CHAPTER THREE #3
Her ponytail had started slipping loose, sweat clung to the back of her neck, and every muscle in her body seemed to ache. She collapsed dramatically onto the lowest row of bleachers, grabbing her water bottle.
"I think..."
She took a long drink before groaning.
"...I just discovered muscles I didn't know existed."
A familiar laugh answered her.
"You looked great."
Melissa looked up. John stood a few feet away, one hand tucked into the pocket of his varsity jacket. She smiled immediately.
"Were we watching the same practice?"
John laughed. "I don't know."
He shrugged.
"I thought we were."
"I almost tackled Loren."
"I saw."
"I almost fell."
"You caught yourself."
"I forgot half the routine."
"You remembered the second half."
Melissa shook her head, laughing.
"You're impossible."
"I'm encouraging."
"That's a generous way to describe it."
John stepped a little closer.
"I mean it."
His smile softened.
"You looked determined."
Melissa felt her heart skip.
"And that's a lot more important than getting every move right."
She looked down at the water bottle in her hands, unable to stop smiling. "...Thanks."
An awkward silence settled between them. Not uncomfortable. Just... New. John rubbed the back of his neck.
"So..."
Melissa looked up.
"...Yeah?"
"I was wondering..."
He hesitated. For the first time since she'd met him... He actually looked nervous. Melissa couldn't help smiling.
"What?"
He laughed quietly at himself.
"Would you..."
Another pause.
"...maybe want to go on a date with me?"
Melissa blinked. For a second... She forgot how words worked.
"...Like..."
She pointed between the two of them.
"...an actual date?"
John smiled.
"That was the goal."
Melissa laughed. A genuine laugh. The first one that hadn't felt forced all day.
"I'd love to."
The relief on John's face was immediate.
"Really?"
She nodded.
"Really."
His smile somehow grew even bigger.
"Friday?"
Melissa laughed.
"It's a date."
Neither of them noticed Theresa watching from across the gym with the biggest smile on her face.
John eventually headed toward the locker rooms, leaving Melissa standing by the bleachers with a smile she couldn't seem to wipe away.
"Well..."
Melissa turned. Theresa slowly walked over, crossing her arms with a teasing grin.
"...That was adorable."
Melissa immediately covered her face.
"You saw that?"
Theresa laughed.
"The whole gym saw that."
Melissa groaned. "Please never say that again."
"I make no promises."
She sat beside Melissa on the bleachers. The two girls watched the rest of the squad gather their bags. After a moment, Theresa nudged Melissa's shoulder.
"You like him."
Melissa smiled without thinking.
"...Maybe."
Theresa raised an eyebrow.
"That smile says otherwise."
Melissa looked away. Still smiling.
"He's..."
She searched for the right word.
"...different."
"Different how?"
Melissa shrugged.
"I thought he'd be full of himself."
"Because he's a spoiled rich boy football player?"
"Yeah."
"And?"
"He isn't." She looked toward the locker rooms where John had disappeared moments earlier.
"He's just..."
Another smile.
"...kind."
Theresa nodded knowingly.
"John usually is."
A comfortable silence settled between them. Then Theresa asked quietly,
"Can I ask you something?"
Melissa looked over.
"Sure."
"Why'd you decide to take Maria’s offer to join the squad?"
Melissa leaned back against the bleachers. She thought about the question longer than Theresa expected. Finally... She answered honestly.
"I wanted somewhere I belonged."
Theresa's expression softened.
"I get that."
Melissa looked at her in surprise. "You do?"
Theresa smiled.
"People think being popular means your life's automatically perfect."
She laughed quietly. "It isn't."
Melissa studied her.
"You know..."
"What?"
"You're not what I expected either."
Theresa grinned.
"Story of my life."
They both laughed. Just then, Coach Reynolds blew her whistle again.
"Listen up!"
The remaining cheerleaders turned toward the center of the gym. Coach smiled proudly.
"Prom is officially two days away."
Excited cheers erupted throughout the gym. Coach waited for the noise to settle before continuing.
"Which means..."
She clapped her hands together.
"...today begins halftime performance rehearsals."
The gym exploded with excited squeals. Melissa couldn't help smiling. Life felt… okay. And that was enough for her. For just a little while... She allowed herself to forget everything waiting for her outside those gym doors.
The courtyard buzzed with conversation as students spilled outside for lunch. Some sat on the stone benches surrounding the fountain. Others gathered beneath the shade of towering oak trees scattered across campus.
The September sun warmed the courtyard just enough to make the afternoon feel peaceful.
Amanda sat cross-legged beneath her favorite tree.
A sandwich rested forgotten beside her. She hadn't taken a bite in nearly five minutes.
Instead... She smiled. Again. Across from her, Michael noticed immediately.
He smiled to himself before setting his drink down.
"What?"
Amanda looked up.
"What?"
"You're smiling."
She looked genuinely confused.
"...Am not."
Michael laughed.
He pointed directly at her face.
"You literally are."
Amanda tried to hide it. Failed.
"...Okay."
She laughed softly.
"Maybe a little."
"A little?"
He leaned back against the tree trunk. "You've been smiling since we sat down."
Amanda looked away.
"I can't help it."
Michael's grin widened.
"I'm beginning to notice."
She reached for her sandwich just to give herself something to do. Instead of taking a bite... She found herself smiling again. Michael laughed.
"There it is."
Amanda groaned dramatically.
"I swear my face is stuck."
"I don't mind."
She looked at him.
"You don't?"
"I think it's cute."
Amanda rolled her eyes playfully.
"You think everything I do is cute."
"I do."
She pointed at him. "You're biased."
"I absolutely am." Amanda laughed, finally taking a bite of her sandwich. For a few moments... They simply enjoyed the quiet. The breeze rustled the leaves above them, scattering patches of sunlight across the grass. Students laughed nearby. Someone tossed a football across the courtyard.
For the first time in what felt like forever... Amanda felt... Peaceful. Michael reached across the blanket spread between them. His fingers gently found hers. Amanda looked down. Then smiled as she intertwined their hands.
"So..."
His thumb absentmindedly brushed across the back of her hand.
"What's going on in that head of yours?"
Amanda thought for a moment.
"My birthday's next month."
Michael smiled.
"Really?"
She nodded.
"October fifteenth."
He pretended to think very seriously.
"Hm."
Amanda narrowed her eyes.
"What?"
"Nothing." "No."
She laughed. "That was definitely something."
Michael shrugged innocently.
"I'm just gathering information."
Amanda blinked.
"...Gathering information?"
He nodded.
"Favorite cake?"
She laughed.
"Chocolate."
He nodded thoughtfully.
"Favorite flowers?"
Amanda tilted her head.
"...Roses."
"What color?"
She smiled.
"Pink."
Michael nodded again as though mentally filing the answer away.
"Favorite restaurant?"
Amanda laughed harder. "Michael...”
He held up one finger.
"This is important."
She shook her head, smiling.
"Olive Garden."
"Favorite movie?"
Amanda smiled sheepishly.
"The Notebook."
Michael looked up from his imaginary list.
"...The Notebook?"
She immediately pointed at him.
"Don't."
"I'm not saying anything."
"You were about to."
"I wasn't."
"You absolutely were."
Michael laughed.
"I've never even seen it."
Amanda gasped dramatically.
"You've never seen The Notebook?"
"I've somehow survived." "We're fixing that."
He smiled.
"Is that a promise?"
"It is now."
Michael nodded seriously.
"I'll prepare myself emotionally."
"You should."
Amanda laughed.
"You'll cry."
"I don't cry."
She stared at him.
"...Liar."
"I've been accused."
Amanda smiled.
"So..."
She folded her arms.
"Are we done with the interrogation?"
Michael pretended to think.
"Hmm..."
She narrowed her eyes.
"You're enjoying this." "A little."
"I knew it."
He laughed.
"Actually..."
His smile softened.
"I do have one more question."
Amanda tilted her head.
"What is it?"
Michael suddenly looked... Nervous. He rubbed the back of his neck. The same nervous habit Amanda had already started recognizing. She smiled to herself.
"You okay?"
He nodded quickly.
"Yeah."
Then immediately shook his head.
"...Not really."
Amanda couldn't help laughing.
"Michael."
"What?"
"You're adorable."
He covered his face for exactly one second. "I was trying to look smooth." "You failed."
"I noticed."
She reached over and squeezed his hand reassuringly.
"What were you going to ask me?"
Michael took one slow breath. Then another. Finally... He looked into her eyes.
"Will you go to prom with me?"
Everything around Amanda seemed to disappear. The conversations. The laughter. The breeze. The entire courtyard faded into silence.
"...What?"
Michael smiled nervously.
"I was hoping..."
He shrugged.
"...you'd say yes."
Amanda continued staring at him. Certain she'd imagined the whole thing.
"...You're serious?"
"Very."
For exactly three seconds... Amanda couldn't move. Then— She launched herself at him.
"YES!" Michael barely had enough time to catch her before she wrapped both arms around his neck.
The force of the hug nearly knocked them backward into the tree.
Students nearby immediately looked over.
A few laughed. Someone started clapping.
Another football player whistled loudly from across the courtyard. Amanda froze. Still hugging Michael.
"...Oh."
She slowly buried her face against his shoulder.
"...That was embarrassing."
Michael laughed.
"A little."
She groaned.
"The entire school just watched me tackle you."
"I noticed."
"I'm never recovering."
Michael smiled.
"I think you will."
Amanda looked up just enough to meet his eyes.
"...You think?"
"I know."
Before she could answer... He leaned forward. And gently kissed her forehead. It lasted only a second. But somehow... Amanda's entire face turned bright pink. Michael smiled.