Gladys peeked around the corner to make sure Yukio wasn't at her locker anymore, then she waved Melissa on.
A moment later, Melissa opened her locker to find that all her possessions were gone, replaced by what she could only describe as souvenirs from another country. They must have been things that she brought over from Romania. One black and white photo showed Melissa and her family, plus an older woman who she recognized as her grandmother. But according to the setting of the photo, the picture must have been taken within the last five years. Melissa knew for a fact that her grandmother had died decades ago. Or had she? Part of Melissa seemed almost certain that her grandmother had survived and was even currently living with her family. But how she knew something like that was beyond her.
Suddenly, Melissa heard fighting. She turned around and saw Derek "The Stud" Lettman beating up that emo kid Steve Farber.
"I don't know how the school allows that," Gladys commented. "I don't much care for Steve either, but he doesn't deserve to get bullied like that. You know?"
To tell the truth, Melissa usually wouldn't have cared. But her current predicament had changed her views on a few things. She actually felt sorry for Steve. It was a weird feeling.
Melissa grabbed her books for her first period class and closed her locker door. "Vee go ... to period von ... yes?"
"Yes," Gladys said, nodding.
