Unwitting Incubus

"Well that was graduation," thought Marcus. He stood in his bathroom looking at himself in the mirror, his gown making his sleight frame look even smaller, the blue robe contrasting his fiery red hair. "Now what?" He had middling grades, his junior and senior years had been spent caring for his mother with his dad. Now she was better but he hadn't applied to college and he had no job lined up.

There was a knock at the door, "Anastasia is here." Came his mother's voice.

His best friend, he thought, his only friend he admitted. Walking into the living room there she stood looking like a goddess amongst mortals. Anastasia, she was a little on the short side but then again so was he, he skin was pale to the point of almost being translucent, flawless, pale blue eyes, long wavy blonde hair cascading down her back, no wonder every guy in school wanted her. She lit up when she saw him and ran pulling him in for a tight hug.

"It's finally fucking over," she sighed holding him tightly.

"Don't tell me the prom and homecoming queen hated high school," said Marcus as she finally released him.

"Stop," she said blushing, "none of that matters."

It really hadn't mattered to Anastasia, she hadn't tried to be nominated, she hadn't even campaigned, her boyfriend on the other hand, the star quarterback had pushed hard to show off how hot his girlfriend was.

"Can I steal him Mrs. Vallen?" asked Anastasia.

"Of course," said Marcus' mom.

"Where are we going Stasi?" Asked Marcus as he slid into the passenger seat of her old Taurus.

"Anywhere," said Anastasia pulling out of the court, "its our last night before I go away."

Both of them hadn't really wanted to talk about it, they'd been thick as thieves since her family had moved in before kindergarten and now they'd rarely been apart for longer than a week or so, now she was going away for the summer, then off to college, then who knew. They drove in silence as the realization hit them both.

"Jake going with you?" Marcus finally asked breaking the silence.

Anastasia glared at him, "I guess you didn't hear the rumors."

"Who would have told me rumors?" Asked Marcus, "and if they were about you why would I believe it."

They got some junk food and drove into nearby overlook. Sitting on the hood of the car they ate and dwelled.

"So prom night," said Anastasia finally, "I mean, we'd been together all through senior year," she paused, now ashamed, "I mean whats a couple supposed to do on prom night?"

They sat in silence for a bit, "it was bad," she said, "it hurt, it never felt good, then I found out he took a video of the whole thing. He showed it to the whole team."

"Stasi," said Marcus pulling her in for a hug as she broke down, "you don't deserve any of that."

"I want to hurt him," she said, "I want the video gone, I want to turn back the past year."

"I wish I could take this pain away," said Marcus, "or at least be there for you."

"You really didn't apply anywhere?" she asked.

"I applied to one school," he admitted sheepishly.

"Where," she asked glad to have the attention on literally anything but prom night, "did you hear back?"

"FKC," he admitted.

She chuckled, it was where she was going, not a great school but close by and not overly expensive.

"Have you heard back?"

"Not yet, not overly optimistic."

"Well did you tell them about your mom," she asked, "even now that she's in the clear it's still taken a lot from you."

"It felt wrong," he said, "I didn't apply, I could always work in my dad's shop."

"You could do so much more," said Anastasia, "what about your writing?"

"Publisher wasn't interested," he said.

"Well you didn't sell it at all," said Anastasia, "it's a great series, I told you to let me represent you, I'm super convincing."

"You really are Stasi," said Marcus.

Stasi was something only Anastasia's grandfather and Marcus called her, coming from anyone else it seemed insincere. They talked until it was late and then even longer until the sun was peeking over the horizon.

Back on his front porch she held him tight both of them pretending they had something in their eyes.

"I don't know what I'm going to do without you," said Anastasia.

"You'll be amazing," said Marcus, he was more worried what he'd do without her.