Bad Blood

The Ticking Clock on the Wall

I greeted her with a smile, hoping she wouldn't see  through it.

Melanie didn't buy one bit of it and gave me a concerned look.

"Brie, are you alright?" She asked, pulling me in a tight hug, which I failed to return.

To my benefit, she pulled back quickly, but then began with a straight face. "Honey, I'm going to be extremely blunt with you."

Oh boy. Here we go.

I sighed and eyed the ticking clock on the wall.

3:50

"You look like the Walking Dead."

I chuckled.

"Your skin resembles Casper the ghost."

"And?" I inquired.

"You look like you've lost a ton of weight since I last saw you."

"Wow thanks, Melanie," I replied, leaning back against the row of lockers.

Melanie was always the one for compliments.

3:51

Her blue eyes flared in annoyance. "Tell me what's going on Brie and don't play games with me. I'm completely serious."

She sure was. Her arms were crossed over her chest, her face wore a 'don't fuck with me right now' expression, and she used her 'mom' voice that I never  particularly did like the tone of.

"I'm fine." I bit out as I rocked back and forth on my feet impatiently.

I hoped she got the message that I'd somewhere else to be and didn't really have the time to stay and "chat."

Melanie sighed and pulled a loose strand of hair behind her ear, her face displaying a bit of sadness.

"I'm here if you want to talk." She cleared her throat.

I nodded.

"You haven't been acting like yourself lately and it's been a awful long time since we last spoke."

Obviously, because I've been avoiding you.

"I really want to help and I can't -"

3:53

"Melanie." I cut her off with a smile. "I-II always love our... lovely conversations but let's skip this one today, kay? I need to go wash... my cat."

"What cat? Brie, you don't have a cat."

I sighed.

"Yes I do."

"No you don't."

"His name is ..

I glanced at the row of lockers.

"Lock." I said with a straight face.

"Lock?" She said in a dubious tone.

"Yes, Lock." I affirmed.

"Now, if you would excuse me."

I slipped past her and left.

At the exit I turned back for a second and saw Melanie still standing there with a frustrated expression on her face. After a while, she nodded at me, clearly disappointed, then walked away without looking back.

I sighed deeply and left the school, knowing I haven't heard the most of it. I'm sure she'll speak to me again tomorrow.

Melanie and I used to be very close friends, not as close as Caleb and I were, but still very close. Unfortunately, things are different these days and I've got enough problems to deal with at both home and school that I don't need any potential friends getting themselves into.

I want to run over there to her and confess everything that has been happening to me. I want to be friends again and be able to laugh again like we used to, but I can't.

Fear keeps me quiet. Fear of what he'll do.