____

Trystan went through the rest of the day looking for Mari. She wasn't at her locker at the usual times, and she seemed to alter her normal path through the hallways. Was she avoiding him? Trystan instantly knew why - that kiss. He shouldn't have kissed her. At the time, he didn't think it upset her, but it must have. There was no other explanation as to why she was avoiding him.

Trystan went into Tucker's room during his free period. "I'm here." His voice was distant, distracted. He wanted to find Mari and fix things.

Tucker glanced up from under an overgrown monobrow. He pointed at the first desk in front of him, "Sit." Tucker didn't bother to watch Trystan find his seat, instead he went back to the stack of papers in front of him. When he finished marking up the one he was working on, he lifted it and put them into a folder, leaving the pile of papers out on his desk.

"Want to tell me what's going on?" Tucker asked. He walked in front of the desk and stopped in front of Trystan.

Trystan stared straight ahead, "I threw an apple core and got busted." Glancing up, he said smirking, "I believe you were there. It was a pretty good throw. Crossed the room and sailed straight into the center of the can."

"Scott, you threw it when I walked in. Did you really think I'd let it go? This little cry for help?"

Trystan straightened in his chair and looked directly in his teacher's face, "What? That wasn't a cry for help. It was piss poor timing."

Tucker's head tilted to the side. He folded his massive arms across his chest, "Yeah, right. And I'm the Toothfairy. Listen Scott, if you're in trouble there are people who can help. I know your dad - "

Trystan shot out of his chair. "You don't know shit about my dad, so don't try your pschyobabble on me." Some emotion he couldn't identify reached out and crushed his gut. After a second he realized it was fear mingling with shame. If people knew the beatings he'd taken, he'd die. Trystan was stronger than his dad but he never fought back. He took his punches. Maybe it was some distorted sense of reality. Maybe he just wanted a father like everyone else had, someone who watched over him and played ball on the weekends. Instead he got the drunk mess, the shell of what used to be a great man.

"Trystan," Tucker said, turning toward him as Trystan made a bee line for the door.

But Trystan didn't stop. No one could know. And Tucker was wrong. No one could save him. That was one fact he knew for certain. The last person who tried - shaking his head, he pushed the thought aside. He didn't want to think about it. His life was what he made it. As soon as Trystan crossed the stage at graduation and got his diploma, he was out of here.

But Mari, a voice said in the back of his head.

The jaded part of Trystan silently responded, If Mari doesn't come around by then, she never will.

Chapter 11

~MARI~

After school Trystan found me sitting alone in the theater, waiting for practice to start. I avoided him all day, and he noticed. "You weren't at your locker." It was a statement, but there was a question in his voice.

I shrugged, like it was normal. I had my math book open on my lap. "Just trying to finish some homework."

A lopsided grin lined his lips. Great. I knew that expression. He knew I was lying. Damn it. When did he get to know me so well?

"Mari, at least tell me what I did."

"You didn't do anything," I said, without looking up, starting another equation. He took the book from my lap and closed it quietly. When I looked up at him, he took my notebook and my pencil, too.

"I know you. Something's bothering you."

I was impaled on his gaze as soon as I looked up. It darted through me, and I couldn't look away. His eyes searched my face and I felt naked. Somehow he'd learned to read me. Two years of running lines had taught him too much. I looked away before he saw how I felt about him. I sighed and threw my head back like I was annoyed. "Trystan, I'm not mad at you, but I will be if you don't give me back my stuff."

He took the pile of books off his lap and held them out over the aisle. Watching me, he dropped them on the floor. The pencil rolled away as the slap of the books echoed through the empty auditorium. I jumped up to push past him, but he blocked me. Trystan was a full head higher than me. I couldn't look at his face, those eyes would make me say stupid things. Instead I stared at his chest and the black tee shirt that clung to him.

Trystan tensed. I could feel his gaze on my face. "It was the kiss, wasn't it?"

I lifted my eyes and when I met his I knew I was screwed. I felt the truth about to tumble out of my mouth, but I bit it back. Pushing my curls out of my face I shook my head, "No, of course not. It didn't mean anything. Besides, you kiss everyone." The expression on his face faltered when I said it and I instantly regretted my words. He looked like I kicked him in the stomach.

But, Trystan recovered quickly. Nodding he said, "Sometimes. Mostly girls." He grinned to cover the effect of my words. "Still, I shouldn't have done it. I know how you feel about that stuff, and I just got caught up in the moment." He pushed his hands into his pockets, and looked up at me. His eyes were so blue.

I tore my gaze away, "It's fine." I tried to ignore the fact that my ribs felt like they were going to crack. My heart raced when he looked at me like that, making my pulse pound like I'd been running. I wanted to turn away, but I couldn't. My arms folded against my chest.

Trystan watched me do it. Then he reached out and touched my forearm, gently brushing my skin with his fingers. He had to know how crazy he was making me. That had to be the reason why he did it. Smiling, he looked up into my face and said, "I wanted to tell you something. Every time we get a second, someone comes and drags you away. Listen - " he swallowed hard, his dark lashes lowering. He paused like he can't figure out how to convey what he wanted to say. When he looked back up into my eyes, I felt like I couldn't breathe. The sensation of his palm on my arm, the way he looked at me, made me want to throw my arms around his neck, but I couldn't. The only actual thought registering in my mind at that moment was that Katie's going to kill me.

"Scott!" Seth yelled as he walked into the auditorium. The sound bounced around the empty room.

Trystan didn't turn toward him. Instead he stared at me like he wanted to say something else, but he couldn't. He finally blinked and turned toward Seth.

Seth sounded agitated, "I've been looking all over for you."

"I'm right here," Trystan said flatly. All indications of the seriousness of what he was going to say had washed away.

When Seth walked up, he looked at my books on the floor and then back up at us. "You peg him with your books? Nice." He grinned widely, his eyes sliding over me appreciatively.

Trystan bent over and picked the books up. He handed them back to me and our fingers brushed, sending sparks through me when I took them. "Can we finish talking about this later?" I didn't trust my voice, so I nodded. "I'll catch up with you after practice."

Chapter 12

~TRYSTAN~

When he saw Mari sitting alone in the dark theater, Trystan walked in and quietly sat beside her. He'd been thinking about this moment all day. He was going to tell her that he was Day Jones. Dropping a big enough hint should help her figure out that she was the object of his affection.

Then Seth bounded in and kept him from saying it. Part of Trystan considered blurting it out in front of his best friend, but he knew the guy wouldn't let him. Seth effectively ended the conversation. He pulled Trystan out into the hallway like nothing happened.

"What the hell?" Trystan finally asked. He stopped at stared at Seth.

Seth smiled carefully, like he knew he was on cracked ice. "I can't let you do it."

"It's not your call," Trystan's voice was cold. His eyes narrowed as he stepped toward Seth.

Seth could tell that this was going to be a fight, but he wasn't letting Trystan make this kind of mistake. He'd seen it before. The guy is completely in love with some chick and then she shoots him between the eyes and bats her eyes like he was nothing. Seth knew Trystan was secretive about his life, and he never pressed him before, but he had to know now. "Something's up with you, man. If it's not the girl, then what is it?"

A redheaded teacher stepped out of her classroom, "Get out of the halls, gentlemen. You know there's no loitering after school."

"We're waiting for Tucker," Seth replied.

Since we were standing in front of the auditorium, she didn't force the issue. "Well, he should be here any second. If he isn't, come and get me and I'll turn on the lights for you."

Seth nodded and said, "Thanks." When she was inside her classroom, Seth turned to Trystan, "I don't nose into your life, but something's going on. It's obvious. If it's not the girl, then what is it?"

Trystan was fuming. Did everyone see it? Did the dark circles under his eyes give him away? He couldn't tell anyone. Not even Seth. He wouldn't understand. Maybe it was a mistake, he wouldn't know until later, but he lied. "It's the girl."

Tucker raced past them, and into the theater. He didn't say anything to Trystan about his earlier outburst, or that he walked out of detention.

Seth nodded curtly, "That's all you had to say. I'll catch you later."

Trystan walked into the theater and slipped into a chair while Tucker went over the things he wanted to work on that day. A group of girls sat down behind him, like always. Sometimes he wished they'd follow someone else around.

Trystan couldn't focus, he couldn't keep his mind here, until he heard Monica whispering behind him. She was one of the actors that were always around, but he didn't really know her.

"Did you see this? Someone offered Day Jones a contract." She held out her phone and the girl sitting next to her took it.

"Holy shit. What'd he say?" Chanel spoke too loudly and Tucker glared at her.

After a small pause, Monica whispered, "Nothing."

Chapter 13

~MARI~

Something was up, but I had no idea what. The way he looked at me was curious. There was something in his eyes that reminded me of panic, but it was more subdued. I couldn't place the emotion that darted off his face as soon as Seth called his name.

Looking down at the play book in my lap, I followed along. I no longer fed people their lines. Instead, they waited next to me in the wings, waiting for their prompt to enter the stage. Brie stood next to me, her arms folded across her chest like she was bored. Her blue eyes were watching the actors on stage, completely ignoring me. When I heard her line, I motioned with my hand for her to enter, but she just stood there.

"Go," I whispered. She should have started walking two seconds ago. The pause will result in a gap in the on-stage banter. She'd mess up and I'd get blamed for it.

"I think I know my part better than you," she snapped. Before I could say anything, she stepped away from me and onto the stage. The lights shone down on her making her crown of golden waves look ethereal.

Brie was a classic bitch. She had the cheerleader Barbie body and all the guys fell all over her. The way she swung her hips when she walked made her impossible to ignore. Today she had on thigh-high boots coupled with a short skirt and a tiny tee shirt that showed her midriff when she moved her arms. The outfit barely met the school dress code. All eyes were on her as she walked on set.