Episode 61: Scene Three
"Mel! Chantal!" Shannon yelled across the Gardens. "Over here!"
Mel and Chantal, hands intertwined, walked to Shannon. The strong winds had not been able to penetrate the beautiful landscape fully; little breezes ran between the bushes and flowers, but nothing more than that. All was so peaceful, which was why the Gardens had become such a popular spot for the teens.
Shannon had come to think about everything she was going through at the moment. Macie had departed earlier, which had left Shannon feeling alone and empty. For quite some time she had been feeling the urge to revert back to a habit she had been trying fiercely to rid herself of, so she had come to the Gardens in hopes of taking her mind off of it.
"This is most certainly a pleasant surprise. I haven't seen you in quite a while, girlie," Mel smiled. "Where've you been hiding yourself?"
"At the theatre," Shannon groaned. "Thank goodness summer theatre is finally over now. We had our last performance about an hour ago. Now I can finally focus on getting myself together before school starts."
Mel studied Shannon curiously. "Have you been having problems with...well, you know."
"Mel!" Chantal smacked Mel on the shoulder.
Shannon smiled faintly and looked towards the pebbly ground. "I'm not going to lie to you and say that I haven't. To tell the truth, that's why I'm here now. I had to come somewhere where I wouldn't have to think about anything. You forget about stress here."
"You're right," Chantal agreed. "It's absolutely amazing in here. If Mel would get off his lazy butt more often, we'd be down here all the time."
"Hey, now. I have things to do. Would you believe how much time summer band has been taking up? It's especially bad when you have an evil, dimented band director."
"That's right! Macie told me to ask you how the new band director is."
Mel put a finger to his chin as if he were in deep thought. "Hmm, let's see: he's cruel, sadistic, surreal, and Rosemary's baby all grown up. The man is seriously akin to the antichrist."
Chantal waved a disbelieving hand at her boyfriend. "Don't listen to him, Shannon. You know how much Mel likes to exaggerate."
"If you don't believe me, ask Karen or Jade. They have to deal with him too!"
"Anyways, I think I'm going to head on up to the dorms so that I can pack up all my stuff," Shannon said, getting up from her bench and brushing off patches of sand and dust off her rear.
"What?!" Mel and Chantal exclaimed in unison.
Shannon laughed at their suprised faces. She only shook her head when she couldn't get enough air to say anything. When she regained her ability to breathe, she said, "No! Didn't you receive the letter on your door about how everyone's going to have to move into the high school dorms?"
"Are you serious? When did you get that notice?" Chantal questioned.
"Like two days ago. I didn't really get it, Chloe did."
"Man, this is weird," Mel whispered, rubbing a hand against his forehead. His eyes projected his uncertainty about their upcoming change, but fear also tinged their light brown depths.
"What is?"
"Everything's changing. I never realized how much until now. This is going to be a whole new experience."
"You've got that right," Shannon mumbled.
"But I think we're ready for it. I mean, we've faced tougher things before. We practically know everyone at the Upper School; it's nowhere from where our buildings were. Besides, this is our time to shine, my friends. We can't let anyone or anything damper that."
"Thank you very much, Miss America," Mel teased.
"I wouldn't play if I were you, Mel. I think Chantal's right. We've gotta focus on what's coming up and not worry about change. Doesn't that one commercial say that change is good?"
"Sure...when you're talking about an over-priced soft drink."
"Lighten up, Mel. I say we just go full-speed ahead and forget everything else. This is our big chance, Mel. Please, for the love of God, don't blow it for us all."