CHAPTER FOUR #3
Michael hesitated. He hated this. John had been his best friend since they were kids. The boy who'd taught him how to throw a football. Who'd covered for him when he forgot homework. Who'd always had his back. But... Amanda deserved the truth.
"What did he say?"
Michael looked back toward the gym floor. His voice barely rose above a whisper.
"He said..."
"...Melissa's family situation made everything easier."
Amanda blinked.
"...Easier?"
Michael nodded slowly. "He knows she's scared."
His eyes remained fixed on John.
"He knows she's watching everything in her life fall apart."
"The bills."
"Her dad."
"The possibility of losing their house."
Amanda's stomach tightened. Michael continued.
"And after he paid those bills..."
He stopped. Amanda stared at him.
"...Michael."
Another pause.
"Say it."
He closed his eyes briefly before forcing himself to continue.
"He said..."
His voice sounded almost ashamed.
"...she needs him now."
Amanda's breath caught. Michael looked at her.
"He said..."
"...she'd never leave someone who saved her family." Silence. Complete silence. Amanda felt sick. Her eyes slowly drifted back toward Melissa. Still laughing. Still smiling. Still admiring the silver ring wrapped around her finger.
"...That's not love."
The words barely escaped her lips. Michael looked down.
"I know."
Amanda stood so quickly the bleachers rattled beneath her.
"No."
She shook her head.
"That's not love."
Her voice grew stronger.
"That's control."
Michael didn't argue. Because... Deep down... He'd had the exact same thought when John first said it.
"That's why I didn't want to tell you."
Amanda turned toward him. Her eyes filled with disbelief.
"You should've told me the second he said it."
Michael stood too.
"John's been my best friend for years."
Amanda's voice broke.
"...And Melissa was mine." The words hit him harder than he expected. For a moment... Neither of them spoke. Amanda turned toward the stairs.
"I have to tell her."
Michael's heart sank. He reached out instinctively. His fingers wrapped gently around her wrist.
"Amanda..."
She looked back.
"Wait."
"I can't."
"You don't know if she'll listen."
Amanda's eyes filled with tears.
"I don't care."
Michael searched her face.
"What if she thinks you're just trying to break them up?"
Amanda swallowed hard.
"Then I'll tell her again."
"What if she gets angry?"
"I'll keep trying."
"What if she chooses him?"
Amanda closed her eyes. The question hurt because she already knew the answer. When she opened them again... Her voice was steady.
"...Then at least she'll know someone tried." Michael slowly let go of her hand. He watched her hurry down the bleachers toward the gym floor. Unable to stop her. Unable to stop what was coming next.
He remained standing alone. Looking down at his best friend...
And wondering if he'd ever really known him at all.
Amanda didn't slow down. She practically flew down the bleachers, weaving through students carrying boxes of decorations until her feet finally reached the gym floor.
Behind her, Michael called out one last time.
"Amanda, wait."
She looked over her shoulder only briefly.
"I have to warn her."
Michael caught up just enough to gently catch her wrist.
"Amanda..."
His voice was barely above a whisper.
"She might not believe you."
Amanda looked toward Melissa. Watching her laugh with the rest of the cheer squad. Watching her admire the silver ring on her finger. Then she looked back at Michael. Her expression never changed.
"Then I'll keep trying..."
She gently slipped her hand from his.
"...until she does."
Without another word... She walked away. Michael remained where he stood. His stomach twisted. He had a terrible feeling this wasn't going to end the way Amanda hoped.
Cheer practice had finally wrapped up. Music faded from the speakers as the girls gathered their bags and folded the last of the prom decorations. Melissa slung her cheer bag over one shoulder. She had just turned toward the locker rooms when—
"Melissa."
Her footsteps stopped. For several seconds... She didn't turn around. She knew that voice. She'd recognize it anywhere. Around her, conversations gradually faded. Theresa looked between the two girls before stepping closer to Melissa.
"You want us to wait outside?"
Melissa swallowed.
"...No."
Slowly... She turned to face Amanda. For the first time in days... They stood face to face.
"What do you want?"
Amanda glanced briefly at the other girls lingering nearby. At Maria. Loren. The rest of the squad pretending not to listen.
"Can we talk somewhere private?"
Melissa followed her gaze. Then quietly shook her head.
"Anything you have to say..."
She folded her arms.
"...you can say here."
Amanda hesitated. She hadn't wanted an audience. Especially not this one. But there wasn't time. She lowered her voice.
"It's about John."
Melissa's shoulders stiffened immediately. "...Of course it is."
"Melissa—"
"Please."
Melissa sighed.
"Don't."
Amanda looked at her pleadingly.
"Please don't get defensive."
Melissa let out a humorless laugh.
"You walked over here to talk about my boyfriend."
She tilted her head.
"How else am I supposed to react?"
Amanda looked back toward Michael for only a second. He stood across the gym. Watching. Worried. She took one slow breath.
"Michael told me something."
Melissa's eyes followed Amanda's glance. They landed on Michael. Then returned to Amanda.
"...What did he say?"
Amanda's heartbeat pounded inside her chest. She hated this. She hated every second of it. But she couldn't stay silent.
"He told me..."
She swallowed. "...that John said paying your family's bills would make sure you never left him."
Silence. The gym seemed to stop breathing. Even the girls decorating nearby had gone completely still. Melissa stared at Amanda. Waiting. Almost expecting her to smile and admit it was some horrible joke. She never did. Melissa slowly shook her head.
"...That's a lie."
Amanda's heart sank.
"I'm not lying."
"No.
Melissa's voice sharpened.
"Michael is."
Amanda blinked.
"...Why would he lie?"
Melissa laughed bitterly.
"Because he doesn't like the fact that John finally has something serious."
Amanda couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"Melissa..."
She took another step closer.
"Listen to yourself."
Melissa immediately shook her head. "No."
Her voice echoed through the gym. "You listen."
Without thinking... She lifted her left hand. The promise ring caught the overhead lights. John's promise. John's love. Everything he'd done for her family.
"He saved us."
Her voice trembled.
"Do you understand that?"
Amanda nodded quickly.
"I know—"
"My mom..."
Melissa interrupted.
"...isn't crying over bills anymore."
Her eyes began to fill with tears.
"My dad can actually focus on getting better instead of worrying about losing our house."
She laughed weakly.
"We're not wondering if we're going to be homeless next month."
Amanda's own eyes filled.
"I'm glad."
"I really am."
Melissa searched her face. "...Are you?"
Amanda looked genuinely stunned.
"Of course I am."
Melissa's expression hardened.
"Because ever since John started noticing me..."
She took another step forward.
"...you've had something negative to say."
Amanda stared at her.
"That's not true."
"You hated that I went inside Maria's party."
Amanda shook her head.
"You hated that they let me inside."
"You hated that I joined the cheer squad."
"And now..."
Melissa looked down at her ring.
"...you hate that John loves me."
Amanda's voice cracked.
"I don't hate any of that!"
Several students flinched at the emotion in her voice. Amanda took another desperate step closer.
"I'm scared for you." Melissa's face fell. Then... Something inside her seemed to harden.
"No."
She shook her head slowly.
"You're jealous."
Amanda recoiled as though she'd been slapped.
"...Jealous?"
Her voice was barely audible.
"Of what?"
Melissa looked directly into her eyes.
"...That I don't need you anymore."
The words hit harder than either of them expected. Amanda stopped breathing. For one terrible second... The gym disappeared. All she saw was the little girl who used to sleep over every weekend. The one who called her family her second home. The one who had once promised...
"You'll always be my person."
A tear escaped before Amanda could stop it.
"You..."
Her voice trembled.
"...You really believe that?"
Melissa opened her mouth. Nothing came out. For the briefest moment... Doubt crossed her face. She remembered Amanda sitting beside her hospital bed after she'd broken her wrist in seventh grade.
Amanda giving her half of her lunch because Melissa had forgotten hers. Amanda staying up until three in the morning helping her study for finals. The memories came rushing back. She hesitated. Just enough.
Before she could answer... Maria stepped calmly to Melissa's side. She rested a hand lightly against Melissa's shoulder. Then looked directly at Amanda. A faint smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
"She finally has people..."
Maria's eyes never left Amanda's.
"...who appreciate her."
The gym fell silent again. Amanda looked from Maria... To Melissa... Waiting. Hoping. Praying Melissa would disagree. Melissa never spoke.
And somehow... That silence hurt even more than the words before it. Loren folded her arms. Her expression never softened.
"People..."
She looked directly at Amanda.
"...who don't treat her like a charity case."
Amanda stared at her. The words didn't even make sense. Slowly... She looked back at Melissa.
"...Is that..."
Her voice cracked.
"...is that what you think I did?"
Melissa couldn't meet her eyes. She looked down at the polished gym floor instead. Amanda felt something inside her shatter.
"...Melissa." Her voice had become almost painfully quiet. "I loved you."
The entire gym remained still. No one moved. No one interrupted. Amanda swallowed the lump in her throat.
"...I still love you."
A tear slipped down her cheek. She didn't bother wiping it away.
"That's why I'm standing here."
She looked around at the dozens of students pretending not to watch.