TWO

"Did you get the papers graded from the quiz I gave on Monday?" Dalton asked me. I looked over at the six different piles of work in front of me.

"Of course I did." I looked at the files in front of me. Shit, I still had them. "Sorry," I said and stood up and walked the files over to him. He gave me a look and took them out of my hands. I scrunched my nose and went back to the floor. I've been working with him now for a little over a week and he has been more quiet than normal. Normally he talks to me a little and he hasn't been doing that. "Sir?" I said and looked over at him. He looked up at me. I couldn't read the look on his face. "Are you mad at me or something?" He cocked his head.

"Why would you think that and the name is Dalton."

"Sorry Dalton, you just seem off lately." He looked back down at his desk.

"It's not you Brenda, I just have a lot on my mind."

"Would you like to talk about it?" He looked back up at me.

"You don't need to hear my adult problems."

"Everyone needs someone to talk to." He stood up and walked around his desk. He lends against it and looked at me.

"Say I have a friend who is really into this girl, but she is way off-limits. He has no idea how to handle it."

"Does this girl have feelings for your friend?"

"I don't think he knows."

"Well, then only two things can happen. He can either let it go. I mean if nothing has happened. What is he really losing? Or he can tell her how he feels and then go from there." Dalton just watched me for a moment.

"But what if the forbidden can cause his whole world to collapse?"  

"Then he has to figure out if it's worth it or not. I mean love is a powerful thing, but if it’s not there for both of them. Then it might not be worth it.

"How did you get to be so smart?" I laughed a little.

"I have been told this all my life. I really don't know." He kept his eyes on me. "Can I ask you something?"

"Anything."

"Whats the forbidden about her?" He looked down and then rubbed his scruff on his face. I got up off the ground and went over to stand next to him. "They aren't related are they?" He started to laugh.

"No, no it's nothing like that." We both laugh a little.

"Then?" I asked.

"She is younger."

"How much younger?" I asked scrunching my nose again. He just shook his head at me.

"Not like your thinking but still too young for him by society's standards."

"Maybe he can wait until she is of age and then try?"

"Maybe your right, but it is still frustrating."

"For your friend?" He looked over at me.

"Yeah, my friend." He said and walked back around his desk and sat back down. I eyed him for a moment.

"Are you sure there's nothing else you want to talk about?" He looked back up at me.

"Like?" He asked. I just shrugged my shoulders. I walked back over the ground and went back to work.

"So how're things going with Mr. Hotty?" Chris asked me after school today.

"I mean as far as the work goes good."

"What else is going on?" She asked smiling at me.

"It's not like that. He just seems preoccupied. He also told me this story. You know what never mind." I said and started to walk out to my car.

"Oh no, miss thing. Start talking."

"It's not my story to tell, but it just made me think."

"About?"

"I don't know. When I know I'll tell you."

"Will you?"

"Yes, you ass." She started to laugh. "I'll call you later tonight," I said and waved her off. I really don't think its smart to share anything about me and Dalton with anyone. Yeah, she is my best friend, but honestly, there's nothing to really share. I got home and found my mother in the kitchen.

"Hey, how was school today?"

"Good like always."

"Do you have to cheer tomorrow?"

"Yeah, I won't be home until late. We have a lot of work to do before Friday's game."

"Just don't wear yourself out like last year."

"Busting my butt last year got me where I am today mom. I just want to finish out this year with honers." She just smiled at me. I grabbed a bag of chips and headed up to my bedroom to work. After about an hour. My phone started to go off. I knew for sure it was Chris, but when I opened the text it was from an unknown number.

"Thanks for listening to me today."

"Who is this?"

"Dalton."

"How did you get my number?"

"I have my ways."

"Do you?"

"I do, thanks again."

"Did it help your friend?"

"I don't know. We will see." I just smiled to myself and set my phone back down. It went off again and I picked it back up. This time it was Chris, bugging me about going out to do something. I ended up given in and we went out for pizza. My boyfriend Dillon ended up meeting us at the pizza place. I have been doing my best to avoid him and something inside me just wanted to get it over with.

"Dillon, can we go talk outside?" I asked him and he nodded at me. Chris knew what I was up to. He walked with me outside.

"What's going on Brenda?" He asked me. I knew he knew something wasn't right between us.

"I think its time for us to take a break from each other," I said looking away from him.

"Why what did I do?" I could see the pain in his eyes.

"It wasn't anything you did Dill, your such a good guy, but I just don't have the same feelings for you, and it's not fair to keep you stuck with me." I tried to read his face. He looked like he was full of mixed feelings.

"Your such a selfish bitch." That blew me away. I knew he wasn't going to take this well, but I didn't think he would say that.

"Dillon!" I said. He looked over at me.

"What? I gave you all this time and you never once let me touch you, and now your just going to end it because you don't have the same feelings for me? I gave you so much respect and this is how you do me, Yeah you're a bitch. Nothing but a tease who thinks her shit don't stink. Well, fuck you, Brenda!" He shouted out. I could feel the tears sting my eyes. I couldn't believe he was talking to me like this.

"Why don't you watch your mouth, young man." I heard his voice behind me. I turned to see Dalton walking over to us. Dillon just looked up at him. "I think you owe someone an apology?" Dillon just looked back at me and back to Dalton.

"Fuck this." He said and threw his hands up and stormed off. The tears fell down my cheeks. Chris came running out of the restaurant.

"What happened?" She asked as Dalton pulled me into his arms and held me.

"Her friend said some really rude things to her and hurt her feelings. I think maybe I should see her home." Dalton said to Chris.

"Okay, Brenda call me later okay?" I nodded at her and Dalton and I walked towards my car.

"What was that all about?" He asked me.

"Dalton, what are you doing here?" I asked him as I wiped the tears off my face.

"I didn't feel like cooking tonight and I was told this was one of the best places in town for a pizza. What happened with him?"

"I broke it off with him."

"Is he always like that?"

"No, never, he has never even raised his voice to me. I knew he wasn't going to take it well, but I never thought he would act like that." I started to get upset again. Dalton pulled me back into his arms. God, he smelt so good. I don't know if I made a bad move but I wrapped my arms around him.

"Brenda." He said softly. I lifted my head to look at him and our faces were so close. I could feel his minty breath on mine. The next thing that happened shocked me, but he leans down just enough and his lips met mine.