A Message

-Gray

As the bell rang, I thought about Melanie. Her face flashed in my mind. Her eyebrows furrowed together like she was trying hard to not let something slip.

'No, Nate. I don't want your help. I don't need it.' Her words, an alarm in my ear. Then, her back getting smaller and smaller as she walked down the hall.

"Nate. You good?" Leo pat me on the back.

"Yeah, I just zoned out a bit. I'm fine." I blinked a couple of times while pulling out my phone. Since soccer practice was canceled, I was free today. But I didn't want to go home. No one was going to be there for me anyway.

I followed her, through the crowd.