi, Owen.”[/b][/color] Marshall began. It was… a start.

[color=a52521][b]“Hi. Jamie’s not here. What do you want? And, before you ask, I didn’t put the bruises on him.”[/b][/color] Owen said in between a set of the combination. He didn’t have much to say to Marshall, but even so, it was going better than it possibly could have; Owen’s words weren’t laced with venom, but rather, he seemed to just not care.

Marshall blinked in response. Ouch. There didn’t need to be venom, a bite still hurts. [color=997fdb][b]“I am not here for Jamie. Or because of him. I came for you.”[/b][/color] Marshall took in a shallow breath. [color=997fdb][b]“And for me.”[/b][/color]

The punching ceased, and Owen turned around, stepping toward Marshall. [color=a52521][b]“For [i]you[/i]? Are you kidding me? You abandoned me, just like everybody else, [i]bro.[/i]”[/b][/color] There was the venom that Marshall may have expected, complete with a sarcastic ‘bro’ at the end. [color=a52521][b]“Look, you ain’t Trixie. You don’t get to walk in here and apologize and make everything better again. It ain’t that easy. Say your piece.”[/b][/color]

Although Trixie couldn’t hear anything, she could see the expressions of both her lover and her friend. She could feel how cold Owen was being. Every word over-pronounced, slicing right through Marshall’s tender heart. Marshall’s subtle gestures and movements reminded her of herself, just the night before, but for Marshall… this was worse. Ten times worse. It wasn’t like those two could ‘kiss and make up’. Not like she did. Marshall had a harder hand to play and all she could do was watch in unnerving anticipation.   

Keeping his breathing steady, he kept talking. Lions could smell fear, so it was best to keep strong, right? Fuck, Marshall didn’t know that much about animals, really, but if he were an animal, he’d probably be whatever lions eat. [color=997fdb][b]“Yes, for me, because… [i]I[/i] have been a shitty friend, and [i]I[/i] feel shitty about it. I was wrong to abandon you, I’m sorry that I did. And I’m sorry that it’s taken me so long to stop being a bitch about it.”[/b][/color] He took another breath.

[color=997fdb][b]“I shouldn’t have reacted the way I did to you cheating on Trixie. She was my friend long before I became friends with you, but it [i]really[/i] wasn’t my business. I shouldn’t have abandoned you without at least hearing you out first. I just… I reacted because of my own daddy issues, or whatever. You were always a good friend to me, and I’m sorry.”[/b][/color]

Owen let him talk, but every word he said grated on Owen’s nerves. Even if Trixie was with him again, it didn’t change the fact that he didn’t like that his name had been dragged through the mud and everyone thought he was cheater and it made him [i]furious.[/i] So furious, that the only thing he could do was scream about it. [color=a52521][b]“Listen! I. Didn’t. CHEAT ON TRIXIE!”[/b][/color] Owen roared, his voice hitting its maximum volume by the end, as he ran a hand through his sweaty hair, pulling it off of his forehead.

The scream caused Trixie to jump right off the office chair, her heart nearly skipping a beat in fear. When tension was this high, one must trade anger with love. Suppress violent impulses with forgiveness. No matter how hard it was to muster the courage to do so, it was the best, and most warranted route. Did Owen have it in him to calm himself down? Most of the time? No. He was prideful and angry, to the point that it overwhelmed him and he couldn’t help but act and react. 

Why do you think he reacted the way he did at the New Year’s Party? Because for Owen, after being hurt again, and again, and again, his fuse has become so short that he no longer has the patience to hold himself back. Trixie would not allow him to hit his breaking point, it was one of the many things she needed to do to make up for her own sins.  She knew him and she knew he just couldn’t help himself, even if it makes him that more in pain. 

Marshall’s eyes widened and he stepped backwards, clutching the photo album against his chest as if that could act as some kind of shield. Under other circumstances, an attractive, sweaty, shirtless man screaming at him would be an an ideal scenario. This, however, was Owen Lyon. And this, was terrifying. Marshall didn’t expect him to get so defensive so quickly. It was pretty obvious that he did cheat, because, there were pictures, but Marshall didn’t dare say that out loud for fear of his life being at stake.

[color=a52521][b]“Do you think! She would be here if that was the case? Maybe, just maybe, she got her head on straight for half a fucking second and listened to me talk, unlike [i]you[/i], [i]friendo[/i]. If you had [i]listened to me[/i] if you had [i]given me a chance to speak[/i]. Me. Probably one of the most honest people you know. You would have known that those pictures you and Ophelia and Hailey and fucking Jamie and the rest of you snakes in the grass like to circle jerk about are [i]fake.[/i] That’s fucking [i]ROSE,[/i] for fuck’s sake, she’s my cousin! Ya wanna know who took those pictures? Ya wanna know when they were taken?”[/b][/color] Marshall may have been taking a step backward, but for everyone he took, Owen took two towards him. 

Eventually, there weren’t any steps left to take backwards. Marshall felt the cold hard surface of the gym’s wall against his back. He had been keeping his gaze steady on Owen for all that time, but as soon as his back was literally against the wall, he closed his eyes. This was going so much more poorly than he could have ever imagined. He wished that he could teleport out of here, or just get the violent part out of the way. [color=997fdb][i]Please, for the love all that is holy, please just fucking [b]hit[/b] me already.[/i][/color] Marshall thought to himself helplessly.

[color=a52521][b]“OPHELIA TOOK THEM. The bitch took the pictures at one of our family get-togethers! [i]Idiot.[/i]”[/b][/color]

No. That couldn’t be right. Ophelia wouldn’t. She couldn’t. Ophelia, the Candyland Queen. Ophelia, his best friend since he’d arrived in California. Forgetting about the fact that he was just going through an emotional crisis of fearing for his life and hoping for the worst, Marshall peeped open one eye. [color=997fdb][b]“...what?”[/b][/color] He asked in disbelief.

Owen only had one thing left to say, and he hissed it out more than saying it, as if the word was toxic in his mouth. [color=a52521][b]“[i]Hailey.[/i]”[/b][/color]

[color=997fdb][b]“No… Ophelia… she… I would [i]know[/i] if she…”[/b][/color] Marshall stammered, shaking his head in disbelief. His reaction was incredibly similar to the one he’d had upon seeing those pictures of Owen months ago. Identical, even. Finding out that your best friend might not be who you thought they were was… earth shattering, especially when you loved them so much.

[color=15603a][b]“... He isn’t lying, Marshall.”[/b][/color] Taking a deep breath in, Trixie arrived in the room and reached for Owen’s arm, holding him close to her, but she didn’t look away from Marshall, [color=15603a][b]“You’d think I’d catch on to it too, right?”[/b][/color] The emotions from yesterday trickled down Trixie’s face as the bathroom scene replayed in her head,  [color=15603a][b]“You wouldn’t think your own cousins would tear you away from someone that makes you whole, right? But I’m the fool for believing her. For believing them.”[/b][/color] She took a moment to swallow her feelings, so she could continue to talk. [color=15603a][b]“The reason why I feel obligated to repay Jamie is because he prevented me from nearly killing myself last night. Ophelia told me everything and if you look close to her face, she’s probably wearing more makeup than usual to hide the bruise I gave her. She did it because Hailey told her to and you know me, I’ve always been pretty insecure, so that made me an easy target.”[/b][/color] Her voice shook as she told her part of the story. Marshall and her… they were idiots for trusting people that only care about themselves. 

Marshall didn’t respond. There wasn’t anything that he could do or say. It was information overload, and he was already in shock. In the back of his mind, he was subconsciously processing Trixie’s words of confirmation. He was hearing the full story, but he couldn’t react to it. Ophelia was his best friend in the whole wide world. His Feels. If this was all true, it meant that she had been lying to him for months. His best friendship was a lie. All of them were in this together. Jesus, did Jamie know too? Aside from Trixie, Kit might be his only true friend, and he’d only just met her. Given what Marshall’s reactions had been for the past few weeks, one might expect him to cry right now. He would expect that, but miraculously, he wasn’t crying. When he spoke, his voice didn’t shake or crack, it just sounded incredibly empty. As hollowed out as he felt. 

[color=997fdb][b]“I… didn’t know. I swear, I didn’t know.”[/b][/color] Marshall loosened his grip on the photo album that was still defensively hugged to his chest. Slowly he turned to offer it to Owen. [color=997fdb][b]“After our interaction yesterday morning, and then getting this gift from you this morning… I felt guilty. I wanted to apologize for everything that I did to hurt you, and to damage our friendship. Trixie and I talked before the party yesterday, and she was ready try to get you back even before finding all this out… and, if she was brave enough for that, I felt like I should be too, so, I’m sorry. I drove to your house just to apologize. I understand if I’ve fucked up too much, and if you want this back. And you can hit me if you want to, if you’ll feel better, but your mom is outside and she made some kind of comment about not letting you do that so you might want to wait a little bit before you do.”[/b][/color]

Typical of his mother to step in when he didn’t need her. Owen loved Kylie, but she was a bit suffocating, and sometimes it got excessive… [color=a52521][b]“I’m not going to [i]hit you[/i], I’d shatter you like I was punching a window pane.”[/b][/color] Owen shook his head, before he reached out and pushed the photo album back, shaking his head. He didn’t want it back, he worked hard on it, and it was a gift. [color=a52521][b]“That’s a gift, from me to you. Why would I want it back? I took time out of my day to make you that, and I didn’t cancel it. That was intentional.”[/b][/color]

Speaking of Owen’s mother, Kylie poked her head into the gym and dramatically cleared her throat,  [color=dc143c][b]“I LOVE YOU ALL, BUT DINNER IS READY AND MY STEW WILL GET COLD! WE CAN TALK OVER SOME NICE, YUMMY FOOOOOOOD!”[/b][/color] Trixie couldn’t help but chuckle when Kylie entered the conversation, from the entrance, which wasn’t necessarily close to them. [color=dc143c][b]“OWEN I INVITED MARSHALL!”[/b][/color]

[color=a52521][b]“Whatever. My car only has two seats, you have to ride back with her. Good luck.”[/b][/color] Owen said, glancing at Marshall in the corner of his eye, before he tugged at Trixie’s arm. He was ready to leave; they could shower at the house.

[color=997fdb][b]“Okay.”[/b][/color] Marshall nodded. Riding back with Kylie seemed like the ideal option in his eyes anyway. She’d probably just want to talk about boys more, or TV shows, or anything else besides what just happened.[/indent]