LET ME TELL YOU WHAT HAPPENED

CHAPTER 5

I should be at home right now, but I'm not. I'm busy at Business class with Melinda and ms. Campbell. The only problem is that school has ended, about sixty minutes ago. Ma'am has told us everything we need to do to finish up the project and we're halfway done.

Melinda and I have been communicating well so far. First in class during school hours and now here after school. The room is quiet until she asks me a question.

"How can you handle everything so well?", she asks.

I smile. "What do you mean?"

"How can you handle life so well with all the problems?"

"Well I try.", I say. "I just keep being myself and just move on and keep my head up." Okay I know I'm lying, but that's only because I don't want Melinda to know that I have way bigger problems than everyone in this school.

I can't even believe Melinda is beimg nice to me and talkative. Maybe she is pretending. Pretending to be nice, pretending to be friendly. But if she is, then she can really act well.

"Well if I ever become my true self people would definitely judge me.", Melinda says. "The thing is, I'm not proud of how the real me looks like."

She reaches for her back and takes out a pair of glasses. When she puts them on she looks like a different person. She looks kind, loving even. She keeps her eyes low which tells me she feels embarrassed.

"You don't look that bad you know.", I say. I'm about to tell her she looks pretty, but I stop myself. She is nice now, but she might change tomorrow.

"You know I have been living life with a lot of lies.", Melinda says. "I was never like this before. Believe it or not, I was even friends with Cece once."

I'm shocked. Cece never even told me about Melinda when we were dating. I guess this war is still far from over. They don't even look at each other right now.

"What happened?"

"When my dad started gambling back when I was in the sixth grade, we almost lost the house.", Melinda says. "My mom had to take out a load on the house to pay off dad's debt and then she decided to leave."

"Whoa, hectic. I'm so sorry."

"It's okay.",she says. "Well I couldn't leave with mom because I had school. I told Cece and made her promise not to tell anyone, but one day I heard a teacher talking about me and that's when our fued began."

Max had told me that even the popular kids have problems and they are just pretending to be perfect. But I wasn't expecting Melinda, ms. Perfect to have worse problems than I have.

Her mother had already left so, all this time she had to hide everything, all her scars. I guess I've also been pretending. I have not told mom about my true feelings yet. Oh shoot I haven't told mom to pick me up later I have a project to finish.

I quickly grab my phone and text mom. A few minutes later she texts back telling me that she's already here. She says that I should finish up whatever I'm busy with first.

When I'm done texting I finish off the last piece of work I'm doing and then rest a bit. Melinda is still busy with her side so I wait for her to finish and for ms. Campbell to return.

"Carlos I have something I have been waiting to tell you.", Melinda says. "It's about my father. And I'm only telling you because I know you won't tell anyone. The rumors are true.", she sighs. "My dad has been stealing the school's money to pay off his gambling debt."

" So they are true."

"Yes. And I know that my dad will probably go to jail for this and also get suspended. If that was to happen I will have to throw him under the bus. I will go and live with my mom if need be."

Melinda starts crying. "I have had enough of my dad and his problems."

Ms. Campbell walks in and Melinda wipes her tears pretending to laugh.

"Okay are you both done?", ms Campbell asks.

"Yes ma'am.", we both say. She takes in our sheets and tells us we can go home.

"Don't tell anyone about what I said. Promise me.", Melinda says.

"I promise.", I say and we continue walking to the gate. She waves goodbye and I wave back.

"Who were you talking to?", mom asks when I entre the car.

"That was Melinda, my partner in my Business project.", I say.

"I'm happy that you're making friends ."

"She's just a partner for a project mom."

"A partner who could eventually be a friend."

I don't even try and argue anymore. I leave mom believing whatever is in her mind. But mom may be right. Melinda and I's relationship has grown within those two hours we spent doing the project. Although it might have been pretend on her side.

"Will dad be home early today?", I ask.

"I don't know."

"How is Caleb doing?"

"Everything is still going well.", mom says.

At least there's still something good going on in my life even with all the uncertainties.

****

I head to the bathroom after mom parks the car. Then I grab something to eat. I guess tonight will be the same. Just me and mom at dinner.

I lay in my bed thinking of what Melinda said earlier. My thoughts run away with me. If mr. Lang is gambling with the school's money surely people know, but why aren't they doing anything. And maybe I should tell Max this, but on the other side I promised Melinda I wouldn't say anything. But maybe Max and I could do something while making sure no one gets hurt. Mr. Lang will finally be confined for his fraud. I hope this is the right thing to do.