Natalia turned to her side and sneezed. She heard her mother come in and opened her eyes.

"Nats, Sanjit said he is gonna leave before you. I called the school and told them you might be a bit late. Are you sure you want to go?"

"I'll be fine. I already got changed. Too much effort would have gone to waste." Her mother kissed her forehead and smiled.

"Are you gonna tell me how you got that bruise?"

"I told you, I misjudged the distance and banged my arm on the table."

"I just don't want you to start hurting yourself again. If you wanna talk then I'm here, okay?"

"I know, Mum. I love you. I'm gonna go now. I'm already late as it is."

When she reached the end of her street, she saw Mark standing there with his keys twirling around his pinky. He caught her eye and straightened up.

"Come on, I'll drop you off."

"Like yesterday? No thank you. I have to go to school. I don't have time to do all this."

"Natalia, let me say sorry. Let me make up for it. I promise- Holy shit! How did you get that bruise?" Natalia looked down at her arm and pulled the sleeve down again. "Who done that?"

"I'm looking at him right now. Someone likes to hold hands and then smash it on the table when he gets bored of being nice."

"Nats...I'm sorry...We'll walk to school." Natalia sneezed and Mark took a step back. "Actually, get in the car. You're already ill as it is." Mark pushed her into the car and then started to drive. “How did you manage to get a cold overnight?"

"Someone said they would be nice to me and then when I had to take my brother to the hospital, he decided he didn't want to so he made me walk in the rain. Best thing is that he kinda banned me from seeing his aunty who is actually my mentor. And then he kicked me out and I had to walk again. Sound familiar?"

"Yeah..." Mason sighed and quietly drove to the school. When he was at the corner of the road her pulled up. "Get out. I don't want people asking questions."

"Should have known. I don't even know why I sometimes think you can be nice to me. Why not me, Mark? You're nice to everyone else. Just don't even talk to me." Mark started to drive away from the school. "Mark! I have to go to school!"

"I don't care. I'm gonna show you that you can trust me! I'm gonna show you that I can be nice!"

"This isn't funny! This is fucking kidnapping!"

"You're not a kid. Just shut up and enjoy!"

"How am I meant to enjoy being with you if you take me by force? You bloody hate me, Mark. I get that! You can't just-"

"You think I hate you?! For fucks sake, Nats! I fucking love you!" Natalia sat down calmly as Mark harshly pulled to the side of the road. Mark groaned and put his head on the steering wheel. "I'm sorry...you weren't meant to find out..."

"You can't just dump this on me...I mean...You can't just love me."

"Why not? You're smart, funny, caring, loving, patient and beautiful. And I didn't mean to just dump it on you."

"I'm sorry, wrong word. I just...You can't go from picking on me all day and then be all caring and expect me to act along. I can't do that, Mark. All I'm getting is mixed emotions from you and it's confusing me." He turned to face her, his head still on the steering wheel.

"I love you, Nats. I do. But...I'm not ready to let everyone know yet..."

"Wow," she sarcastically said. "Just go wherever you want. I'm gonna text my mum and tell her to call the school." Natalia got out her phone and texted her mother. "What do I say?!"

"How the fuck am I meant to know?! She's your mum," he snapped as he straightened up. Natalia sighed and then got out the car. "Nats! I'm sorry! Get back in the car!"

"Mark, you go and sort yourself out. I had enough!  You know what? Last year I was this close to ending my life again!" She pinched her fingers together so only a cm was left. "This close, Mark. And it was all because of you!" Natalia said on the verge of breaking down. Mark stepped towards her and pulled her in. He heard a group of his friends walk by and slightly let go. "Should have known."

He looked back at his friends who waved at him, grinning like crazy. His arms were still loosely around her waist. The teary hazel eyes stared up at him.