"No- I'm fine. It hurts, but I'll be alright." Melissa responded softly, trying to gather herself. Her head was echoing with stupid thoughts, but she didn't want to worry Lucas any more. "I… I just need to be with you. I'll be fine in a few minutes."
Lucas nodded a bit. "Do you want to go into the lunchroom? Or should we go somewhere else?" He asked gently. "Whatever you need is okay."
"I… I don't think I want to go in there… not now…" Melissa whispered, lifting her head and glancing at the doors. "If… if you want to grab lunch for yourself… and meet me outside, I'd… I'd be okay with that.
"I don't want to leave you here alone, though… I can get something after school. It's fine." Lucas smiled softly down at Melissa.
"But… but you have practice." Melissa insisted softly, starting to pull back. "You… you can't really play on an empty stomach."
"I can just eat before I go out. I'll be okay, Mel." Lucas gently kissed Melissa's cheek. "You're my top priority right now."
"You're sure? I don't want you passing out, because of me…" Melissa whispered, holding on to his hands tightly.
"I'm absolutely certain. If I pass out, it's not your fault. I made this decision." Lucas laced his fingers with Melissa's and led her towards the door.
"But… you could get hurt again." Melissa replied weakly, coming up after him. "I don't want you getting hurt."
"I'd be okay… the guys are pretty used to dragging me to the nurse. I used to pass pretty frequently during practice when I was still living with my dad." Lucas shrugged.
Melissa, still unsure, dropped the subject with a light nod. "Alright… would you be upset if I went straight home after school?" She asked lightly, still holding on to his hand tightly.
"No, that's okay… I can walk back." Lucas smiled gently. "Whatever you're most comfortable with, I'm fine with."
"I just… I don't want to leave you. But I don't want to be here, longer than I have to." Melissa mumbled a little, lightly kicking at the ground as they reached the door to outside.
"And that's perfectly fine, Melissa. I don't want you to stay here if you're not feeling comfortable. Um… here." Lucas pulled out a few bills from his wallet and gave them to Melissa. "You can take the bus if you're not comfortable walking alone. And tell your dad what's going on."
Melissa glanced down to the money he had given her, and then back up to his face. "I- I can't… I can't take your money." She insisted, trying to give it back. "I don't want to take it. I'll feel awful."
"I want you to take it, Melissa. If you feel more comfortable walking, that's fine, but I want you to have the option." Lucas smiled and kissed Melissa softly.
Sighing softly, she nodded lightly and pocketed the money. With that done, she dropped her bag onto the steps of the school before wrapping her arms around him. "I don't deserve you."
"And I don't deserve you, darling…" Lucas returned the hug, resting his head against Melissa's. "You know I love you, right?"
"I- yeah… I know you love me." Melissa whispered, letting out a shaky breath. "And you know I love you?"
"Of course I do, Mel…" Lucas kissed Melissa again and pulled her close. "I just need to make sure you never forget."
Melissa leaned into him, sighing softly. "I don't think I'll forget… but don't feel like you're bugging me, by telling me." She whispered as she used him to stable herself.
Lucas nodded a bit. "Of course. I'll try to remind you as often as possible." He smiled gently and pulled her closer.
Melissa barely smiled back, her hold on him loosening. After a couple of seconds, she let out a shaky sigh. "I honestly feel like crying right now… why do I feel like crying?"
"Please don't cry." Lucas laughed softly, supporting most of Melissa's weight. "You'll make me cry too. But in all honestly, if you need to cry, it's not healthy to hold it back. Cry if you feel you need to, love. I'm here for you."
A slight smile pulled up, and she laughed a little. "If we were at home, or the clearing, I probably would. I'll be fine, until then." Melissa told him lightly, lifting her head to kiss him.
"We could always just sit out here until you felt better. I don't want you to repress things like that. It's not healthy."
"I know it's not, but what about classes? I can hold it back, but I can't just stop." Melissa mumbled a bit, swallowing down the lump in her throat.
"We can be a bit late, Mel… you'd be okay eventually. We can get you some water if you need it, too."
Melissa shook her head a bit, trying to relax. "I'll be fine. I just… I just need a few minutes. Preferably, with you holding me."
"Of course, Mel…" Lucas sat down on the steps with Melissa and held her close. "For as long as you need, love."