Parachute [Book 4]

Chapter 19 - Yesterday

Angie McGraw

***

Melissa hadn’t texted me saying she wasn’t coming to school that day, so I just took a shot in the dark and guessed she was going to be here.

So there I stood, by the double doors, leaning against the wall with my hair falling in front of my eyes. I was gazing down at my phone as I stood, completely bored. I was scrolling through Instagram, looking at the numerous photos Marley had posted of her and Ryder this morning – probably before he left for school.

Jake hadn’t posted anything new recently which made me pretty sad – the last photo he posted was of me and him lying in his bed with the caption ‘#missyou’.

The door I was standing beside opened and I looked up from my phone for a second, watching the doors open and Melissa walk through. She looked really bored, one earphone dangling in mid-air and the other in her ear.

I felt a smile grow on my face as I spotted her, and I quickly shoved my phone into my pocket and ran forward, tackling Melissa into a hug. Mel let out a loud scream and stumbled sideways into the lockers beside the door. As soon as her face made contact with the metal, she looked over at me with wide, fearful eyes and let out a croaky, less scared scream.

“You’re back!” I shouted, giving her a tight squeeze around the waist, resting my head on her shoulder. I grinned brightly.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m back.” Melissa whispered, pushing against the locker to get herself straight again, sliding her hands down to mine and pulling them off of her. “And you’re too excited about it.”

I frowned and shoved her shoulder, sending her stumbling back again. “I’m sorry I’m just happy that my best friend is finally back at school and I don’t have to be alone again.” I laughed, reaching my hand forward to hit her on the head before walking down the hallway.

Mel ran to catch up with me, tugging on one of the zippers on my bag to pull me back towards her. I grinned again and turned around so I was walking backwards and facing her as we spoke again. “You weren’t alone, were you? You have Ryley and um, Idony.” Melissa looked down at her shoes as she said Idony’s name, and it was lucky because she missed my giant smile.

I still couldn’t believe she had sung with me. Voluntarily. I couldn’t forget her excited face either, nor the way she hugged me so tightly, her arms resting against my hair and pushing my face into the leather shoulder of her shirt. I wouldn’t ever get over the way she smelt either – just like a Britney Spears perfume.

I wasn’t able to wipe the smile off of my face quick enough though and Melissa gazed back up, catching the giant grin. She stopped in her tracks and tugged on the sleeve of my hoodie to stop me from walking any further ahead.

She pulled me roughly towards her, her face right up in mine, a slight snarl on her lips. “What happened while I wasn’t here?”

I shrugged hastily, biting my lip to the hide the obvious smile shining through. Melissa grabbed onto the hood of my sweatshirt and pulled me closer to her, her snarl seeming to grow even bigger the closer I got. “What happened, Angela McGraw?” She muttered fiercely.

 I shook my head, forcing myself to get rid of the smile on my face so she wouldn’t suspect anything more. It was almost impossible, and I looked like I really was hiding something. “Nothing happened.”

Melissa’s hand went from my red hoodie to my hair, pulling on the mess of curls on the  back of my head with such force that my head tilted backwards. I wondered where she got it from for a brief second before she just pulled on my hair again, distracting me. “Say it or I will pull your hair out!”