Free Meant to Be by Tiffany King

strong.”
    “You mean from lifting weights, strong?”
    “No, I’ve never had to lift weights. I’m not
Hulk strong, more like; I just have the feeling that I could
protect myself in a fight with anyone, and come out the victor.
Plus, I was the only one in karate class who could break the wooden
board the first time I tried,” he said with a chuckle.
    “Strong, hum, I like the sound of that,” I
murmured.
    “You do, do you?” He said with amusement as
he stood up. He took his hand and touched the side of my face. His
touch sent shock waves through me; it felt like every bone in my
body had liquefied.
    “I know this is all overwhelming, but I am so
glad you’re here,” he said simply.
    “So am I.”
    “I better head home. I need to get ready for
class,” he said pulling away.
    I frowned. I had forgotten for a brief moment
that he worked at my school. What were we going to do about
that?
    Mark saw my frown. “What’s the matter?” He
asked.
    “You’re practically my teacher. I’m sure the
Dean frowns on teachers dating students,” I stated.
    Mark smiled in relief. “Krista, I’m only on a
two month stint here. I don’t think they can tell me who I can and
can’t date. I mean, we shouldn’t flaunt it or anything, but I don’t
think it’s that big of a deal. If it makes you more comfortable we
can keep it secret, so other students don’t find out.”
    That could work. I wasn’t crazy about the
idea of the other students finding out, but if we kept it secret it
could work. We could make it through the next couple of months
keeping our relationship quiet. Lying to my mom would be a
different story, but I wasn’t ready to lay all of this on her now.
We had always had a no lie policy and I knew from a young age, as
long as I told the truth, punishments would be minimal. I would
have to categorize this as more of a need to know basis.
    “I think your mom’s up,” he said. “I better
go if we are going to try to keep this secret.” He ran his hand
down the side of my face one last time, and with one more backwards
look, he turned and walked off. He was halfway down the street,
when my mom opened the front door.
    “Honey, were you talking to that boy?” she
asked, looking at Mark’s retreating back.
    “Yeah, he goes to my school. I saw him from
my bedroom window and I came down to see what he was up to.”
    “Krista, you know it’s dangerous to come
outside and talk to strangers. You should have come and got
me.”
    “He’s okay mom, I met him in school
yesterday.”
    “What did he want?”
    “Nothing,” I mumbled heading upstairs. “I
need to get ready for school.”
    I felt a wave of guilt starting to consume
me. I hurried up the stairs trying to control the strong emotion. Need to know, need to know, need to know , I chanted to
myself as I reached my room. Sitting on my bed, I waited for the
guilt to begin to leave my body. Chanting had helped, as long as I
was protecting someone, it was easier to curb my emotions.
    I lay back on my bed as the last waves left
me. Feline jumped up on the bed next to me, hoping I would scratch
him between his ears. “I met my dream guy,” I told him, knowing my
secret was safe with him. “He’s as perfect as I always imagined he
would be.” Feline purred loudly as if he understood what I was
telling him.
     
     
     

Chapter 5
     
    Sam was waiting for me in front of the school
like we had planned the night before. I got out of the car and
waved her over. I might have to keep Mark a secret, but I could
throw my mom a bone and introduce her to my first real friend.
    “Sam, this is my mom, Cindy Miller,” I said
as I introduced them.
    “Hi. Mrs. Miller, it’s a pleasure to meet
you,” Sam said in an enthusiastic voice.
    I could tell right away that my mom was taken
in by Sam. It was hard not to respond to her enthusiasm.
    “We better go mom. We’ll see you after
school.” We had made plans the previous night to get together again
after