Don't Tell A Soul

My feet touch the cold floor at 6:00 in the morning. I yawn and rub the sleep out of my eyes, and tread my way into the bathroom. Something I didn't like about this new home is that I no longer have a connected bathroom, so I have walk all the way across the hall just to shower and whatnot.

I take my time, seeing as how I really didn't want to do this today. I'm not ready to say goodbye to everything I once knew, and throw everything away. If you can't tell, I'm not good when it comes to change.

I finish my shower and my senses are overwhelmed by the fantastic smell of food. I throw on my black ripped skinny jeans, my Iron Man shirt, and my black socks that will soon be covered up by my gray high top converse. When I come out of the bathroom, I see my mum standing by the counter finishing up the food.

"Mum?" I question.

"Good morning." She smiles.

"Ma, you didn't have to do this. I normally just grab a piece of fruit." I shrug.

"Well, it's your first day at a new school. You need to have a good breakfast to get you through the day."

"Yeah, but shouldn't you be sitting down or something?"

"I'm sick. But I'm still able to move around." I nod and grab my food, and start eating with nothing else to be said. Mainly because I'm not really a morning person so I wasn't really looking to argue. If there's anything I remember about my mother, it's that she's great for debate.

Suddenly there was a knock at the door. Mine and my mother's head shoot up at the same time and we share looks of confusion. I shrug, then I feel guilty for letting her open the door. Max's smile beams through the house as we both make eye contact. "What are you doing here?" I ask with a mouthful.

"That's rude to talk with your mouthful, Marley." He laughs. "I came to take you school."

"That's nice, but don't you have to get to school today?" I wonder.

"Well yeah, that's why I'm taking you. Saves you from having to take the bus."

I don't respond for a moment, thinking that he wasn't following what I was trying to say. Then it clicks. "We go to the same school..." I say more to myself than anything.

"Yeah, babe." Max chuckles, "Geez you can tell mornings aren't your strong suit."
I laugh along with him and allow him to kiss my cheek, as I finish my breakfast.

~*~*~*~

We walk in together, but Max wouldn't let me hold his hand because he said that I was supposed to be strong for myself without having to relying on anyone. So I clutch on to my arm and follow beside him to the main office to get my schedule. "Can I help you?" The lady asks.

I wasn't going to say anything, but Max looks at me and makes me speak for myself. "Uh.. I'm new and I need a schedule..." I bite my lip feeling my heart pound in my chest.

"Ms, Braxton?" She says my name just to make sure. I nod. "Here you go. If you need any help, let us know."

"Thank you." I smile and grab the sheet of paper that tells me what classes I will be attending today.

"Your locker is this way." Max speaks, pulling me from my thoughts.

"Okay." I say in a slight whisper and blow out some air I didn't know I was holding in.

"So here's a map of the school and this is where your first class is today." He says and points to the map.

"Aren't you walking with me?" I ask as I start to panic.

"You've got this Marley. You're smart enough to do this on your own." When I don't say anything back he says, "I'm doing this so you know what to do when I'm not here. I love you, Mars."

"Love you too, Max." I mumble and reach up to peck his lips.

I look around and watch him leave, then turn back to my map and look at my locker. On my schedule, it told me what my combination was. So with shaky hands I twist the lock until it comes undone. Suddenly, the sound of a locker crashing into mine makes me jump. I glance to the side through my peripheral, and inspect the chaos beside me.

I look to the arm that twist the lock on his locker. His arm was all inked up. Some of the ink was black and white, the others were full of vibrant colors and drawings. I spot a beautiful colored rose on his arm surrounded by green thorns. "There called tattoos." The guy speaks.

This makes me shoot up, and stare at him in the face. He had glossy red lips and a color hair that confused me. It looked like a skunk... but backwards. And he wore a ripped up band shirt that I was familiar with black skinny jeans that almost match mine, and a match pair of black steel toe boots. I look back up at his face, and see piercings. A piercing in his eyebrow, nose, and two very big holes in his ears. "Can I help you?" He asks me, making me step back from his booming voice.

I shake my head. "N-No. Sorry." I apologize, looking back at my map to scout out my first class.

"Are you new?"

"You see a map, don't you?" I hold it up for him to see. Directly after the words leave my mouth I feel guilty. I wasn't raised to be rude to people I don't know. "I'm sorry, I'm just stressed out-"

"So you need help then?" He scoffs, interrupting me which I guess I deserved.

"Uhm.. sure."

"Yes, or no. I don't have all day." He rolls his eyes checking his watch.

"Yes." I say, and stand there waiting for him to make the next move.

The guy scrunches his eyebrows together, looking me up and down. "Schedule? Why are you just standing there?" Without skipping a beat, I hand him my schedule.

"Looks like we have the same classes."

"The same exact schedule?" I ask, hopeful.

"For today, yeah."

"Today? What happens tomorrow?"

"You really are new, huh?" He chuckles, but I don't find it the least bit funny. Nonetheless, I follow his footsteps. "So tomorrow you have different classes, look." He points to the classes beside the ones I have for today.

"Oh." I breathe. "Thanks."

"Don't mention it. Really don't."

"O-okay."

The he laughs. "I'm only kidding. You can join me at lunch today and meet my other friends if you'd like."

"Oh. Well I'll try if Max doesn't have the same lunch as me."

"Is Max the jerk that wouldn't help you out at your locker?"

"He's not a jerk, he's just making sure I can be independent." I defend him.
"Well aren't you going against that now?" I shrug. "I'm Michael."

"I'm Marley."

"That's new. I've never heard that name before." He smiles.

I nod not knowing what else to say. "Whatever, you can meet with me at my locker after class if you need help. Unless you don't want to upset your boyfriend. Later, Marley." Michael says, and leaves me and turns down the hallway. Didn't he say he had the same class as me?

I shake it off, and take my seat a prepare for this day to be over with.

Notes