To save a life

# f o u r

#4) Learn another language

I put the bucket list on hold after receiving the tattoo. My father eyed my wrist over breakfast one morning, but he didn't say anything about it. From the stern looks mom was shooting him throughout the meal, I assume that she already told him about what I've been up to for the past few days. He was bound to know anyway. It's not like I would dye my hair every other day or something.

School was getting kind of hectic with homeworks and projects thrown my way. Most of the teachers glanced at me with sad smiles. Everyone knew that Aubree was my partner in everything. She was such a bright student. Admittedly, she wasn't the top at every class nor did she ace every single test she attended, but she was a bright student because of her personality and attentiveness. Everyone loved her for that.

The morning after I told my mother about the list, she called up her friend and asked the usual questions a parent did when they wanted to send their kid to a tutor. She asked me if I wanted to start at that exact day but I declined remembering that I had to do everything in order.

Seeing that everything before the fourth was crossed I told my mother to inform the teacher about starting. A weeks break was enough. I can't put Aubree on hold. My conscience won't let me and neither would I.

Today was my first day of learning Spanish. My mother failed to fill me in on the details because I walked in thinking that I'd be the only student. I was obviously wrong when the teacher, Bella, told me to follow her to the dining room of her house and introduced me to five other students. I felt relieved when she introduced them to me by herself because I was naturally disastrous at first impressions.

Each of them greeted me with friendly smiles and waves and I returned them. 'Hi! My name's Piper!' A brunette enthusiastically exclaimed as she offered a hand. 'Ruwena,' I said as I extended my hand and shook hers.

Piper had warm brown eyes that smiled. She had an alabaster skin tone and a dimple on her chin. A few pimple scars were present on her forehead but that didn't stop her from looking beautiful. They didn't stop anyone, honestly. The both of us made small talk in hushed whispers and soon fell quiet as Bella wrote various words on the white board.

'Interesting choice of hair colour I must say. Were you born like that or...?' I turned to my right to analyse the owner of the amused deep and husky voice.

The first thing I noticed about him was the ever present smirk playing on his pale pink lips. The next was that he had a nose that reminded me of pinnochio. He had freckles dancing on his sharp ivory cheekbones. His eye's were a mixture of green and blue, I couldn't pinpoint the exact colour of it but it resembled a calm sea.

'I see that we're checking me out?' His arrogant voice bring me back to my senses and I rolled my eyes.

'It's only been a minute and you've already asked me two questions. Tell me, were you born not knowing anything or...?'

'At-ti-tude,' he mused while he shook his head. 'We definitely got off the wrong foot over here. I assume that my attempt of a joke didn't work that well.'

'You assume correctly,' he grinned boyishly and copied Pipers prior actions, 'Name's Maxwell. Tate Maxwell. Agent 007 at your service.'

When I made no attempt to shake his hand, he lifted his other hand and shook it himself. 'Oh cut it out will you? You're so lame, it's starting to physically hurt,' groaned Piper.

'Pay attention,' Bella announced loudly, cutting off Tate in the process. 'Today we will be learning how to construct proper sentences. Here,' she said pointing at the board, 'are some words and their meanings. I want you all to write down a proper sentence in spanish.' She made her way over to me and told me to ask her if I had any difficulties and doubts.

The class wasn't boring at all. Tate and Piper included me in their conversations. Some of the others exchanged a few words as well as their answers with me. I copied down some of the important notes and clung to every word that came out of Bella's mouth. I have to learn this as soon as possible. For Bree.

I obviously couldn't master this in a day but for Aubree I would try to do it quickly as I could.

When we were over, I wasn't really surprised to see my mom waiting for me outside her car. 'So, meet any nice people?' She asked as she rounded a corner and took the familiar path back home.

'Yeah,' I smiled and she returned the gesture, 'Maybe I did.'