Chapter 50

Mark's next two classes went similarly, though no one in them came even close to being as vicious and catty as Karen. Fourth period, though, couldn't help but be different. Kristen was in his fourth period Chemistry class, and as the seats filled, the silence was thick enough to cut with a knife.

Kristen looked bad when she came in -- exhausted, dark circles under her eyes, her head hanging and shoulders hunched. She sat in the front row, over by the window, and the seats around her remained empty as Mark watched her worriedly. He wanted to comfort her, protect her, but at the same time, he didn't want to draw unwanted attention to her. She'd obviously had more than enough, already, and he wasn't going to add to it.

He was relieved when Kayla stalked angrily in, glared at the class, and took the desk beside Kristen's, reaching out to squeeze her hand. Aaron followed her quietly, making a point of sitting behind Kayla (and thus, beside Kristen as well) even though the desk on her other side was empty, and was his customary spot.

Kayla shot him a nasty look, and Mark sighed. "Well, let's get it over with. I'm sure you have questions; I'm willing to answer a few, if they're respectful."

Kristen lowered her head until she was completely hidden behind her hair, and Kayla clenched her jaw, looking like she'd just love to kill someone.

The only answer to his statement was an awkward silence that stretched uncomfortably long.

Mark raised his eyebrows. "No? Strange, my other classes have all been full of questions."

No one seemed to quite know what to say, though. They kept glancing over at Kristen, who refused to look up. Finally, one girl asked, "Is it true?"

Mark smiled slightly. "You'll have to be a bit more specific than that. I've lost track of the number of rumors I've heard today. Which one are you referring to?"

She gave him a disgusted look. "Oh come on."

He shook his head. "No, I'm serious. I've heard ... oh, let's see. That Kristen and I are married -- true. That the school board is firing me -- false. That Kristen in pregnant -- also false. That I've proposed to the entire female complement of the ninth grade class..." He shook his head bemusedly. "I have no idea where that came from, but whoever started it should write a novel. Which one are you referring to?"

"So you two are married? Really? Legally?"

He nodded, and held up his hand so they could see the ring. "Yes, we are."

Another student asked, "You sure she's not pregnant? I mean, shit ... she looks pregnant today. My mom looks like that every morning."

The tone of the question was more concerned than anything else, but Kristen still flinched and buried her face against her arms.

Mark shook his head, his eyes worried as they rested on her. "No, she's not. Or if she is, it's brand new and we don't know about it. She didn't sleep much last night." He sighed. "She was worried about what would happen today."

"You don't seem all that worried," came a challenging male voice from the back.

Kayla reached over, patting Kristen's back, her face tense with concern.

"I'm not," Mark said. "Other than worrying about how my wife is being treated."

"Jesus, what did you expect?" the boy asked. "If you really loved her, you wouldn't put her through this shit."

Inwardly, Mark flinched. He knew there hadn't really been a choice, but ... part of him couldn't help but agree with that. What could possibly justify putting her through this? Surely it could have been avoided somehow? She looked utterly miserable...

He gave in to what he'd wanted to do since she came through the door and walked over to her, laying a gentle hand on her shoulder. "And what would you have suggested I do?" he asked, as she turned her head to look up at him, her eyes dark with pain and stress.

"Stayed away from her. You're what, 30, 40?"

"I'm 26. And..." He stroked her hair, looking down at her with soft, adoring eyes. "I tried. But I fell in love with her the first time I saw her. All I was doing by staying away was making us both miserable. So I talked to her father, instead."

Kristen smiled weakly at him, and rubbed her cheek against his wrist.

"Didn't he think you were some sort of pervert?"

He shook his head. "No. He was surprised, but once I explained ... he understood."

A girl asked, "I don't get it ... how come they didn't fire you? I mean, I'm glad they didn't ... we all like you ... but why?"

"Honestly? I'm not certain," he said. "They could have, if they'd wanted to. I didn't break any laws; we are legally married, with her father's permission. They grilled me about it fairly closely, and I think I convinced them that I did it because I love her." He smiled down at her again. "Which I do, with all my heart."

She took his hand in both of hers and held it tightly, closing her eyes.

"She wanted to marry, you, right?" The question was nervously blurted out by the thin, normally very quiet boy in the front row. "Your dad didn't make you, did he Kristen?"

She sat up, staring over at him in total shock. "Of course not! I've never wanted anything more. I'm so thankful he gave his permission ... if I'd had to wait for Mark for three years..." She shuddered. "But he did, and I've never been happier in my life." She smiled weakly. "Even if today has been hell."