Touching Melody - By RaShelle Workman Page 0,47

notice something dried in my hair. I’m guessing its blood.

I go to an empty shower stall and turn on the water. I wash my hair twice, then once more for good measure, just to make sure I get out all the blood.

“Maddie! Maddie!” Gina screams.

I poke my head out. “What’s wrong?”

She heaves a sigh of relief. “You scared the shit out of me. I woke and you were gone. Why aren’t you still asleep?”

The other two girls getting ready suddenly decide they’re finished and bolt. One glances at Gina.

“What are you looking at? Cunt.”

The other girl lets out an offended huff.

I stifle a giggle. “I’m almost done. Be out in a sec.” I let the water cascade over my body.

“Fine. Just hurry. I’m hungry.”

“For cafeteria food? Or Perky’s?” I can’t help sticking my head outside the shower curtain. Gina rarely eats—ever. Especially not breakfast. When she does eat, it’s usually pastries from the coffee shop, Perky’s, in The Mall. I don’t think she’s ever eaten in the cafeteria.

She seems to understand my curiosity. “It’s not like I have anything against cafeteria food.”

“So, cafeteria then?”

“Why not?” She shrugs. “It could be fun.”

There’s something going on. I can’t believe she’s suddenly okay with eating in there, unless…

“This is about a boy,” I say, turning off the water and throwing on my bathrobe.

She gasps and her eyes get wide. “No it isn’t.”

But I’ve caught her. And I know I’m right. “What’s his name?”

She heads into a bathroom stall to pee. I walk over to a sink. Apply some face lotion, take a towel and rub it through my hair. Wipe the mascara residue out from under my eyes. Apply some lip balm. Gina comes out of the bathroom and washes her hands. I walk over and catch her eyes in the mirror’s reflection.

“Fine. His name is Collin. I met him last night. We were dancing.”

“Oh, yeah. I saw him.” I run my fingers over my eyebrows. They are everywhere. “So, you gonna meet him in the cafeteria?”

She flicks me in the face with water. “Not if you don’t get your ass dressed.” She pushes open the bathroom door. I follow.

The cafeteria is packed. I get a bagel, some cream cheese, and orange juice. Gina gets water and a chocolate muffin. We sit at the little table in the corner. The same one I sat at the first day of class. Gina is nervous. Antsy.

“See him yet?” I can’t help but be amused. She’s usually so laid back, uncaring. This boy has her flustered. It’s funny.

Gina shakes her head.

“I’m going to go get some bacon. Want anything?”

“No.”

I cover my mouth, hiding my shock.

The bacon is in the same area as the eggs, waffles, pancakes, and hash browns. The line is long, but I don’t mind waiting. It gives me the opportunity to think about what happened last night. The way I freaked out.

Kyle seems to care. He seems like a good person. And I know he didn’t kill my parents. My brain comprehends that, but I can’t seem to convince my heart.

“It’s Maddie, right?” Someone taps me on the shoulder.

I turn and am face to face with the two girls who came into the cafeteria with Kyle that first day. They are wearing matching outfits again—cheerleader uniforms. I think that explains a lot.

“Yep.” The line is moving.

Twin One whispers, “Did he take you into his special room?”

“Chain you naked and spread eagle to the bed?” asks Twin Two.

My face scorches with mortification, and I’m not even sure why. “No,” I whisper, keeping my eyes down.

They both giggle. “I think he did.” Twin One laughs. It sounds more like a cackle.

“And she liked it.”

I look up, ignoring the rapid beating of my heart. It isn’t that I’m afraid of these girls. Hardly. It’s only that they are confirming Kyle does things, likes things—sexually—that I don’t understand. “It’s none of your business,” I say, swallowing down some of my irritation.

“Okay,” Twin One says with a shrug.

“But if you ever feel like talking, I’m Beth and this is Baby.” She smacks Twin One on the ass.

“Got it.” Beth and Baby. I won’t forget their names even if I want to.

I finally reach the bacon, but it’s gone. Not wanting to leave empty handed, I put a waffle on my plate. Pour syrup over it and head back to the table.

Collin, the boy Gina is gaga about, is sitting with her. They seem to be deep in conversation. He’s holding her hand, stroking it with his thumb.

Awwwww, I