How It's Said

Chapter Two

Chapter Two

I feel like I’ve been hit in the chest by a truck, stomped on by big foot, or tackled by the entire football team. My sister. What happened? What the hell happened?

I quickly stand up and scoop all of my belongings into my backpack, not caring where they go. I follow the freshman out the door, my heart pounding in my chest as we walk.

“What happened?” I demand once we’re outside of the classroom.

“She got in a fight.” Melissa got in a fight? My sister got in a fight? Before the rumors started she was the most gentle and sweetest girl you could know. She hated it when Dad killed a fucking fly, how could she get in a fight?

“Is she okay?” I demand. My skin is hot and I’m so mad and so scared at the same time.

“Yeah, but she’s suspended.” The freshman says looking at me, judging my reaction.

“Suspended?” I repeat, my mouth falling open. How did my sister get in a goddamn fight and get fucking suspended?

Dad’s going to be pissed.

“How?” I demand, glaring at the poor freshman. She can’t be older than fifteen, her face still holding the baby fat of youth despite the pounds of makeup covering her face.

“Some girls were making fun of her, gave her a “present” or something and she got mad, they started fighting, and she hit them.” I snort. I doubt my sister would hit anyone, even if they were making fun of her.

“Where is she?” I demand. I don’t care if she killed the fucking girl, I want to make sure my sister is okay.

“She’s in the nurse’s office right now. She’s waiting for your Dad to pick her up. She asked to see you.” The freshman gives me a small smile.

I ignore her and speed walk to the nurses office. Why is she in the nurses office? How hurt is she?

I get my answer when I walk through the doors of the nurses office. Melissa sits on one of the bed with the paper stuff on it. Her knee is cut, her right cheek has four deep nail gouges and she’s holding an ice pack over her eye.

Her blonde hair is pulled out of her face into a messy bun, which highlights the swelling bruise on the side of her face that she holds the ice pack.

I gasp, rushing over to her and pull the ice pack from her face. My mouth falls open when I lay eyes on the swelling black and blue bruise over her right eye.

I close my eyes, lowering my head for a second.

“What the hell happened.” I demand, letting her press the ice pack back over her eye.

“Well, I was walking to the bathroom during first period and Rachel and Ashley approached me.” This is the most I’ve heard Melissa speak in days. Before, I might have celebrated it and offered to do something that Melissa wanted to do, but right now, I only care about her welfare.

“Rachel was holding a bag,” Melissa continues. “She said ‘We’ve heard the rumors about you and we knew you were feeling bad, so we decided to get you a present.’” Her lower lip quivers and I move over to her and wrap my arms around her.

“And then?” I prod.

“And then Rachel pulled a pillow out of the bag. She said ‘Here, this should help make you more comfortable… with all that time you spend on your back.’” Melissa couldn’t hold it in any more and the last few words were barely legible as her voice quivers before she bursts into tears.