On Your Level ~mlm~

~ Chapter 12 ~

I paused to think for a second, now that Marcus and Jakob are here they might as well stay, we're already done shopping for the day anyway.

"Would you guys be up to grab dinner?" I ask.

Marcus and Jakob look at each other and shrug before replying, "Why not?"

Turning to Scar, I gesture at the sushi place a few stores down in the food court. "Hell yeah!" She says, pulling me away and gesturing for Marcus and Jakob to follow.

As we sit down and look over the menu, I punch my order into the digital ordering screen and wait for the others to do so before saying; "So what were you two doing at the shopping centre?"

Jakob puts his bottle of Ramune down and lets out a very classy burp before responding, "I popped one of Coach's soccer balls at practice on Wednesday, so we came here to replace it before he does his weekly ball count."

"Right, makes sense." I say with a very confused look, I'm honestly just wondering how.

I've never seen you with your hair out like that before Marcus." Scar asks, "The afro suits you so well! It's disappointing that you don't have it styled like this more often!" She continues.

"Yeah it's unfortunate, but I have to keep it up for soccer so it's easier to just braid it throughout the week. On weekends though, I like to let it breathe," Marcus replies with an easy grin. Scar smiles back at him and I look at Jakob, noticing the array of tattoos covering his body move as he lifts his hands up to put a piece of sushi into his mouth.

"I've always wondered, but which artist do you go to Jakob?" I enquire and he looks up at me confused. "Your tattoos?"

"Oh yeah!" He laughs, "I don't have a specific one."

"You have different artists?" I must look very confused because Marcus butts in with a chuckle.

"Dumbass over here has just been getting a tattoo at every shop he spots. Literally wherever and whenever he sees a tattoo shop, he demands to go in to get a mystery tattoo of the artist's choosing." Marcus informs and Jakob just looks at me with a dopey grin. No wonder his tattoos are so sporadic and all with different styles, it's honestly kind of cool. I could only wish to have that kind of impulsivity and 'YOLO' attitude.

"Why do you ask Robyn, looking to get a few of your own?" Jakob asks.

"Yes actually," I say as I pull down my shirt to reveal my shoulder. "I have this huge red birthmark I've always wanted to cover with something."

"Why would you want to cover it? Scarlet has those all over her and they are so pretty!" Jakob states.

Scarlet laughs and responds, "Technically it's a skin condition, I have vitiligo."

"Either way, it's very pretty." He says.

"Jakob isn't wrong, I love your accent as well! Irish?" Marcus asks with an arched brow.

"Close! But not quite, it's Scottish." Scar's teases.

An easy silence passes over the group as we all dig in to our food and Marcus looks contemplative before ultimately deciding on something and looks up at me.

"At training last week," he pauses and I nod at him to continue. "Why did it end early- no scrap that. Why did Raven end it early?"

I almost choke on my nigiri and have to take a few gulps of water before answering him, "I just felt a little woozy that's all, Sparky was overreacting."

"Overreacting?" Marcus asks.

"Ugh don't even get me started, he was so overbearing!" I rolled my eyes with a huff, "It was like he was my mum or something! All coddling and compassionate, so not like the usual Sparky." They all look at me with faces of concern, I bet they're wondering what sort of curse words I'll use to describe him this time. "Sparky is arrogant and obnoxious, he needs the world to revolve around him and when he doesn't get what he wants he cracks a hissy-fit like a fucking child!" Marcus winces and Scar looks at me wide-eyed, oh I haven't even said anything bad yet! "He spews so much shit, you would think he would have to carry a portable toilet around his neck to have somewhere to put it all! I don't even know why he's on this team, I mean other than the little physical talent he adds to this team the only thing he brings to the table is constant attitude and bucket of insecurity! He needs to learn to get over himself and realise there are other people in this world with opinions that may oppose his. Honestly it's sad how desperate he is for success and validation! Honestly, sometimes I wish he'd just-"