The boys are gone.

Thankfully the boys that had teased her earlier during the day were gone by the time that Tanya and Mark made it back to school; for which Tanya was eternally grateful. The bell to end the first class was just about to ring, so Mark walked her to her locker to collect her books before taking her second class.

They just reached the door the bell rang ending first period. As all the students rushed out into the hall some took notice of her attire and made snide comments most of which she couldn’t hear but embarrassed her anyways. Blushing a dark shade of red she hung her head down in shame; wanting again to run home and lock herself in her room for the rest of her life.

Mark gently cupped her chin in his hand and brought it up so that he was looking directly into her eyes. “Hey,” he said “what did I tell you about not worrying?”

“But I look like a cheap slut.” Tanya protested quietly.

He only sighed and half chuckled, “I told you that you don’t look like a slut Tanya.” Then giving her a half smile he asked “Okay?”

Returning his smile she replied, “Okay.”

“So I’ll meet you at the front door after school?”

“Sure.” She answered still smiling.

“Great, so I’ve got to catch up with some friends and find out what I missed from first period, but I will see you after school.” He said, clearly not wanting to leave.

“Alright, I’ll see you after school.”

And now with a full smile on his face he said, “Can’t wait.”

She watched him walk all the way down the hall until he had turned the corner and was out of sight; then she turned around to find her friend Heather standing there with a half shocked half pleased expression on her face. Tanya couldn’t help but look like the-cat-who-just-swallowed-the-canary.

“Oh my God!” Heather blurted out excitedly with her hands covering her mouth, yet clearly smiling “You and McDreamy?”

Tanya scoffed at her friend, “You watch way too much Grey’s Anatomy.” But after a half second her own smile returned, “And maybe.” She added almost as an afterthought.

Heather squealed grabbing her friend by the arm, “Ohmygawd Ohmygawd Ohmygawd. You totally landed the jackpot Tee. I mean the only way you could have done better is if you’d hooked up with Tyler Andrews or Rodney Ahmed” The high school quarterback and Captain of the Basketball team respectively.

Tanya scoffed again, “Please Tyler Andrews, I went out with him last year remember? I wasn’t impressed. And I really don’t feel like being one of Rodney’s harem girls.”

“This is why I say OHMYGAWD! You and McDreamy!” That coaxed a smile and giggle out of Tanya as the two walked into class. “So I want to know everything, how you two hooked up? When are you going out? What are the children’s names?” The last one got Heather a playful shove from Tanya as the two sat in their seats in the back of class.

“Well we haven’t really hooked up yet; I mean he hasn’t asked me out or anything. But the boy’s names are going to be Patrick, after Patrick Dempsey, and Derek after his character.” That caused both girls to giggle almost uncontrollably.

So distracted was Tanya, that she didn’t notice that one of the boys that had teased her that morning was in her class. She also failed to notice him walk up to her and whisper in her ear, “I want you to sit through class with your legs uncrossed and spread wide.”