CHAPTER 27

It was lunch hour at Boyle Heights High, Melanie, Bianca and Jade sat at their usual lunch table. It was on a random Monday, and each of the three girls had something exciting that happened over the weekend that she wanted to share with the others. 

Bianca went first, "So, you guys won't believe what happened to me on Saturday," she said, leaning in with a conspiratorial smile. "I went to that new escape room place downtown with my cousin. It scared the living shit out of me." She admitted and the other girls laughed. "It was so realistic, with creepy puzzles that we had to escape before time ran out. We barely made it out, we were down to the last few seconds and everyone was screaming, running up and down. It was all so surreal." She finished and leaned back on her chair. Giving room for the next girl to tell on how her weekend had gone. 

Jade leaned in and eyed the girls for a second before telling. She narrated how she was home alone all weekend and how she had such an amazing time with her boyfriend. How they pulled an all-nighter, binge watching some old comedy show from the late 90s.

"You have the entire house to yourself for a whole two days with your boyfriend and all you do is watch some ancient comedy show?" Melanie wondered and Bianca laughed.

"We did other things." Jade responded, fidgeting with her cutlery.

"What other things?" Bianca asked with a cheeky smile.

"Things that boyfriends and girlfriends do when they're alone." The girl answered and her cheeks turned pink.

"Speaking of boyfriends," Bianca started, looking at Melanie then Jade, "Melanie is seeing a guy."

"Bianca," Melanie drawled and hit the girl gently on her shoulder. She looked up and found Jade staring at her, anticipation all over her face. "I'm not seeing him, it was just one date. And it was like weeks ago."

"A date is a date Mel," Jade declared, dipping a French fry into the ketchup. "Why only one date though?"

"I don't even know if it was date, okay? It was just two friends spending time at a restaurant." Her eyes remained fixed on whatever food was on her plate, avoiding either of the other girls.

"That's some A-plus bullshit right there." Bianca laughed then turned to Jade and said, "she's too scared to call him for a second date."

"I'm not scared, it's...it's just that I've been busy." She commented.

Bianca rolled her eyes and said, "Come on Mel, from what you told me, he seems like a decent guy. Just call him and plan something, it won't kill you you know." 

"He hasn't called you?" Jade wondered.

"He doesn't have her number. He gave her his and apparently disappeared into thin air." Bianca replied.

"Then you definitely have to call him." Jade sounded enthusiastic, her eyes bright. "I'm sure he thinks you ghosted him or something." 

Just as Melanie was about to reply, Amanda joined the table and took the empty spot next to Jade, setting her food tray on the table. She then went on to rant about how some two kids took forever to make up their minds on what they wanted to eat and that's why she had taken too long. 

After finishing their lunch, the four girls walked out of the crowded food court and into the less crowded hallways. From behind them, they heard an all too familiar voice. "Amanda," the voice called and they all turned to meet Nate's eyes. 

"Hey," he greeted with a nod to the other girls and fixed his eyes on Amanda. "Amanda, can we talk?" 

"Yeah, sure." The girl answered.

"No, I didn't mean like here and now. I thought maybe we could go somewhere later and talk about us." He explained.

She looked around at the few students walking up and down the hallway and kept her voice low. "There is no us Nate, I thought-" 

He cut in, "I know that, I just wanted to tell you something and-"

She cut in, "We've been over this Nate, I told you I needed space. I just can't go on-"

He didn't let her finish, "You know what? Never mind Amanda, my bad." With that, he turned his back to the girls and walked away. 

The girls exchanged silent looks before Melanie spoke. "That was a little bit too harsh."

"Yeah," Bianca agreed. "For how long are you going to shut him out like that?"

"I almost went to prison because of him." Amanda reminded them.

"But you didn't go to prison Amanda," Jade told her. "That whole incident was months ago, and he was cleared of all charges. You asked him for space and he gave it to you. He hasn't approached you in weeks."

"He just can't expect me to get back together with him as if nothing happened." Amanda cried.

"But you don't know if that's what he wanted." Melanie argued as the three girls continued towards the lockers. 

"What else could he possibly want?" Amanda sneered.

"We would have known if you hadn't bitten his head off." Bianca informed. "Seriously Amanda, just hear him out, I think it's time to put all this behind you. Talk to him, hear what he has to say." She advised. 

Amanda shrugged and sighed. The four girls walked to their respective lockers and fetched books for their afternoon classes and cleared the hallway with the other students when the bell rang. 

*-*-*

Melanie took her friend's advice and phoned Farian the following day. She did it just before she got into bed, she stepped into the small balcony in her room and dialed him. 

His voice came through after the fifth ring. "Melanie Vaugh, what a pleasant surprise."

"Hey you, I hope it's not too late to be calling." She spoke and leaned on the balcony's protective railing.

"Not at all, you can always ring me at any time." He replied and fell silent, waiting for her to continue. 

"I'll try to remember that. How are you? How have you been since?" She couldn't help but trace her finger on the railing.

"You know, I was convinced you'd never call." Came his response, followed by a period of silence before he went on. "What happened?"

"Who says anything happened? I've just been... I've been busy." She laughed, but was sure he would catch that lie, it was so obvious.

His light chuckle confirmed her fears, he knew she had lied, but he didn't bring it up. Instead, he said, "I'm glad you called Melanie. What can I do for you?"

Her mind was blank for a while. She didn't know why but she felt somewhat offended by his question, whatever did he mean by, 'what can I do for you'? Who says she needed anything? Couldn't she just call him to check up on him or something like that? Nevertheless, she managed to keep those thoughts to herself.

"I was just thinking about what an amazing time we had last time and I wanted to see if you'd be down to do it again." She bit her lip as she anxiously waited for his reply.

He was silent for a very long while and she grew nervous, doubtful thoughts rushing in. She hated that he still intimidated her despite being miles and miles away, she found herself pacing up and down the balcony as she waited for his reply.

"Yeah, I wouldn't mind doing it again." He finally replied and she let out an audible sigh.

"Great!" She exclaimed, trying to keep her excitement in check. "How does Friday sound? We can go back to that Bistro from last time." She suggested fixing her gaze on the far away city lights.

"That sounds lovely. Friday it is." He confirmed

"I guess I'll see you on Friday." She felt exhilarated, her heart racing a wee bit faster, her hands trembling a little. "I have to get to bed now, goodnight Farian, it is really nice talking to you."

"Have a wonderful night Melanie Vaugh." And he hang up.

She lingered on the balcony for an extra minute, just staring into the darkness. She then walked into her room with a grin on her face and a flutter of excitement in her chest. She slid under the covers, turned off the bedside lamp and closed her eyes, a smile lingering on her lips as she drifted off to sleep.