Chapter 2: Promise Made

"You're back, you had me worried sick" An older woman's voice spoke up, Marley narrows her eyes, as she comes into her sightline. "Next tell me when you are going to the late coming, I can't bare the thought of... you... being..." The Older woman looked at lot like Tully, The hair color, the face, the eyes. She was most likely his sister.

"Who's this?" She asked him with a serious look. Tully puts his hand together. "A friend? Hmm?" She moves her eyes to Marley, Her stare pierced her soul. "Hello there" She smiles and waved. "Welcome please, let yourself be at home" She seemed very delighted that Tully has a friend over. Tully gestured like he was cooking. "Oh you're cooking? I was just about to start, but sure you can" "and are we accounting for your friend as well?" He nods. She nods, Tully turned to Marley, "I can wait" She said. Tully nods and started to cook. 

"Hello again, I'm Tully's sister, Maisy" Marley gave an awkward smiled. "Oh well... I'm Marley... Marly Maze" She said. "It's a pleasure to meet you Marley, please take a seat" She said, "Thank you for your hospilitality" "No worries" Marley sat down and started to eat the pastries they both. "Tully, did you buy that Ice cream I wanted" He gave a thumbs up and pointed at the counter. She took out the Ice cream. 

"Hmm... Delicious as ever" She said, sitting down across from Marley. She looked at her Ice cream and began to wonder if he bought it for her or for himself. She really couldn't tell. "Did he buy you one too" Maisy pointed it out. "Uh... yeah... Hehe" "you should try it, trust me once you taste it, you can't go back to any other" She said chuckling.

"I'll take your word for it" Maisy takes another scoop out of the ice cream. "So how long have you been friends for?" Marley swallowed the pastries she was eating before speaking, "We are very new friends..." Maisy smiled. "And already he's treating you to dinner, I've never seen Tully take a liking to someone so fast" Her smile soon turned to a grin, Marley couldn't help but smile awkwardly not knowing to deal with this situation, she just hopes that whatever, Tully is making it's going to be quick.

"Well, I'm sure you notice my brother's lack of speaking, no?" Marley nods, Maisy giggles, "He's been like that since He was a little boy" Maisy turned to Tully, who was cooking, "Tell me is Tulip doing well in school?" She asked, Marley gave a confused look. "Oh, right, Sorry, I'm talking about Tully, how is he in school?" She asked again.

'Right... Tully is a nickname, I've been calling Tully for so long it's actually weird to hear his actual name' "He's doing fine, Not really failing any classes but not really excelling in them" She gave her answer.

"Just about what I expected, don't worry about him, He'll be fine mostly" Maisy said, taking one last scoop of ice cream. "Yes, I'm sure he will"

_____

After Tully was finished cooking, they all gathered around the table and eat dinner, His cooking, of course, was brilliant! And delicious! Nothing more, you can expect.

"Thank you for the food again" Marley said, as she stood outside their door. "No worries, comeback again, I'm sure Tulip here would love that" Tully whispered something in his sister's ear. "Oh? You have a coding project together?" Maisy smiled, and nods. "Yes... I'll be sure to do that"

Marley turned and walked away. "You know..." Tully gave a disapproving look and shook his head. "Ok... Ok..." She closed the door.

Marley opened the door to her apartment, which was mostly empty but looked clean, She sighed and sat down, She noticed that Tulip sent a message and friend request.

She accepted his friend request and messaged him back.

------

Tulip: Hey there, about that project thingy?

Yeah, we start that tomorrow.

Tulip: Are you sure? We have all of Christmas break to finish it.

I would like to enjoy my Christmas break rather than have it be ruined.

Tulip: k, You're the boss then, See you Tom then, Night

Good night.

-----

The next morning, Marley knocked on Tully's door, She awaited for an answer, Not that long, Tully opened the door who still had a toothbrush in the mouth. "Ah... Apologies", Tully shrugs it off and lets her in. Tully quickly finishes up, "so, where's your PC?" He pointed to his room. "Very well let's go" She said, Tully led the way to his room, he opens the door to it. It was a small and cozy place. With his closet, a piano and guitar, and his PC.

'He plays instruments?' She puts that thought away for a second, and turned to Tully was getting his Pc setup. "We can focus on our PowerPoint first since, we could take a source code, So I'll handle that you'll handle the coding, and I'll handle the PowerPoint" Tully gave a thumbs up. She takes a seat and started to make the PowerPoint, while Tully sat down to watch her, make their PowerPoint. "This keyboard feels nice to type on" She said, "I like the lights too" 

A knock came from Tully's door, "It's me, Tully" his sister opened the door with a paper bag, "Hey there, forgot to give you this yesterday, It's your new prospection glasses, next time be careful not to break them, your last one costed nearly 3000 pesos" Tully put up the number 5. "Yeah, I know, they lasted 5 years... but still they were still good" She said putting down the paper bag. "Good morning, Mrs. Cazz" Maisy turned her attention to Marley who waved hello at her. "Oh! Well I didn't see you there, Good morning to you too, Marley" She smiled before turning to Tully, "I'll be going to the office now, Be sure to eat lunch ok" She pointed at Tully, with a serious look. He nods his head slowly. "Alright then, Have fun you too" She waved goodbye before closing the door. 

Tully turned his attention back to Marley, who was working like a well oiled-machine, her typing speed even amazed him. Tully stood up and watched her work, on their PowerPoint. "Also, can I trust you, with being to present this?" Tully gave a thumbs up, and nods his head. Marley nods in acknowledgement. "Good, I'll just make a rough draft, and we'll go over it again, after lunch" Marley said with a clear tone in her voice. 

Tully could see now why she is the student council president. After some time of Tully scrolling through his phone and doing nothing to help Marley in any way, he started to get bored after playing a game on his phone. He decided to make some snacks, a simple one, he stood up and walked out of the room, leaving Marley who was still typing up the perfect rough draft. 

Tully came back with some sliced apples and salt? He placed down the strange combination indeed, Marley stared at the snack, "Salt?" She looked at him like it was some kind of joke, He shook his head, seemingly being truthful. She decided to try out the strange combination and surprisingly it was quite delicious. She nods at him with a smile. 

"Thanks for the snack, Tully" she said, going back to work. After a little more time, The clock struck 11:30 and Marley was feeling a bit hungry now even after eating the apple snack. Luckily for her, Tully was feeling the same way. Marley finally moved away from the pc and stood up, stretching her body. "Shall get lunch" She asked while he was tuning his guitar. Tully turned his attention to her and nods slowly. "Are we eating out?" He nods. 

"I see, very well, let's go" Tully puts down his guitar, He grabbed his wallet and took out his new glasses from the paper bag. Tully gestured her to follow him. They left the apartment, Tully locked the door. Then they were off. 

They came across to a restaurant named Angels and Devils. "Do you come here often?" She asked, Tully nods, He gives a thumbs up. "Hmmm... I shall be the judge of that" She said, smiling. Tully and Marley walked in, They sat down and took in their order. Tully and Marley sat in silence and awkwardness. 'Come on, say something, Marley' She took a deep breath. 

"Tully, Tell why do you wear mask?" She asked, Tully just stayed quiet while staring at her, making it more awkward for her and for himself. "Right, sorry, I know you don't really talk" Tully showed her his phone and what he wrote down. "It's part of my look, also, so I don't cough too much" "oh... you have triggers" She said, nodding slowly. "And Yeah, it does suit you" Tully smiled even it was being covered by his mask. "So is there anything you are planning for this Christmas anywhere you're going" Tully shook his head, "ah... Are you parents busy?" Tully nods, "Yes... I'm sure it saddened them that they could not spend time with children during Christmas" 

Tully pointed at her, "Me? Oh, no... I don't have any plans as well, My parents are far too busy... hehe, I guess we are similar in that sense" She gave a small smile. Tully started to type on his phone again, "Do you have any other friends?" He asked her. "I... well, no not really, before you, I never really had friends" She said with a bit of sadness on her face. Tully nods slowly. "Don't worry, I'll help you get some friends" Her lights up a little with hope, "you'll do that for me?" 

He smiled and gave a thumbs up. "I... well, T-thank you.... Tulip" She smiled, Tully nods slowly. "You really don't need to do..." She bit her lip, "but that thank you of course" She said. Their order finally arrived and just from the smell she could tell this is going to be some tasty food for sure. Tully took off his mask, he drank some water, before digging into his fried rice. Marley just was with a curious look. She shook her head and continued to eat her food. She wonders how Tully with help her in making friends exactly, but She trusts him that she'll do something good, for now She will enjoy her time with him. 

End.