down small flasks and cream tubes until I found what I was looking for. With clumsy gestures, due to the sudden panic that now filled me once again, I hurriedly wrapped the white bandage around my wrist. When I was finished, I took a deep breath and stupidly felt as if I’d rid myself of the sole proof able to deny my theory about last night’s events.
“Mari! You’re going to be late!” Rachel’s voice called me back to reality once again and I washed my face and combed my hair in record time.
I went down the stairs practically running and when I reached the kitchen, she was already on her way out.
“Good morning,” I said, catching her before she left and kissing her. She looked at me for a moment and then smiled.
“Good morning, sleepyhead. How was yesterday?” she asked, obviously curious, and I immediately erased all the less fortunate events from my head.
“Oh, it was good. I tried on lots of clothes and ended up buying a new jersey,” I reported with a smile and she nodded pleasingly.
“But you must have come back tiered. You went to bed so early,” she noted in a complaining tone. I was sure she’d hoped to find me awake so I could tell her all the news in detail.
“I’m sorry. But we walked all afternoon. My legs still ache.”
“Uh, you’re lacking exercise, young lady!” she criticized. “And by the way, thanks for dinner. Today I’ll be back earlier. And you’ll have to tell me everything!” she added, looking down at her wristwatch. “I have to go.”
“See you later,” I told her and Rachel kissed me on the forehead.
“Have a nice day, dear,” she wished me and almost ran to the door.
I took a deep breath and allowed my fake smile to wither away. I looked at the toast that awaited me and I didn’t think I’d be able to stomach it. Momentarily, I’d forgotten the reason behind that indisposition and decided I wouldn’t think about it any longer. Besides, my time was running short and so I put together all my things and left the house.
I kept my mind in complete silence as I walked to school. The sky seemed clearer than the day before, suggesting it might not rain. The air, on the other hand, was still cold, but there was almost no wind at all, which made it easier to endure the low temperature.
This would be a day like any other, I decided. I’d have Philosophy first period and then History. Next I’d have lunch in the cafeteria with everyone else, like usual. The subject of conversation would most likely be the afternoon we had spent together. I’d leave them earlier to spend some minutes of pure bliss, watching my love from afar and I’d make sure he wouldn’t even notice my presence. Then I’d go to the library and start on my homework while waiting for Steph and Joanne, who would still have one more class, so that we could return home together.
Establishing an order of events left me much calmer and I was feeling quite pleased with myself when I finally reached the school gates.
“So, it’s in this kind of place you spend most of your time.”
That voice paralyzed me instantly and my arms forgot the things they were supposed to be holding. From afar, I heard my books falling, and the ground escaped from under my feet. My heart was beating desperately, leaving me deaf, my breath uneven. My legs shook and I was certain they would end up giving in.
Slowly, I turned my head towards the voice as I assured myself I couldn’t have heard it, and froze completely, suddenly empty of all arguments that might help me deny it.
I saw him calmly sitting on one of the lowest tree branches, right beside me. He leaned slightly towards me, his long hair floating gently with the cold breeze, his gaze fixed on me. A soft smile of amusement touched his thin lips and I couldn’t help thinking that a bit more and his immaculately perfect, porcelain-like skin would end up cracking.
“Mari! What are you doing here? You’ll be late!” I heard Steph’s voice and, although
“Mari! You’re going to be late!” Rachel’s voice called me back to reality once again and I washed my face and combed my hair in record time.
I went down the stairs practically running and when I reached the kitchen, she was already on her way out.
“Good morning,” I said, catching her before she left and kissing her. She looked at me for a moment and then smiled.
“Good morning, sleepyhead. How was yesterday?” she asked, obviously curious, and I immediately erased all the less fortunate events from my head.
“Oh, it was good. I tried on lots of clothes and ended up buying a new jersey,” I reported with a smile and she nodded pleasingly.
“But you must have come back tiered. You went to bed so early,” she noted in a complaining tone. I was sure she’d hoped to find me awake so I could tell her all the news in detail.
“I’m sorry. But we walked all afternoon. My legs still ache.”
“Uh, you’re lacking exercise, young lady!” she criticized. “And by the way, thanks for dinner. Today I’ll be back earlier. And you’ll have to tell me everything!” she added, looking down at her wristwatch. “I have to go.”
“See you later,” I told her and Rachel kissed me on the forehead.
“Have a nice day, dear,” she wished me and almost ran to the door.
I took a deep breath and allowed my fake smile to wither away. I looked at the toast that awaited me and I didn’t think I’d be able to stomach it. Momentarily, I’d forgotten the reason behind that indisposition and decided I wouldn’t think about it any longer. Besides, my time was running short and so I put together all my things and left the house.
I kept my mind in complete silence as I walked to school. The sky seemed clearer than the day before, suggesting it might not rain. The air, on the other hand, was still cold, but there was almost no wind at all, which made it easier to endure the low temperature.
This would be a day like any other, I decided. I’d have Philosophy first period and then History. Next I’d have lunch in the cafeteria with everyone else, like usual. The subject of conversation would most likely be the afternoon we had spent together. I’d leave them earlier to spend some minutes of pure bliss, watching my love from afar and I’d make sure he wouldn’t even notice my presence. Then I’d go to the library and start on my homework while waiting for Steph and Joanne, who would still have one more class, so that we could return home together.
Establishing an order of events left me much calmer and I was feeling quite pleased with myself when I finally reached the school gates.
“So, it’s in this kind of place you spend most of your time.”
That voice paralyzed me instantly and my arms forgot the things they were supposed to be holding. From afar, I heard my books falling, and the ground escaped from under my feet. My heart was beating desperately, leaving me deaf, my breath uneven. My legs shook and I was certain they would end up giving in.
Slowly, I turned my head towards the voice as I assured myself I couldn’t have heard it, and froze completely, suddenly empty of all arguments that might help me deny it.
I saw him calmly sitting on one of the lowest tree branches, right beside me. He leaned slightly towards me, his long hair floating gently with the cold breeze, his gaze fixed on me. A soft smile of amusement touched his thin lips and I couldn’t help thinking that a bit more and his immaculately perfect, porcelain-like skin would end up cracking.
“Mari! What are you doing here? You’ll be late!” I heard Steph’s voice and, although
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