Thinking it must be Jodi, wanting to talk in a more traditional way this time, she picked it up to check. But to her surprise, it wasn’t her big sister’s name that popped up on her screen…
It was Amanda Brannigan’s.
Thirty
“Hey, Melli—hope you don’t mind me texting. I really wanted to apologize for last time we met,” the text read. Beside it was a sorry-face emoji and a little pink heart.
Melli blinked at it in surprise. The last time Amanda Brannigan had apologized for anything was…well, never. The other girl never apologized. What was going on? Maybe she was trying to turn over a new leaf?
Or maybe she just wants to be a bitch again and she’s trying to catch you off your guard, whispered a little voice in Melli’s head. Ignore it, Melli. Ghost her—you don’t need that kind of toxic person in your life!
She almost did what the little voice suggested but then another text popped up.
“I’m kind of going through something right now,” Amanda had sent. “Trying to make amends to all the peeps I’ve wronged. Please, can’t we just talk?”
“Well…” Melli stared at the screen doubtfully for a moment. Was Amanda going through some kind of twelve step program? If so, that was kind of sad. Melli hadn’t been aware that the other girl had any kind of substance abuse problem. Maybe she ought to give Amanda a chance. With a sigh, she texted back,
“Sure. We can talk next time I see you in class.”
“Has to be now,” Amanda texted back at once. “It’s the next step I have to take. Promise it’ll only take a min. I won’t even ask to come up—you can come down to the dorm lobby. Please?”
Melli frowned. She had absolutely promised Liosh she wouldn’t stir from the dorm room while he was gone. Still, it sounded like this was going to be quick—she doubted Amanda wanted to spend all night apologizing. Probably she would be able to get down and talk to the other girl and back up to the dorm room before Liosh even got back with the pizza.
Making a decision, she went to find her favorite pair of flip-flops. Despite the fact that it was March, here in Tampa summer was already breathing its heavy, humid breath over the landscape. The shorts and thin t-shirt Melli wore along with the flip-flops would be fine for a short excursion down to the dorm’s main lobby.
“Okay,” she texted Amanda. “On my way. See U in a min.”
“See you!” Pink hearts filled the screen of Melli’s phone and floated away like tiny balloons.
Before they were even finished, she was already out the door.
Thirty-One
“Oh, there you are!” Amanda threw her arms around Melli the minute the elevator doors dinged and she exited into the lobby.
It was a large space, filled with comfortably shabby furniture, battered tables, and vending machines where students lounged and studied and listened to music and played on their phones and laptops. Melli felt at home there, though the hug from Amanda was kind of surprising. The other girl had certainly never been so affectionate before.
“Hi, Amanda,” she said, trying on a smile. “It’s uh, nice to see you again.”
“No, it’s not!” Amanda exclaimed. “It can’t be nice for you to see me. I’ve been horrible to you, Melli—I realize that now. I was mean to you all through high school and then I was mean to you again when you introduced me to that gorgeous boyfriend of yours. I’m just so sorry.”
Her eyes filled with tears and she looked so sad that Melli actually felt bad for her.
“Aww, Amanda…” she said, squeezing the other girl’s hand. “It’s okay—don’t cry.”
“I can’t help it.” Amanda sniffed and stepped back, swiping at her eyes. “When I think of how mean I’ve been to you, Melli. And I’ve been trying so hard to do better!”
“Well, I forgive you if that helps any,” Melli said.
“You’re so sweet!” Amanda’s tragic face broke into a sunny smile. “You always were so sweet and kind and innocent, Melli! Several of us from high school got together recently and we were all saying how sweet and innocent you always were.”
Melli shifted uncomfortably.
“Well…thanks, I guess,” she murmured.
“And we were all saying how we needed to make amends to you,” Amanda went on. “Because we teased you so bad and were all so mean to you. In fact, I have someone else with me, out in my car, who wants to apologize too, only they were too ashamed to come in with me.” She put her hands together in a pleading gesture. “Please, won’t you come out and forgive them, too? It would mean so much!”
“Oh, I…I don’t know…” Melli stared out into the gathering darkness outside the dorm. “I’m kind of waiting for Liosh to get back. He just ran to get a pizza and he’ll be here any minute.”
“Well a minute is all it will take,” Amanda said brightly. “Please, Melli? We’re all just trying so hard to make amends.”
“Well…” Melli still wasn’t sure this was a good idea but Amanda seemed to take her hesitation as agreement.
“Oh goody—I knew you’d come. You were always so sweet and forgiving!” she exclaimed. Hooking her arm through Melli’s, she towed her out of the dorm’s lobby with surprising strength in her skinny body.
Wow, she must do strength training, Melli thought as Amanda pulled her out the door and into the night. The main exterior of the building was well lighted and so was the parking lot but there were places in between the two where shadows lurked. Melli stared at them uneasily as they walked.
“This way,” Amanda said and began to tug her into a darker section of the campus.
“But the parking lot is that way,” Melli protested, pointing.
“It’s a short cut,” Amanda promised. “Come on, it’ll only take a minute.”
Melli allowed herself to be led, rather unwillingly, the longer grass whispering in chilly little tendrils against her flip-flopped
