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As soon as he stepped into the noisy gymnasium, Mark instantly had to squint. Though it wasn’t much brighter than outside, he had taken off his sunglasses, which proved to be a mistake in light of his steady hangover. Not a great way to start your first day of work, but it is what it is.
Before he had time to shuffle around the groups of kids doing drills and shouting at each other to find where he was supposed to be, he saw someone wave enthusiastically and jog towards him.
“Hey man! Welcome. Do you need me to show you where your stuff goes or do you know where the locker rooms are?” Johnny gave him a grin and a stiff pat on the back, which made Mark cough in surprise.
“Hey Johnny, nah I can get back there. Sorry I couldn’t get here earlier.” Mark avoided eye contact, hoping his voice didn’t sound too wrecked from last night.
In response, Johnny just smiled, a knowing twinkle in his eye, and said “You’re just in time, don’t sweat it. Just meet me over there in five.” At that, Johnny pointed to the far corner of the room, where a couple dozen girls were bumping volleyballs to each other in pairs.
Making his way back to the locker room, Mark sighed. He should have known better, but how could he not have gone out with Donghyuck last night. It was his birthday, nevermind it being his twenty-first birthday. There’s no way he would have let Mark wriggle out of that with his usual excuses. But after that, Mark’s not sure who he can blame for the shots dumped down his throat. As he unloaded his keys and wallet into the green locker, he tried to remember how many it actually ended up being but realized he stopped counting after the 6th.
Before he dropped his phone in with the rest of his things, he looked at it for the first time that morning since silencing his alarm. Multiple Instagram notifications - stories posted from Chenle, Jeno, Jaemin (plus one close friends story from him as well - Mark wasn’t sure he wanted to see that one), a couple of annoying ads baiting him into opening their apps, and one text from Renjun asking how his hangover was. He decided to ignore that one for now.
Mark shook his head and dragged his hands down his face. One quick slap to his cheeks. He’ll survive…somehow.
Johnny blew the whistle around his neck and clapped three times as Mark joined him on the court.
“Ladies listen up! I’m Coach Johnny and this is Coach Mark. We’ll be running your volleyball camp for the next two weeks.” Johnny’s voice was louder than he was expecting, and Mark startled a little bit. The girls didn’t seem phased though - and one or two of them giggled.
“We’re all here to have fun but I’m not here to put up with any bullshit,” he continued, prompting murmurs from a few of the girls at the language. “If you remember anything though, remember this: I am not making any trips to the hospital during camp. I take your safety very seriously and I expect you to do the same.” After he finished, though, he broke into a smile, eliciting a few more giggles, and said “Now, who’s ready to play volleyball?”
At the break for lunch, the campers and all the coaches and counselors piled into the nearby cafeteria. Once Mark had loaded up a plate full of carbs he walked over where Johnny was waving at him just like this morning, indicating Mark should sit across from him. As he took his seat, Johnny set a bottle of Gatorade in front of Mark. “Drink this, it’ll help.” He smiled. So he did know.
Mark laughed weakly. “Thanks man,” he said. “I’m starting to feel a little bit better though, it wasn’t my worst night at least.” At that Johnny chuckled.
“Not that I’m saying anything about my nights, but you definitely seem to be handling it pretty well. What was it? A little unusual to go out on a Sunday night, no?” Johnny asked, starting in on the salad in front of him.
“Friend’s birthday,” Mark replied after a good chug of the Gatorade. He already felt a little better.
“Ah I see,” Johnny said. They settled into silence as they ate, but once he mostly finished his lunch, Johnny asked him about the camp. “Lifelong dream to teach students how to bump, set and spike?”
Mark laughed at that. “Ah, well, not exactly. Though I guess…kind of?” He looked down, rubbing the back of his neck with the hand not holding a slice of cold cafeteria pizza. “I’m starting as a teacher at Poe High School in the fall. So when I saw the ads on campus where they said they needed more student coaches for the sports camps the school was running and that it included a little money, I applied. They were thrilled once they realized I was the new teacher they hired.”
Johnny nodded, approving. “What are you gonna teach?” he asked Mark.
“10th grade English lit,” Mark said, blushing a little. “I just graduated with my teaching degree.”
“Ah,” Johnny replied. He pointed to himself and said “World history.”
“Oh, word?” Mark said, brightening. “That’s what, the 11th graders?”
Johnny nodded. “Honestly, I usually get a good bunch every year, so I’m lucky. And as much as I hate being a stereotype, I am the varsity volleyball coach too. My teaching degree is in phys ed and too late I realized I didn’t actually want to be a gym teacher, I just wanted to coach.” He shrugged, then continued easily. “Well, listen, I think we’re gonna have a great summer, if you can hang. We’ll have three more groups, so be prepared. If you’re not,” he paused, clearly remembering something, “the last day can be….hard.”
Mark nodded, taking it to heart. “Thanks, man, yeah.”
“See you back in twenty minutes.” Johnny said, and then got up and headed over to one of the other coach’s tables with two guys and a girl with a pretty, slick ponytail.
Once Johnny was gone, Mark slumped over on the table, head inside his arms. He didn’t lie - he was feeling better, his stomach now filled with carbs soaking up the tequila from last night (he winced, remembering it wasn’t just shots, it was tequila shots), but his head was still pounding, especially in the din of the loud cafeteria. His relief in the darkness of his arms was momentary though, as Mark felt himself being shook by two sets of hands.
“Maaaaark.”
“Mark Lee.”
“Markiepoo.”
“Wake up Markle Sparkle.” At that last one leaving Chenle’s mouth, Mark lifted his head to glare at him.
“Man what the fuck is a Markle Sparkle.” Mark groaned. “Can’t you leave me alone to die in peace?”
“Nope,” Jeno giggled, “absolutely not.”
Mark side eyed them both. “Wait a second…” he started, “why are neither of you as hungover as I am?”
“Oh we are,” Chenle replied, “we just have more experience so we’re hiding it better.” Mark had a brief flash where he wanted to slap the grin off Chenle’s face. Unfortunately, Mark was a good, nice person or something like that, so all he could do was groan again.
Instead, he changed the subject. “How’s Hyuck?” At that, Chenle shrugged, and Jeno pulled out the chair across from Mark to sit.
“Haven’t heard from him,” Jeno said. He eyed Mark suspiciously. “Have you?”
“Nah,” Mark said, shaking his head. “Just Renjun.” Mark sighed. “Should we call him?” Mark checked the watch on his left hand. It was nearly 1 p.m.
“Don’t you remember how much of a pain in the ass he was to get up?” Chenle scoffed. “We hardly ever got him to the cafeteria on the weekends before brunch closed at 2 p.m. I’m sure he’s sleeping like the dead right now. Besides,” Chenle said, pausing to clear his throat before continuing, “Junnie’s home, you know he’ll take care of him.”
Mark knew Chenle was looking out for his response on that one, but, frankly, Mark’s head hurt too much to care. He took another big sip of the gatorade, thinking of Johnny, grateful he seems to have made a new friend. “Yeah, you’re right,” was all he said. “Come on, we’d better get back.”
At that Chenle groaned. “Tell me again how you convinced me to spend my summer doing this with you? I don’t even need a summer job!” he cried. Jeno just hauled him along, following Mark out of the cafeteria back to the gym so they could get back to their basketball camp.
Mark was more than ready to go home by the time the clock rolled around to 3 p.m, campers getting picked up by harried parents one by one. He wasn’t sure what to expect when Johnny came over and clapped his hand on Mark’s shoulder, but Johnny gave him a grin that Mark was now realizing was quite common for him.
“Great job today, Mark! Didn’t you say earlier you didn’t really have any volleyball experience? Didn’t look like it to me!” he beamed.
Mark looked down, embarrassed. “I mean I played when I was in high school in like, gym class, but yeah.” He did remember something though, then asked, “Does Haikyuu count? My best friend loves that show, he made me watch the whole thing.” Mark chuckled.
Johnny laughed with him “Hell yeah bro! That’s a fun one.” Johnny winked. “I just think you’re just good at picking things up though. See you in the morning!” With that, he jogged off to the locker room.
Mark sat on the bleachers for a second to tie his shoe, but when he looked up, he made eye contact with one of the other coaches, the same one Johnny had talked to earlier. She was listening to Jeno, actually, which surprised Mark. Jeno never seemed to talk to anyone outside their friend group unless Jaemin was right there with him. She looked back to Jeno, but not before Jeno - and, coincidentally, Chenle next to him - could clock the barest smile unfolding, and as suddenly as the moment happened Jeno was waving goodbye to her.
“Hungry?” Chenle asked when the duo reached him. “We’re gonna meet Renjun and Jaemin at Pizza House. Jisung said he’d be there when his class gets out too.”
“Yeah I’m down,” Mark said, even though he’d just had pizza for lunch. Pizza House was kind of their spot, so it’s not like it was a surprise. “Want a ride?”
“Always,” Chenle replied, but then as they headed out to Mark’s car, he asked “So….what was that with Mina back there?” Mark could tell Chenle was trying very hard to sound casual, but curiosity seeped into his voice.
“Hmm?” Mark mumbled, swinging his key ring around his finger as they walked.
“Mina,” Jeno piped in. “The girl I was talking to.” He gave Mark a small smile. “You guys had….a moment.”
Clearly, Mark remembered, but he also tried to sound casual. “I don’t think I know her,” he said.
“She’s pretty,” Jeno replied, and at that Chenle rolled his eyes.
“No shit sherlock. She’s really fucking hot actually,” Chenle said. “You gonna ask her out?”
“Excuse me?!?” Mark exclaimed. “I literally don’t know her.”
“Okay but you could,” Chenle retorted. “Jeno had a class with her last semester, and she’s working with you this summer! And I swear,” at this, he started talking with his hands, gesturing in front of Mark, “I swear to god she’s into you. I don’t know how I know but I do. I have a sense for these things you know.”
At this, both Mark and Jeno burst into laughter. “You absolutely do not!” Mark cried.
That was the wrong response, because that sent Chenle straight into sulking mode for the entire ride to Pizza House. He only cheered up when he saw Jaemin and Renjun, a supreme pizza already missing a couple of slices at the table in front of them.
Mark strolled in last, dropping into the chair next to Jeno, completely unaware and preoccupied until suddenly, a voice above him was asking “Hi, new customer. Whatever can I get you started today?”
Startled, Mark looked up at Donghyuck standing next to him. “Uhhhhhh, what?” He laughed, but taking in the half apron tied around his waist, red cap, and beaming smile, Mark realized Donghyuck wasn’t playing a prank on him.
“Surprise!” Donghyuck bounced slightly, shifting his weight with nervous energy. “Remember I told you I finally found a job?” Mark scrambled through his memories, trying to latch onto this one scrap of information, but came up empty. Seeing this, Donghyuck tsk tsk tsked at him, exclaiming “Last night!”
Well, that explains it, Mark reasoned.
“Was it around shot four or shot five?” Mark slung back. He could hear the poison in his voice accidentally bleeding in. He wasn’t actually mad at Donghyuck for getting him drunk on his twenty-first birthday…just maybe a little annoyed.
Donghyuck cackled, ignoring any annoyance. “Well, double surprise then. Honestly I figured we spend so much time here already, might as well get paid for it.” He looked back at the counter then, saying “I need to get back though…but I’ll get you a meat lover’s on the house,” winking before he hustled away back to the order counter.
Mark looked at the group. “When did this happen again?” he asked. Renjun shrugged.
“Recently I guess?” Renjun tried to answer.
“It doesn’t matter,” Jaemin placated. “The only thing we need to worry about is how we’re going to squeeze every single free pizza and shake we can get out of him.” Jaemin grinned, already thinking about the rest of the summer, and how much all their wallets will be relieved. Not that Pizza House was even all that expensive - their late night combo was legendary for a reason. Four dollars for a mini pizza or a cheesy bread and a shake was the perfect pick me up for stressed undergrads across campus, if not for the price but for the fact that they delivered all the way until 2 a.m.
As the boys chattered on, Jisung joining in when he arrived, Mark left the table to go up to the counter Hyuck was now situated behind, his back to Mark as he fiddled with utensils.
“You could have told me sooner,” Mark said as way of greeting. Donghyuck whirled around.
“Told you what?” he asked.
“About the job. I mean, I didn’t even know you wanted one.”
Hyuck shrugged. “It’s not like it’s bad to have an extra bit of money, right? You know that internship I got isn’t paid.”
“Yeah, but I could have-” Mark started, but Hyuck cut him off.
“No no no, the schedule with the sports camps was too much. This was perfect because I can just work a few shifts. I get to choose whatever I want. Plus,” Hyuck said, wiggling his eyebrows, “don’t you like free pizza?”
Mark sighed in defeat, knowing he wasn’t going to win, so he changed the subject. “How’s your hangover?”
At this, Donghyuck blinked. “What do you mean?” he asked, clearly confused. A confused Hyuck wasn’t something Mark was used to, so he pressed on anyway, wondering, like he often did, if Hyuck was just messing with him.
“Man I have had a fucking headache all day. Yours has to be as bad as mine.” Mark groaned once more, taking the opportunity to slump across the counter.
“Mark,” Donghyuck giggled, “you seriously don’t remember?”
“Oh god,” Mark cringed. “What the fuck did I do?”
“Nothing!” Hyuck exclaimed. “You just kept taking all my shots!”
Mark lifted his head slightly. “I did what?” “Yeah,” Hyuck continued, bursting into laughter, “I left the last place with barely even a buzz. You just kept snatching them towards the end. Nobody even ordered them for you.” Donghyuck’s laughter echoed in the mostly empty restaurant, but Mark just covered his face.
“Great,” he sighed. “I really did do this to myself then.”
“It’s okay Melk,” he soothed, using his favorite nickname for Mark. He ruffled Mark’s hair. “I still had a great time. Even if you don’t remember it.”
A bell chimed somewhere in the back, and Donghyuck left Mark sulking at the counter to go grab his pizza and bring it back to the table. Before Mark went to get some before his friends destroyed it and left him none, he quickly asked Donghyuck what time he’d be home.
“Probably like 7:30. Dunmeshi?” Hyuck asked. Mark nodded. “See you soon,” and then he was gone, back into the kitchen.
Like he promised, Mark was on the couch binging Dunmeshi with Donghyuck. It was starting to get late, but Hyuck kept saying one more episode right as Mark kept thinking he was going to tell him it was the last episode.
While Donghyuck was in the kitchen getting another White Claw from the fridge for Mark and pouring another glass of wine for himself, Chenle burst into the front door of their shared off-campus house, Jeno and Jaemin pulling up the rear holding hands.
“Heyyyyy!” Chenle exclaimed. “If it isn’t my loverboy Mark.” As Chenle said this, he started making kissy faces, the sound of his lips making a large smack.
“Yo dude what the fuck, are you drunk?” Mark retorted. Jeno and Jaemin nodded in sync.
“Not drunk enough to forget your little MOMENT this afternoon!” Chenle then burst into a fit of giggles, almost collapsing, prompting Jaemin to let go of Jeno’s hand to drag Chenle upstairs to his room.
Donghyuck, suspiciously silent this whole time, set his glass and Mark’s can on the bartop counter. “What was Chenle talking about?” he asked, nonchalant.
Before Mark could reply and say it was absolutely, positively, 100% nothing, Jeno’s voice came from the stairs “One of the coaches at the clinic, Mina. According to Mark and Chenle, she’s ‘fucking hot.’” Jeno quickly brushed past Donghyuck to fill up Chenle’s water bottle for him.
“JENO LEE I SAID NO SUCH THING” Mark cried, but before he could say anything else, Jeno was shrugging and pounding back up the stairs, likely before Chenle could get himself into any more trouble.
That was all it took for Donghyuck to pounce.
“Hyung,” he exclaimed, eyes sparkling, clearly excited. “Let me do it for you! Let me help!”
He ran from the kitchen and lept on top of Mark, hands first, shaking his shoulders. Not his first time being attacked by an over-eager Donghyuck, Mark threw his hands in front of his face before Hyuck could get his grubby little hands within pinching distance of his cheeks.
Seeing that his original tactic wasn’t working, Donghyuck sat back on his heels next to Mark on the couch and gave him a little space. “I can do it. I can make Mina your girlfriend this summer.”
Mark made a snap decision to go on the offensive and wrestled Donghyuck onto his back so he couldn’t attack him again. “Who-said-” he grunted out, “that-I even wanted a girlfriend this summer?” Mark started panting from the effort into containing Hyuck, who was now squirming, trying to get out of his hold.
“Meeeeeelk,” Hyuck squealed. Mark got his wrists pinned, finally, and Hyuck stopped fighting.
“What if I wanted a boyfriend?” Mark laughed. He quickly let go of Donghyuck’s wrists and sat back.
Donghyuck stuck his tongue out at Mark. “Lucky for you I’m an even better wingman for boyfriend hunting, so that can easily be arranged. I already know your type….a tall….dark…and handsome hyung.” As he was saying this, Hyuck threw himself off the couch, knowing this would prompt Mark to come back at him once again.
“THAT WAS ONE TIME AND YOU KNOW IT. HE DOESN’T EVEN GO HERE ANYMORE!” Mark yelled, trying to follow him across the living room into the kitchen. He will literally never let Mark forget the first (and only) time they went to the one gay bar on campus Hyuck’s freshman year where, unbeknownst to Donghyuck - and Mark Lee - Mark turned out to be bi. How did they find out? Mark ended the night making out with the first stranger that hit on him, who turned out to be a senior. Jaehyun or something.
Before Mark could get his hands on Hyuck again and put him in a headlock, Hyuck threw up his hands in surrender. “Okay okay you’re right,” he gasped, “but I’m just saying.” He started getting whiny. “You work so hard and it’s your last true summer. You deserve a little fun summer fling. Hot Mark Summer!” Hyuck yelled. Somehow, he must have been loud enough for the house to hear, because they got back a “Hot Mark Summer!” from two other voices, probably Jaemin and Chenle.
At this point, Mark had two choices. He could continue to fight with Donghyuck and push back against this stupid plan. Never advisable to go against Hyuck though, really, so he guess he had to choose the second - let Donghyuck do whatever he wants.
Was he happy about it? No. Was he resigned to it? Unfortunately. Hot Mark Summer it was.
Nearly a week later and Mark was flopping onto the couch as soon as he returned from the work on Thursday, their last day for the week. He was exhausted. He had somehow severely underestimated how much physical movement he’d be doing despite being the coach. Between chasing volleyballs, demonstrating moves and positions, and generally doing whatever Johnny asked, he’d probably gotten the most exercise since high school. He was sore, tired, and ready for a nap.
Donghyuck, however, had other plans. “Melk!” his voice carried down before he flew down the stairs.
Not wanting to be part of whatever Hyuck had in his devious little mind (Mark knew Donghyuck so well at this point he could tell this just from the tone of his voice), Mark pulled the flimsy blanket that lived on their couch over his head and tried to blend in. Okay - maybe that was hard to do given it was a Minecraft blanket, but maybe - just maybe -
“I know you’re there you know,” Donghyuck said, much closer this time, probably in front of him. Fuck.
“Go away.” Mark replied, voice muffled by the blanket.
“C’mon, you’ll have to do better than that,” Donghyuck giggled. Mark felt a nudge against his shoulder. He threw off the blanket.
“Can’t I just melt into this couch for the entire weekend.”
“Absolutely not. I’ve got tonight off and we’ve got work to do.”
Okay, unfortunately, now Donghyuck had his interest.
“What kind of work,” Mark asked, eyeing him suspiciously.
“You’ll see! Just go, like, shower and change.” Donghyuck nudged him again.
Mark scoffed. “What’s wrong with what I have on?” he asked, mostly to be difficult, because he was in basketball shorts and a (now sweaty) t-shirt from high school.
“Hyuuuuuuung” Donghyuck whined. “I have to finish up my internship work but just clean up!”
Mark made no move to get up to follow Hyuck up the stairs. He still didn’t know what he was getting himself into, something Mark swore he’d never do again. Last time he followed Hyuck blindly, he ended up on a mechanical bull at a cowboy-themed frat party.
Before he was about to actually turn over and take a nap, he felt his phone buzz
darling donghyuckie ♡ ⋆˙⟡
you can pick for couch time all next week if you get up right now and shower
Mark rolled this over in his head. He knew this was a generous offer from Hyuck, letting Mark pick what they watch when they wind down from the day, meaning he really wanted Mark to go along with whatever he decided they were doing tonight.
darling donghyuckie ♡ ⋆˙⟡
and you’ll like it
i promise
Mark wasn’t so sure about that, but he found himself pushing up from the couch anyways. What’s the worst that could happen? Mark reasoned.
This, Mark realized. This was the worst thing that could happen.
Mark found himself looking out at a slowly filling room of sweaty, horny students. Summer students, to be exact, so like him had already graduated or bumming off their parents or just doing a summer class or an internship. Students with very little responsibility and a whole lot of time to kill.
Despite Donghyuck telling him to change, he never specified what to change into. So here was Mark, at some kind of club/bar, wearing a fucking flannel. Mark threw an elbow into Hyuck’s side.
“Ow!” he screeched. “What the hell was that for!”
“You could have warned me!”
“You wouldn’t have come!”
This, unfortunately stunned Mark temporarily into silence. It was true, of course. But still. “I’m so under-dressed! You couldn’t have at least, I dunno, told me to change?”
“I literally did,” Hyuck deadpanned. Before Mark could continue arguing and (maybe, hopefully) get out of this, he grabbed Mark’s wrist to tow him over to the bar to get a drink and start a tab.
“Thanks,” Mark mumbled, since Donghyuck actually put it on his card for once. He accepted the drink Hyuck handed him, a whiskey coke, one of Mark’s go-to orders, and turned around, back against the bar. “So care to tell me what the hell we’re doing here?”
Donghyuck clinked his glass with Mark’s before taking a sip and then casually said “We’re celebrating.”
This confused Mark even more. “Celebrating what exactly?”
“Your first week of work silly! You’re really an adult now.” Despite the enthusiasm that filled Hyuck’s voice, Mark still wasn’t convinced. Something else was going on. He didn’t get to push any further though because Hyuck threw his arm up, waving over a pink-haired figure weaving through the crowd towards them.
“Junnie!” Hyuck called before Renjun appeared. Hyuck pulled him in for a brief hug before switching places so Renjun could order a drink.
“I know Hyuck told me you were coming,” Renjun started, speaking to Mark, “but I honestly didn’t think you’d agree.” Mark saw this as his chance to actually figure out what was going on.
“Why’s that Renjun?” he asked nonchalantly.
“Wait-” Hyuck started.
“Because it’s singles night.” Renjun replied simply, turning towards Mark with his eyebrows raised.
Mark immediately threw a glare towards Donghyuck. “Is this what you meant by ‘work?’”
Though Hyuck clearly hadn’t been intending to tell Mark about his plan, he switched tactics quickly. “I just thought it was a good opportunity to celebrate your first day of work…get out of the house…and practice a little before I start coaching you.”
At that last part, Mark choked on his drink. “Coach?!?” he blurted.
“Hyung, let’s be real. When’s the last time you got laid.” It was incredible how Donghyuck could say this almost perfectly neutral. It was like he was serious or something.
“How would you even know,” he threw back, ears feeling hot. “And what makes you think I even need your coaching for that.”
“You need it,” piped up Renjun, which stunned Mark into silence for the second time that night. Betrayers. Both of them.
“Besides,” Hyuck said, “I don’t expect you to do anything tonight. Let’s just talk to a few people.” The way he said this, it was like he was trying to soothe Mark, which wasn’t really working because now Mark was wondering why he thought Mark wouldn’t do anything tonight. Like, maybe he would! “I need the practice too, it’s not just you.” Hyuck added cheerfully.
“I think there’s very few people in here who aren’t straight Hyuckie,” Mark said gently, thinking Donghyuck wanted to practice his own flirting skills.
Hyuck rolled his eyes. “Puh-leez. Not practice for that. Wingman practice! Let’s start now,” he said suddenly, and then grabbed both Mark and Renjun’s hands, dragging them quickly over to a table that had room across from two girls. Surprisingly, Mark noticed they were only mildly surprised at the intrusion.
“Can we use this spot? If you aren’t waiting for anyone? There aren’t any more tables so we were hoping you could share.” Hyuck used his voice, that voice Mark knew could morph into anything, and immediately put the girls at ease.
“Sure,” the first girl said, “we aren’t waiting for anyone.”
“Perfect!” Hyuck exclaimed and grinned. “I’m Donghyuck, and this is Renjun and Mark.” He pointed towards the both of them as he introduced them.
“I’m Jade,” the first girl said.
“I’m Milla” her friend next to her said, much softer than the first. She also seemed to blush, Mark noticed. She must be the shy one.
“Do you all take classes here?” The first girl - Jade - asked.
This time, Renjun answered her. “Yeah, though Mark just graduated.” He put his arm around Mark, giving him a tight squeeze.
“Oh?” she questioned, clearly curious. “What did you major in?”
“I was in the school of education,” he squeaked. Fuck. Sometimes, when his throat was dry, his voice got caught, like just now. Great. He cleared his throat and took the last sip of his drink.
“Oh wait,” Milla piped up. She turned to her friend. “Didn’t Zoey just declare a major in the ed school?”
“Yeah!” Jade immediately brightened.
Milla explained, “Zoey was our other roommate last year. We’re all nursing but she knew one of the girls from a class or something.” At that she smiled at Mark, clearly happy to talk a bit more on this subject.
“Oh, word?” Mark replied.
This apparently wasn’t the best response. Mark could literally feel Donghyuck roll his eyes at him despite being at the end of the table.
“You need another drink, right, Mark?” Donghyuck asked, nodding towards his empty glass. “Maybe Milla can go with you and you can find out if you know her friend.”
Unfortunately, Mark was just awkward, not clueless, so he knew what Hyuck was trying to do. But Milla easily agreed saying, “Sure, I think I remember a bit about the classes she took,” and started walking towards the bar, giving Mark little choice but to follow her.
Either Mark was mistaken with his first impression or she was actually into him, because as soon as he asked “So what are you studying exactly?” she started talking quite enthusiastically while they waited for one of the bartenders to come by.
At first, he smiled and nodded, listening to her talk about nursing and what made her choose that, but his heart wasn’t in it and, inadvertently, he snuck a look back over at the table. As expected, the group was still huddled at the table, now animatedly talking.
Ever since they’d become friends, Mark noticed how Hyuck had this way of putting everyone around him instantly at ease. People liked Mark, sure, but sometimes - if they didn’t know him - it was like they sensed his inner awkwardness, his nervousness seeping out. Anxiety at - well, at everything. The way he was being looked at, perceived, thought of. He cared so much and everyone could tell.
Donghyuck was so different. If Donghyuck cared, he never let anyone around him know. He was like a shark - always moving. Constantly changing. Mark saw Donghyuck live a thousand lives. And he knew this. He said it was his greatest strength. Not stubborn, but somehow always got his way. He was flexible, molding to anything anyone wanted him to be. But sometimes, just sometimes - in his darkest moments, in the quiet of night, Mark wondered what that meant for him, for their years-long friendship.
As Mark watched their table, Renjun brought his hand up to squeeze Hyuck’s arm, just a small movement, but it still provoked something in Mark. He gripped his new glass a little tighter.
“Mark?” he finally heard, Milla snapping him out of his thoughts. He looked up at her, and instead of finding annoyance, or judgement, he found something else: kindness. She smiled softly. “What happened?”
“I-” he started, about to make an excuse, but something in the way she was looking at him, willing to listen, made him actually want open up. “It was a while back, they…” he started again, but suddenly, he couldn’t finish his sentence. He promised Donghyuck that he would move past it, but deep down, Mark knew he still wasn’t over it yet.
“Were they together?” she asked softly. Ah, she guessed it. Kind of.
That made it easier for Mark to supply the rest. “Not really, not for long.”
She didn’t say anything back, and he sipped his drink in silence while she waited for hers. When the bartender finally came back with her drink, she finally said “I’m gonna go, it looks like Jade is going somewhere else anyways, but good luck,” and smiled at him.
So much for Hyuck’s planned practice for him.
00z chat
Fullsun00z: two vegetarian pizzas for the two losers that can make it here first
Chenlewuzhere: I CALL DIBS
Samoyed00z: you literally can’t call dibs he said you have to go there
Chenlewuzhere: but i can’t get there until 11
princessnana00z: but you can’t last more than five minutes in bed? What’s taking you so long with your date?
Chenlewuzhere: SHUT THE FUCK UP JAEMIN
Chenlewuzhere: I promised Jisung I’d help him with his assignment before it’s due
Chenlewuzhere: Just save me one slice at least?
Chenlewuzhere: Jisung says he wants one too
In a way, Mark was relieved when he felt his phone buzz with the text because Donghyuck had been a ghost ever since the failed night out two nights ago. Sometimes, that just meant Hyuck was busy, and that’s what Mark told himself. But he could never be sure, especially considering he had bailed on him and Renjun after that conversation at the bar. He really hadn’t been in the mood to continue.
He ended up being the first one at Pizza House, beating Jaem and Jen, who he was sure would be there, if only to satisfy Jaemin’s need to annoy Chenle at every possible moment.
He slipped into one of the booths, mostly out of sight from the counter. If Hyuck was mad at him, he wanted some kind of buffer.
He wasn’t as stealthy as he thought. A minute later, Hyuck was dumping two large, brown boxes in front of him. “Eat up,” was all he said before vanishing once again.
“Uh, thanks?” Mark called after him, but Hyuck only waved at him, not even turning back around.
Before he could go after him though, Jaemin and Jeno were sliding in across from Mark and pulling the top box over to their side of the table.
“You’re welcome???” Mark questioned, but Jaemin was already stuffing a slice in his mouth.
“How did the date go?” Jeno asked. Mark turned to him, eyebrows drawn, now extremely confused.
“Date?”
“That’s what Hyuck said.” Jeno said.
“He must have been referring to the bar we went to a couple of nights ago. It wasn’t a date.”
Jeno didn’t say anything at that, Jaemin looking up instead to tsk at him. “You’re never going to get that girl to like you by the end of the summer if that’s your attitude.” he chided.
“Rude? What makes everyone think I couldn’t pull a date if I wanted to?” Mark didn’t hear himself raise his voice, but by the end it was carrying across to the handful of other students in the small dining room.
“Shhhh,” Jaemin shushed him. “Do you want everyone on campus to know you’re bitchless? That really won’t help your prospects.”
Knowing he was being foolish, Mark backed off, but he was still a little annoyed when Chenle and Jisung found them. Chenle pinched his cheeks, clearly pleased Mark left him a slice as requested.
“Don’t worry Markus,” he said in between bites. “Hyuck’s gonna help you remember? And after last summer, he has his pick up game on lock. HEY OW what the fuck was that for Jeno? Why did you kick me?” He looked over at Mark. “You remember the house last year? Hyuck-”
“Chenle,” Jaemin interrupted loudly, “Mark was studying abroad, remember? That program in Australia? He didn't move in until classes started last year.”
He then glared at Chenle, who coughed out “Oh yeah, duh, right. I obviously don’t know what I’m talking about.”
Chenle quickly changed the subject, launching into a story about how Jisung’s professor sucked for assigning them something due on a Saturday night for a summer session class. This whole time, Mark didn’t react, didn’t say anything, letting the brief tension at the table just drop. But he was turning over the conversation in his head. It was a bit of deja vu, actually, this feeling of being out of the loop, just like the Renjun thing, being the last to know that anything had even happened.
“Here you go,” Mark heard Donghyuck say, successfully Mark breaking out of his thoughts. Hyuck deposited a plate of fresh, hot cheesy bread in front of their youngest friend.
“Thanks, hyung,” Jisung smiled, going a little red.
“Anything for you Jisungie,” he said, “but I gotta go.”
“Go where?” Jeno asked, curious. Mark suddenly noticed that Hyuck was actually wearing a black t-shirt and cap, both emblazoned with the Pizza House logo, and holding a big red bag at his side.
“It’s delivery time! First one,” he beamed, clearly excited.
“Wait what the fuck.” Mark’s voice slipped out. He sounded angry. It took a minute for his thoughts to catch up with his emotions, but yeah, he was angry.
Hyuck wasn’t phased. “I’m…you know, doing my job?” He pointed at the logo on his shirt. “Felix’s car broke down or something on his way back so I’m gonna get these out. I’ll be back....sometime!” Donghyuck turned away from their table and started striding towards the exit.
Mark wasn’t done though, so he elbowed Chenle and Jisung to let him out of the booth and ran to catch up with Hyuck, who was already in the parking lot off to the side of the restaurant, pulling his keys out.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Once again, Mark was only vaguely aware of himself speaking, just going on pure instinct alone.
Donghyuck whirled around at his old beat up Toyota Corolla. Earlier, the light was dancing in his eyes, having fun teasing, but now his eyes were flat. Maybe annoyed, or trying to keep his annoyance out of reach. “I already told you. I’m doing my job. I’ve got to go.”
“Why would you agree to deliver pizzas? I thought you were hired to watch the counter, wait tables and stuff.”
Hyuck took a quick, deep breath before answering. “They hired me to work at the restaurant. It wasn’t really specific. So they asked me to deliver these pizzas. Do you have a problem with that?”
“It’s dangerous.”
Hyuck snorted.
“It is! You could get…jumped or something?”
Donghyuck looked down, giving himself a once over. “And why would someone want to jump me?”
“I don’t know, I’m not the one that wants to jump you!” Mark knew he sounded insane, knew he was being illogical, but he couldn’t stop. He didn’t know why he didn’t want Donghyuck to get in that car, he just knew he didn’t. “Hyuck,” he tried, one more time, the pleading edge to his voice sounding a bit pathetic.
Hyuck just rolled his eyes and opened the driver’s side door so he could climb in. “Whatever, Mark, I really have to go.” And he sped off, leaving Mark looking after him, wondering what this feeling was in his gut.
An hour later, Mark was drunk, leaning against Chenle and Jaemin holding a solo cup filled with some disgusting combination of vodka and juice. Not what he normally went for, but it’s what this house party had. Beggars can’t be choosers, so he slung down the last of cup number four.
After a moment of stunned silence in the parking lot, Mark had, once again, let his emotions run before his rational mind and pulled out his phone to text Chenle.
wanna get wasted?
That was all it took for Chenle to lead Mark and Jaemin - who elected to come too - into a house a few streets over from their own.
The wall of sound coming from the backyard had startled Mark at first. Instead of having a normal DJ set-up, Chenle had somehow found a party with an actual band playing. It took a minute but Mark vaguely recognized the song they were covering.
Dance, dance
We’re falling apart to halftime
Dance, dance
And these are the lives you love to lead
Dance this is the way they’d love
If they knew how misery loved me
Chenle left them alone for a minute to go get drinks and before Mark’s mind could wander too far in the direction of the lead singer, Jaemin spoke.
“Mark, what the fuck are we doing here?”
He shrugged, already feeling a bit embarrassed at his impulsiveness but also not quite willing to back down yet. “Everyone seems to keep thinking I can’t pull anyone. Maybe I wanted to test that theory.”
Jaemin sighed. “You’re an idiot.” Mark flashed him a look but otherwise let the insult wash past him. Mark knew, unfortunately, that most likely Jaemin saw right through him. It was probably the reason he was even there. So he decided to handle it in the mature, sensible way. He took the drink Chenle was handing him and downed the entire thing.
So that’s how, four disgustingly strong drinks later, Mark found himself drunk and now actively eyeing the lead singer of the band. From this distance, he seemed to be a bit taller than Mark - no, Hyuck, Mark doesn’t have a type - with long, dyed red hair framing his face. As the band wrapped up their set, all pop punk and rock throwbacks, the singer pulled his guitar up and over his head, lifting his nearly cropped shirt up just enough to where Mark could spot a navel piercing and tattoos across his hips.
“I’ll-I’ll be right back,” Mark said to Chenle and Jaemin, who were talking about something Mark had already lost track of. Before either of them could stop him, he ambled away to a table with a cooler he had spotted next to a couple of trunks the band were packing their gear into. Grabbing one of the last few cups from the table, he went to go fill the cup from the cooler but immediately dropped it.
“Shit,” he muttered, reaching down for it but in his intoxicated state he accidentally stumbled forward. Before he could faceplant into the grass, he felt strong hands catching him by the shoulders and helping him upright.
“Whoa,” a voice said, and Mark looked up and cursed under his breath again. “Let me help.”
The lead singer took his hand and put the fresh cup into it, then gave him the most dazzling smile he thinks he’s ever seen.
“I’m Yuta.”
“Mark,” he replies, taking a sip. He recoils slightly at the unexpected taste, which prompts a laugh from Yuta.
“It’s just water. We always bring at least one cooler for our shows. I could use a drink inside though?” Yuta lifts his eyebrow at Mark. That’s when it finally dawns on him.
Oh, he’s flirting with me. Not trusting himself to answer coherently, both from this realization and the simmering alcohol, he simply nods and follows Yuta across the backyard and back into the house.
Unfortunately for Mark, that did mean they had to pass Chenle and Jaemin, who hadn’t been far from the patio doors that led back inside. He tried not to make eye contact but felt their gazes and looked over anyways. Chenle was clearly amused but Jaemin’s face gave away nothing.
They made their way into the kitchen, where Yuta waved at a couple of people and grabbed a beer from the fridge. They didn’t leave the kitchen though, so when Yuta led him near a counter in the corner, Mark decided to hop up, sitting so he was now taller than Yuta.
“So did you like the music?” Yuta asked, twisting the cap off the bottle. He offered to Mark, who shook his head, before taking a small sip.
“Oh ummm….yeah. The music was cool.” Mark hoped that he sounded aloof rather than ignorant. He had only recognized a couple of the songs.
“I just noticed you watching us.” Yuta’s lips formed a small smile like he was hiding something. “Watching me, in particular.” Not waiting for Mark to reply - even though he doesn’t know what he would even say - Yuta leaned in so his hands were now on either side of Mark’s thighs. With the close proximity, Yuta was able to lower his voice slightly so only Mark could hear him. “I liked it.”
Whether he was sensing Mark’s rising panic - or just a knowledge of flirting Mark truly did not possess - Yuta didn’t linger in Mark’s space, leaning back to his previous position a safe distance away. He let the moment simmer while he took a long sip from his beer. His eyes never left Mark’s, though, and Mark knew the ball was in his court.
Somewhere, deep down inside, a more rational (and sober) version of Mark was screaming. He was pounding on a door in the back of his head, watching the entire night unfold, from the moment Hyuck had sped off until now, when Mark replied simply saying “I was.” Not loudly, but not timidly either. Just honestly. Sober Mark didn’t approve of this honesty, but drunk Mark didn’t know there was any other choice.
Yuta’s face transformed, like he was letting a mask go. Mark didn’t even realize it until this moment, but before, Yuta had been politely regarding Mark - not disinterested, but there was something there that he was holding back. But with Mark’s admission, he could see the open desire unfold over his face. He looked….well, he looked hungry.
Still, Yuta maintained some control, casually sliding one hand on top of Mark’s thigh. Call it clarity or call it sobering up, Jaemin’s question from the beginning of the night hit Mark squarely in the chest. A stranger - albeit an extremely hot one, way out of Mark’s league - was smiling wickedly at him, signaling the fact that he was willing to do some very dirty things to Mark somewhere in the depths of this house. Or in his car. Or in Mark’s room. Mark hadn’t considered the logistics of a house party hookup, considering he really never went to any house parties to begin with. But this is where he ended up, but what the fuck was he doing there?
“Mark!”
Hyuck’s voice carried over the rest of the noise in the house, though really by 2 a.m. much of the party had either left in search of better horizons or passed the fuck out.
Mark turned his head, instantly snapping to the door frame where he locked eyes with Donghyuck and his stupid red pizza hat.
Yuta, who either heard Donghyuck as well or sensed Mark suddenly tensing up, turned around, once again leaving Mark’s circle of space. He glanced at Hyuck, who was frozen in the doorway, and then drew some kind of conclusion, because he simply shrugged and said “Some other time, then,” and sauntered away, almost disappearing into thin air.
Once Yuta left, though, whatever spell Hyuck was under broke. Mark watched him turn angrily away to leave.
“Wait-” Mark said, and slipped off the counter to run after Donghyuck for the second time that night. He caught up with Hyuck outside, which, juxtaposed with the beginning of his night, now felt eerily quiet, only a couple of people finishing cigarettes on the front lawn before heading into the night. Mark managed to grab Hyuck’s arm, turning him around.
“What are you doing here?” Before, Mark’s drunkenness felt playful, mysterious. Now, it was just embarrassing, hating the way his words slurred together as he spoke.
“Can you tell Jaemin he should make sure you aren’t about to shove your tongue down some stranger’s throat before he texts me to come get you? I really don’t need to see all that.” Donghyuck spat at him. If Donghyuck was annoyed earlier, it was nothing compared to now, his voice dripping with pure venom.
“Hey wait that’s not…Hyuck!” As Mark was trying to explain, Donghyuck easily freed himself from Mark’s loose grip on his arm. Seeing him walk away down the sidewalk, Mark started to panic. He couldn’t let Hyuck leave like this. He started to follow him, but after a few steps, he swerved, once again losing his balance, this time without anyone to catch him.
Mark was only on the grass moments before Hyuck was there. “Oh my god Mark, Mark hey, are you okay?” Donghyuck’s hands hovered over Mark like he was afraid to touch him, like he’d break something. “Can you get up? Do you need my help?”
Any trace of anger Hyuck had before instantly vanished. Mark shook his head and brushed his hands on his jeans, feeling grateful that was the only thing that got a bit scraped. Instead of getting up though, he just hung his head.
“Hyuck….Hyuckie I’m sorry, I’m really. I’m sorry. Please don’t be mad at me.”
“I know, I know let’s get you up, come on, Jaemin can you get his back.” Hyuck spoke to the presence behind Mark, who he could now feel pushing up from his back as Donghyuck pulled him forward by the arms to get him upright. At this point, Mark was just sober enough to feel entirely pathetic, a feeling that followed him all the way into Hyuck’s car up the street, where Chenle was already waiting in the front seat.
When Jaemin and Hyuck had gotten Mark situated in the backseat, Chenle turned around, handing him a bottle of water. “You good hyung?” he asked, though his tone of voice, gentle in the way Chenle only got when he was serious, told Mark he already knew the answer. Instead of answering, he just leaned against the window for the short ride home.
Once home, Mark was starting to physically feel better but mentally continued to spiral. He probably could have climbed the stairs to his room himself, but instead Mark let Jaemin curl his arm around his shoulders for balance.
Before Jaemin left his room as he deposited Mark into his bed, Mark managed to mumble a quiet thanks.
He wasn’t sure Jaemin heard him until he responded, “Goodnight, Mark,” and flicked his light off.
A gentle knock came at Mark’s door right as he was climbing the edge to sleep. After Jaemin had gotten him more water that morning and set aspirin on the cheap drawers next to his bed, everyone had mostly left him alone to rot like he clearly wanted.
Mark answered with “Go away, Jaemin.” Jaemin’s urge to take care of him wouldn’t be overruled by what Mark really wanted to do: never leave his bed again.
“It’s not Jaemin.” The voice was barely loud enough for Mark to hear over the sound of his laptop playing a loop of episodes of Teen Titans, but he recognized it anyway.
“What do you want, Renjun?” Mark groaned before looking over to see him coming in with a thermos.
“Jaemin made me promise I’d bring you the haejang-guk he made before he left on his date with Jeno.” Instead of putting it on the table and leaving, though, he stood, waiting until Mark reluctantly sat up and closed his laptop. Renjun sat at the foot of his bed, handing the thermos to him. “I dunno how hot it is anymore, Jaemin made it a few hours ago.”
“Thanks, Junnie.” Mark mumbled. Renjun smiled.
“Did I ever tell you how much I like it when you call me that?” Mark shook his head. “You haven’t in a while.”
A small bit of guilt sank into his bones hearing that. Not really knowing how to answer, Mark simply shrugged and took a sip of the soup. Warm, but not hot. Despite what Renjun had said, he clearly had warmed it up before coming up here. Mark absentmindedly wondered why Renjun wouldn’t want him to know that.
The silence that followed didn’t seem to affect Renjun at all, who was simply looking around at Mark’s messy room. But after a few more minutes, Mark started to get uncomfortable. Clearly, this was Renjun’s goal, because somehow Mark found himself asking “How mad at me is he?”
Renjun shook his head. “Not very. Even before Jaemin told him that you were just worried about his safety, I think he realized it. He’s stubborn, not stupid.” He still wasn’t looking at him, reading one of the movie posters he had hung up.
Mark nodded slowly. Once again, that feeling hit him, the one from the bar, but this time it was wrapped in the bitterness of sadness. “I’m glad somebody knows him well enough to know that.”
At that, Renjun finally turned towards him, sighing. “And what makes you think that you don’t?”
“I’ve never been able to know what’s going inside his head. Not like,” Mark paused, clearing his throat, making sure his voice was completely neutral before finishing “not like you.”
Renjun rolled his eyes and finally got up. “Mark,” he started, “what are you really upset over? Is it really what happened still? Are you going to be mad at me forever?”
“You hurt him,” Mark mumbled, but there wasn’t really much fight in it.
“We both made a mistake!” Renjun cried. “A week later Donghyuck was all over someone new. You might want to ask yourself if he was able to move on, then why can’t you?” He started towards the door, but before he left he tossed one more thing at Mark: “Get out of bed. You stink.”
Two nights later, it was time for Mark to stop avoiding Hyuck and just rip the band aid off. Donghyuck may not be all that mad at him, but at this point after their hundreds of fights, Mark knew he had to be the one to make it up to him.
So when he got home for the day and heard Hyuck upstairs cursing loudly at nothing, he bolted right back out the door. He figured he could make it to their favorite chicken place and back in twenty minutes. If Hyuck was gaming, hopefully that meant he wasn’t picking up a shift tonight.
Mark’s gamble paid off when not only was Hyuck still playing League, but there also was both soju and beer in the fridge.
Both hands full, Mark knocked on the door of Renjun and Hyuck’s shared room with his foot. At first, he didn’t think Hyuck heard him, so he took a deep breath in - “HYU-oh”
The door swung open suddenly. Donghyuck didn’t linger at the door, just went back to his desk and pulled his headset back on while Mark let himself in.
He willed himself not to feel awkward as he went to the drawers next to Hyuck’s desk and grabbed the paper plates and cups Mark knew he kept stashed there.
“Just...FUCK....two minutes, I’ll be finished DESTROYING THIS MOTHERFUCKER!”
It was actually five minutes before Hyuck turned around to Mark, who had already started eating on the bed, but he wasn’t counting.
“Is this from bbq? Did you get the spicy garlic soy drumsticks?” Hyuck asked, digging through the plastic bag for his share of dinner.
“You know it,” Mark replied, laughing a bit at how easy it is to win Donghyuck back sometimes. Only sometimes though, when their fights are as long as their attention spans.
“Hyung okay you will not believe what my boss said yesterday in our team meeting,” he started, and while they ate Mark listened as Hyuck caught him up on everything he’d missed.
Tonight Mark figured it probably wouldn’t take long, just the length of a few stories they hadn’t been able to exchange, but during the last epic fight they had when Hyuck finally told him what happened with Renjun, it had been two weeks before they made up. So, naturally, they had ended up talking until four in the morning, Mark yawning, nodding off on the couch.
Before he had fallen asleep, Hyuck, sitting on the floor next to the couch, had folded his arms on the seat next to where Mark was struggling to keep his eyes open. Mark couldn’t remember all of what Hyuck had said before he drifted off, he just remembered how small and vulnerable he sounded when Hyuck laid his head down, tilted towards Mark, and whispered “Hyung, can’t you...”
Before he could get too lost in the memory, he felt Donghyuck toss a controller in his lap. Before he could boot up the game, probably Unravel Two, Mark cleared his throat. “Hyuck, listen, I maybe overreacted last-”
Donghyuck cut him off “I think tonight we could probably finish that level we were stuck on last time.”
Mark smiled at him, grateful he was letting Mark off extremely easy. “Yeah sure man, I got time.”
On the last day of the first session of camp, Mark watched his girls set, jump and spike for their lives. Johnny had forgot to mention that, on the last day, they play a friendly game against the high school’s JV team. Well, Johnny said it was friendly but Mark wasn’t sure he’d ever felt so stressed.
He didn’t even do very much over the first two weeks, but somehow he had gotten roped into learning a handshake with Kelli, letting Amanda play Sabrina Carpenter’s new album for him one lunch break, and generally laughing at the chaos between the middle school girls. That’s why, stashed in his bag, he had a big pack of stuffed volleyball keychains for each of them to put on their bag next to their other keychains and dolls.
“Relax, man” he heard Johnny behind him. Johnny put his hands on Mark’s shoulders and massaged. “The game doesn’t mean anything, just a way for them to put everything into practice.”
“But I want them to win!”
Johnny shook his head. “It’s not about winning, it’s about the feeling they get, playing together as a team. I don’t mean to go all sports movie monologue on you, but that’s actually why it’s so great.”
“I guess,” Mark muttered. He still wanted them to win.
Close to the end of the game, with his girls trailing, he looked over to see Jaemin, Renjun, Donghyuck and Jisung slip into the gym. The parents had been invited to watch their kids, so Mark had told them to come too and cheer on his girls. He threw them a slight wave right before he heard the gym’s buzzer ring out, signaling the end of the game.
“All right! Shake hands, ladies” he heard Johnny call. While the two teams formed up lines to say good game, Mark jogged over to his friends.
“Did your team win?” Jisung asked.
“Nah, but they still played really well.”
“Liar, you look stressed,” Donghyuck snickered.
“Am not! Well, not anymore,” Mark retorted. “’Give me like 20 minutes, we can head out? Pizza House?”
“Jeno said we were going somewhere else...some place called Dante's?” Mark made a face as soon as Jaemin said “Dante’s.”
“Nah, that’s where they’re doing the happy hour for the coaches, we probably want to avoid that.” Mark tried desperately to sound casual and persuasive. Not at all like that was the last thing he wanted to do. He still didn’t know any of the other coaches besides Johnny (and Chenle and Jeno of course). Was he avoiding them on purpose? No! But that didn’t make it any easier, especially now that everyone’s made a big deal of Mark and that one cute coach, Mina.
But as Mark waited for someone, even Jisung, to pipe up and agree with him, or suggest literally anywhere else to hang out, he was met with deafening silence. Right. That’s actually why they were all here, not to support Mark or anything.
“Come on, hyung, it won’t be so bad,” Renjun supplied. Mark glared at him but Renjun just gave him a supportive smile.
“Yeah, what Junnie said, but first,” Donghyuck got up off the bleachers and put his arm around Mark’s shoulders, “you have to come with me so we can fix you up.”
Mark groaned, “Donghyuckkk,” but Hyuck merely tugged him away from everyone into the locker room. Mark suddenly noticed that Hyuck had a large bag with him. “What’s that for?”
“I brought you a change of clothes since I know you didn’t plan on going out with the rest of the team.” Despite Mark’s annoyance and general unwillingness still to go along with the grand scheme, he was at least kind of touched by Hyuck thinking about that. He was wearing the same thing he had come in all week, basketball shorts and a hoodie. If they were just going to Pizza House that wouldn’t bother him, but if he was going to be around the other coaches, he’d feel a bit embarrassed, especially since they probably had planned on this.
From the bag, Donghyuck handed him jeans, a clean black t-shirt, and a stylish green varsity jacket that Mark looked at with confusion, since that wasn’t his. “I got it last week at H&M” Donghyuck said to his unasked question. “Go change and then we’ll do....something about your hair.” Mark turned to go back to the changing area until Hyuck stopped him with “Wait!”
Mark turned around just in time to catch a metal spray can of deodorant on top of the pile of clothes he was holding. “Dude I don’t need-”
“You need it. You stink. Meet us out front, I’ve got to go put this back in my car.” Mark sighed. He hoped it wasn’t going to be as bad as he was dreading.