A/N: As promised: Tony and the Jets!

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CHAPTER V: A Chance Meeting

On the week we arrived, schools were still on their Christmas breaks, so we had enough time to talk about and fix where I was going to go for my studies. It was inevitable that I would be attending the same one my brother and Anita were in to save money. It was a public school so we didn't have to pay for anything, and transportation wasn't a problem since it was only a few blocks away from where we lived. Though the principal was first reluctant to let me in, according to him because it was too late in the school year, he eventually agreed after he gave me several examinations and had a few talks with Mama and Papa. When Bernardo and Anita went back to school, along with most of my brother's friends, I was already with them.

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"Mika, vamanos! We will be late!" Bernardo called from the head of our group as we walked down the streets. He jogged over to where I was, the collar of his jacket up since it was so cold. Little white clouds came out of our mouths as we breathed.

"Oh Nardo, relax, it's not like they're going to shoot us if we're going to come in late," Anita said, laughing.

"No, but the teachers or the others might have something unpleasant to say, and I don't want that," my brother said.

"Si," agreed Luis. "Why, just a week ago, when I came in from lunch late, Mrs. Gardner made me stand for the rest of the period! But when Polacks come in late, she doesn't even notice!"

"Mr. Warner couldn't believe when I got the top mark in his test. He accused me of cheating," Dino grumbled.

"Right, they do that because we are Puerto Ricans. I don't want Mika to experience any of that," Bernardo declared. He was very sensitive about that topic, when our teachers would discriminate us just because of our race.

"Oh, Nardo, I've been there for three weeks already and nothing has happened to me," I assured him. "I will be all right. And I was just admiring the city; that is why I was walking slowly. I'm sorry,"

"It's okay, but we do have to hurry," Bernardo said. "Do you have everything you need for today? Did you do your homework? Are you warm enough?"

"Bernardo, really! You are not her mother, you know," Anita said.

"I'm only making sure. I don't want those Polacks to find a reason for them to pick on her," my brother eyed my books. "Are those too heavy? Would you like me to carry them for you?"

"Iargo, I'm fine, really. Don't worry," I gave him a pinch on his cheek and laughed.

"You will tell me when anything goes wrong, won't you?" Bernardo raised his eyebrows at me.

"Yes, yes I promise," I said.

"Yes, and she will also tell you when she will go to the bathroom, her next class and who her seatmate is. Loosen up, you old woman," Anita sidled up next to Bernardo and bumped his hip with her own. Bernardo laughed and kissed her.

The school appeared as soon as we turned a corner and I smiled. I had been enjoying school mostly because of the freedom it gave me from my brother's watchful eye, and the people I met. There were several nice people in the classes I took, but I had no real friends yet and went to lunch with Anita and her friends, Rosalia and Consuela. I didn't really mind. I loved to learn and people were friendly. I hadn't really experienced any of the things Bernardo and his friends always talked about (in fact I didn't even understand half of their street slang), so I didn't know what I was supposed to watch out for. I felt safe and secure in school, even if I was alone for classes.

"Here we are," Nardo announced. "Eh, muchachos, you keep your eyes open. Be careful. Protect the girls, eh?"

"I can take care of myself, Bernardo Javier," Anita said, pushing him away gently.

"So can we," said Rosalia and Consuela. "We don't need any boys to protect us,"

I opened my mouth to agree but my brother put a finger to my lips before I could utter a sound.

"Oh no, not from you, Mika. I will walk you to your first class whether you like it or not," he told me. There was a finality in his tone that I couldn't argue with. I shut my mouth and nodded.

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Three weeks is still a short time to know a place, especially if it is a big place like my school was. I always found myself a little lost after lunch, since Anita and the others had different schedules and had to leave me alone to fend for myself. I was never late though since I always found my way at the last minute.

I studied my schedule a moment before closing my locker with a tight bang. I had Biology next and I was trying to remember how to get to the lab. When the bell to signal the end of lunch rang, I jumped, surprised.

"Oh!" I said, glancing from side to side, a little panicked. I still did not know how to get to the laboratory. After seeing that everyone was going where they were supposed to, I decided to try my luck by walking around with them. If luck was on my side, I would remember where the laboratory was or stumble upon it. Or maybe I could bump into one of my classmates…

BAM! I had suddenly started walking without noticing and had crashed into someone. The both of us fell to the floor with a loud thump and my books and papers flew all over the place.

"HEY! OW! Watch where you're goin!"

I blinked, a little dazed. The fall made the room spin a little bit. I was half-sitting, half-lying on the floor, trying to figure out what had happened. When I straightened up to see what I had hit, I saw a boy older than I was, staring at me with an annoyed look on his face. He had light, curly hair, a set mouth and eyes the color of blue steel. He hadn't landed far from where I had and was just starting to get to his feet when I first saw him.

"Oh! I'm sorry…oh my goodness, I'm so sorry…" I started apologizing quickly, worried about the damage I might have caused. "Are you all right?"

"Right as rain, pumpkin," he said, standing up and brushing his pants with his hand. "Ya better watch where you're goin' next time so's not to hurt yerself. Did I hurtcha?" He gave me a look I didn't like.

"Riff! Hey, Riff!"

"What happened to ya?"

A group of boys rushed to where we were and when they saw me, they got the same look of surprise on their faces. They crowded around me as I got to my knees and started gathering my things.

"Who's she?" asked a short boy with a mess of black hair. He frowned at me.

"She a Spick, Riff? She looks like one," said another boy, taller than 'Riff'. I glanced up at them and looked quickly back down. They didn't look friendly.

"I dunno…hey, kid, what's yer name?" Riff asked me, getting down on one knee. Suddenly, I wanted my brother with me.

"Hey, you guys! What're you doin there? What's going on? We gotta get to class," I heard a voice that made all the rest of them turn their head to look.

"Hey, Tony! C'mere!" Riff cocked his head. "See what I bumped into,"

I heard the footsteps of someone jogging towards us but didn't look up.

"What's the matter?" 'Tony' said. I saw as a new pair of shoes and pants went beside Riff's.

"She's a chick, ain't she? Found her by fate, that I did," Riff said, sounding almost proud.

"Why's she on the floor? Why aren't you guys helping her?" Tony dropped to his knees in front of me, but I still didn't look up. I was afraid. This was what Bernardo was warning me about. Where was he when I needed him? I said a silent prayer that they would not hurt me. That they would just leave me alone and not mind me again.

"Miss," Tony said to me. He didn't sound threatening. In fact, he sounded gentle. "Hey, Miss, are you okay?" His voice changed its tone when he looked up at Riff and the others. "Riff, what happened here? Didja guys do something to her?"

"Hey, don't blame me, buddy-boy, she was the one who crashed into me and not the other way around. I was just mindin' my own business," Riff replied innocently.

"Then why's she not talking? I think you guys scared her or something," Tony turned to me again, his voice gentle once more. "Hey, Miss, are you okay? Are you hurt? Can I help you with your books?"

I looked up for a second, looked back down then looked up again. Something in what I saw told me that I didn't need to be afraid of him.

"Are you all right?" Tony asked, looking genuinely worried. He had hair that had the color of ink and that rested on his head in calm waves, a kind mouth that showed teeth like pearls and eyes that made me wonder if they were real. They were the color of the sea, just like the ones we had in Puerto Rico: a clear, bright azul that shone and sparkled and gazed at me gently. I suddenly couldn't find the right words to say. This boy, this Tony, suddenly made my heart beat faster than it should be beating.

"I…I am fine," I finally said, finding my tongue. "Thank you for asking,"

"I'll leave ya two to settle this. C'mon you guys, let's go for a smoke. Tony, I'll see ya later, okay?" Riff said, sounding bored. He started to walk away when Tony called after him.

"Hey, Riff, aren't you gonna apologize to the lady first?" he said. Riff raised his eyebrows in mild surprise, but he did as Tony asked.

"Sorry, kid," he shrugged. "Be careful next time,"

Then he walked away with the rest of the group, who were all clapping his back or jumping around and saying things like "Pow pow!" and "Ditch this joint". Tony looked back at me and shook his head.

"I'm sorry for their behavior, especially Riff's," he said apologetically as he helped me gather my things. "They don't mean to be rude…they're nice guys really once you get to know 'em…they just don't know how to behave properly sometimes…Are you sure you aren't hurt? Coz you might've taken a pretty nasty spill…"

"It's all right, really. I'm all right," I said, smiling for the first time since the incident. "Thank you for helping me,"

Tony looked pleased that I had smiled at him and forgot about Riff and the others. He returned my gesture with his own smile, which made me blush.

"May I ask you something?" he asked.

"You already did," I said jokingly. Tony grinned. "But you may ask me another question, yes,"

"Are you new here? Because I don't believe I've seen you around before,"

I laughed, mostly about how cute he seemed asking. "You are observant,"

"So you are new!" he said, smiling. He never seemed to stop smiling. "When did you first come?"

"A couple of weeks ago. Principal Finley said I was an exceptional case," I said.

"I suppose you are…exceptional," Tony said. I laughed again.

"You make me laugh," I told him, "yet we haven't even been properly introduced,"

"All right, then I'll start," Tony said, putting all my books in a neat pile between us. He looked excited, and he had this energy that I found contagious. It was as if cheerfulness vibrated off of him. I couldn't help not smiling. "My name is Tony. Tony Wallace. What might your name be?"

"Maria," I answered him.

"Maria," he repeated. "That's a beautiful name,"

I don't know how I happened to glance at one of the wall clocks to see the time but I did, and I saw that I was already twenty minutes late for my class.

"Oh no!" I said, gathering my things in a hurry.

"What? What's the matter?" Tony asked, looking worried.

"I am late for my next class," I explained. "I'm sorry, Tony but I must go."

"I'll bring you there," he offered as he helped me up. I took my books from him. "What's your next class?"

I shook my head. "You'd better not. You have your class, too,"

"I don't mind…"

"No, I will be fine, thank you for offering. But, if you could tell me where the Biology laboratory is I would be most grateful," I told him.

"It's just right down that hall then to the left. It's at the end of the corridor…"

"Thank you," I said thankfully. "I hope we will meet again!" I turned to leave, but Tony held my hand.

"Wait! If I may, I would like to see you again," he said. "Will that be possible?"

I ran his request over and over in my head. I wanted to see him again as well, but there were things I had to consider. Bernardo was one. In fact, he was the biggest thing I had to be concerned about. Chino was another. I was pretty sure they wouldn't like me befriending Tony since he was an American, even though he was just going to be a friend. I liked Tony.

"We will see," I said. "I would like to see you, too,"

"But when will that be?" Tony asked.

"Soon," I promised.

"How soon?"

I laughed again. My, he was persistent! "Soon, I promise. I will find a way," I started to walk away. "Goodbye for now. Thank you for helping me!"

I didn't look back. I was pretty sure that if he had asked me to stay I would have, and if Bernardo found out he wouldn't like it. My heart was dancing as I made my way down the hallways. I said his name over and over under my breath.

Tony. Tony.

The boy who helped me. The boy with the sea-blue eyes. The boy with the beautiful smile.

Tony.

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A/N: Ahhh, puppy love. Maria, of course, doesn't know that the Jets are who they are or that they're even called that way. She has no idea about the Sharks either, which is why she's so bold about the idea of befriending Tony. I hope you enjoyed this chapter! The next will be up soon! R/R please!