During class, Mr. West repeatedly glanced in Ambrosia’s direction, giving her the impression of being stalked. Not once though did Demetri. How is it our teacher can gawk at me, but Demetri can’t spare a quick glance? she thought to herself. Ambrosia thought they had something extraordinary going on. She thought they could be dating without saying the important words: will you be my girlfriend?

Still in her seat pondering this, Rose noticed Demetri was gone. He had left while she had been brooding. Now that she thought about it, everyone had left. Besides Mr. West, Ambrosia was the only person in the classroom.

“He seems like a keeper,” Mr. West suddenly spoke, looking in her direction.

“Excuse me?”

“Demetri; he seems like a real keeper. I like him. When class began, he let you walk in first. You don’t find many of us like that anymore; men who allow women to walk in first. Nowadays, respect is only a legend,” he explained, smiling. “Are you two dating?” Rose shook her head hesitantly. At this, Mr. West’s eyes widened.

“He hasn’t asked me out,” she clarified.

“Well, why not?”

“I don’t know. I’ve only known him since yesterday, and we weren’t off to a great start,” she sheepishly admitted.

“Well, do you like him?”

At his sudden question, Ambrosia choked in disbelief. Rose found Demetri strange. She barely knew him, yet he knew her almost entirely. At the same time, she looked forward to learning more about him. Her eyes followed his presence unknowingly, and somewhere in her heart she knew he was the only one who could fully understand her.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t really think that is your business.” Understandingly, Mr. West nodded.

“You’re right. I’m sorry. I know it’s weird talking to your teacher about such things, especially only on the second day of school.”

“Did you happen to see where he went? Demetri?” Rose curiously asked.

“I saw him walk out the door, but I’m afraid that was it. To be honest, I was surprised you weren’t with him.”

“Yeah, same here,” she mumbled, noticing the time. If Ambrosia didn’t leave now, she would miss her bus. “I’m sorry, but I really must be going,” she called, halfway out the door.

~

As Ambrosia made it in time to the bus, she searched for Demetri, who was nowhere in sight. She sat in the same seat as earlier, wondering where he could have gone. This was the only bus going to the school. No matter what, he would have to take this bus to get home, but more importantly, Rose wondered how Demetri could leave her.

Involuntarily, the bathroom scene replayed in her mind. She could’ve sworn it would’ve been Josephine, but it was him who walked through the door.

A swarm of questions clouded Ambrosia’s thoughts. How could Demetri have known what had happened between them when they weren’t talking loudly? How was he able to hear them amongst the hundreds of other students? What was happening with his color-changing eyes? How was he able to arrive in first period quickly? There were a million questions Ambrosia didn’t know the answer to. If she asked Demetri, would he for once tell her the truth? Lying would only prove she could not trust him.

With the bus moving without Demetri, Ambrosia began to wonder whether Demetri would come to the forest. After all, they did arrange to hang out.

Rose waited for ten minutes in the forest, full of hope of seeing Demetri. When he did not show, Ambrosia lost her confidence. He’s not coming, probably already lost interest in me. I should just go home.