Page 118 of Kickoff

She shivered and I pulled her closer to me, wishing my body temperature could warm her up.

“Mase? Don’t leave me, okay?”

“Never. I’m not going anywhere. You are safe. Hang on.”

Minutes later, the school nurse neared us and took charge, checking Melinda’s vitals before helping her stand and urging her to her office. I trailed after them, carrying Melinda’s bag. “Is she gonna be okay?”

“Yes, Mr. Pierce. Miss Shepard needs a little time to recover. Water and some calm.”

“I’m already feeling better.” Melinda’s fingertips grazed the back of my hand. “I’ll be right behind you. Don’t worry, okay?”

The late bell rang.

“I’ll check on you after first period.” I handed her bag to the nurse, then dropped a kiss on her forehead before walking away.

“Mase?”

I looked at her over my shoulder, my heart breaking for the girl I loved. Her eyes were shiny and unfocused, tears hanging from her lashes. “Thanks. For saving me again.”

“I would save you a thousand times. That’s what personal nurses are for, no?”

We exchanged a hint of a smile before I left and hurried to my homeroom. That feeling weighing heavy on my heart wouldn’t go away. My insides had turned into one giant knot. Something wasn’t right. I had no idea what it was, but I knew it in the marrow of my bones.

A part of me was afraid to find out I was right.

“Okay, Mase, this has to stop. You can’t follow me around all the time like a sick puppy. I’m not gonna faint again. I was dehydrated yesterday. It was a one-time thing.”

“Explain to me why I’m not convinced then? You’re wearing a white blouse and right now it looks the same color as your skin, which says a lot. Luckily for you, you’re wearing maroon pants because otherwise, I would have mistaken you for a ghost.”

She let out a low chuckle. “You worry too much. And I swear I’m no ghost. Anyway, I’ll catch you at lunch.” We stopped in front of Melinda’s second-period social studies class. “This is me.”

“Wait for me when the bell rings. I’ll be right here when your class ends.”

She pushed me back with a hand before catching her book bag that had slid down her arm. “Get lost, Mase.” Even though she tried, she couldn’t hide the smile in her voice.

The clock ticked too slowly, the seconds feeling like hours.

“Mr. Pierce. Please come to see me.” Mr. Rockwell called my name after he dismissed the class. I would be late. I told Melinda I would walk her to her next class.

I stood by his desk, rocking on my heels, not sure what he wanted as we waited for the students to rush out of the room, flooding the hallway, the mayhem of their footsteps and chatter echoing around us.

“You wanted to see me?” I strangled the strap of my bag as if it could make him speak faster.

“I was tasked to ask you to walk Miss Shepard to the athletic building. Don’t ask me why, but that was the order I got from Coach Vivien. She’s waiting for her in her office. I told her I would send you right after class.”

I pointed to my chest. “She asked you to tell me to bring Mel over there? What’s going on? This sounds sketchy as hell.”

Mr. Rockwell lifted his hands in surrender. He was a retired cross-country coach, and all the students had a soft spot for him. “Hey, Mr. Pierce, don’t shoot the messenger.” He shoved the stack of papers he had to grade into his bag and flicked his wrist. “Go now. You’re dismissed.”

“Fine. See you tomorrow, Mr. Rockwell.” I hurried down the hallway, catching Melinda as she was strolling toward her locker.

“Mase. Have you seen Paige? She wasn’t in class, and I know for a fact she was looking forward to today’s assignment.”

“I crossed paths with her earlier.” I tugged at her hand, and she got in step with me. “We gotta go to the athletic building. It seems like Coach Vivien wants to talk to you or something.”

She clasped her hand, a large grin lighting up her face. “Do you think she received college offers on my behalf or something? I’m still waiting for Crestwood U so I can commit to them.” I hadn’t told her yet that I had already committed to them too because I knew Melinda wouldn’t go anywhere else. “My times are amazing this year. Mase, I think this could be it. Yes, I feel it in my bones.”

My lips pulled into a smile, mirroring hers.