Natural Chemistry

Chapter 28: Never Again

After I uttered the three words, rest of the days flew by in a blur. Unfortunately, Vince and I only met at school and to finish our report the remaining time I spent locked up in my room studying for finals.
It was a Thursday, and the school was buzzing with excitement, only a few days left for school to get over. But unlike the others, I felt my mood dampen upon receiving a text from Vince.

Caught up at home, won't be at school today.
Don't miss me much. ;)
-Vince.

I hadn't realized how attached I had gotten to him and how accustomed I was to meeting him at school.
"Students, I need your parents signature on a few things. Folders are kept on the the desk please collect your respective ones on your way out." Mrs Smith said, pointing at a pile of blue coloured files. I looked through the file and realized it was the end of the term cards for biology.

"Ryder, how was your date?" I nudged him on the way to the Physics class.
"It was fun. And we might even have another tomorrow." I fake gasped at his reveal.
"Ryder Prescott. A second date? Is the schools hotshot settling down?" Ryder's eyes widened while I made the loud assumptions. Some girls stood to stare and Ryder hissed and put his hand on my mouth.

"Melissa! Shush!" I giggled under his palm.
"Everyone settle down, the results of the tests are here." Our Physics teacher announced, handling over white sheets of what looked like last week's quiz.
I let out a satisfactory sigh registering the red A+ accompanied by a keep it up.
I heard quite a lot of people groan causing me to lower my face in sympathy.

At the end of school, I was skipping my way to the car after bidding my friends goodbye.
On my way home, I took a turn and thought I go to the office instead to surprise my parents.
I dialed their number and placed my phone on the seat beside.
"Hey, how was school?" I could understand he was caught up in something.

"School was school. Busy?"

"No, no. Your mom and I were just planning to take a break." I exchanged the customary goodbyes but didn't change the direction my car was headed.
The Colespar industries was situated on a tall cooperate building with a huge glass entrance. Everyone knew me, most of them saw me grow up.

"Hey, Bob." I smiled at the security who always greeted with a smile.
"Good morning, Miss Colespar." I just shook my head at him, all these years and he still refused to call me by my first name.
I had my own interns ID that let me use the elevator to the main office.
I smiled at the ground floor receptionist who looked new. 

"Melissa, dear, they are busy at the moment." Mrs Reed, my dad's receptionist put her hand up to stop me from knocking on the door.
"No, they aren't, I just spoke to them. Don't worry." I saw her frown deepen as she cast me one last glance and let me pass.

I softly knocked on the door.
"Mrs Reed, I told you, no visitors. I'm busy." My dad said in a tensed voice urging me to push open the large frosted glass door.
"Mrs- Melissa?" I wasn't listening to him anymore.

I took in a battered up Vince seated on my father's red sofa probably staining it darker. He sat bare chested letting our family doctor tend to his numerous cuts. All their faces looked like they were caught stealing, my mother stood with her hands over her mouth, my father standing over Vince seemed uncomfortable and Vince didn't know what to do.

He raised his hand towards me but flinched mayhap because of the brusie forming against his ribs.
"What is going on?" I didn't know whether to run to the injured boy and hug him better or deal with the feeling of betrayal that was clawing through my being.

"Melissa, dear, you should sit down." My mother suggested, coming to my side.
"No, mom. I want to know why my boyfriend is bleeding on my parents office sofa." I was looking straight into Vince's eyes that were devoid of any emotion, pushing the knife a little deeper in my back.