Page 117 of Kickoff

With my back against the wall, I scrolled through my phone, studying every picture we snapped of us in the last few months.

My heart would burst if I didn’t come clean to Melinda soon. If we started dating before Winter Formal, we could go as a couple. Officially. The real deal. And spend our winter break together with nothing standing between us. Not being some third and fourth wheel in Craig and Paige’s mountain vacation.

Chase joined me, offering me a donut from the box in his hands. I hesitated at first, but indulged, picking a vanilla one with chocolate frosting and violet sprinkles. After all, football season was over, and I deserved a treat—and some sugar courage. “What’s up?” he asked.

“Waiting for Mel.”

“Are you two—? Is this real? You guys have been hanging out together like a couple for months, and I don’t understand why you haven’t tapped it yet.”

I pivoted and glared at him. “Respect, man. Don’t talk about her like that. Whatever we are or aren’t isn’t your business or anyone else’s.”

“Relax, Mase. I was just kidding. I have eyes, you know. I’ve been seeing how you two have become inseparable. I’m just surprised because it’s not like you to spend time with a girl without banging her on the side and dumping her ass afterward. What happened between you two at State?”

“Drop it. She’s not like the others. Anyway, why am I even explaining anything to you?” I waved him off. “Shoo. Now. She’ll be back, and I don’t want you in my space.”

Chase burst out into a fit of laughter, grabbing another donut from the box and pushing it whole inside his mouth. “If I didn’t know any better, I would think Mason Pierce was in love.” He spoke with a mouthful, wiggling his eyebrows as he did.

I poked his shoulder. “Shut up. Again, none of your business.”

He sidestepped and shook his head, a smirk curling his lips. “You’re so screwed. You’re my idol, Mase. Jesus, you are the best. How have you been surviving the longest case of blue balls known to mankind?”

He walked away, the sound of his laughter reverberating through the hallway as he traipsed toward the rows of lockers.

“Everything okay?” Melinda asked from behind me.

I turned to face her and grabbed her hands in mine. “Yeah, just Chase being his idiot self. Are you feeling all right? You’re staring off into space.”

She flicked a wrist. “I was dizzy. Moved too quickly. It’s better now.”

I nodded. Something wasn’t right. The nagging feeling I had experienced in the past returned.

“Don’t worry, okay?”

I removed Melinda’s bag from her shoulder and slung it over mine.

We walked side by side, and the instant I spun to reach for her hand, her eyes lost all focus, and seconds later, her knees buckled. I caught her limp body right before she hit the floor. I kneeled down with her in my arms. “Mel. Open your eyes. Talk to me. Mel? Wake up.”

One by one, her eyelids peeled open before closing again.

“Mel. No. Someone get the nurse. Mel, open your eyes.” I pulled her against me, cradling her inert body, urging her to wake up. My eyes burned with unshed tears. “Mel. It’s not funny. Don’t do this. Open your eyes. Now.”

A palm molded to my cheek. “Mase?”

“Mel. What happened?”

A ghost of a smile touched her lips. “I’m fine.” She pushed herself up onto her elbows. “Help me up.”

“Huh… Not sure it’s a smart idea. Your face is ghost-white right now. You scared the shit out of me.”

“I wanna sit.” Her eyes traveled all around us. “Everybody is staring.”

“Let them stare.”

Still in my arms, she motioned to sit, but seconds later, her eyes rolled back, and her body sagged against mine. Her eyes lost focus, and her blush-pink shirt contrasted with her pale complexion. Her quivering lips looked blueish as they parted, but no word escaped her mouth. I took her hand in mine, and it felt colder and smaller than usual.

“You’re not fine. Don’t feed me bullshit.”

With one hand, and never releasing her, I pinched my sweater at the nape and pulled it over my head and draped it across her legs in case she was cold. I held her limp body in my arms, using my upper body as a shield to hide her from all the commotion around us and inquisitive stares as much as possible.