Melinda’s Story

As the sun set, the warm day grew progressively colder until it reached the point where I was shivering. Eliot put an arm around my shoulders to warm me, but it didn’t help that much.

By halftime, Hartfield was losing miserably. I didn’t see the point in staying for the second half. Walter must have felt the same way.

“Why don’t we go get supper? I’m hungry and don’t want to pay for MAC food.”

I nodded. “S-sounds g-good. I hate to leave, but I’m not really enjoying the game anymore.”

Eliot nodded. “I’m game.”

“I need my coat, though. I’m freezing.”

Walking to the dorms did help warm me slightly. We wove our way around the cars in the overflow area and crossed the intersection, cutting through the field to Woodward.

I turned to the boys. “You guys can come inside, but I’m not getting coed. You need to stay in the common room.”

They shrugged and followed me inside. I rushed inside, grabbed a light jacket, and raced back down the stairs.

“Okay. Food.”

As we crossed the street, Eliot turned to me. “So, what are you doing tomorrow? I mean, I know you’re going to church, but then what?”

I shrugged one shoulder. “I dunno yet. Figured I would just see how it goes.”

Walter smiled. “I should make you watch football with me. Then maybe I can actually watch a game.”

Eliot frowned. “You want to go to the mall?”

I shook my head. “I can’t. The shuttle isn’t running this weekend. We can meet up in town if you want, but I don’t know what there is to do, other than eat.”

Eliot was silent the rest of the way to the dining hall. I had a feeling he was considering my suggestion. He shrugged as Walter held the door for us. “I’ll let you know.”

After six weeks at Hartfield, I had forgotten how intimidating the dining hall could appear, with its high ceilings and dark wood.The round wooden tables were nearly empty, since most students had gone home for the weekend, bu there was a fire in the fireplace to ward off the chill.

Eliot was looking around in awe. I took his hand, gently guiding him past the closed sandwich bar and around the two salad bars to the small room on the opposite side of the hall.

After showing Eliot where to grab his tray, I showed him all the options. Unfortunately, the hot entrée was stuffed shells. I steered clear of those. I made sure to show him the dessert case, since the cookies were always delicious.

I left Eliot to his own devices and headed to the grill, requesting a grilled cheese. The server and I chatted while she cooked. When it was done, she placed it on a plate and wished me a good weekend.

I brought my tray to the beverage island and looked around. Eliot was hovering near the pasta station, looking a little lost.

“Eliot.”

When he turned to me, I saw relief wash over his face. I pointed to the dispensers. “Grab a drink.”

While I was filling my glass, Walter approached with a plate of stuffed shells. He wordlessly dumped it on my tray and walked away.

Eliot pointed to my tray with raised eyebrows. “Um, what was that?”

I smiled. “Wait for it.” A moment later, Walter added two glasses of my water to my tray before disappearing.

I shook my head as I led Eliot to my usual table. “Walter has a habit of eating more food than fits on a tray. He used to ask if he could share my tray. Since I always say yes, at some point, he just stopped asking.”

Walter was already at the table. As I put my tray across from him, I spotted his salad. “That looks pretty good. I’m gonna grab one.”

When Eliot followed me, I turned to him. “You want salad, too?”

“Actually, I was looking for a fork.”

I giggled, pointing to the servery. “They’re over where you got your tray. Would you mind grabbing one for me?”

“No problem.”

When I returned to the table, Walter had removed his things from my tray and was shoving food into his face. Eliot twirled his spaghetti onto his fork.

“So, you guys don’t eat like this every day, right? This is just because the parents are here?”

I grimaced as I watched Walter cut into his stuffed shells with the side of his fork. “No, actually, the usually serve us better food. I wouldn’t eat those.”

I was too late. Walter had already taken a bite. “Why nuh? Ugh!” He quickly grabbed a glass of water and drank deeply. “That’s the first food I’ve had here I didn’t like.”

I turned back to Eliot. “Usually, the food here is really good. They just can’t seem to get the stuffed shells right. I guess they figured not a lot of people would be around for dinner.”

Eliot shook his head. “Wow. Our cafeteria serves frozen fish sticks. Like, they’re still frozen when they serve them.”

“Eww.”

“Yeah, pretty much. I started bringing lunch on my second day. I thought people would make fun of me, but it turns out nearly everyone brings lunch.”

I nodded towards him. “How was the math meet?”

“A lot of fun. Drew and Melissa both say hi.”

I smiled as I thought of my former classmates. Eliot spent most of the meal describing the competition.

I took a sip of my water. “That sounds like fun. That’s sad.”

Walter shrugged. “Well, you’re a math geek.”

I made a face. “You’re just jealous because you have to copy my homework to pass your math class.”

He hit me playfully on the shoulder as he stood. “More food.”

I saw Eliot watching Walter leave before he turned to me.“Does he really copy your homework?”

I shook my head. “Nah. It’s just this running joke we have. For most of our classes, we do the work on our own and compare our answers. I’m usually faster at math, so I tease him about copying. But, he could probably say the same to me in pretty much every other subject.”

“You guys get along really well.”

“When Joey and I were little, we used to have a lot of fun together. When Joey was getting ready to start middle school, my mom decided we were finally old enough to stay home alone while she helped my dad at the office. He was ten, I was twelve. We spent every day playing cards or video games together. When my mom got home, we’d go ride our bikes. We had a lot of fun. It was the first time since we were really felt like my friend.That’s how I feel about Walter. Except, I think I might like him a little better than Joey. Then again, Walter’s never hit me or bitten me or thrown upon me.”

“Your brother threw up on you?”

I giggled. “We were at an amusement park on that spinning teacup ride. Joey has this need to make things spin as fast as possible. Usually, I can stand it, but that day we had just eaten lunch. I tried to get him to slow down, but he wouldn’t. As soon as we got off the ride, I was sick. I managed to throw up in the bushes, but he saw me. He threw up on me. I cried for hours.”

“How old were you?”

I shrugged. “It was this past summer.”

Eliot laughed. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t laugh.”

I shrugged. “Nah, it’s a funny story. Now. If you had laughed that week, I probably would have been mad. Which may be why I never told anyone about it. Not even Brittney and Casey.”

“Do you still talk to them? After what happened last time you went home?”

I shook my head. “No. Whoever I saw during long weekend, they’re not my friends. My friends are gone. Maybe someday they’ll be back, but for now, they’re gone.”

I saw Eliot check the his phone as Walter returned to the table with another full tray of food.“When’s your aunt picking you up?”

Eliot was eyeing Walter’s tray. He was obviously distracted as he answered. “My uncle. About eight. Do you eat like that every meal? How are you not three hundred pounds?”

Walter laughed. “I have a high metabolism. Coach had me in for most of my game today. I need to make up for all those calories I lost.”

I checked the time. Eliot didn’t have much time before he had to leave. “Where’s your uncle picking you up? I was thinking we could go for a walk.”

“He said where he dropped me off, but to let him know if I ended up anywhere else. I thought he meant if I went into town. I guess he knew that there were a bunch of buildings at your school.”

I smiled. “Let’s go to the Arts Center. That’s right across from the MAC. He can park in either lot and you’ll find him.”

“Works for me.”

I turned to Walter. “You mind if we leave you?”

Walter shook his head. “I’m almost done. My brother invited me over to watch a movie later. You can join us if you want. I’ll text you his dorm room.”

“I’m going to pass. I’ve met him once. I’m not going in an upper form dorm at night. There’s just something wrong about that.”

Eliot pointed to the dishes and trays scattered around the table. “Um, what do we do with all this?”

I giggled. “Well, we leave Walter’s half for him to clean up. I’ll show you where to bring your stuff.”

We loaded our trays and I led him to the dishroom, where I showed him how to deposit his utensils and trash in the appropriate receptacles before placing his tray on the belt. Then I led him through the senior section and down the front steps towards the Arts Center.

The path was lit by the stars overhead and the old-fashioned lamp lights along the path. Although I knew they probably had some sort of energy-efficient bulbs, their Victorian design made me feel as if I were in the early twentieth century, not the early twenty-first.

The lack of traffic, both pedestrian and vehicular, added to that stillness. The football game had ended, although there were still plenty of people near the field.

I led Eliot across the street, behind the dorms to the path I usually took when walking from my own dorm to the Art Center. When Eliot took my hand, I smiled at him.

“I’m glad you could visit today.”

“I had fun. Maybe we can do it again next weekend.”

I frowned. “I don’t think so. We have something called Service Day Saturday. I have no idea what that is, but I know there’s no games scheduled.”

“What about at night?”

I shrugged. “I’ll have to let you know. Your uncle’s gonna be here soon.”

I stopped in one of the archways at the Arts Center. A stray breeze carried a chill through my thin jacket. I shivered slightly.

Eliot stepped closer, rubbing his hands gently up and down my arms. “Cold?”

“Yeah. I guess I picked the wrong coat.”

He smiled. “Well, now you know for next time.” He leaned closer until his lips met mine.

My mind was racing during the short kiss. Eliot was much better at this than my ex, since he didn’t try to eat my face off. He kept his hands on my arms, pulling me slightly towards him. I had no idea what I was supposed to do with my hands, but they were more or less pinned to my side anyway, so I left them there.

Eliot’s lower lip seemed to fit perfectly between my own. He tasted like the dining hall cookie he had eaten for dessert.

Eliot pulled away gently with a smile. “I, um, better go look for my uncle. I’ll text you tomorrow.”

I returned his smile, watching him disappear down the path towards the parking areas. He climbed into the first car across the street, which was idling with its interior lights on. I waited until the car had driven away before pulling out my phone to check the time.

I was planning on going to my room. But, Walter had texted me. He was watching television at the MAC with his brother and wanted me to join them. It wasn’t as if I had anything better to do.

There were two televisions suspended from the ceiling on the main level of the MAC, near the dance floor. Around each, three couches were shaped in a U. I found Walter and his brother lounging on the television near the front window. The third couch was occupied by a boy with spiky jet-black hair and dark eyes.

Pat held the remote to the screen, changing the channel as I approached. “Infomercial.” He changed the channel again.

I walked up behind them. “Hey.”

Walter sat up when he saw me. “Oh, hey. How was your date?”

I sat where his feet had been. “You were there for most of it. It was fine. What’re you doing?”

The other two boys were staring intensely at the screen.

The boy frowned. “Dracula.”

Pat shook his head slowly. “No. I know this.”

Walter snapped his fingers. “Zombie High.”

“No. I don’t see Meghan. She was in nearly every scene.”

“It’s Zombie High.”

“Dracula,” insisted the other boy.

I pointed to the screen. “Um, this is Murders in the Rue Morgue. We watched it in class last year when we studied Poe.”

“Mom,” Walter and Pat said in unison.

Pat turned to the boy. “What’s the score, Frank?”

Frank was looking at his phone. “You’re tied at two.”

I looked around. “What’re you playing?”

Walter smirked. “Frank’s bored. We’re channel surfing to see which McGregor has the most movies on air at the moment. Mom, Meghan, and Pat are all tied.”

I raised my eyebrows. “Really? You’ve found six movies in the last half hour?”

“Actually, I think it’s only been about ten minutes. And, it was only three. House Arrest had all three of them. Then there was Mother Goose Mysteries.”

“Oh, I used to love that show when I was little.” I sent Pat a curious look. “But, they were older.”

He sent me that smile that had helped make him famous. “Mother Goose and her detectives were older. Meghan and I played Hansel and Gretel in one episode. Of course, that’s the one that was on tonight.”

I shook my head. “This sounds like a really—Walter? What’s the word I’m looking for? Where you think you’re better than everyone.”

Walter smirked. “Egocentric? Narcissistic?”

“I was going to say self-centered. Idon’t know what those words mean.”

“Vainglorious? I always liked that word.”

Pat pointed to the opposite couch. “It was Frank’s idea. Oh, hey. Have you met my roommate? Melinda, this is Frank. Frank, this is Walter’s friend, Melinda.”

The boy lifted a hand in greeting. “Hi. Pete Wu. Nice to meet you.”

“I thought Pat said your name was Frank.”

“No, my name is Pete. Most of my friends call me Frank. As in Frankenstein.”

“Like the monster?”

“No, like the doctor that created the monster.”

“Do I want to know why?”

“Some people say he wanted to create life from nonliving things. I’m gonna go with he was bored.”

“Huh? I meant, why are you called Frankenstein.”

“I know. I was just messing with you. When we were third-formers, I built a robot using all recycled parts. His name was Frankenbot and he could respond to oral commands. Mrs. Freeman, my physics teacher, entered him in a robotics competition, and I won first place and a nickname.”

“That’s . . . pretty cool.” I meant it. I could never do anything like that.

“No, it’s nerdy.” Pat changed the channel to a movie I recognized instantly. He did too. “Oh, man! It’s that horrible beach party movie.”

Frank sat up a little in his seat. “Meghan!”

“That movie shouldn’t count. That movie shouldn’t exist.”

I shrugged. “I didn’t think it was that bad.”

“They kill Meghan in the first twenty minutes, just because she kissed Daniel. The should have killed him first. Then all the girls wouldn’t have died.”

Walter sent him a confused look. “But, then there would be no movie.”

“Exactly.”

I just rolled my eyes. Pat changed the channel to an animated sitcom. Pat held up the remote, but Walter shouted.

“Wait!”

Frank raised his eyebrows. “You don’t actually want to watch this, do you? It kills brain cells.”

“Wait for it.” The scene changed to an animated band playing to a sold out stadium. The lead guitarist looked a lot like Walter.

I squinted. “Is that . . .”

“Dad. It’s like, the first or second season. Before the show got really terrible.”

We played the game for the next half hour, until Pat declared an end. I had a feeling it was because he was in the lead, beating his mother by one point.

Walter gestured to the screen. “Great. Can we actually watch a movie now? I thought I saw a couple.”

Frank shook his head. “No way, man. Now it’s the sudden death round: on demand movies!”

I turned to Pat. “I want to pick the movie.”

He pursed his lips as he held the remote just out of my reach. “Is it going to be something sappy?”

“I’m watching tv with the guys. That means things need to blow up.”

Frank pointed to me with a smile. “I like this girl. She’s got good priorities.”

Pat tossed me the remote. I searched the on demand menu until I found something I thought the boys would enjoy. It was a movie Joey and I watched a few times over the summer. I scrolled to it, clicking on the movie just above it.

Bridesmaids in Love began to play.

Pat and Walter both turned to me. “No!”

“Hey, that’s not a McGregor movie!” Frank added.

Pat shook his head. “We’re done with that game.”

Walter nodded. “Never to be played again. And gimme that remote.” He reached across the couch, but I held it away from him.

“What? No one wants to watch this? But, it’s a nice, sappy chick flick.” I went back to the menu, selecting the movie beneath it.

Walter moved back to his side of the couch as Burn Rubber began to play. “Okay. You’re forgiven.”

Melinda’s Journal

Sunday, October 22

Walking through campus this morning felt like a ghost town. On a typical Sunday, Walter and I might see a few other students walking to the various churches in town for morning services. They are usually the same ones we see at breakfast later in the morning.

And then there’s the faculty. There are usually several families around by breakfast.

But this morning, I didn’t see a soul. It was eerie.

Are we the only people left on campus this weekend?

Pat’s Story

After the game, Frank and I grabbed a quick dinner in the dining hall. We found Walter at a table by himself. I sat beside him.

“This is just sad. Your lack of manners have driven all your friends away?”

Frank laughed and Walter even smiled as he shoved half a cookie in his mouth. “Melinda’s the only one around and she went for a walk with her boyfriend before he had to go home. So, what movie were you thinking?”

“Actually, since no one’s around, let’s head to the MAC,” Frank suggested. “We can watch whatever’s on tv.”

We found the place deserted. Walter sat on the couch facing the television while Frank and I lounged on the ones on either side. Frank took the remote and started flipping through the channel guide.

“Man, there’s nothing on.”

“This is sad,” Walter declared. “I just saw two Pat movies and one of Mom’s on that last screen alone.”

“Really?” Frank sat up a little. “Oh, I just thought of a great game.” He exited the menu and tuned to channel two. “Okay. So, I’m gonna channel surf and we’re going to see which McGregor has the most movies on at the same time.”

“This sounds stupid.”

Frank didn’t listen. He changed to channel three.

About ten minutes later, I had the remote and we were still playing the stupid game when I saw Walter’s friend come into the room out of the corner of my eye.

“Infomercial.” I changed the channel.

“Hey.” Melinda stood behind Walter’s couch as we studied the movie intensely.

Walter turned to her. “Oh, hey. How was your date?”

She sat beside him.“You were there for most of it. It was fine. What’re you doing?”

“Dracula,” Frank decided.

“No. I know this,” I said slowly.

Walter snapped his fingers. “Zombie High.”

I shook my head. “No. I don’t see Meghan. She was in nearly every scene.”

“It’s Zombie High,” insisted Walter.

“Dracula,” Frank persisted.

Melinda pointed at the screen. “Um, this is Murders in the Rue Morgue. We watched it in class last year when we studied Poe.”

“Mom,” Walter and I announced at the same time as Frank marked his phone.

I turned to my roommate. “What’s the score, Frank?”

“You’re tied at two.”

“What’re you playing?” Melinda sent us confused looks.

My brother smirked. “Frank’s bored. We’re channel surfing to see which McGregor has the most movies on air at the moment. Mom, Meghan, and Pat are all tied.”

“Really? You’ve found six movies in the last half hour?” Was that disapproval I heard in her tone? Or just surprise?

“Actually, I think it’s only been about ten minutes. And, it was only three. House Arrest had all three of them. Then there was Mother Goose Mysteries.”

“Oh, I used to love that show when I was little.” Melinda looked right at me. “But, they were older.”

I smiled at her. “Mother Goose and her detectives were older. Meghan and I played Hansel and Gretel in one episode. Of course, that’s the one that was on tonight.”

“This sounds like a really—Walter? What’s the word I’m looking for? Where you think you’re better than everyone.”

Walter smiled. “Egocentric? Narcissistic?”

“I was going to say self-centered. I don’t know what those words mean.”

“Vainglorious? I always liked that word.”

The last thing I wanted was for her to think I was some egotistical celebrity. “It was Frank’s idea. Oh, hey, have you met my roommate? Melinda, this is Frank. Frank, this is Walter’s friend, Melinda.”

Frank smiled. “Hi. Pete Wu. Nice to meet you.”

“I thought Pat said your name was Frank.”

While I changed the channel, Frank went into the explanation of how he earned his nickname by building a robot our third form year. I had to admit, Melinda looked a little impressed.

“That’s . . . pretty cool,” she said when he finished.

“No, it’s nerdy.” I changed the channel again. “Oh, man! It’s that horrible beach party movie.”

“Meghan!” Frank said enthusiastically.

“That movie shouldn’t count. That movie shouldn’t exist.”

“I didn’t think it was that bad,” Melinda said.

“They kill Meghan in the first twenty minutes, just because she kissed Daniel. They should have killed him first. Then all the girls wouldn’t have died.”

Walter raised his eyebrows at me. “But, then there would be no movie.”

“Exactly!”

Melinda just rolled her eyes. I had no idea what she was trying to say. I hoped it wasn’t that I was some egotistical celebrity. I changed the channel to an animated sitcom. Obviously, we weren’t in that. Before I could change the channel, Walter put out a hand.

“Wait!”

“You don’t actually want to watch this, do you?” asked Frank. “It kills brain cells.”

“Wait for it.” Walter was looking intently at the screen. An animated band began to play to a sold out stadium.

“Is that . . .” Melinda began to ask.

“Dad,” Walter finished. “It’s like the first or second season. Before the show got really terrible.”

We played the game for another half hour or so until Frank announced I was beating Mom by one point.

I sighed. “Okay. I’m done with this game.”

 Walter pointed to the television. “Great. Can we actually watch a movie now? I thought I saw a couple.”

“No way, man,” Frank insisted. “Now it’s the sudden death round: on demand movies!”

“I want to pick the movie,” Melinda said.

I held the remote towards her, just slightly out of her reach. “Is it going to be something sappy?”

“I’m watching tv with the guys. That means things need to blow up.”

“I like this girl,” said Frank. “She’s got good priorities.”

I liked her too, I thought as I tossed the remote to Melinda. She scrolled through the on demand menu, selecting something called Bridesmaids in Love.

“No!” Walter and I shouted in unison.

“Hey, that’s not a McGregor movie,” Frank added.

“We’re done with that game,” I informed him.

“Never to be played again,” added Walter. “And gimme that remote.”

“What? No one wants to watch this? But, it’s a nice, sappy chick flick.” As Walter moved to take the remote from her, Melinda changed the movie.

“Okay. You’re forgiven.” He sat back in his seat as Burn Rubber began to play.