Carson

When Melody asked me to go home last night, I was a little surprised and disappointed, but I understood. She seemed embarrassed about everything and I wasn't making it any better by fuming about it, even if it was on her behalf. I wasn't upset when she didn't want me to wait for her this morning either. She hasn't been sleeping well and was running behind. Or at least that's what she told me. She probably wanted more time to herself. Or maybe Margot was around, and she was trying to shield me again.

She seemed a little off at lunch and was trying desperately to hide it. While I pretended to ignore it, I noticed she was dazed and a little unsteady on her feet. But any time I checked in, she insisted she was fine.

But as she walked towards me after class, I knew it was a lie.

"Mellie?" I started cautiously as she leaned against the doorframe of the art room. She looked pale and her legs were shaking slightly. Her eyes were wide like they were trying to take in what was happening but couldn't. I recognized this look from art class many months ago. "Melody!" I called rushing to her. She let go of the doorframe and took a step towards me.

And suddenly she was falling.

Everything seemed to be in slow motion. The students in the hall turning to watch what was happening, Ms. Foster inside the classroom trying to grasp her, Melody's body slumping to the side. I tried to catch her, but she hit the floor before I could reach her. I was kneeling at her side in a flash, my heart pounding in my chest. I barely registered the voices of people around us as I leaned over Melody's face.

"Melody?" I called. "Melody!"

"Someone hand me a cellphone!" Ms. Foster's voice was at my side in an instant.

"Melody, wake up!" I repeated, fanning her pale face. I could faintly hear Ms. Foster talking on the phone to emergency operators. "Mellie, come on baby, wake up." I said quietly. "Come on Mellie.

"An ambulance is on the way," Ms. Foster said to me, resting a hand on my back gently for a moment. She then stood up and faced the students. "Everyone back up! Give us some room please."

"Mellie! Please wake up," I begged, watching her closed eyes. "Don't do this."

After what felt like an eternity, though it was likely only minutes the paramedics showed up with a stretcher. One of the vice principals, Mrs. Amaro was with them.

"Everyone out of the way! Let them do their job!" She called, parting the crowd.

"Sir, please move," one of the paramedics said to me. I shuffled out of the way and let them get Melody onto a stretcher. The other paramedic turned to me and asked what happened as they worked on her.

"I don't know... she fainted in front of me. I don't know if she hit or head or not. I didn't move her. I-I don't know why she won't wake up. She's fainted a couple times before and she's been fine..." It all tumbled out quickly. "She doesn't eat much. I don't think she's eaten today. Maybe not yesterday either," I added quickly. "I-I try but– "

"It's all going to be fine, kid don't worry," the paramedic said.

"Can I ride with her?" I asked. They had an IV in Melody's arm and had her hooked up to oxygen. She looked so fragile and small and my throat felt tight.

"No, I'm sorry. But you can meet us at the hospital," the paramedic added.

"No! Please let me go with her!" I yelled. Ms. Foster and Mrs. Amaro held me back. My heart felt like it was crushed in my chest as I tried to break away from them.

"Carson, it's okay," Ms. Foster said softly.

"Let them do their job," Mrs. Amaro added as they rushed out of the crowd with Melody, leaving the students gather around whispering. I yanked my arm out of her grasp.

"This is your fault!" I snapped. "You didn't do your damn job! She told you what happened. You didn't do anything about it. She hasn't slept in over a week and you put him back in her class!"

"Mr. White, I suggest you watch your tone," Mrs. Amaro started as students around us were whispering.

"Why? Because I'm right? This school sucks! It's all of you!" I yelled at the sea of students around us. I recognized Cora, Jeanette and Veronica's stupid, gob-smacked faces in the crowd. I saw Ben, Julia, Zoe and Owen from our previous classes and their fake concern pissed me off. "You all make her feel like shit everyday with your lies and your rumours. She was nothing but kind to you people!" I turned back to Mrs. Amaro. "You didn't even check in on her after it happened. This is on you. On all of you!"

"Carson, Carson stop," Ms. Foster cautioned gently.

"Back to class everyone! Now!" Mrs. Amaro said sternly. The crowd began dispersing and Ms. Foster walked over to me.

"I have to be with her," I said. "What if she's not okay?"

"She'll be okay. They are very good at what they do," Ms. Foster assured me. Her dark brown eyes were soft, and I could see that she was scared too. But she wanted to believe it.

"Where are you four going?" Mrs. Amaro said as Emma, Noah, Alani, and Harvey suddenly burst through the groups of people going to class.

"We just heard!"

"What happened?"

"Is Melody okay?"

"Where is she?"

All four of them spoke at the same time. They all looked upset, but Emma looked the most like I felt, one step away from crying.

"She passed out. The paramedics took her. I-I have to get to the hospital," I said.

"You all have to go to class; you're all technically under the school's care!" Mrs. Amaro said, looking disconcerted.

"We don't care!" I snapped.

"Come on Cynthia, they're terrified for their friend," Ms. Foster interjected. "Let them go. I have a spare, and I'll meet them at the hospital. She's my student and I feel like I failed her. Like the school did. I want to be there for her."

Mrs. Amaro sighed. "Fine. Go."

"You're not driving," Harvey said to me. "You're too freaked."

"Let's go in my car," Alani said, taking out her keys.

***

Alani glanced at me in the rear-view mirror after a few minutes of driving in silence. Noah was in the passenger seat, and Emma and Harvey were in the back with me.

"What exactly happened?" Alani asked.

"I don't know. She-she just seemed shaky and disoriented as she was leaving class. She stopped at the door for a moment and then –" I cut myself short and glared out the window. Emma lifted her head off of Harvey's shoulder for a minute and put her hand on mine. "If she's not okay–"

"She'll be okay," Harvey said firmly.

We pulled into the hospital parking lot and were lucky enough to find parking quickly. We ran into the emergency entrance and I was first at the front desk.

"Melody Reese. Where is she?" It left my mouth in a rush. The receptionist looked up calmly.

"Let me check," she said, tucking a pen behind her ear. The minute she typed felt like ten. "The doctors are with her now."

"Is she okay? Can I see her soon?"

"Are you family?" she asked. I shook my head. "I can't give you an update if you're not family," she said, her face looked apologetic.

"Please, I'm her boyfriend," I said.

She sighed and shook her head. "Hospital rules hon, I can't tell you anything until the patient or family consents."

"Do you know if they reached her dad? His name is Robert Reese," I said. "Or call her housekeeper Leslie at least. They're who she'd want to see."

"Carson, come. It's okay." A pair of hands gently pulled me away and I realized it was Ms. Foster. She walked me over to the waiting area where my friends were sitting. They all looked up at me for some news.

"All I know is that she's with doctors," I said, sitting down next to Alani. Ms. Foster paced back and forth, rather than sitting down beside me.

"Did they tell you if she's okay?" Emma asked; her eyes rimmed red with tears.

"She won't update me because I'm not family," I huffed.

"You know what? I'm going to see if she can tell me anything, considering I'm Melody's teacher and she's legally under my care." Ms. Foster headed back over to the receptionist.

The rest of us sat there quietly for a few moments, the rush of the emergency room filling our silence. Phones rang, people talking, P.A. systems occasionally going off, doctors and nurses bustling about. It was controlled chaos.

"I should have said something to someone. Or made Melody talk to someone," I said, watching Ms. Foster talk to the secretary.

"Not just you... We all knew she was in rough shape since the party," Alani said, she too looked really upset, breaking her usually neutral facial expression.

"I just – I knew things weren't okay before that," I said. "I tried, but I feel like it's my fault."

"So," Ms. Foster started before anyone could respond. "All she could tell me was that they have her in a room and she's not awake yet."

There was more silence from the rest of us amongst the E.R. bustle.

Soon, I glanced up and noticed Margot and Mia walking towards the receptionist's desk. I perched on the edge of my chair, waiting to get an update from actual family... if one could call them that. They chatted with the receptionist like it was the most casual experience ever and then she began walking towards us.

"She simply fainted. She's sleeping in one of the rooms down that hallway. They are making a huge deal out of nothing," Margot said. If we were talking before, we would have been stunned into silence. Even Mia frowned but didn't say anything to contradict her mother.

"Well, can we see her yet?" I asked. Mia opened her mouth to speak and Margot cut her off quickly.

"No. She's still sleeping," Margot said. I deflated in my chair and Ms. Foster patted my hand softly. Margot and Mia walked a little distance from us and stood up talking quietly.

Soon Melody's dad walked in and Margot's body language shifted from nonchalance to despair. I could overhear her exclaiming how worried she was about Melody and that she had no idea how this could have happened.

I rolled my eyes at that. She had to know exactly how this happened, considering it was her fault. It made my blood boil to see her act so fake and motherly when in reality she treated Melody like garbage. I locked eyes with Melody's father over Margot's shoulder and stood up. I walked over to him as he headed my way.

"Carson, do you know why she fainted?" he asked. The worry was etched into his face and panic was evident in his eyes.

"I-I don't know for sure. They won't tell me anything," I said. "They have her sleeping in a room right now. I just don't know which one, or I'd be there."

"Margot said it was 113. Go sit with her while I fill out the paperwork," Mr. Reese said. I nodded and took off down the hallway.

When I got to room 113, Melody's small frame was lying in bed beneath a bundle of blankets. IVs and monitors were hooked up to her arms and her eyes were closed. The beeps from the monitor were slow and steady, matching the gentle rise and fall of her chest.

I pulled up a chair next to her and sat down. Gently, I took one of her hands in mine, stroking the back of it softly with my thumb.

"I'm so sorry," I found myself whispering. "I just– I knew things weren't okay. I tried to make it better, but I feel like it's my fault." I glared down at her thin hand in mine. "I should have done more. I'm so sorry Mellie."

Melody's hand suddenly gripped mine and my gaze flew up to her face. I held my breath and watched as slowly her eyes fluttered open.

_____________

Author's Note: Helloooo!  This chapter has been brought to you by TheEndofMyWriter'sBlock! It took a HOT minute to finish this chapter but here we are (and she's a lengthy one too). I hope you liked it! 

From one cliff hanger to the next... Comment what you think might happen!

I feel like this song fits this chapter ahah (also they're Canadian and my favourite band)!

https://youtu.be/23bmJsWaXMI