The Dark Mark

By D.Doberman

1.

A New Type of Story

Alex Hunter had a blank stare on his face as Mr. Vascos talked about Newton’s Laws of Physics. He wasn’t paying attention. He knew this stuff already.

“Mr. Hunter,” Mr. Vascos said sharply, bringing Alex back to earth. “What is the third Law of Physics?”

“For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction,” Alex said monotonously.

“Very good. Now…”

And Alex went back to his daydreaming.

He was thinking about the normal things that sixteen-year old boys normally thought about, and that was girls. Not just any girl, but Kari Knox. She was sitting two seats in front of him, with her red hoodie on and covering her head. She also sported a pair of gray sweatpants with no pockets. He didn’t know why he thought about her all the time now. It started at the beginning of the year, when he got back from a cruise in Alaska with his family.

Now he couldn’t help himself imagining him and her together.

The school bell rang, and Mr. Vascos scowled. “Don’t forget your homework assignments and to read “Isaac Newton” by James Gleick tonight.”

Kari was already up and slinging her backpack over her shoulder while Mr. Vascos was talking. She moved quickly but silently to the door. Alex followed her.

“Hey, Kari—” he stopped. What am I doing? He wondered. He hadn’t thought about what he was going to say to her.

She gave him a cold stare. “What?” she asked fiercely.

“Um… I was wondering if you were busy tonight…”

She turned around and walked out the door and leaned against a locker. “Why?”

Alex didn’t stammer, he never did; but he did rub his neck with his hand. “Well, I was just wondering, because I’m not doing anything.”

She didn’t look at him, but stared down, so he only saw the top of her hood. “Are you asking me out on a date?”

He hadn’t thought about it. “Yeah… I guess. You busy?”

“No.” Kari said bluntly, as her hand reached up and brushed a strand of hair out of her face. “I’m open.”

“Okay,” Alex smiled. “So, I’ll come to pick you up around seven?”

“That’s fine.”

There was an awkward moment of silence as a teacher walked past.

Kari broke the silence. “Is that all?”

“Yeah,” he looked down the hallway. “Well, I gotta get to gym.”

“Algebra.”

“See ya tonight.”

“Bye,” and Kari was off, folding her arms tightly, walking with her head down.

Alex stood alone in the hall before he went in the opposite direction in the hallway. That’s when his head began to feel hot, and the walls became dizzy. But at the end of the day, he felt good enough to still meet with Kari.