Thanks to LucKyGrAyeS, Reine of Lightened Shadows, and XxBREAKxXxMYxXxHEARTxX for reviewing

Chapter Four: I Like You Too

Mark sat in the same tree he had the week before. Mina stepped out of the car and walked over to Rhea, who just happened to be under the tree Mark was in, again. As Mina approached her friend, Rhea said, "There's a rumor that you and Mark were at the lake yesterday. Is true?" Mina nodded. "So, you still think you can get the necklace from him?"

"And why would I want to do that?" Mina looked around before going on. "Besides," she said quietly, "I like him a lot, and I don't want to lose his trust." Rhea smirked. "I told you the bet would get you closer to him."

Mina rolled her eyes. "Whatever." The first bell rang, and the two of them walked to entrance.

Mark sat with Trey, Richard, and Marissa at lunch as usual, but did not talk to any of them. Trey was the first to speak to him that day. "So, about that rumor, is it true?" he asked.

Mark had gone through the day with that rumor, but he didn't care what they said about him. He gave Trey a 'Shut up, or I'll kill you.' look. "Leave him alone, Trey." Marissa said.

"I'll see you later." Mark said as he got up and headed the exit of the cafeteria.

Mina watched as Mark left the cafeteria. "So, you think he likes you?" Rhea asked.

"I doubt it." Mina replied.

Mark shut his locker when he saw Marissa walking towards him. She handed him a note. "Who's it from?" he asked.

Marissa shrugged. "Friend of mine said to give it to you." Mark opened the note and read it.

Meet me at the lake at five.

-Mina

"Thanks." Mark said and walked away.

Mark had gone to the lake an hour early because he preferred to be there, than in an empty house. He laid down on the grass and waited for Mina to come.

About an hour later Mina arrived and walked over to Mark, who did realize she was there until she was beside him. "How long have you been here?" she asked. "About an hour." he replied. "So, why did you want me to meet you here?"

"About the rumors, do you care what they say about you?"

"Mina, does it look like I care? Before she died, I could ignore people easily, but now, being the person I am, it's even easier now. What about you?"

Mina shrugged. "I'm not the best person at ignoring people, but I'll be fine." The two of them sat in silence. "So, anything else you want to talk about?" Mark asked.

"I don't know. What was Kristen like?" Mina asked. Mark rarely ever referred Kristen to her name anymore because it hurt him more than it already did. "She was kind, smart, beautiful, and a lot of other things. I guess being her friend for two years made me start to love her."

Mark purposely delayed the subject of what he had heard early that day. "What's your family like?" Mina asked. "I have a little eight year old sisters, and she's basically like everyone one else her age, I guess, but she's usually at a friend's house or spending the night at a friend's house, so I don't really see her often. My mom works night and day to support us."

"What about your dad?" Mina asked.

"He had a heart attack and died a year ago." Mark said quietly. She proceeded to apologize, but Mark stopped her. "Don't apologize." He sighed. "I wasn't really that sad at the funeral because I still hadn't gotten over the loss of her, but a couple of days later, the pain of losing him added on to the pain of losing her. What about you?"

"I'm an only child. My dad's usually on business trips, so I don't see him often. It's usually just my mom and I." The two of them continued to talk until Mark brought up what he had heard early that day.

"So about this morning." he said. Mina had hoped he wouldn't have heard her. "You heard didn't you?" she asked. Mark smiled and nodded. "Do you always have listen to my conversations?"

"It's not my fault you're always under the tree I'm in. So, you like me a lot?"

"Yeah." Mina answered softly, still embarrassed. Mark smiled and said, "Well guess what. I like you too."

Author's Note: This chapter is even shorter than the last (only by 11 words though). I'll try to make the next chapter longer if I can.