Our Troubles

- Melanie

My nose was on fire. My lungs were telling me to stop, but I couldn't stop now. I wanted to prove that they were wrong about all the things they said about me. Their words echoed in my head as my vision started to blur. 'She's so weak. No wonder she has no friends.' I forced myself to run faster as I heard their high pitched laughter swarm in my ears, blocking out everything.

Then I felt myself fall. "Melanie?" a panicked voice asked. "Melanie! Wake up!" His voice slowly faded away and all I could hear was a muffled sound of a whistle blowing. Was this the end? Was I going to die? Like this? In the middle of a high school track field? I hope so.

I woke up seeing the familiar white ceiling of the nurse's office. So I guess I didn't die.

"Melanie? Are you okay?" I looked over to see Leo sitting in a chair staring at me worriedly.

"I'm okay Leo. I just passed out that's all." I assured him not wanting to hear his nags.

"Just passed out? Are you serious? This is the ninth time this month. Why are you pushing yourself so much?" Leo scolded me.

I pushed myself up as I began to say the exact same words I told him a few days ago. "I told you, I have to prove them that their wrong and-"

"It doesn't matter what they say. If it bothers you that much, I'll tell some of the guys to shut them up."

"See, this is the problem. Whenever these things happen, you and your soccer team are always the ones to stand up for me. And it doesn't make a difference because all they do is flirt with them! And they like it! So they'll keep wanting to bug me because they know you'll get mad and you'll send the guys over to them! I want to stand up for myself because it'll make a difference when I say it." I said as I looked down at my hands.

"Okay fine. But please. Listen to me and don't push yourself so hard that you pass out because it really hurts me. Okay?" he bent down to meet my eyes.

"I'll try." I mumbled. Smiling, he stood up and messed up my hair.

"C'mon. Let's get to class. You know, Jennie is worried a lot about you."

...

"Melanie! My baby! Are you okay?" Jennie asked me as I set down my science books.

"I'm okay, I just needed to lie down a bit."

"That's a relief." she sighed. "Did you see how fast Leo ran to you after he saw you fall? It was the fastest I've ever seen him run. He must care a lot about you. He even carried you to the nurse!"

"Really? I should buy him a snack later as a thank you." I said as I wrote a mental note.

She squinted her eyes and looked at me. Before she could say anything I said, "I know what your thinking and I've told you so many times. He doesn't like me. We're only friends."

"Wait, hear me out," Jennie started. "I don't know him that well but I know for a fact that he doesn't act like that to every girl." Before I could say anything, the bell rang indicating that class started.

"Class quiet down! Today we will be starting on a project in pairs about the periodic table and no you will not be choosing your partners." The whole class broke out in groans as Mr. Sage started to explain it. "The project will go on for about a month and you will have to create a small poster on each of the elements. Your partners will be drawn out of a hat." He went around the classroom with a baseball cap filled with different colored pieces of papers. When he got to me and Jennie we both pulled out a slip of paper.

"Let's open ours at the same time." Jennie said. "Three, two, one!" I opened mine and it was a purple color called mauve. I looked over to Jennie and she showed me her color.

"Oh you got magenta." I sighed while showing her my slip of paper.

"Are you serious. We never get paired up." she sighed while looking around the classroom hopelessly. "Oh I think I found my partner. Bye Melanie, talk to you at lunch." She gave me a hug then packed her stuff and made her way to her partner.

I looked around the room not really excited. I looked back and I saw someone standing in front of me.

"Hey, I'm Nathan. Nate for short." He sat next to me and took my slip of paper out of my hands. He looked at his own identical piece of mauve colored paper and sighed. "It looks like we're partners Melanie."

"Wait. How do you know my name when I don't even know you?" I asked a little creeped out.

"I'm in Leo's soccer team and he talks a lot about you." he explained with a smile on his face. "Are you guys together?"

"No, we're just close because I've known him since kindergarten." I quickly said.

"Oh that's good." he mumbled while smiling.

"Why is that good?"

"What? Oh, nothing. Anyways, when do you want to meet to finish this project?" he said switching the subject.

"Well I would invite you to my house after school today, but my mom is cleaning the house so I don't think she would like it." I said.

"You can come over to mine. Both my parents are at work and they wouldn't care." he suggested.

"So we'll be alone in your house?" I asked a bit nervous.

"Why, does that bother you?" he smirked.

I immediately turned red and said, "No, I mean I was just asking because-"

He bursted out in laughter. "Melanie! What were you thinking? Don't worry there's going to be maids cleaning the house. So, no, we won't be alone." he assured me while holding his stomach. The bell rang and he got up with his backpack. "I'll pick you up after school, text me." he said and threw a piece of paper at my face.