Forever Remember: The Rose Code

Chapter 16: Fly Swatter

On Thursday, Emily and I walked into the girl's locker room and witnessed Mimi and her two minions approaching Melaney. I mentally canceled all plans of cartwheeling across the football field while we rushed to her side.

Mimi stood in front of Melaney with her arms crossed and her face distorted with fury. "I heard Tyler is passing you notes in Calculus."

"So what?" Melaney shrugged and twirled a lock of her hair. "He's not your boyfriend anymore. He dumped you."

Wow! My best friend had guts.

Mimi's face turned redder than her gaudy scarlet lipstick. She leaned forward until her nose almost touched Melaney's. "We'll get back together soon! So stay away from him."

I gritted my teeth and growled, "Back off, Mimi."

Mimi twisted her head to glare at me with disgust. "Mind your own business, Fly Girl."

"Make me," I challenged, staring straight at her. This time I wasn't going to fly away. I clenched my fists, ready for a fight.

"I should squash an annoying insect like you," Mimi threatened, moving her face so close to mine I could see the creases in her purple eye shadow.

Someone needed to teach her that less is more in cosmetology.

"And I should redecorate your face," I proposed. After all, black and blue were my favorite colors.

"Don't bother," Melaney said, grabbing my arm and pulling me backward. She shoved her body between me and Mimi. "I'm not interested in Tyler, okay? The notes are for official FBLA business. That's all."

A whistle shrilled. "Do the three of you need to go to the office to cool off?" Mrs. Wynn asked.

Mimi and I took a step back. All three of us shook our heads.

"Good. Get dressed and line up to go outside," Mrs. Wynn instructed.

Saved by the whistle!

Mimi, Heather, and Stacey retreated to their bench, for now.

Melaney let out a loud sigh of relief. Emily and I stared at her in amazement, impressed by her courage. We put on our gym clothes in silence. We might soon regret our actions, but the victory was still sweet.

We each grabbed a pedometer, stood in line for attendance, and walked out to the track. The cheerleading trio chose to play volleyball on the football field. Tyler and Todd were at a different net. We watched Mimi spike the ball into someone's head.

Emily rubbed her head in sympathy. "Ouch! You have to be completely crazy or absolutely brave to stand up to Mimi Holt."

"Someone needed to push her off her pedestal," Melaney declared. "She doesn't own Tyler."

"But she's like a toddler. Once she touches something, she thinks it belongs to her forever," I explained. "She'll never allow anyone else to date Tyler, unless she finds another boy-toy to distract her, then she'd be too busy to plan her revenge against us."

"We have to stay positive," Melaney affirmed. "At least, Mimi doesn't know Tyler likes you, not me."

"Thanks, but you don't have to be a martyr for me."

"That's what friends are for," Melaney insisted, walking faster. "We better pick up the pace, so we complete enough steps today."

We started jogging around the track. I tried to focus on positive thoughts. Tyler was still interested in me.

On Wednesday in Calculus, Tyler had given Melaney a note with my name on the front. Inside, it had two words, TEXT ME, and his ten digit phone number. At lunch, I wrote back: Sorry, I don't own a cell phone, and I'm still grounded. Melaney gave my note to him today in Calculus. One of Mimi's spies must have witnessed the transactions and told her before gym class.