CHAPTER TWO #3
Amanda had never cared how much money Melissa's family had.
She never noticed the reused backpacks. The older clothes.
The birthdays without presents. To Amanda...
Melissa was simply... Melissa. Amanda unbuckled her seatbelt.
"So."
She took a deep breath.
"Ready?"
Melissa looked back toward the mansion. Music echoed into the night. Teenagers laughed from somewhere near the pool. For one brief second... She considered asking Amanda to drive home. Then she remembered John smiling at her that afternoon.
"Beautiful, actually."
A small smile found its way onto her face.
She nodded.
"I'm ready."
Amanda climbed out first. The warm September air wrapped around them as they made their way up the long stone walkway toward the front porch. Every step seemed louder than the last. Melissa tugged nervously at the hem of her dress. Amanda noticed.
"You look beautiful."
Melissa smiled without looking at her.
"You already said that." "I know. I'm reminding you."
Melissa glanced sideways.
"What if Maria laughs?"
Amanda shrugged.
"She probably will."
"What if everyone else laughs too?"
Amanda stopped walking. She turned toward Melissa.
"Then they're idiots."
Melissa searched her best friend's face. Amanda smiled.
"You deserve to be here just as much as anyone else."
Melissa swallowed.
"You really believe that?"
"I know it."
For a moment... Melissa believed it too. They climbed the final few steps onto the porch. Amanda reached for the door. Before her hand could touch the handle... The front door swung open.
Maria Romano stood in the doorway, phone in hand, dressed as though she were hosting Hollywood's biggest event instead of a high school party. She looked up. The smile disappeared from her face.
"What..."
Her eyes narrowed.
"...are you two doing here?" Melissa lifted her chin.
"We're attending your party."
Maria let out a short, humorless laugh.
"You weren't invited."
Amanda folded her arms.
"You invited the entire school."
Maria smiled sweetly.
"Almost… the entire school."
Melissa stepped forward.
"Maria, come on."
"No."
Maria leaned casually against the doorframe.
"No losers allowed."
Amanda looked past Maria into the crowded house. "You do realize that there are other ‘losers’ inside, right?"
Maria laughed.
"Oh, absolutely."
She looked between the girls.
"But you two are the biggest ones."
Laughter drifted from inside the house. Amanda's cheeks burned. Melissa clenched her jaw. She refused to let Maria see how much the words hurt. Before either of them could answer... A familiar voice came from inside the house.
"...Melissa?"
Melissa's heart skipped. She turned toward the sound. John Prescott stepped into the doorway, confusion crossing his face as he looked between her and Maria.
"What are you doing out here?"
Melissa hesitated.
"Maria won't let us in."
John looked at Maria.
"Is that true?"
Maria shrugged.
"They weren't invited."
John glanced back at Melissa. Then toward Amanda. Then, without hesitation... He sighed.
"I guess I'll head home then."
Maria's head snapped toward him. "...What?"
"I came here to have fun."
His expression hardened.
"Watching you humiliate people at the front door isn't my idea of fun."
For the first time all evening... Maria looked caught off guard. For a long moment... No one spoke. Music pulsed through the open front door behind Maria. Laughter spilled onto the porch, mixing with the warm September breeze as students wandered in and out of the mansion without a second thought.
Melissa stood frozen. John stood beside Maria. Amanda stood beside Melissa. It felt as though the entire night had stopped. Maria recovered first. She folded her arms.
"Fine."
Her voice dripped with annoyance.
"Melissa can come in."
Amanda blinked.
"...What?"
Maria looked directly at Melissa.
"You can come."
Amanda looked between them.
"...What about me?"
Maria's smile returned.
"No."
Amanda frowned. "That isn't fair."
Before Maria could answer, John spoke again.
"Amanda should come too."
Maria let out an exaggerated sigh.
"I said, Melissa." "Maria..."
"No."
John rubbed the back of his neck. Amanda could tell he was trying to avoid turning the front porch into another argument.
Melissa looked between everyone, her heart pounding.
This wasn't what she'd wanted. She hadn't wanted Amanda left outside.
She certainly hadn't wanted John arguing with Maria because of her.
"It's okay."
Amanda turned toward her.
"...What?
Melissa forced a reassuring smile.
"I'll go inside."
Amanda stared.
"I'll talk to Maria."
She lowered her voice.
"Once we're in there, she'll calm down."
Amanda's eyebrows pulled together.
"Why can't you talk to her now?"
Melissa glanced toward Maria. The answer was obvious. Because Maria wasn't interested in listening. Not while she had an audience. Not while she had control.
"I just need a minute."
Amanda looked unconvinced.
"Melissa..." "I'll come back. I promise."
For a brief second... Amanda wanted to believe her. She really did. Then Maria spoke again.
"You know..."
Everyone looked toward her. Maria tilted her head as she studied Melissa.
"If John Prescott thinks you're worth defending..."
She smiled sweetly.
"...maybe I misjudged you."
Melissa blinked.
"What?"
Maria shrugged casually.
"Come inside, Melissa"
She gestured toward the house.
"You can hang out with us."
Melissa's eyes widened.
"...The cheerleaders?"
"Unless..."
Maria smirked.
"...you'd rather spend the night standing on my porch."
Amanda immediately stepped closer. "Don't."
Melissa looked at her.
"I'm not leaving you."
Amanda let out a small, disbelieving laugh.
"That is exactly what you're doing."
"No."
Melissa shook her head.
"I'll come back."
Amanda folded her arms.
"You don't even like Maria."
"I'm trying to get us inside."
"No.”
Amanda's voice remained calm. Almost too calm.
"You're trying to get yourself inside."
Melissa felt the words hit harder than she expected.
"That's not fair."
"Then stay with me."
Silence. Melissa looked toward the open doorway. She could hear music. Laughter. She caught another glimpse of John inside. Then she looked back at Amanda. Amanda wasn't angry. Not yet. She just looked... Scared. Scared of being left alone. Scared that Melissa was choosing someone else.
Melissa's stomach twisted painfully. She loved Amanda. She always would. But for the first time in months... Someone outside her tiny world had looked at her like she mattered. John hadn't pitied her. He hadn't treated her like "the poor girl." He'd defended her. Called her beautiful.
Now Maria... The girl who had spent years making her feel invisible... was inviting her inside. Even if Melissa knew there had to be a catch... A small, selfish part of her desperately wanted to know what it felt like to belong. Just once. Amanda noticed the hesitation. Her heart sank.
"Melissa..."
John stepped closer. His voice was gentle.
"You don't have to do anything you're uncomfortable with."
Melissa looked at him. His concern was genuine. That somehow made the decision even harder. Maria checked the time on her phone dramatically.
"You've got about five seconds."
Melissa closed her eyes. She could feel Amanda watching her. Waiting. Trusting her.
"Melissa..."
Amanda whispered.
"Please."
Melissa looked back at her. There were tears threatening to form in Amanda's eyes already. Not because of Maria. Because of uncertainty. Because she couldn't understand why her best friend was even considering this.
"Just trust me."
Amanda gave a sad little laugh.
"You're asking me to trust you..." She gestured toward Maria.
"...while you walk into a party with the girl who's bullied us for years?"
Melissa opened her mouth.
"You don't understand."
"Then explain it."
"I..."
The words caught in her throat. How could she explain something she barely understood herself?
How could she explain that she was exhausted?
That she was tired of hospitals. Of overdue bills.
Of wearing secondhand clothes. Of feeling like every room she entered already had a label waiting for her.
Poor. She hated that word. She hated the pity that came with it even more.
"For once..."
Her voice cracked.
"...somebody wants me here."
Amanda's expression crumpled.
"I always want you."
Melissa looked away.
"That's..."
She swallowed hard.
"...not what I meant."
Amanda stared at her. "Then what did you mean?"
Melissa felt tears sting her eyes.
"I'm tired of being the poor girl everyone feels sorry for."
Amanda looked genuinely hurt.
"I have never looked at you that way."
"Maybe not intentionally."
Every word hurt to say.
"But every time I tell you something's wrong..."
Melissa looked down.
"...you offer me money."
Amanda blinked.
"Because I want to help you."
"Because helping me makes you feel useful."
The moment the sentence left her mouth... Melissa wished she could take it back. Amanda's face fell.
"That's not true."
"It is."
"No."
Amanda shook her head.
"I help you because I love you."
"I know." Melissa whispered.
"I know you do."
"But you don't understand what it's like..."
She looked down at her shoes.
"...to have nothing."
Amanda's own eyes filled.
"But you don't get to punish me because my family has more than yours."
Silence. Music thumped through the doorway. Someone inside cheered. It felt like the entire world continued moving while the two girls stood completely still.
Finally... Maria sighed dramatically.
"Oh, come on."
She rolled her eyes.
"You don't need this drama, Melissa."
Amanda slowly stepped back. The tears she'd been fighting finally escaped. She looked at her best friend. Then, quietly said the one word she never thought she'd say.
"...Go."
Melissa's heart shattered.
"Amanda..."
Amanda shook her head. "...Go."
Melissa couldn't move. Her feet felt rooted to the porch beneath her. Amanda stood only a few feet away, tears gathering in her eyes. John shifted uncomfortably beside Maria. Even he looked unsure of what to say.
For the first time that evening... No one had the right answer. Amanda's voice came quieter this time.
"...Go."