CHAPTER ONE #4
"That's literally the same thing."
Amanda laughed too.
"I tried."
"You did."
Melissa leaned back in her chair, finally taking a deep breath.
"I just..."
She looked at Amanda with watery eyes.
"...need my best friend right now."
Amanda smiled.
"You've got her."
Melissa nodded. "I know."
For the first time all afternoon... She truly believed it. For several moments, neither of them spoke. The sounds of the cafeteria gradually returned—the scrape of chairs against the tile floor, students calling to one another across the room, the occasional burst of laughter from a nearby table.
Life carried on around them. Amanda slowly returned to her seat, giving Melissa a moment to collect herself. Melissa dabbed at the corners of her eyes with a napkin before letting out an embarrassed laugh.
"I probably look awful."
Amanda tilted her head.
"You look like you've had a rough day."
Melissa smiled weakly.
"That's one way to put it."
"It also means you're officially excused from wearing mascara tomorrow."
A quiet laugh escaped Melissa. Amanda pointed triumphantly.
"There it is."
"What?"
"The smile."
Melissa rolled her eyes.
"You really keep score, don't you?"
"Oh, absolutely."
Amanda leaned back dramatically in her chair.
"I'd say we're sitting at approximately... four smiles today."
Melissa couldn't help laughing again. "You're ridiculous."
"I've been told."
Amanda smiled softly.
"I just like seeing you happy."
Melissa's expression softened.
"I know."
Silence settled between them once more. Not the uncomfortable kind. The peaceful kind that only existed between people who knew each other so well that words weren't always necessary. Amanda reached for one of her fries before suddenly snapping her fingers.
"Oh!"
Melissa looked up.
"What?"
Amanda's eyes lit up.
"Okay."
She leaned across the table conspiratorially.
"On a much happier note..."
Melissa immediately became suspicious.
"...Amanda."
"What?"
"Why are you smiling like that?"
"Because..." Amanda clasped her hands together beneath her chin.
"...Michael talked to me."
Melissa blinked.
"...He what?"
Amanda squealed so loudly that a couple of students turned to look.
"I KNOW!"
Melissa stared at her.
"No..."
"Yes!"
"When?"
"Gym."
Melissa leaned forward so quickly she nearly knocked over her drink.
"Start from the beginning."
Amanda grinned.
"So... we were running laps—"
Melissa raised an eyebrow.
"You were running?"
"I know."
Amanda waved dismissively. "Focus."
"I tripped."
Melissa winced.
"Oh no."
"I didn't just trip."
Amanda buried her face in her hands.
"I completely wiped out."
Melissa covered her mouth.
"Face first?"
Amanda nodded miserably.
"Face first."
"Oh, Amanda..."
"The worst part?"
Amanda lowered her hands.
"He saw."
Melissa's eyes widened.
"...Michael?"
Amanda nodded.
"He came over."
Melissa blinked several times.
"He... came over?"
"And asked if I was okay." A slow smile spread across Melissa's face. Amanda could already tell where this was going.
"I know that look."
Melissa folded her arms.
"Continue."
Amanda laughed.
"So we started talking..."
"And?"
"He introduced himself."
Melissa gasped.
"He introduced himself?"
Amanda nodded excitedly.
"I panicked."
"I figured."
"I accidentally yelled, 'I know!'"
Melissa laughed.
"Then..."
Amanda rubbed the back of her neck.
"...I may have told him I watch him every morning."
Melissa stared at her for exactly three seconds. Then she burst into uncontrollable laughter. Amanda groaned.
"I knew you'd react like this."
"You told your lifelong crush..."
Melissa struggled to breathe between laughs.
"...that you watch him every morning?"
"I panicked!"
Melissa wiped tears from her eyes.
"You are unbelievable."
"It gets worse."
Melissa looked terrified.
"How does it get worse?"
Amanda sighed dramatically.
"I literally said the words..."
She covered her face again.
"'I only watch you every morning from the bleachers.'"
Melissa laughed so hard she nearly slid out of her chair.
Amanda pointed accusingly.
"I was trying to flirt!"
"You sounded like a stalker!"
"I KNOW!" The two girls dissolved into laughter together. For the first time all day, Melissa's worries disappeared beneath genuine happiness. Amanda smiled.
"But..."
Melissa looked up.
"He laughed."
Melissa's smile softened.
"The good kind?"
Amanda nodded.
"The good kind."
"And then..."
Amanda felt butterflies just remembering it.
"...he told me he'd seen me around too."
Melissa's laughter faded.
"He’s seen you?"
Amanda nodded.
"He said he hopes he'll see me again."
A grin spread across Melissa's face.
"Look at you."
Amanda pretended to flip her hair.
"I know."
"You're moving up in the world." Amanda laughed.
"I might actually have a chance."
Melissa reached across the table and squeezed her hand.
"You always did."
Amanda looked at her in surprise.
"I just wish..."
Melissa smiled warmly.
"...you believed it sooner."
Amanda's heart swelled. For all the pain Melissa carried... For everything happening at home... She still found a way to celebrate Amanda's happiness as though it were her own. That's who Melissa Prescott was.
The kind of best friend who could be drowning... and still cheer louder than anyone when the person she loved had something worth smiling about. Amanda squeezed her hand back.
"Hopefully, John notices you next."
Melissa let out an amused sigh.
"John's basically a billionaire."
Amanda laughed.
"His parents are billionaires."
"Same difference."
Melissa leaned back in her chair.
"Guys like John don't date girls with eviction notices." Amanda's smile disappeared. She hated hearing Melissa talk about herself that way.
"Melissa... he'd be lucky to have you."
Melissa shook her head.
"I appreciate the optimism."
"I'm serious."
Amanda leaned forward.
"You're beautiful."
Melissa rolled her eyes.
"Funny."
A tiny smile.
"Kind."
Melissa smiled a little wider.
"And?"
Amanda grinned mischievously.
"Terrifying."
Melissa blinked.
"...Terrifying?"
Amanda nodded confidently.
"In a very attractive way."
Melissa laughed. "I have absolutely no idea what that means."
"Neither do I."
Amanda shrugged.
"But it sounded supportive."
Melissa laughed again, shaking her head.
"You are impossible."
"And yet..."
Amanda smiled.
"I'm still your favorite person."
Melissa pretended to think about it.
"...Unfortunately."
They both laughed. For a little while longer... Cancer... Bills... Maria... John... Michael... None of it mattered. For just a few precious minutes... They were simply two best friends eating lunch together. Amanda was still laughing when a voice suddenly rang across the cafeteria.
"Attention!"
The room barely reacted. Students continued eating, talking, and rushing through late assignments as though they hadn't heard a thing. Amanda didn't even bother looking up. Melissa took another bite of her fries. Then the voice came again.
"Ladies and gentlemen... attention!"
A few conversations died down. Someone groaned dramatically.
"Oh, no," Amanda muttered, already recognizing the voice. Melissa sighed.
"What is she doing now?"
Amanda slowly turned toward the center of the cafeteria. Standing on top of one of the lunch tables, arms spread wide like she was addressing an arena full of adoring fans, stood Maria Romano. Amanda rubbed her temples.
"She really thinks she's famous."