Forbidden Mark

In This Class

Thoughts raced through my mind. Most revolved around the basic thought, 'Why him?'. Tristan used the time I stood there stunned to walk around Emma and me to get to his locker. I slammed my own locker shut and stalked off, Emma dutifully following.

"Why don't you like him?" she asked.

"He just irks me."

"Okay then. I think you might like him a little," she said thoughtfully, spinning a curl around her finger.

I stopped dead in my tracks. "What? Hell no!" Several people around us turned their heads curiously. I kept walking, Emma almost jogging beside me to keep up. I lowered my voice after taking a deep, calming breath. I'd decided it was time to change the subject. "So do you know him?

"Who, Tristan? Of course not," she said, but I could sense the nervousness underlying her words. Emma was lying and I knew it, and she knew I knew. But the question was, how does she know him and why is she lying about it?

"Don't lie to me, Emma. You do know him somehow. Let me guess, spring break relationship from when you visited the coast last year?" Okay, yes I know I was being mean.

"What? No!"

"Fine." I was done, and I was irritated. "Talk to me when you're ready to tell me." The bell rang as if to agree with me, and I took the opportunity to rush off to class. I only glanced back once, when I rounded the corner, and Emma was still standing there, watching me run off. Even from here I could see the sadness and regret in her eyes. But I could also see the determination, and I knew she wouldn't give up on this. My heart panged as I kept heading to class, urging me to turn around and apologize. I squashed that feeling as I ran into my Spanish class, sitting down quickly in my seat. Right after my jeaned butt hit the seat, the tardy bell rang loud and clear.

"Hola, clase," said Senora Martinez with her usual cheerful smile.

"Hola, Senora," the class responded despondently.

I heard Pippy King and her followers squeal as a familiar face poked his head through the doorway. I groaned and put my head down on my arms, praying to whoever was up above that he wasn't in this class too. "Excuse me, Senora," he politely interrupted.

"I believe I'm in this class." "Ah, si," Senora Martinez said. "They said a new student would be coming today. You're Tristan O'Brien, si?"

"Si, Senora." "Well find a seat and we'll get started." Well someone had been watching Dora.

"You can sit by me," I heard Pippy King purr as soon as the words had left Senora's mouth.

"It's fine," Tristan said. "All the seats by you are full, anyway. I couldn't take one of your friend's seat."

The next thing I heard was footsteps coming in my direction followed by the sound of a bag plopping on the ground. Great, I thought. I get to sit by him again. All my dreams are coming true. I'm sarcastic even to myself. Oh joy. Pippy's protests stopped when he sat down.

"Hola, Ryder." Did he have to talk to me? Was annoying me ingrained in his system?

I grunted a hello back.

"Como estas?"

"Mal." One word answers all the way. I hoped he would get the hint and shut up.

"Por que?" I guess that was a no go.

"Mi cabeza duele mi," I lied.

"Ah, lo siento," he said, not sounding very sorry at all. Could he see through my lie?

"Don't be sorry there's nothing you can do," I said, reverting back to English. "Other than shutting the hell up."

"Your head doesn't hurt," Tristan said matter of factly, seeing through my lie. I couldn't see him, but I imagined his eyes had narrowed and he was frowning at me.

"Can you still shut up?" I grumbled.

"No. So where are you from originally?" he asked. Now he's getting into my personal life?

I was silent for a few moments before I realized he wouldn't give up on this line of questioning. It didn't seem to be part of his personality. "Seattle. Born and raised."

"What do you do in your free time?"

"Depends on my mood." I shrugged.

"What do your parents do for a living?"

"My dad's a forest ranger," I answered, hoping he wouldn't ask about my mom. Those hopes were crushed immediately.

"What about your mom?"

"I don't have one," I said stiffly.

"What do you mean you don't have one? Everyone has a mom," Tristan said, sounding confused.

"I don't know who she is," I said quietly, finally sitting up and meeting his gaze.

"I'm sorry," he apologized. "If it makes you feel any better, I hardly know my dad. I've only met him a few times. It's just been my mom and me for as long as I can remember." His eyes had left mine, dropping to his hands. He was playing with a silver ring I just now noticed on his finger. Now I was the sorry one.

"I'm-" I was cut off.

"Don't be sorry," he interrupted with a sad smile. "I wouldn't be who I was if it wasn't this way. Neither would you I imagine."

I was confused. His words were saying one thing while his eyes were saying another. The blue orbs were showing his sadness but they also showed his knowledge of something, as well as curiosity. They looked like they had seen too much of the world. And somehow, I wasn't sure how, but I could tell he was hiding something from me. Something big.

My mouth opened to say something else, but I was interrupted again.

"Senorita! I'm sure Senor O'Brien would like the opportunity to learn, not to listen to your continuous talking," Senora Martinez said sharply. The class had quieted as her shrewd gaze landed on me, her eyes narrow and lips flat. "Callate la boca, por favor."

I bowed my head meekly while I felt a small flame of defiance rising in my chest. "Si Senora. Lo siento, Senor O'Brien," I gritted out, mentally blowing that flame out.

Tristan and I didn't talk for the rest of the class, dutifully taking our notes. In that time I admitted to myself that he wasn't so bad, but I needed to watch out for him and his secret. I also convinced myself in that time that I needed to speak to Emma and apologize. She had the right to not tell me everything, even if I wanted her to. I picked up and answered all the texts I had ignored with just a few words. Starbucks after school? Her text came back instantly, and I knew Emma had been sitting staring at her phone all class. Of course. Our friendship was back on track.

*****

Well, I'm officially proud of myself. Three posts in three days!!

Ok so I'm probably going to add on to this chapter because I'm not happy with it is at the moment, but it's good enough for the moment. I'm tired, and I think I'm ready for a nap.

By the way, sorry about all the commas (I seem to overuse them), and sorry if the Spanish grammar is wrong. I've only taken Spanish 1, and I'm taking Spanish 2 next year. Buenos dias, o buenas tardes o noches! Adios mis amigos!

~Bree