A/N

Tonyboy: I did say that my fic would be ALMOST faithful to the script, but I ran the idea over in my head and decided that maybe it won't be as faithful as I had originally planned. I want Maria and Tony to spend more time together and to know each other more and I figured they couldn't possibly do that overnight. The key elements are still going to be there though: the Rumble and the deaths and such. I don't know what else I may change but I can assure you that in this fic, Maria and Tony will be totally in love, maybe even more than what the movie showed. That's all I can say for now; I might give something away. Please keep reading and thanks for the reviews:-)

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CHAPTER VI: The First Rose

No one ever found out about my accidental meeting with Tony and I was grateful for it. I didn't get in trouble for being late in Biology either since the teacher was too busy conversing with the blackboard to notice me coming in. I was looking forward to school the next day so I could get a chance to see Tony. I tried not to be obvious about my excitement, but Anita, unfortunately, knew me too well to be fooled.

"There is an unusual spring in your step today, Maria," she commented, looking at me as we walked to school the next morning. "Did something happen to you that we don't know, eh?"

I smiled at her. "I'm just happy to be going to school, that's all. What makes you think I'm not my normal self?"

"Aha! So something did happen!" Anita almost jumped at me. She went closer so Bernardo and the other boys wouldn't hear what she was going to say next. "Tell me, what has Chino done to you?"

"Chino?" I laughed. "The only recent thing he's done to me is treat me to a soda. You know very well he works hard, Anita. He never sees me except in the afternoons,"

"Ahhh, you are hiding something form me, Maria Javier!" Anita declared, wagging her finger at me. "That Chino has done something to you that's made you as lovesick as a puppy. Are you finally falling for him, eh? Admit it, querida!"

I just shrugged. It was better for her to think that it was Chino that I was excited about. Even though he paid me visits—once I got out of school and him from work (he couldn't afford to go to school with us since he had to send money home for his family)—I felt nothing but gratitude and friendly love for him. Sometimes he would even leave me a flower or a Hershey's bar. I would thank him because it is the thought that still counts, but I would also make it clear that I wasn't so sure about changing our relationship. Chino would nod and tell me he would wait until he was ready; he was very patient when it came to things like those. He was a gentleman in that sense.

"NARDO!" I heard Anita suddenly call out.

"Oh Anita, don't!" I pleaded, trying to stop her from making my brother approach.

"What are you so afraid of?" Anita laughed. "He was the one who pushed you into this relationship in the first place,"

I was dumbfounded. She really believed I was in love with Chino!

"Si, mi amor?" Bernardo came to us and I groaned.

"Bernardo, your sister has finally been shot with Cupid's arrow, and Chino was the one holding the bow!" Anita announced happily. I saw as my brother grinned and the other boys cheered.

"No, I have not!" I protested. "Anita, how could you…"

"Ah, how defensive you are," Bernardo held my face in his hands and kissed my forehead. "It is all right to fall in love."

"But I am not in love!" I told him.

"Maybe that's what you think," Anita said cheekily. "I know I felt the same way with this monkey,"

She cocked her head in Bernardo's direction and the others laughed. Bernardo joined them then kissed her on the lips. I huffed and crossed my arms to show how annoyed I was.

"You are so cute when you're angry," said my brother, smiling as he moved from Anita, then kissed my forehead again.

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I tried all day to catch a glimpse of Tony and, by the afternoon when I had failed, I felt disappointed. I only wanted one glance, perhaps even a word or two, or a wave. I didn't know how to ask for him or who to ask since I was still new and didn't know that many people yet. Once, I saw the group of boys I had encountered the day before and whom he was obviously associated with, but I didn't think twice about not asking them where Tony might be. Riff was obviously the leader since he always seemed to be up front, with the others trailing behind as they swaggered down the hallways. When Principal Finley saw them, he gave them a long, hard stare before asking them why they weren't in class. I didn't stay to find out what they'd say. I had a feeling anyway that they were the kind who didn't even go to school to learn. They seemed to be always doing something they were supposed to be doing and being where they weren't supposed to be. Before the principal came one of the boys had even been scratching something onto one of the lockers with a small knife. He'd hidden it when they saw the principal coming.

I shook my head as I made my way towards my next class (Algebra), which was right down the hallway where the Biology laboratory was, thinking of Riff and all his friends. They were wasting what was already handed to them. They had a chance to have an education, but they chose not to take part in it. Meanwhile in Puerto Rico millions of children would trade their souls just to be given a chance to learn…

Hold on. Something red caught my eye as I passed.

I retraced my steps and saw myself standing in front of the Biology laboratory's door. Yes, I had been right. There was something red on it. A beautiful rose in early bloom was resting on the door handle, its head serving as the catch so it wouldn't fall to the ground. A note was tied to its stem. I wondered whom it was for and who had left it there.

I looked around to see if anyone was nearby; perhaps the sender or the receiver might still be a few yards away. But there was no one, so I went back to the rose and looked at it a while before deciding to approach. Curiosity had taken over me and I took the rose to read the note, just to see who it was for.

The note was short, but it made my heart leap all the same. I'd thought it was an early Valentine's present for one of my classmates, but it turned out to be something more unexpected. I read the note over and over again, running my finger over the words.

Maria, it said,

How soon is soon? I can't wait to see you again and get to know you better.

Your new friend,

Tony.

I swallowed the laughter that threatened to escape my throat, remembering I was in school and could be easily caught. I wanted to scream, laugh and dance for joy. He had written me a note! And had left me a rose! Oh, Tony was so sweet. And yes, I did promise him we would meet again soon. But how could I reply to him to arrange for a meeting? I couldn't leave a note for him on the door like he'd done. Someone else might read it.

"Tony?" I called out softly, hoping he was nearby. "Tony? Are you there?"

No one answered. He wasn't there. I looked down at the rose, inhaled its fragrance and smiled at it contentedly.

"We will meet again, Mr. Wallace," I told it. "I promised you we would,"

I looked around the empty corridor once more with a last hope of seeing Tony. When I still didn't see him, I sighed. I held the rose to my chest, the note now safely hidden inside one of my books.

Someday soon, I knew I would see him. I would find a way.

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A/N: The first rose isn't 'the' rose that Maria kept in her sewing box, btw. Hope you enjoyed this chap! Don't worry there'll be more comin'! Keep reading and reviewing!