Chapter 3. Leave or Let Go

In the school cafeteria the next day - Melody, Pedro, Sheldon and Gloria are sitting together. Not a glimpse of Karen. Sheldon says that she is just a bit late, because of her soccer training. Melody doesn't like this a bit.

And it was true, cus' in the cafeteria, Karen, after taking food, goes to sit down by Casey, Damon, Kirby, Mandy and Ted. The four kids turn their heads, staring at her surprisingly.

"Karen scares me..." Pedro whispers.

"Who doesn't she scare? She just left us, straight off." Melody says, resting her head in the palm of her hand and poking her food with the other.

"Oh." Gloria takes a bite out of her boiled potato. "She is still young, and is changing her social circle depending on what she is interested in."

Even Fatty is surprised by Karen's new place in the cafeteria. He, Cornelius and Melvin sits on the edge of the middle table. He is afraid that Karen will get revenge on him with the jocks now because she wasn't allowed to participate in the movie night. Or...

Other ideas came up in his head as well. Perhaps jocks would respect Fatty now that his sister is one of them. Was it that way - Fatty would certainly have status enough to be leader of the nerd-clique.

"Great game today or what?" Damon says with satisfaction.

"Yes, and we wouldn't have won it without Johnson's help!" Ted says and pushes Karen with his armbow in a joke-ish way.

"I was going to get more food, you want more Johnson?" Casey asks Karen.

"No thanks, but it was nice of you asking!" Karen responds cheerfully and continues her funny conversation with the jocks.

Melody can't take her eyes off her 'former' best friend who now have fun with others. Others which aren't like Melody herself.

She gets flashbacks about how it used to be between her and Karen before this occurred. When Fatty was in charge of the Funhouse - Melody and Karen were prohibited to be in there, but went in anyway and hid from him for fun. When they shopped various goods for Melody's mother, and drove around in carts over half of Bullworth Town. When they bathed in the sea of Old Bullworth Vale and Bif threw Karen from the bridge when she didn't dare to jump into the water.

They have been through a lot, and Melody now believes that this could be the end. But she don't want it to be.

After school, Karen walks into the Girls Dorm, as usual. She is humming a song while packing up books from her school bag, into the bottom of a drawer in her room.
Melody is behind her, leaning against the door end. She squints her eyes.

"Hrrm." she clears her throat, to catch the jock-girls attention.

Karen turns her head and smiles ...

"Oh hello, Melody."

... and then returns to the "sorting of books"-activity.

"Karen!" Melody yells loudly, with her fists clenched.

She stops sorting books and turns to her angry friend.

"Me or them?" Melody then says, and swallows a big lump of saliva.

"What are you talking about?" Karen asks, really worried.

"I said - me or your new 'friends'? Now it's time to choose."

"But Mel, I... they... I will not choose anyone over anybody..."

"I knew it. I simply knew it. Well, have fun with your new, buff, stupid friends." Melody's eyes start to tear, "Don't care about me, you never did anyway."

She starts crying and runs out of the room, out to the rainy schoolyard. Pushing Lola and Christy accidentaly on her way out.

Karen hurries to the window and watches her friend leave the schoolyard, through the gates. She rushes fast out to the schoolyard, but doesn't see Melody anywhere outside, and she has no idea where outside the academy Melody may have ran off to.

Very wet, Karen goes back to the Dorm, up to her room, and crawls into her bed. Then she closes her eyes and let the sleep get ahold of her.