Skinny by Laura L Smith Page B

hair.”
    Downstairs she moved methodically, toasting a blueberry bagel, skipping the cream cheese. She started to pour a glass of orange juice but, noticing the caloric content of an eight-ounce serving on the carton, stopped at half a glass. She filled the rest of the glass with filtered water from the fridge. Melissa pulled out a shiny silver teaspoon and stirred. The small spoon clanged against the glass four times. She sat down at the table and took small sips and bites, enjoying the sensible breakfast she had prepared.
    “See, I can still eat and be healthy and be on time for school.”
    As she loaded her dishes in the dishwasher, Mom and Dad came down still in their robes.
    “Good morning, Mel,” Dad mumbled as he shuffled his slippers toward the coffeemaker.
    “Good morning, sweetie.” Mom softly kissed the top of her head.
    Beep! Beep! Tanner’s horn blared from the driveway.
    “Good morning, good-bye.” Melissa laughed as she buttoned her coat. “Have a great day!” She felt good—really good. As she walked toward Tanner’s car humming in the driveway, she began strategizing how to get through the rest of her day.
    1.   She could get a sandwich and a banana at lunch. She would eat just half of the sandwich.
    2.   She would write down all of her homework assignments in one notebook, class by class, so she could gather all of the right books to take home from her locker and have a plan of attack after dinner.
    3.   She would stretch extra long after dance practice so she wouldn’t pull any muscles. She couldn’t afford to get hurt now, not with officer tryouts approaching.

Chapter Twelve
    M elissa got an A on her French paper, a 94 on her Algebra test, and successfully executed her lab in Chemistry. She placed a red check mark in her notebook next to “Chem Lab,” flipped the pen, slid the red plastic cap from the bottom, and replaced it firmly on the top. She slid the pen in the zippered pouch of her backpack, where she removed a green pen. She removed the lid, placed it on the bottom of the pen, and wrote, “Chem—Read Ch 18.” Her stomach growled. A hollow thud hit from inside. She told herself it was okay. In fact, the feeling excited her a little. She was on track and in charge. She only had one more class until lunch, and then she could eat a piece of fruit and half a turkey and tomato sandwich. Maybe today she’d buy an apple. Her mouth watered at the thought of the juicy sweet-mixed-with-tart flavor of the fruit. She replaced the green pen’s lid and zipped it safely in its home.
    Rrrriinng.
    “Class dismissed.” Mr. Dougherty smiled from behind his thin moustache.
    Melissa sucked in her stomach and strode out of the room.
    “Oops!” Running over her list of homework again in her head, she ran smack into someone. Tootsie Pops sounded like hailstones pelting pavement as they scattered across the tiled floor.
    “Sorry,” she pleaded without looking up as she dropped to her knees to salvage the suckers.
    “That’s all right,” came the familiar drawl.
    Beau. Melissa looked up. “Hey.” Her throat felt thick. Goosebumps tickled her arms. Her methodical manner melted. She dropped her gaze to the floor, not able to look into his soft brown eyes.
    “Let me help you, my lady,” Beau said with a fake bow. “What’s going on in that head that you don’t even see me?”
    “Sorry.” Melissa smiled and tilted her head. Her ponytail swooshed to the side. “How could I have not seen you? I’m just trying to figure out how I’m going to get through all of this homework. Crazy.”
    “Me, too.” Beau slid the last chocolate lollipop into the cardboard box. “Between basketball and school I haven’t been able to breathe.”
    Melissa stood with him. “Yeah, at least it’s Friday.” She widened her eyes. Maybe he would ask her out. Maybe everything was okay after all. She had been immersed in officer tryouts and school. Beau could be just as busy.
    “Melissa . . .”