-📰-
"word around the school is, matt sturniolo was getting cheated on by josie pomeno and melina imal knew about it."
"word around the internet is matt and melina are dating and act like they despise each other for views."
well those are just rum...
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♫say don't go - taylor swift
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CHAPTER 36 "FACING REALITY"
{super super long chapter again :)}
[real life]
melina's breathing comes in ragged gasps as she pushes forward down the hall, her steps quick and frantic. she needs to find izzy—now.
the tears are creeping up again, but she fights them back. she can't break down here. not in front of anyone. not now.
the sharp sting of matt's words still lingers in her mind, each one hurting more than the other, the more she thinks about it.
she rounds the corner and spots a few familiar faces, thankfully none of them too familiar, at least not in a way that would make her feel exposed. the house is quieter now, the earlier chaos settling down as most people have started to leave. the music is softer, more distant, a dull hum compared to the loud beats that had been playing just an hour ago.
melina keeps her head down, hoping to avoid any unwanted interactions. she doesn't need to explain herself to anyone. she doesn't have the energy to hold it together for other people. the only person she needs right now is izzy.
but as she rounds another corner, she stops her tracks. a familiar voice sounds around her.
josie. her heart drops.
why is she still here? she should be gone by now!
melina doesn't even want to risk turning around. she can't let josie see her like this. not with her red eyes, tears just barely held back. no!
the last thing she needs is for josie to ask questions, or worse—bumping into ivan again. melina's mind races, as she looks around and suddenly she spots matt, he was now leaning against the wall, arms crossed holding a can of soda.
he looks bored, melina's heart races as she looks at him. he looks bored, like none of this is affecting him, like their argument, everything meant nothing. she hates how easily he can just stand there, untouched, while she's falling apart.
before they can make eye contact , she pushes forward, moving with a speed she didn't know she had, until she spots the familiar figure of izzy ahead, talking to a group near the bathroom. melina lets out a sigh of relief instantly.
melina pushes through the last few people, hands shaking as she reaches izzy. before izzy can even speak, melina's already pulling her into a hug, burying her face in her shoulder. she doesn't care about the people still lingering or if they're watching. all she knows is that she needs to be with someone who won't judge her, who understands her.
