A/N

Tonyboy: I read the fic you suggested I should take a look at and you were right about it! It was quite original and I left her a review for it. I'm glad you like my story. I haven't made up my mind though about its category. I'm not sure if it's an AU or something related to the script. Maybe it's a mixture of both…haha. When will you finish your fic? I can't wait to read the rest of it! Here's another chapter with Tony just for you:-)

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CHAPTER VII: And So It Begins

A second rose appeared on the door of the Biology lab the next week as we were walking towards another class. I fortunately noticed it first and managed to snatch away before anyone else saw. My heart was pounding as I hid it beneath my books, which I held close to my stomach. I was sure it was from Tony, even though I hadn't seen a note yet. As we sat down for class and everyone was all distracted by something else, I peeked at the rose resting on my lap.

It was a little ruffled, but it was beautiful all the same. There was no note tied around its stem; it was, in fact, just a rose. I looked at it closely, unsure if I should keep it. Was it really for me? Perhaps it was a coincidence and some other boy had left it for another girl. It didn't feel right when I thought of me taking something that was meant for someone else. But how could I possibly know?

I hid the rose again and turned my attention to the front. I tried to focus but I couldn't. My thoughts were somewhere else. I hoped I met Tony soon. I remembered how he smiled and how his eyes shone. I remembered his gentle touch and the tone of his voice. He was so kind and lighthearted that I found myself wishing class was already over so I could go looking for Tony in the hallways again.

Soon.

How soon was soon?

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It was a Thursday, a whole week since my first encounter with Tony and three days after the appearance of the second rose, and I was in the cafeteria with Anita and the others for lunch. We were in one table and Nardo and the boys were in another. The lunchroom was so noisy and crowded that I didn't feel like standing up to get my food. I was also not in the mood to eat as I had already almost given up looking for Tony. The fruitless searches made me feel tired and left with no appetite.

"Eh, querida, this is already the third day that you haven't eaten a proper lunch," Anita said. "You promised me you would eat today or I will tell Bernardo."

"Are you all right, Maria? You look troubled," commented Rosalia.

"Maybe it is a test? Or a project?" suggested Consuela.

"No no, I'm all right," I said. "I just feel tired, that's all,"

"Are you sick, Maria?" Anita looked at me worriedly. I hurried to say my next sentence quickly before she could call attention to Bernardo. She was already starting to stand up to feel my forehead.

"No no!" I said, avoiding her hand. "It's just…you know, tests and such. I am fine, Anita, I promise,"

"Ah, you and your promises," Anita huffed. "You are too thin, Maria, and you study too much! Come, I will accompany you to the lunch line to get you some food…or else I will tell your brother about your poor eating habits,"

Her threat made me rise. I didn't want her to call my brother; I didn't want to be fussed over, especially if it was over nothing.

"I will be fine by myself," I said. "If it will satisfy you, I will get a LOT of food,"

Anita nodded, looking contented. "You make sure of that. I want your tray to be bending in the middle from the weight of the food when you return. We will wait for you here. Call us if you need anything, eh?"

"Si,"

I walked over to the lunch line, where a few people were still in. I took a tray and took my place, thankful I was able to stop Anita. If Bernardo had found out that I hadn't been eating for the past few days, he'd go on worse than Mama. He would fuss and fuss and fuss and would insist on watching me while I eat to make sure. He was a natural worrier when it came to me and, though I could tolerate at home, school was quite different.

Without thinking, I reached out to start taking plates of food from the counter to put on my tray. When I reached out to get the last carton of milk, my hand collided with another.

"Oh, I'm sorry," I said. "It's all right, you can have it,"

"Maria?"

The familiar voice made me turn my head to see who it was standing beside me. My eyes met with two identical marbles of blue and I saw the mouth as it curved into a familiar smile.

The tall frame.

The thick, wavy, neatly arranged hair.

The bright grin.

The eyes that had the color of Puerto Rican waters.

Tony.

I gasped. "Tony!" Then, quickly remembering that Nardo was nearby, covered my mouth.

He gave a low laugh. "Well hello to you too,"

"I have been looking everywhere for you," I said, my voice hushed. I didn't want anyone to notice I was talking to him.

Tony glanced behind his back before continuing. "So have I," he said, his voice as low as mine. "Sssh, let's not talk so loudly. My friends might see us. Let's keep moving,"

We took slow, small side steps as we talked, grabbing lunch dishes on the way.

"I cannot have my friends see us either," I told him. He nodded.

"Did you get the roses?" he smiled.

"Oh, si! Did you leave another last Monday?"

"Yes. I wanted to remind you of your promise," Tony smiled mischievously.

"But we cannot talk here," I said. We were nearing the end of the lunch line. "Now is not a good time,"

"I know." He gave me another bright grin, as if he'd just been struck by a brilliant idea. "Tell you what. Can you meet me after school?"

I shook my head. "My brother waits for me so we can go home together. He will not let me go off to places alone,"

Tony looked at me pleadingly. "It won't take long. Ten minutes, tops. Just to get to know each other better,"

"I don't know…what do I tell him?"

"You can tell him…you dropped by Principal Finley's office for something. I can meet you there. Please, Maria?" His smile widened. "Please? I've been looking for you all week. It'll only be for a little while,"

I stole a glance at our tables. It was a good thing that they were all too busy talking to see what I was doing. I looked back at Tony, who was eagerly waiting for my response, and smiled.

Maybe…I could afford ten minutes. It was only for a little while.

"What is it that you want to know about me that you can't find out now?" I almost laughed out loud.

"A lot of things." Tony shrugged. "For example, what your…"

He was interrupted by the lunch lady who told me how much my food cost. I was just reaching for the money I supposedly had in my pocket when I realized I had no money: I had lent it all to Rosalia a while ago!

"Oh no!" I said, though I didn't mean to say it out loud.

"Whatsa matter?" Tony asked.

"I cannot pay for my lunch…I have no money…" I said, struggling to find even some change somewhere in my dress.

"No worries," Before I could stop him, Tony had pushed a bill across the counter towards the cafeteria lady, who took it then put it in the cash register.

"Oh Tony, you can't!" I said, surprised at what he'd done.

"Yes I can. I just did," he laughed.

"I will pay you back…"

"No need. Consider it a favor for a friend," he told me cheerfully.

"Oh but you must let me…I cannot just accept…"

"Ah, you worry too much. It was a good deed done for a friend in need, and I don't want anything in return for it," he said.

I smiled at him and sighed. "You are too kind…All right. I guess I will see you later after school."

"Really?" he said, his voice still low but the excitement showing in his tone. "Great! Will you meet me in front of the Principal's office a little after three o' clock then?"

I nodded. "I will be there,"

I gave him a last smile before turning around and walking back to our table. I suddenly felt so light. Tony…oh how kind he was! And I was going to meet him later! Ten minutes of course was still better than nothing. I only hoped Bernardo wouldn't give me a hard time about it.

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I detested lying, especially to people whom I knew trusted me. I felt so terrible about lying to my brother about where I was going when school ended that I wanted to go to confession right after I told him. It was a good thing Anita and the other girls had already gone since they still had work to do at the bridal shop, and the boys Bernardo had already sent home, or else I would explode from guilt. I had never lied to Iargo before and that fact made me more fearful of what could happen if he found out what I was really going to do.

"Por que (Why)?" asked Bernardo. "Has he any problems with you?"

"No," I told him. I couldn't stand to look at him straight any longer, but I had to. I wished this was over. "He just told me he wanted to speak to me,"

"Ahora? (Now)" Bernardo frowned.

"Si, that is what he said," I said. "After school. It won't take long, I'm sure,"

I was glad I wasn't lying anymore, but I still felt terrible that I was fooling my brother. He was thinking, of course, that I was talking about the principal.

"All right, all right," he waved me away. "How long will you be?"

"Ten minutes, I think,"

"All right. I will meet you by the flagpole when you finish. If you take too long, I will go over there to get you myself, ok?"

"Si, Nardo,"

And that was that. As I walked away, I vowed never to lie to my brother again.

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I met Tony outside the office and I had never seen such a huge smile in my life. He was standing by the door, glancing around as if he was on the watch for something before he saw me. When I called him that was when he turned around and smiled.

"Oh Tony don't let me lie again, please," I pleaded as soon as I was close enough. "I cannot stand to lie to my brother or anyone else."

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," he said, looking most apologetic. "I won't make you lie again. But, now that we're here, let's make the best of it, shall we?"

"Yes," I nodded.

"C'mon," he took my hand and started to lead me away.

"Where are we going?" I said. "My brother is waiting for me by the flagpole, and he will come get me if we take too long,"

"We won't go far. There's just too many people here. Someone might see us," he said. "It's just around here…"

We were outside, and in a lonely little spot that had stone benches with writings all over them.

"Is this okay?" he asked me. I nodded.

"This is fine,"

We sat down on one of the benches, our books placed in between us. I trusted him, but I was cautious all the same. I didn't want anything to happen now that we were alone. I didn't know Tony that well yet, after all.

"So what do we talk about?" I asked him.

"Whatever you like," he shrugged happily. "Have you got a question for me?"

"Why are your eyes so blue?" I asked before I could even stop myself. He laughed.

"It's because both my parents' eyes are blue. My Dad's German-American and my Mom's Polish-American," he said.

"They are a beautiful color," I said, smiling.

"Thank you," he told me. "I think your eyes are beautiful too,"

I blushed and hid a laugh. "Have you got a question for me?"

"Ummm…oh yeah…" he looked thoughtful. "What happened between you and Riff the day we met? Did he hit you or something?"

"Oh no, no…We bumped into each other and we both fell to the ground. I wasn't looking where I was going and he was in such a hurry," I explained.

"Oh so that explains it," Tony nodded. "If he'd hurt you…well, let's say I don't think I'd know what to do. Riff…he's a very compulsive guy, y'know what I mean?"

I shook my head. "I don't think I understand. But what is Riff to you? You seem to know him so well."

Tony shrugged. "Riff…he's my best friend. We've known each other, like, forever. He's a good pal. He's like a brother to me,"

"I am the same with Anita," I said in agreement.

"Tell me about her…"

So I did, though not much as there really wasn't enough time. We kept on talking about different things, flying from one subject to the next. I enjoyed our conversation so much that I didn't even notice if our ten minutes was already over. Those moments with Tony seemed to last forever and seemed to me as if we were the only two people on earth. He was in the middle of telling me something about his Geography teacher when a familiar voice made me hold a finger to his mouth and made my blood run cold.

"Maria?" I heard Bernardo call out. "Maria, are you there?"

A/N: So sorry to leave you hanging! Will they get caught or won't they? Read the next chapter to find out!