With nothing else to do, Ambrosia walked to her first period class. The first to arrive, Rose took her seat and watched the trees outside sway. Absentmindedly, she glanced over at the bleachers, and then the forest from yesterday. It appeared somebody was sitting in the small opening. She couldn’t make out who, but it seemed like a man. Curious, Ambrosia stepped closer towards the window to find the mystery guy was Demetri. She wondered why he would be there.

Abruptly, the first bell rung. Ambrosia checked the time on the clock above the door. Class would be starting soon.

Glancing back to the windows, she found Demetri was no longer in the forest. It only took her a second to look at the clock; where’d he go?

At the sound of footsteps, Ambrosia turned to the doorway where she saw Demetri. A baffled Ambrosia gaped at him. Demetri stared back, but said nothing as he sat in his seat.

“How’d you get here so fast?” she questioned. Confused, Demetri looked quizzically at her. “I saw you by the forest less than a minute ago. Now, you’re sitting next to me. How did you get here from there in such a short time?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I was in the cafeteria.” Ambrosia stared wide-eyed at him.

“You’re lying. I saw you with my own eyes. I couldn’t make it up if I wanted to.”

“Your mind must be playing tricks on you.”

Ambrosia shook her head. She knew she saw him. It could not have been anyone else; her eyes followed him without her trying. For now, she would pretend to let it go, but Rose swore she would figure this out.

“Whatever,” she mumbled, turning away.

“What happened last night with your brother? I heard screaming once you walked inside. Where you in trouble? Did your brother get mad at you? I hope he doesn’t hate me now.”

As if realizing something, Demetri stared wide-eyed at Ambrosia.

“I mean-- I just don’t want to get on your brother’s bad side,” he clarified.

“Yeah. He’s pretty tough,” Rose stated, nodding understandingly. Demetri laughed, puzzling Ambrosia.

“It’s not because I don’t want to get beat up. I’m not afraid of him,” Demetri chuckled.

“Why, then? Why don’t you want to get on his bad side?”

“No reason,” Demetri murmured, seemingly nervous.

“You can’t do that,” Rose groaned. “You can’t say something like that, then say no reason. Tell me the truth. We can tell each other anything, remember?”

Afraid, Demetri looked hesitantly at her. Returning the comforting smile Ambrosia gave him, Demetri questioned whether he should tell her.

“I want to know. I promise I won’t laugh. It’s okay, tell me,” Ambrosia pleaded. When she noticed Demetri hadn’t relaxed, she nodded as if to say ‘go ahead’.

“I don’t know,” Demetri muttered. He gazed down at his pants, ashamed.

Ambrosia’s resolve faltered, seeing how nervous Demetri had gotten. She found a boy’s nervousness to be cute, but she didn’t like it always.

Rose put a finger underneath his chin and lifted his head up to look at her. His eyes sparkled an alluring emerald.

Aren’t they brown?

She blinked her eyes to find them once again caramel. Ambrosia wondered what was happening, but soon shrugged it off.

As if talking to a child, Rose whispered, “You can tell me.” Demetri nodded, uncertain.

“I want your brother to like me for I do not want to lose you,” he muttered, barely audible. Demetri waited nervously for Ambrosia’s response. His eyes shined a tempting violet.

What’s happening?

Blinking her eyes once more, Ambrosia took her time, figuring she was going insane. As she opened them, she saw his eyes were in fact golden. I must be seeing things.

Rather abruptly, Rose remembered what Demetri had said. She forced herself to focus. Demetri not wanting to lose her was more important right now.

What did he mean? Did he mean he liked her? Ambrosia surely hoped so.

Noticing Demetri was still looking at her, she decided to ask.

“What do you mean you don’t want to lose me? I don’t understand,” Rose stammered out.

Demetri, staring at his pants once more, fidgeted with his fingers. He wondered what to say. Biting his bottom lip, he looked up, his eyes purple yet again.

Seeing this, Ambrosia rationalized her mind as being scrambled. It surely must have been playing tricks on her.

“I mean exactly what I said: I do not want to lose you,” Demetri uttered clearly.

As Demetri spoke, Mr. Smith strolled in, but Ambrosia still didn’t understand. Did he like her or not? Did he not want to lose her because he thought of her as a great friend, or of a girlfriend? What did he mean?