Free Love Song by Jaz Johnson

stuffed her things into her locker before shutting it. She spun on her heel leaning back against the metal door to put up with Jess’ complaining.
    “What’s the big deal? I can go after I walk her home. Just pick another movie time. This isn’t that serious, Jess.”
    “So you picking some random chick over your friends since freaking sixth grade is nothing,” Jess argued, eyes narrowing.
    “I’m not picking anyone over anyone,” she lied. “Just pick another time.”
    “I’m not paying nine more dollars because you have to babysit. Either you’re going or you’re not,” Jess snapped.
    Marceline sighed. She didn’t really care for the movie anyway. It wasn’t really all that tough of a decision to make. She shrugged, pushing off the locker just as Todd and Greg were coming up to meet them.
    “Guess you’ll have to see it without me.”
    “What’s the fuss about?” Greg asked.
    “Yeah, I could see Jess spazzing out from down the hall,” Todd added.
    “Marc’s ditching us. Again ,” Jess spat, crossing her arms as she turned away from Marceline.
    “Aw, what?” Greg whined.
    “Lame,” Todd agreed.
    “I’m not ditching you. She’s forcing me to. She’s acting like me walking Song home is news. I promised her. You want me to break it because of some movie? All she has to do is pick a later time, but she’s making a big deal out of it.”
    “Oh, that’s right,” Greg noted, nodding in consideration. “Why can’t we just go later?”
    “Because later is more expensive and this is ridiculous, anyway! We’re her friends . We should be a priority.”
    “Oh quit your nagging, Jess,” Todd said, coming to Marceline’s defense. “You spend like one hundred bucks a month on makeup alone. Nine more dollars isn’t going to kill you.”
    “Oh, so now you’re taking her side.”
    “It’s not like she said she wouldn’t go, Jess,” Greg argued. “You’re being unreasonable.”
    “This is so stupid. I can’t believe you guys aren’t agreeing with me. Besides today, haven’t you noticed Marceline constantly bailing on us to hang out with this chick? Especially on the weekends when we actually can hang out. Like, what gives? We haven’t even met this broad.”
    “Hey,” Marceline warned.
    “What? It’s true.”
    “Hmm. She does have a point,” Greg admitted.
    “Yeah, how come you haven’t introduced us yet?” Todd asked, crossing his arms to match Jess’.
    Marceline felt her face heating up. For one thing, she knew that they would somehow find a way to royally embarrass both her and Song. She didn’t want Song thinking she was anything like her friends. Because aside from a few sparing similarities, she wasn’t. She just happen to put up with their idiocy.
    Secondly, she didn’t know if Song actually wanted to meet any of them. Marceline had spoken to her about them, sure, but did she want to meet them? Her cheeks flushed, catching the attention of her friends. Jess’ brows furrowed while the boys’ arched.
    “W-Whatever. I’ll talk to her about it. I’m going to be late. Enjoy your movie,” Marceline said, dismissing herself and pushing past the group to hurriedly make her way to the front doors of the building.
    The group stood by their lockers, watching after her with mixed emotions. Jess held anger, of course, as she groaned and rolled her eyes, fumbling to get her locker open. While Greg and Todd seemed curiously skeptical.
    “Did you see that?” Greg asked, mildly surprised.
    “Yeah …” Todd nodded.
    “I’ve never seen Marc like that. It’s almost like … she was shy about it.”
    “Marc?”
    “I know. That’s what I’m saying. You don’t think …?”
    “What? Come on, Greg. Get real.”
     
     
                  Running up to the front steps of Song’s school, Marceline skid to a stop to lean over her knees and catch her breath.
    “Sorry I’m late. I got held up at –“
    Marceline was caught by surprise when she looked up to see