Melted by You

5

School is fun.

I know many people would stare at me if I ever said that around anyone, but it's true. For me at least. Of course I struggle with the schoolwork, and the entire concept of school isn't fun, but going to school every day isn't such a task for me. After all, it'll just be a day of learning new things and talking to my friends, and I love all my friends.

There was a short period where I didn't feel excited to go to school every morning last year, after a bit of drama that had to do with a person I barely speak to anymore but that seemed to be over by now.

Until I saw the article five minutes ago.

I'm sitting at the table, scrolling through the large amount of words exposing the girl I used to date.

Maggie is not what she seems. Now that I've told you all about the situation involving the blackmail to our current student body president James Gooden, you'll probably realise she's not the trustworthy journalist the school news claims she is. But there are other stories that have just recently been brought to light. One involving an act of infidelity.

I squint my eyes, trying to remember what infidelity means. I think it had something to do with relationships?

Maggie has been reported to be seen being intimate with an unknown male during the time she was dating a former member of the football team. Out of respect, we won't reveal their name in this article.

I bite my lip, and sigh. I'm assuming I'm the "former member of the football team" this article mentions. I already knew about it before the article got officially published. Alex came up to me to ask if I was okay with this being publicly released, and I said yes. I wasn't even shocked when she told me. But still, it's not nice to see it written on the very public school news site.

I sigh, and shut my phone off. I pack my food, swing my backpack over my shoulder and walk towards the bus stop. Monday. The day everyone in the bus does nothing but complain about the hard week ahead of them. I can live with that, as long as I can just have normal conversations with my friends.

When I step inside the bus, a few heads turn towards me.
"Hi Landon" a girl I've never seen before says quietly.
"Hello" I say, smiling.
"Are you the guy from the football team?"
I nod. "Well, I used to be. Now I'm the guy from the volleyball team. One of three guys, actually".
She nods slowly.
"So Maggie cheated on you?"
I feel my smile weaken a bit.
"Well, yeah..."
"I bet it was that Callum guy" she sneers. "You deserve better than them Landon".

"Oh, uhm... Thank you. Actually, I've got amazing friends right now!" I divert the conversation to a happier topic. "Do you remember the girl that ran for president? Willow?"
She clicks her tongue. "Not really".
"Oh, well, she's my friend. And so is her sister Alex, and Willow's boyfriend Logan. And James, our president, is my friend too, and so are the other two guys from the volleyball team".
"I thought Donald Trump was our president" the girl says, rolling her eyes.
"No, I meant our student body president" I say. She awkwardly nods again, and whispers something that sounds like 'That was sarcasm'.

The bus arrives at school, and I get out, slightly relieved to leave the conversation. I'm sure it's a really nice girl, but we didn't really connect. That's fine, I can't be friends with everyone. I walk inside the school.
"Hello!" I say, when I see Alex in front of her locker.
"Hi Landon" she says. "How are you doing?"
"Good" I smile.
"As always" she laughs. "Did you read..."
"Yeah I did".
She gets a strange smile on her face, and closes her locker.
"So... How do you feel now?"
"Good, I just told you" I remind her.
"But how do you feel about the fact that everyone knows now?" she urges.
"Oh, well. That was inevitable, I guess. It's not in my control anyway".

She tilts her head a little.
"What do you mean?" she asks.
"Well, it's not in my control if people know or not, so I choose not to be moody because of it. I only feel bad whenever I make a mistake, because then it's my own fault and not just an annoying incident. Like Maggie chea..."
I suddenly stop myself, noticing I don't want to say it.
"Like Maggie cheating on you" Alex finished my sentence. She laughs quietly, and shakes her head.
"You can be so strangely wise sometimes Landon".
"Oh, well that's not in purpose".
"It's a good thing".
"Oh" I say, and I smile. "In that case, thanks!"

The rest of the school day is nothing special, apart from a few people staring at me and whispering. During lunch break, I hear Maggie didn't come to school today. Logan scoffs.
"Of course she doesn't. She's probably going to play the victim" he says. Willow frowns.
"To be honest..." she says quietly. "It's a little harsh to have a whole article written about your mistakes".
She looks up at Logan. "Sorry" she adds.
Logan shakes his head, and puts an arm around her shoulders.
"Don't apologize. We talked about this".
She sighs, and nods.
"I know, I'm entitled to my own opinion even though it's not the same as yours" she says.

"Exactly" Logan smiles.
"Even though your opinion is wrong" Alex says. Logan shoots her an annoyed glare, which she answers by rolling her eyes.
"Come on. It's Maggie. She deserves this. Every single word" Alex says, and she looks at me.
"She cheated on Landon. Landon! Why would you even want to cheat on him?"
I start to feel a little uncomfortable.
"I know, I know" Willow says. "But still. I'm not saying she's a good person, but I understand if this upsets her. That's all".

The bell rings. We grab our bags, and get up.
"Blegh, economy" Willow sighs. She kisses Logan on the cheek, and walks away. Logan watches her walk away, a vague smile on his face.
"Logan?"
He snaps out of his dreamy state, and looks at me.
"What?"
"We've got class together now" I say.
"Oh, right. Right".
I look at Alex.
"Well, I've got to get to history class. See ya Landon" she says. We walk towards the stairs, and part ways. Off to my last class of today, and then I'm going into town to buy my very first guitar.

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