CHAPTER ONE #3
Amanda's eyes searched for Melissa. Instead... She froze. Maria Romano was leaning casually against the lockers with her arms crossed. Loren stood beside her. Theresa lingered a few feet away, quietly organizing her gym bag. Amanda's smile faltered.
Of course.
Maria straightened the moment Amanda walked in.
"Well..."
Her lips curled into a knowing smile.
"Looks like someone had quite the gym class."
Amanda blinked.
"What are you talking about?"
Maria laughed softly.
"Oh, don't play dumb."
She took a slow step closer.
"The entire class watched you eat the track."
Loren burst into laughter. Amanda felt warmth creep into her cheeks.
"I tripped."
"You fell."
"I know."
"You face-planted."
"I was there, Maria."
Loren snickered again. Amanda resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Maria tilted her head.
"But that's not the interesting part."
Amanda's stomach tightened.
"Oh?"
Maria smiled wider.
"The interesting part... is that Michael Johnson actually stopped to help you."
Amanda's expression remained neutral.
"So?"
"So?"
Maria repeated the word like she'd never heard anything so ridiculous.
"So?"
Loren looked between them with obvious curiosity. Maria stepped even closer.
"What exactly did you two talk about?"
Amanda shrugged.
"Nothing important."
Maria didn't believe her for a second.
"I saw him laughing."
Amanda smiled before she could stop herself.
"He was."
Maria caught it immediately. Her own smile stiffened. "What was so funny?"
Amanda hesitated. Should she tell her? Absolutely not.
"I don't remember."
Maria folded her arms.
"You don't remember?"
Amanda shook her head innocently.
"Nope."
Loren frowned.
"I don't buy it."
Amanda looked at her.
"Good thing I'm not selling it."
Theresa let out the smallest laugh. Maria shot her a look. The smile vanished from Theresa's face instantly. Maria returned her attention to Amanda.
"You honestly think this means something?"
Amanda frowned.
"I never said it did. He was just being nice."
"I know. He helps everyone."
"I'm sure he does."
"So don't get your hopes up." Amanda studied Maria for a long moment. Something about this conversation didn't make sense. If Michael talking to her meant absolutely nothing... Why was Maria so bothered by it? Amanda smiled. A genuine one this time.
"Are you jealous?"
The locker room fell noticeably quieter. Even Loren looked surprised.
Maria laughed.
"...Excuse me?"
Amanda shrugged.
"You seem awfully invested in a conversation that supposedly meant nothing."
Maria's jaw tightened.
"I'm invested because watching you embarrass yourself was entertaining."
Amanda nodded slowly.
"Mhm."
"And because Michael deserves better."
Amanda raised an eyebrow.
"Better than someone who tripped?"
"Better than..."
Maria searched for the right words.
"...you."
Amanda's smile disappeared. For a brief second, the old Amanda —the one who would've apologized just to avoid conflict—started to surface.
Then she remembered Michael's smile. She remembered him choosing to stop.
Choosing to help. Choosing to introduce himself.
He hadn't looked embarrassed to be talking to her. He'd looked... Happy.
Amanda met Maria's eyes.
"Funny."
Maria waited.
"He didn't seem to think so."
Silence. Loren's eyebrows shot upward. Theresa slowly looked between the two girls. Maria's confident expression cracked for the first time all morning.
"...What?"
Amanda adjusted the strap of her gym bag.
"He was perfectly nice."
She stepped around Maria.
"And unlike some people..."
Amanda glanced back over her shoulder.
"...he knows how to have a conversation without insulting someone."
Maria turned sharply.
"You think you're funny?"
Amanda smiled.
"I've been told I am."
She continued walking toward her locker.
Behind her, she heard Loren whisper, "She's getting bold."
Maria didn't answer immediately. Instead, Amanda could feel her glaring holes into the back of her head. Finally—
"This isn't over."
Amanda opened her locker without looking back.
"I figured."
Maria scoffed before storming out of the locker room, Loren hurrying after her. Theresa remained behind for only a second. As she passed Amanda, she offered a small, apologetic smile.
"I'm... sorry."
Amanda looked at her in surprise.
"For what?"
Theresa glanced toward the doorway Maria had just disappeared through.
"You know."
Amanda smiled gently.
"It's okay."
Theresa nodded before quietly following the others. Amanda let out the breath she'd been holding.
“Melissa is going to love this story.” She said to herself as she left the locker room.
The lunch bell had barely finished ringing when Amanda stepped into the cafeteria.
The room buzzed with hundreds of conversations blending into one constant roar.
Chairs scraped against the floor, trays clattered together, and somewhere across the room a group of boys erupted into laughter loud enough to turn a few heads.
Amanda instinctively searched for one person.
She found Melissa sitting alone at their usual table near the windows.
Only... Something was wrong. Melissa wasn't eating.
She wasn't even looking at the lunch sitting untouched in front of her.
Instead, she stared down at the table, one hand gripping her cellphone so tightly her knuckles had turned white.
Amanda slowed her pace.
"...I know, Mom."
Melissa's voice was quiet, almost pleading.
"I'm trying my best."
Amanda stopped several feet away. She didn't interrupt. She simply watched. Melissa rubbed a hand across her forehead, closing her eyes.
"But I'm at school right now."
A pause.
"Can't this wait until I get home?"
Amanda's stomach tightened. She had never heard Melissa sound so... Defeated. Another long silence followed. Melissa's expression changed instantly. The little bit of color left in her face drained away.
"...What?"
Amanda felt her own heartbeat quicken.
Melissa's eyes widened.
"He's... back in the hospital?"
She pressed the phone harder against her ear. For a few seconds, she didn't speak at all. Amanda wished she could hear the other side of the conversation. Whatever Melissa's mother was saying... It wasn't good. Melissa swallowed.
"Mom..."
Her voice cracked.
"I can't keep doing this."
Amanda's chest tightened. Students brushed past her on their way to nearby tables, completely unaware that the girl sitting by the window looked like her world was quietly falling apart. Melissa pinched the bridge of her nose.
"I don't know what you want me to say."
Another pause. Her breathing became uneven.
"...Fine."
She blinked rapidly, trying to force the tears back.
"I'll figure something out."
The call ended. Melissa lowered the phone into her lap. For several long moments... She simply stared at the blank screen. Then the first tear escaped. She quickly wiped it away. Another one followed. Before she could catch that one too—
"Hey."
Amanda's gentle voice pulled her back. Melissa looked up quickly, blinking away the tears as though they had never been there. She forced a smile.
"...Hey."
Amanda slid into the seat across from her. The smile disappeared almost immediately.
"What happened?" Melissa looked down at her hands. The phone still rested between them. She let out a shaky breath.
"Before I say anything..."
She swallowed.
"I'm sorry about this morning."
Amanda frowned.
"Melissa—"
"No."
Melissa shook her head.
"I was rude."
She laughed softly, though there wasn't any humor in it.
"I haven't exactly been myself lately."
Amanda reached across the table and rested her hand gently over Melissa's.
"No."
She offered a small, understanding smile.
"You haven't."
Melissa looked at their hands. She hadn't realized how badly she needed someone to notice. Amanda squeezed her hand.
"Is something going on at home? You can tell me."
"I'm your best friend."
Melissa closed her eyes. She had spent weeks pretending everything was fine. Pretending she wasn't scared. Pretending she wasn't exhausted. Pretending she wasn't slowly watching her family fall apart. But pretending was becoming impossible.
She opened her eyes again.
"My family's in trouble."
Amanda's expression immediately softened.
"What kind of trouble?"
Melissa gave a humorless laugh.
"The kind you can't fix with a pep talk."
Amanda smiled sadly.
"Try me."
Melissa stared out the cafeteria windows for a moment before finally speaking.
"Our rent is two months late."
Amanda froze.
"My dad's cancer is getting worse."
The cafeteria noise seemed to disappear.
"He's back in the hospital." Melissa's voice trembled.
"The medical bills keep piling up..."
"My mom's working two jobs... And it's still not enough."
She looked back at Amanda, tears gathering again.
"We got an eviction notice." Amanda felt her heart sink.
"...Melissa."
"My dad is dying."
This time Melissa couldn't stop the tears.
"My mom's exhausted… And now she wants me to find a job because she can't do this alone."
Her shoulders began to shake.
"I don't know how I'm supposed to help them... and keep up with school."
Amanda stood without thinking. She walked around the table and wrapped her arms around Melissa. Melissa didn't resist. The moment Amanda hugged her, every ounce of strength she'd been holding together finally crumbled. She buried her face against Amanda's shoulder.
"I'm miserable."
Her voice was muffled.
"Everything's falling apart."
Amanda tightened the hug.
"I'm here."
Melissa cried quietly.
"I know."
Amanda pulled back just enough to look at her.
"Let me help." Melissa immediately shook her head.
"No."
"Why not?"
"My dad."
Amanda frowned.
"He won't accept it."
"He says taking money from people makes us look weak."
Amanda's jaw clenched.
"But your family needs help."
"I know."
Melissa wiped her eyes.
"I know."
"But I can't make him accept it."
Amanda thought for a moment.
"My parents..."
Melissa looked up.
"They'd help. They love you." "They wouldn't think twice."
Melissa smiled sadly.
"Stop."
"I'm serious." "I know you are."
Melissa gently squeezed Amanda's hand.
"And I love you for that. But I can't."
Amanda sighed.
"You wouldn't be taking it. I'd be giving it."
Melissa laughed softly through her tears.