Phone Number

-Jennie

I was jogging around the track field when I heard coach blowing his ear splitting whistle. I looked over to see a small huddle of people surrounding someone on the ground in the middle of the field. Since I wasn't interested in what happened, I ignored them and kept jogging until I heard a familiar voice.

"Melanie? Melanie! Wake up!" Leo shouted. As soon as I heard it, I ran to the crowd and pushed people away to see Melanie passed out, sweating on the ground with Leo shaking her shoulders. I immediately knelt down beside her and leaned my ear near her face to make sure she was still breathing. I heard her panting softly.

"Leo, she's still breathing so she's okay but she should-" I started. But before I could finish, Leo quickly picked her up and sprinted towards the school building. I let out a sigh and ran after him.

I slowed down near the entrance of the nurses office to see Leo carefully setting Melanie down on the school bed. I could see pain in his eyes as he sat down next to the bed and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear.

I knew that Leo and Melanie were really close ever since they were little but I couldn't help but get jealous. I walked in and stood next to him.

"Why do you look like that. You know it's not your fault." I said as I took a handkerchief out of my pocket and wiped the beads of sweat on her forehead.

Still staring at Melanie, he said in a sad tone, "I know, it's just that I feel so helpless. I can't do anything for her to stop them from bothering her so much." He sighed. "You should go Jennie. I'll watch Melanie, coach might yell at you."

"What about you? Won't he be twice as mad at you than at me?" I shoved my hands in the pockets of my running shorts.

"It's okay. I can handle it."

"What if Melanie has to tell me something?"

"She can tell you at lunch. Don't worry about Melanie. I'll take care of her."

I looked at him. "Okay. Just make sure she wakes up for me." Then I left them.

...

I leaned against Melanie's locker, waiting for her to get out of math class so we could walk to the cafeteria together.

When I saw her walking towards me, I asked her, "So did you meet your partner for the science project?"

"Yeah. It's Nate, he's in Leo's soccer team." she said as she opened her locker and put her things inside. "Oh, here's your math book I borrowed and by the way, I'm going to the bathroom so you can walk to the cafeteria first. I'll be there in a few minutes."

I took my math book from her hands and looked at her. She wasn't going to the bathroom.

"Okay, just text me if you need something. Alright?" She nodded. I took one last look at her and turned around towards the cafeteria. I knew her too well. Every time she passed out, she always went to the roof top. And every time she did, I followed her, just to make sure she didn't do anything stupid.

As soon as I turned the corner of the hallway, I waited for a few seconds then turned back and quietly ran down the hall and followed Melanie up the stairs next to the bathrooms.

When I reached the double doors, I stood in front of them and watched her through the small window.

After a few minutes I let out a small quick gasp. My heart leaped out of my chest and I almost open the doors when she leaned over the safety railing. She wasn't going to jump. Right? Thankfully, she stepped down the platform and started to pat her pockets, looking for something. Was she looking for her phone? But it was right in her hand. When she realized she didn't have whatever she was looking for, she stood there with an opened mouth.

...

I couldn't concentrate on anything. What was Melanie looking for at the roof balcony? It must have been important to her by the look on her face when she realized that she lost it.

As soon as the dismissal bell rung, I got out of my seat with my backpack and walked out of the classroom. The hallway was crowded with people. When I got out of the school, I saw Melanie in our usual spot, waiting for me. I sat on the wooden bench next to her.

"Hey Melanie, did I make you wait?" I asked her. She was staring at the sidewalk, thinking about something. "Melanie!" I nudged her with my elbow and she snapped back to reality.

"Oh sorry Jennie, I was just thinking about something." she said while looking around the parking lot.

"What's wrong? Is something bothering you?"

"No... It's just that I have to meet my science partner today. He gave me his number but I kind of lost it." Oh, so that was what she was looking for.

"Oh, so do you want me to wait with you until you find him?" I asked her worriedly.

"No no, I'm fine. Besides, you have dance today and you might be late. You should go, I'll be fine." she said looking at me.

She wasn't wrong. I did have a dance lesson after school but I felt guilty thinking about leaving her alone. "Are you sure?"

"Don't worry I'll be fine."

"Okay. Just call me if something happens." I said while standing up. "If you can't find him in 10 minutes, just go home. It's going to rain pretty soon."

"Okay. I will." she waved and gave me a smile.

...

I set down my backpack and my dance bag on the floor. I stretched and felt all my joints crack. It was always so tiring after dance.

I sat down on my chair and pulled my books out of my backpack after taking a shower. It was already pretty late at night and I had a lot of homework to do. I sighed as I flipped through my math book. My eyes landed on a purple slip of paper that had something written on the back of it. I picked it up and saw a phone number scribbled on it.

Was this the phone number Melanie lost? I better give it to her first thing in the morning.