Chapter 2

“Hey Mel! Over here!”

She saw Steph flailing her arms above her head, hoping to catch her attention, or at least the attention of the entire school yard, which she did. Not that she cared.

“Where were you?”

“Oh yeah, sorry about that, uhm I was just talking to somebody in the corridor.”

“Oh. I'm shocked really, who were you talking to? What ever happened to 'I can't talk to people, cause of my social anxiety'?”

“Just some guy-”

“Guy!”

“Yes Steph, a guy.” Mel didn't get why it was such shock to Steph that she had actually conversed with another human being besides her... Okay, hearing that, she knows exactly why it's hard to believe, but seriously it's not that big of a deal.

“Ok, so who is this guy?”

“How about we walk-and-talk?”

Mel said lacing her arm through Steph's. This field has too many ears and she didn't need the whole school knowing her business.

•

“So that's what happened.” Mel concluded her story when they were each a block away from their homes.

“Are you for real? I can't believe you were flirting with a college guy.” she said, putting emphasis on 'college'. “Who are you and what have you done with nerdy Mel?" she eyed Mel up and down.

Mel laughed, “She's still here, just taking your advice.”

“My advice?” she asked.

Mel wondered know why Steph was acting stupid all of a sudden, she knew what Mel was talking about.

“Yeah, you know the 'live your life' advice?”

“Oh--” Steph drawled out with a chuckle, “That advice, that was nothing, anything for my girl.” she said nudging Mel's shoulder.

“That's me.”

Steph was always this happy-go-lucky type of person. Mel has never seen her depressed or sad, like ever. Steph never talked about anything that was bothering her and it's hard to tell if something was hindering her, because she never shows it. She always had this huge smile on her face, as if everything in her world was all cupcakes and rainbows, little did Mel know...

“So when you are you going to see him again?”

“Hmm?” Mel was so busy guessing Steph's emotions, she forgot she was right next to her.

“I asked when you are you going to see Jace again?”

“Oh, uhm, I don't know, he says he hangs around the school every Friday to watch the matches, so I guess I'll see him then?”

“So what I'm hearing is, you are going to give up your binge-watching Fridays, to meet up with Jace?” she pried.

“Well, I don't know if that's what you're hearing--”

“Oh I am.”

“Shut up. Whatever, I have to go. Still got some studying to do.”

“I bet you wouldn't be studying if Jace was around!”

“Shut up Steph.” Mel could feel her face getting hotter and saw Steph's smile getting wider.

“You know I'm right, why not go shopping with me? Find a cute outfit for Jace!”

Mel was talking to people, not going all out. She walked away the moment Steph assumed that she wouldn't be studying if Jace was around, hence her screaming out loud in the street like some possessed teen.

“I'll think about it, okay? Bye!”

“Love you!” she screamed. Mel raised her thumb in a thumbs up motion and walked the last bit of the road till she got to her house. True to her words, she sat down on her bed and started studying.

•

“So did you study Friday night, or were you thinking 'bout Jace?”

“I never should've told you that story, you not going to stop it now, are you? I didn't even get a 'good morning Mel'.”

Seriously, it's not that big of a deal, it's just a guy. Mel does not see the need to make a big fuss about it.

“I'm sorry, I'm sorry.” said Steph with her hands up in the air like she was surrendering.

“Thank you.” that should do it.

“But seriously though--” oh boy, here she goes again. Melissa rolled her eyes so far back, she could see her brain. Again, exaggeration.

“-did you?”

“Did I what?”

“Did you think about Jace Friday night?”

“What? Pffft, don't be silly, as a matter of fact I was studying okay?”

said Mel lifting herself up from the benches to make it look more dramatic, but all of a sudden, she started feeling really wobbly, everything was all hazy, and she could barely feel her feet. It felt as if she was going to punch the ground with her face, if it wasn't for Steph.

“Mel are you okay? Mel! Mel? What's wrong? Talk to me, you're scaring me! Here Mel, sit down, have some water, here you go.”

She couldn't even form a proper sentence, her mouth opened-and-closed like a fish begging for water, so she gladly took the water as she felt it on her lips and after a while she started feeling better.

“I'm good, I'm good, I think I uhm, I think I just got up to fast, you know?”

“I don't know Mel, that looked pretty bad, you looked like you were about to hit the ground.”

“I'm good, thanks Steph!” she still looked very unsure, but let it go. Mel despised people faffing over her. She know they cares, but it's just not who she is.

“No problem, let's go, you know Mrs. Hemmingway doesn't like it when we're late for class.”

“Were you both attending a turtle parade, that you're walking so slow into my class?” Mel said in a high-pitched voice, they both broke out into laughter, heading towards class.

•

“Steph, don't forget the match this afternoon, okay.”

Steph stopped taking her books from her locker and put a hand on her hip. With a very surprised look on her face,

“Since when are you reminding me about a match, when I'm always the one begging you to come?”

“It's nothing like that, you're just very forgetful.”

Mel said with a shrug and a small smile. Steph's face went pale, she looked like she just saw a ghost. Actually, a ghost would be far less scary than...that. She hates that memory. So does Mel.

One day, in elementary school, specifically fourth grade, Stephanie woke up late for school, her parent's were on a business trip, as usual, and her nanny at the time, was late for her duties. Stephanie ran around her house packing her bag, and then she rushed out the door, locking it, because the nanny had an extra key to open it later on, and ran off to school.

Only when she reached, and she noticed the stares she got from all her peers, did she realise, she hadn't changed her clothes, she forgot to dress in casual clothes, so she was still in her PJ's. All the kids started pointing and laughing at her, everyone but one. Melissa. She had grabbed Steph's hand, dragged her to her tiny locker, gave her some of her extra clothes she had in there, and escorted her to the bathroom, where Stephanie dressed.

From then on, Stephanie and Melissa bonded, and as they say, the rest is history.

“That was one time ok? And you swore never to talk about that again.”

“I'm sorry, I won't!”

“Good, so we got about an hour until the period ends, so we'll meet up outside the bathroom, okay?”

”Sounds good.” Mel said as they turned away from the lockers, and walked to they're different classes.

•

“Okay, okay I'm here. Sorry, Mr. Dunley couldn't stop talking, but I'm here now, so let's go find us a place to sit.” Mel was panting by the time she reached the bathroom.

“You mean a place that's crowded, so I won't look lonely while you run off to lover boy?”

“Ewww don't call him that, and no. But, I will be having a mild pain in my leg later from sitting down so much, just so you know.” Mel said with a straight face, but smiled when Steph's head snapped in her direction.

“I'm kidding, but seriously though, I will be standing up later in the match.”

“Just as long as you meet me by the gate afterwards so you can tell me what happened.”

“Deal!" Mel said as they shook hands and laughed as they sat down on the pavilion.

“It's been an hour, I think I'm going to go now!”

"“Remember, at the gate!”

“Sure will!”

Mel agreed as she got up and maneuvered herself through the other learners and headed into the school. In the exact same spot as last week when they first met, she saw Jace waiting for her, but she pretended as if she didn't see him, and walked right past, but she didn't get very far, because he grabbed her arm and pulled her back.

“Ignoring me now, are we?”

“Omg, Jace I didn't even see you there!” Mel said with mock surprise.

“Uh uh” he said with a slow nod of his head.

“I'm just kidding, what's up?”

“Nothing much, just college and high school at the same time.”

“Huh.” Mel said as she pressed her finger to her chin. “I wonder, what's so special at this High School, that it's got a college freshman lurking around?”

“It's more about a certain person in the high school, that's so special.”

“Really? Do I know that person? Girl or boy?”

“Girl.”

“What the first letter of her name?”

“M.”

“What? No way?”

“Yes way!” he said with a large smile.

“So you're hanging around the school for

Margie the lunch lady?” his smile dropped.

“What? No. Seriously, Lissa? I meant you!” she burst out laughing.

She couldn't help it, she had to, he laid out the perfect platform. Lissa didn't really know where this sudden confidence was coming from from, it was so unlike her.

“I'm. Sorry.” she breathed out, in between her fit of laughter. “I couldn't resist, I had to.”

Her laughing spree was cut abruptly when it started happening again. She started feeling dizzy, and saw everything around her in a haze. She could faintly hear Jace's voice echoing in the distance,

“Lissa, what's wrong, are you okay? Lissa...? Lissa!”

and could faintly see him using his hand as a fan in front of her face. After a while when she was feeling better, she noticed that she was on the ground in between Jace's legs, with her head resting on his shoulders, and her back pressed against his chest. She shot up once she saw the psition they were in.

“Woah, woah, easy Lissa, what was that? Are you okay? Do you want water or something?”

“Uhm, no actually I'm good, uhm, to much laughter, I guess?” she answered with an nervous chuckle.

“Does that often happen?”

“No, that actually the second time that it's happened.”

“Do you know why it happens?”

“No. It's probably just like exam stress or something like that.”

“Something like that.” he said not quite believing what she said. She didn't even know if she believed what she said.

“Listen Lissa, I wanted to know, like if you don't have plans next Saturday, maybe we could get breakfast together or something?” he asked rubbing the nape of his neck.

“Next Saturday?”

“Yeah, is that good?”

“Yeah, that's great! So, I guess I'll see you next Saturday then? I won't be here on Friday. Annual check up. But I'll see you Saturday, cool?”

“Yeah, cool. And get those headaches and things checked out ok.”

“I will, and thanks again for the help just now. Appreciate it. I have to go now Jace, but I'll see you next Saturday!” she said as she slowly walked towards the exit.

“Wait.” she stopped and turned around.

“Can I at least get your number?”

“How 'bout next Friday, you track down my bestie, she's got like bright red hair, blue eyes... Her name is Stephanie, then ask her for my number.”

“Next Friday?”

“It'll be worth the wait.”

“Bright red hair?” Lissa nodded.

“You can't miss it, she's the only in school with that hair colour.”

“Stephanie?” Lissa nodded again and turned back to walk towards the exit again, till she reached the gate where Steph was waiting for her.

“So?...”

“Headaches...”

“Again?” Lissa nodded.

“Oh, and some college guy might come up to you next Friday to get my number.” Stephanie squealed.

“Why though?” she asked.

“So that you can meet him.” Lissa answered with a shrug.

“I want to know everything!” she exclaimed.

So Lissa told her everything as they walked home.