Secrets of the Heart

Chapter 3

My heart drops. I told myself I would stay away from him, but now here I am, sitting next to him in English. Okay, I will just sit somewhere else next time.

"Okay everyone, where you are sitting now will be your assigned seat for the rest of the year." The teacher says

Crap.

Okay well at least we are just sitting next to each other. That's it.

"Okay everyone, now for your first assignment you will be doing a series of interviews with another student in the class. We will be working on this for majority of the first semester. The idea is to truly get to know your partner and be able to write a compete biography on the person. Let's just make your partner the person you are sitting next too. Go ahead and exchange numbers of twitters or whatever you kids do these days."

Double crap.

"Looks like were partners, love." Tristan smirks.

"Looks like it." I say annoyed.

"Can I get your number?" He says winking, like it's a joke.

"Look, Tristan. This is just a project we are working on together. Not anything else. Okay?" I say.

"Wow? Really? We aren't going to get married and live in a huge mansion with our four kids and pet dog?" He says.

I laugh slightly.

"Obviously this is just a project, calm down. I promise to behave." He says smirking again.

"Give me your phone."

"Oh bossy, I like it." He says, handing me his phone

I roll my eyes, entering my phone number into his phone, sending myself a text.

"There. Now when are we going to meet up to do this project?" I ask

"What about tomorrow? I could come to your house."

"Or, we could just meet at the library." I question

"I suppose that would be fine too." He says, frowning slightly.

Class goes by slowly, the teacher goes through the entire rubric for the project and honestly I daze in and out. I tried my best to keep my eyes of Tristan, but I still found myself glancing over at his perfectly sculpted body, attached to his beautiful face. What is he doing to me.

As soon as class was over, I rushed out of the room before Tristan could talk to me.

I go to my following classes, all the same, just simply going over syllabuses and rubrics. Before I know it, it's lunchtime. I quickly exit the room to meet up with Samantha. I pull out my phone and go to create a new message.

"Hey, I'm waiting, where are you?"

Just as I hit send, I feel myself bump into a hard chest. There's that fresh woodsy cologne.

"Wow, I didn't take you for one to throw yourself on guys. Not that I am complaining, love." He says, cocking that stupid uneven smile again.

I take a step back. "I'm sorry." I begin to walk away but he grabs my arm, pulling me back near him. Then he leans down, and whispers in my ear, "Why are you avoiding me, love. Do I make you nervous?"

I breath out sharply, beginning to melt into his trap, but I quickly pull my arm away; and walk to find Samantha; I hear him chuckle to himself, and I can't help but smile, and blush, to myself.

"Hey there you are!" Samantha says, coming around the corner

"Oh hey!" I say

"Are you okay? You're blushing... Ohhhh... So who is it?"

"NOBODY." I say sharply, causing her to throw her hands up in defense.

"Fine. Fine. Just.. Be careful okay? After last time.."

"Can we not talk about that? Please." I say. " I just want to go get some lunch."

We finish lunch, and I go to the rest of my afternoon classes, luckily no more with Tristan. I finish the day with my favorite class. Art.

The final bell rings around 3:30, and I rush out the door to my car. I flip my bag over towards my front, and ruffle threw the papers to find my keys. I finally pull the blue lanyard with my keys attached, out of the bag, but by the time I look up, I have already done it again. I have run into those hard abs, and inhaled that fresh woodsy cologne. Again.

"Twice in one day? Geeze, if you need some attention just let me know, love."

"Can you stop calling me that?" I say, stomping my foot.

"Throwing a tantrum are you? That's kind of hot." He raises his eyebrows and smiles.

"Stop. Stop with the love, stop with the comments, stop with that smile and just stop with the flirting. Please!" I beg.

His face turns from playful to serious. "I.. I'm sorry lov- I mean Madeline."

The way he pronounces my name sends a shiver down my spine. "What are you doing by my car anyway?"

"I honestly didn't know it was your car." He says flatly, with no smile, no flirty comment, no "love".

"Well do you mind, I have to get home." I say, trying to open my car door, but he leans over me and places his hand on my door, preventing me from opening it.

"Why are you avoiding me? Did I do something" He asks.

"I'm not avoiding you Tristan, and no you didn't do anything. I just... am busy." I say

"I don't believe you."

"Look, I need to get home. Please." He looks me straight in the eyes for a few seconds. His eyes look dark and full of pain. I see his eyes trail down to my lips; and when I think he is about to kiss me; he simply steps back, removing his hand from my door.

"Tomorrow at the library, right?" He asks

I nod, opening my car door and entering. I place my hand on my forehead and take a deep breath. I need to stop this.

I start my car and drive home, blaring my music as I go. I am home in no more than 10 minutes. I park my car, grab my bag and run inside.

"I'm home!" I shout.

I see my mom come around the corner. "Hey Honey. Okay, I am going to go ahead and leave to my meeting. Jess is still sleeping but she should be awake soon. You know what to do after that. I don't know when your dad will be home, but I will be home around 6 or 6:30. Okay?

"Sounds good."

I hear the garage door open and close, and I go take seat on the couch, pulling out my phone.

1 new email

I gasp slightly, opening the phone and going straight to my emails.

To: Madeline Taylor

From: The Luv Foundation

Hi Madeline,

My name is Stacey and I work for the Luv Foundation. I have been the one following your case request. I apologize for the long wait, but I am happy to inform you that we found your birth mother, and her name is Lindsey Samuelson! We have not contacted her yet, as we will wait for your permission, however we would encourage you to reach out and reconnect/begin to build your relationship. If you choose to NOT meet your birth mother, we completely understand, just let us know and this case will be discontinued. Of course, if you do choose to reach out, and you are under 18, you will have to get permission from your legal guardians. I will send over all that information and paperwork in a future email, just as soon as I hear your response. Then, through our system we can get you set up and scheduled to meet your mother.

Thank you for choosing the Luv Foundation and I hope to hear from you soon,

Stacey

I found her. I found my birth mother.