A few minutes passed in silence.
I looked up at him to see what he was thinking. I was concerned when I saw the troubled look on his face. Had I finally sprung too much information on him? I myself had a hard time dealing with all of it. It was a lot for someone to digest.
“Well I wasn’t abandoned, but my mom’s been dead since I was three,” he finally said in an odd voice.
“Are you sensitive to emotions too?” I asked, probing further.
“No, but I’m strong.”
“You mean from lifting weights, strong?”
“No, I’ve never had to lift weights. I’m not Hulk strong, more like; I just have the feeling that I could protect myself in a fight with anyone, and come out the victor. Plus, I was the only one in karate class who could break the wooden board the first time I tried,” he said with a chuckle.
“Strong, hum, I like the sound of that,” I murmured.
“You do, do you?” He said with amusement as he stood up. He took his hand and touched the side of my face. His touch sent shock waves through me; it felt like every bone in my body had liquefied.
“I know this is all overwhelming, but I am so glad you’re here,” he said simply.
“So am I.”
“I better head home. I need to get ready for class,” he said pulling away.
I frowned. I had forgotten for a brief moment that he worked at my school. What were we going to do about that?
Mark saw my frown. “What’s the matter?” He asked.
“You’re practically my teacher. I’m sure the Dean frowns on teachers dating students,” I stated.
Mark smiled in relief. “Krista, I’m only on a two month stint here. I don’t think they can tell me who I can and can’t date. I mean, we shouldn’t flaunt it or anything, but I don’t think it’s that big of a deal. If it makes you more comfortable we can keep it secret, so other students don’t find out.”
That could work. I wasn’t crazy about the idea of the other students finding out, but if we kept it secret it could work. We could make it through the next couple of months keeping our relationship quiet. Lying to my mom would be a different story, but I wasn’t ready to lay all of this on her now. We had always had a no lie policy and I knew from a young age, as long as I told the truth, punishments would be minimal. I would have to categorize this as more of a need to know basis.
“I think your mom’s up,” he said. “I better go if we are going to try to keep this secret.” He ran his hand down the side of my face one last time, and with one more backwards look, he turned and walked off. He was halfway down the street, when my mom opened the front door.
“Honey, were you talking to that boy?” she asked, looking at Mark’s retreating back.
“Yeah, he goes to my school. I saw him from my bedroom window and I came down to see what he was up to.”
“Krista, you know it’s dangerous to come outside and talk to strangers. You should have come and got me.”
“He’s okay mom, I met him in school yesterday.”
“What did he want?”
“Nothing,” I mumbled heading upstairs. “I need to get ready for school.”
I felt a wave of guilt starting to consume me. I hurried up the stairs trying to control the strong emotion. Need to know, need to know, need to know, I chanted to myself as I reached my room. Sitting on my bed, I waited for the guilt to begin to leave my body. Chanting had helped, as long as I was protecting someone, it was easier to curb my emotions.
I lay back on my bed as the last waves left me. Feline jumped up on the bed next to me, hoping I would scratch him between his ears. “I met my dream guy,” I told him, knowing my secret was safe with him. “He’s as perfect as I always imagined he would be.” Feline purred loudly as if he understood what I was telling him.
Chapter 5
Sam was waiting for me in front of the school like we had planned the night before. I got out of the car and waved her over. I might have to keep Mark a secret, but I could throw my mom a bone and introduce her to my first real friend.
“Sam, this is my mom, Cindy Miller,” I said as I introduced them.
“Hi. Mrs. Miller, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” Sam said in an enthusiastic voice.