Chapter 16:
Josh and I didn't talk once on the way to the movie, and when we got there the only words exchanged was a short argument over which movie to see. I won. Ha! And also made Josh buy the tickets. He owed me after all.
While he was buying them I walked around looking at the movie posters, I was so engrossed in that activity that I wasn't really looking where I was going.
"Ouch!" A voice belonging to the blue shirt, I'd just walked into, said.
I glanced up, way up (Why am I so darn short?) to see one of my classmates. "James! Hi" I said smiling "Sorry about that"
"That's ok" He smiled back, kinda goofily. I wonder what that's about.
"Here's your popcorn" Josh suddenly appeared at my side and handed me a large bag of popcorn. He then noticed James. The look on his face warned me it could be a repeat of yesterday. I shot him a look which clearly said 'BE NICE!'
He ignored me and sized up James "James" He said nodding.
"Josh" James nodded too.
Ok, there was some serious tension here.
"Which movie are you going to?" I asked. So I was desperately trying to distract the two from the angry looks they were shooting each other.
"Attack of the clones" He said holding up his ticked "You?"
"Same!" I said grinning.
"Oh brother" Josh muttered. Thankfully only I heard him.
"Why don't you come sit with us?" I asked. I glanced over at Josh who's face was getting redder and redder by the second.
"That'd be great" James said happily.
"Woah!" Josh stepped forward "You can't sit with us!"
"Why not?" James took a step towards him and the two glared at each other angrily.
"Whatever" Josh finally caved and walked towards the theater angrily.
---Melanie---
'Not this time, not this time.' 3LW chanted on the radio as Mary-Kate and I drove to the Mall.
"So, what's it like being a mother?" I asked her, not turning, since I was driving.
"It's Great! I love it!" Mary-Kate glanced at her daughter affectionately "I never knew I could love someone so much"
I felt happy for my friend but that song was really getting to me. I couldn't catch it all, but I could catch enough.
The other night when I was out with my friends. And we were chilling at the club when you walked in. You'd said you were staying home, but here you come you're not alone. Tell me what the hell is going on!
Mary-Kate was busy making faces at Anna who was laughing happily, and I was listening to a song with more interest then I had before.
Baby what goes around always comes back around. She'll be the one to bring you down
How could I be with someone like you? After all of the things that you put me through. How could you lie? Looking straight in my eyes. Sorry baby not this time.
Here I am. All alone wondering where it all went wrong. Guess my love was not enough for you to stay...
Can't believe you did my wrong. Why? Should have known so now I'm gone. All the things I did for you and all the things you told me too. Telling me you want stay with me, but all along you was playing me. But the games gotta stop this time. It wasn't before but not this time.
Why was this song getting to me so much?
With all my trust and every little kiss. I can't believe you played me. Oh!
Quick as anything I reached over and turned the radio off. Mary-Kate glanced at me.
"You ok?" She asked.
"Fine!" I said forcing a smile, but inside I was freaking out. Was Malcolm cheating on me? Or was I just imaging it?
---Josh---
This was beyond annoying.
The ENTIRE movie Amy and James had been giggling and whispering together. I was left all alone, the third wheel like some major loser.
"Forget this!" I muttered. I got up and tried to squeeze past Ashley who was leaning in close to James and whispering something.
"Where are you going?" She only noticed me when I tripped and almost sat on her.
"Out" I snapped.
She recoiled a bit, then looked annoyed "Fine! Later!" She waved and made a face, major attitude there. She then went back to James. Ugh the two made me sick.
I staggered out of the theatre and leaned against a wall outside.
So I hadn't expected this movie to be as great as the last one we went to, but could it be worse?
---Zac---
I sat on the sofa, unbelievably fighting the urge to bite my nails, UGH! How girlish.
I had no idea where Mary-Kate was. It was really strange she hadn't left a note.
Maybe I should call the police.
Or maybe she's just gone out with a friend.
Or maybe she's been kidnapped.
That's it! I'm calling the police.
---Melanie---
The more I thought about the whole Malcolm thing, the more suspicous I became. So suspicious that I decided to do a little spying.
"Hey Kate? Would you mind going to Watcher mall instead?" I asked her. Watcher mall 'happened' to be the one Malcolm had decided to go to 'claiming' he needed to get a new wallet.
"Isn't that where Malcolm's going?" She asked with a wink. She of course had no idea what was going on between us.
I nodded
"Miss him already" She laughed. I decided not to respond to that
***
My worst fears were unfortunately confirmed.
I had been looking at a clothes rack, while waiting for Mary-Kate to finish in the bathroom, when I noticed Malcolm across the street. And like the song said 'you're not alone' He was holding hands with some blond. Just Great! There was no way that was a 'just friends' holding hands. I knew that for sure when he leaned down and kissed her. REALLY kissed her.
This.. is.. not.. happening!
Chapter 17:
|
"Woah" I said walking up to Melanie "That isn't...?"
She nodded angrily "Malcolm. The jerk"
I glanced over at Malcolm and the girl. They'd finally pulled apart from the long kiss they'd been sharing and were now continuing walking through the mall. "What are you going to do?" I asked Mel.
She though for a moment "Confront him" And with that she started across the mall towards him.
"Wait! Mel are you sure you want to do that" I called running after her
"Positive!" She yelled back to me over her shoulder.
Malcolm heard and recognized her voice. He turned, a guilty expression covering his features "Mel..." He quickly pulled his hand back from the girls and walked over to her "Hey" He tried to act like nothing had happened.
Mel decided to go along with it "Who's she?" She asked pointing to the girl.
"Her?" Malcolm stalled "She's um... uh, my sister!" He smiled proud of himself.
The girl walked up to Malcolm "Excuse me?" She asked angrily.
Malcolm was cornered.
Melanie nodded "Have fun with sugarlips" She said to Malcolm before spinning around and walking back over to where I was. "Forget him!"
I put an arm around her "Come on, lets go get some Ice cream"
Hopefully junk food would distract her.
---Melanie---
"The Jerk" I said. Mary-Kate must be getting sick of me, cause that was like the 10th time I'd said that in the last hour.
Mary-Kate just nodded in agreement and continued to feed Anna her bottle. "You wanna get out of here?" She asked when she'd finished "Zac's probably home by now and I forgot to leave a note"
I nodded.
---Mary-Kate---
I waved good-bye to Melanie as she drove away, then turned to the house and started walking. Why was their a police car in the driveway?
The back door flew open and Zac came flying out, a police man followed him.
I put Anna's carrier down on the ground and waited for him to reach me "Zac what's going-" I started but was interrupted when he threw his arms around me, almost knocking me over from the sudden impact.
"I was so worried" he whispered into my ear.
"Zac, Ow!" He was hugging me so tight it hurt. I gently pushed him away then glanced at the policeman. "What's going on?" I asked.
"I thought you'd been kidnapped" Zac explained "What happened?"
I went pale. Oops.
"I, uh, went shopping with Melanie" I said quietly.
Zac stared at me in shock. "WHY DIDN'T YOU LEAVE A NOTE?!"
The policeman must have seen the on coming fight and decided to make his departure. Zac didn't even notice the car driving away.
"I... forgot" I said quietly. I picked up Anna's carrier and started for the house.
"Oh, well that's ok then" Zac said sarcastically "You forgot"
I turned to him "I'm sorry" I said quietly.
"Whatever" He brushed past me and walked into our room, closing the door behind him.
Well that went well!
Without even realizing it I found myself walking over to the phone and ringing Michael. I told him what happened and he was sympathetic. Then I happened to mention Malanie.
"Melanie's back in town?" He asked surprised, I heard a little scream from him then a bang.
"You ok?" I asked concerned.
"Fine!" I said quickly "The chair just, uh,.. fell over"
Ooooooooook!
---Melanie---
After dropping Mary-Kate off I tried to decide what to do next. Malcolm had made all the arrangements for the trip so I didn't even have anywhere to stay that night. Oh well, guess I could stay at a Motel, not like I can't afford it. But first, I felt myself drawn to a certain ice cream shop, Basken Robins. Don't ask me why!
---Malcolm---
So Mel's back. Why on earth should I care? I do though.
I need junk food.
I grabbed my jacket and wondered around looking for somewhere to eat, I eventually found myself at the door of... Basken Robins
And was I ever in for a surprise!
---Melanie---
I heard the bell ring, signaling someone had entered the shop. Out of curiousity I glanced up, and my eyes met the persons. I took in a sharp breath.
Michael.
And I look hideous.
The whole Malcolm thing had been getting to me and I'd been crying a little. I quickly wiped my eyes and looked away from him.
---Michael---
Ugh!
Maybe I'm just too nice a guy
Maybe I'm too curious
Or maybe I'm still not over Mel
Whichever reason it was, I found myself walking over to her. I had to find out what was wrong and see if there was any way I could help.
Chapter 18:
|
Oh please tell me he isn't coming over here. I glanced down at my ice cream, which had melted miserable and now more resembled a milkshake then a Sunday. Hmmm, maybe that's why you're not supposed to wait an hour before eating them. I ran my spoon through the soup pondering that thought. I was however, interrupted by the very last person I wanted to talk to right now.
I took a deep breath and glanced up, right into the concerned eyes of Michael.
"Hey" he said softly "can I sit here?"
I tried to think up an excuse to say no. But there wasn't one. I was sitting at a four seater table, and considering the restaurant was full it would be cruel not to allow him a seat. I shrugged.
He took that as a yes and sat down. He fiddled with the table cloth for a few minutes, then finally said something "Are you ok?" He asked.
How is it that whenever you want someone to talk to, someone to understand you're upset. No one realizes. But then when you don't want to talk about it, and don't want concern everyone notices it?
"No" I whispered shaking my head and looking down, as a tear escaped my eye and landed on the table cloth.
"Oh Mel" He reached out and put his big hand over my small one.
It felt good and comforting, but for some reason I pulled my hand back as if he'd stung me, "Please don't" I choked leaning as far away from him as I could.
"I'm sorry" he said gently. He looked extremely uncomfortable. A silence soon settled in, he was probably trying to think of something to say without upsetting me more, and I was just wishing he'd go away.
---Josh---
I impatiently kicked the wall waiting for Ashley to get back. A passing janitor gave me a warning look. I winced and sank to a sitting position leaning against the wall. Where was that girl? The movie finished an hour ago. And it was only a half hour trip back to the school.
Finally her familiar blond head appeared in sight at the end of the hall. She saw me and rolled her eyes.
"What do you want?" She asked not looking at me as she unlocked her dorm door.
"To talk to you" I said getting up from the floor.
"So talk" She said opening the door and walking in.
"Can I come in?" I asked leaning in the door a little, but not taking a step in.
"Whatever" She called over her shoulder as she walked into her room and dumped her purse and jacket there. She then walked over to the sofa, picked up the remote and turned to MTV.
"Where have you been?" I asked sitting on the other end of the sofa.
"I don't think that's really any of your business" She said not taking her eyes from the television set.
"Don't bite my head off, I'm just being a concerned friend" I sat putting my hands up in protectioin.
"Well forgive me for knowing you don't have anything to be concerned about"
"Knowing?" I said disbelievingly "You know there's nothing for me to worry about? What do you even know about James?"
She turned to me for a second "My guess is more then you"
I felt a sense of deja-vu, this was reminscent of our first year of knowing each other. We always fought like this.
"Actually I know quite a bit about him." I said trying to hold back a smirk "Like the fact that he's had 5 girlfriends in the last two months. That he's only stayed in the school these four years because of his father. If it weren't for him he would have failed first year, considering he doesn't care in the slightest about education. As far as he's concerened this is some dating ser-"
"Just stop there" Ashley said angrily. She jumped up from the coach and walked over to the door. "I am SICK of you interfering into my life. Who do you think you are? You are NOT my brother. You are NOT my boyfriend. You have NO right to behave like this!"
"I AM your friend and I think that gives me reason to be concerned about you" I said earnestly. I got up and walked over till I was standing a foot or so in front of her.
She just glared at me, but I hardly noticed. I had to keep working to keep my mind of her lips which I so wanted to kiss.
"Just go" She said interrupting my thoughts.
I gave her a pleading look. Begging her not to do this, not to force me from her life. She just ignored it and held the door open.
"Fine" I said walking over to it "But don't expect to be able to come crying to me again" I said and walked out the door.
There was an echoing slam as the door closed. I sighed and walked down the hall, shoulders slumped.
---Michael---
I'd been at the Ice cream parlor for more then an hour and Melanie had shared very few words. I couldn't leave though. Not till I knew what was bothering her. Who had hurt her.
I glanced out the window to where dusk was settling in over the city streets. People were closing their shops and heading home for the night. Soon the parlor would close and we would get kicked out.
"Feel like a walk?" I asked Melanie.
I waited for an angry No. But the only answer I got was a small, almost unnoticable nod.
Chapter 19:
I spent hours in our room, just fuming about the whole thing. But as the night wore on the more my anger died, until all I was left with was a feeling of sadness at guilt.
There came a small quiet knock at the door.
"Come in" I answered trying to keep my heart from leaping out of my body.
Mary-Kate walked in and shot me a quick sad look. "I'm just getting some stuff" She said quietly. "I'll sleep on the couch tonight" She walked over and grabbed her pillow from the bed I was sitting on.
"No, Mary-Kate" I said quietly. I reached out and took her hand pulling her onto my lap "I'm sorry, I overreacted, I was just so worried"
She looked down at her hands and I thought she wasn't going to answer me. She finally looked up at me, and I could see tears welling in her eyes one ran down her cheek and feeling a pang of sadness I reached out and brushed it away.
"I love you" I whispered into her ear hugging her to me.
Her arms wrapped around me tightly and her body shook with small sobs "I love you too" She whispered.
We sat there for quiet some time, I comforted her as she cried and determined that things would get better. We seemed to spend most of our time together fighting and that wasn't something I wanted.
We eventually crawled into bed and I wrapped my arms around her. We fell asleep content and happy.
And I remained determined for things to change.
---Michael---
Darkness soon fell. But the park was well lit and it wasn't any worry to me. All I cared about was what was upsetting Mel.
"Mel, please talk to me" I said glancing at the sad girl walking at my side.
It was amazing, we were walking side by side, our shoulders almost touching. But we couldn't have been more far apart.
She sighed quietly "I just had a bad day. I'll be ok"
"What happened?" I put a guiding hand on her shoulder and led her to a nearby bench.
She sat down and looked up at me. "Malcolm cheated on me" she said quietly. She went back to examining her hands.
I felt anger burning inside me "The Jerk" I said angrily."How dare he hurt you like that?"
She looked at me sharply "Don't act so righteous" She said. "You hurt me more then he ever did"
I felt like she'd just stabbed me and no matter how hard I tried I couldn't say anything in my defense.
She shook her head, stood up and walked away.
I just sat there, feeling like the worlds biggest jerk.
My self pity session was interrupted however, when I heard Melanie scream.
---Josh---
I aimlessly wandered around the school campus. I didn't want to go back to my dorm and I didn't have anywhere else to go.
What was it with Ashley and I's relationship?
Would it ever be simple?
Would it ever even exist?
---Melanie---
The guy appeared out of nowhere and grabbed at my bag. I swung it out of his reach and backed up quickly. There was a flash from a knife and I turned and ran, a scream escaping me as I did so.
Michael must have heard my scream cause he suddenly appeared in front of me "Run!" I called.
We ran and ran unti we realized something. We'd left the park and run into a dead end ally.
I spun around to see the formidable figure in black blocking the exit, the knife reflecting the moonlight and sparkling in his hand.
Michael moved in front of me, protectively shielding my body behind his.
The figure moved toward us
"listen man, we don't want any trouble. We'll give you the money" Michael said. He pulled his wallet from his pocket and threw it at the guy.
The figure kept moving and in the moonlight I could see an evil, mad grin on his lips.
He lunged at Michael who let out a scream as the blade connected with his flesh.
I backed away, unable to do anything to help but pray. And almost like an immediate answer to prayer there was the sound of a nearby siren. Michael's attacker backed away then ran from the alley. My whole body shaking I rushed over to where Michael was lieing on the ground, tears running down my face.
Chapter 20:
|
I spent hours in our room, just fuming about the whole thing. But as the night wore on the more my anger died, until all I was left with was a feeling of sadness at guilt.
There came a small quiet knock at the door.
"Come in" I answered trying to keep my heart from leaping out of my body.
Mary-Kate walked in and shot me a quick sad look. "I'm just getting some stuff" She said quietly. "I'll sleep on the couch tonight" She walked over and grabbed her pillow from the bed I was sitting on.
"No, Mary-Kate" I said quietly. I reached out and took her hand pulling her onto my lap "I'm sorry, I overreacted, I was just so worried"
She looked down at her hands and I thought she wasn't going to answer me. She finally looked up at me, and I could see tears welling in her eyes one ran down her cheek and feeling a pang of sadness I reached out and brushed it away.
"I love you" I whispered into her ear hugging her to me.
Her arms wrapped around me tightly and her body shook with small sobs "I love you too" She whispered.
We sat there for quiet some time, I comforted her as she cried and determined that things would get better. We seemed to spend most of our time together fighting and that wasn't something I wanted.
We eventually crawled into bed and I wrapped my arms around her. We fell asleep content and happy.
And I remained determined for things to change.
---Michael---
Darkness soon fell. But the park was well lit and it wasn't any worry to me. All I cared about was what was upsetting Mel.
"Mel, please talk to me" I said glancing at the sad girl walking at my side.
It was amazing, we were walking side by side, our shoulders almost touching. But we couldn't have been more far apart.
She sighed quietly "I just had a bad day. I'll be ok"
"What happened?" I put a guiding hand on her shoulder and led her to a nearby bench.
She sat down and looked up at me. "Malcolm cheated on me" she said quietly. She went back to examining her hands.
I felt anger burning inside me "The Jerk" I said angrily."How dare he hurt you like that?"
She looked at me sharply "Don't act so righteous" She said. "You hurt me more then he ever did"
I felt like she'd just stabbed me and no matter how hard I tried I couldn't say anything in my defense.
She shook her head, stood up and walked away.
I just sat there, feeling like the worlds biggest jerk.
My self pity session was interrupted however, when I heard Melanie scream.
---Josh---
I aimlessly wandered around the school campus. I didn't want to go back to my dorm and I didn't have anywhere else to go.
What was it with Ashley and I's relationship?
Would it ever be simple?
Would it ever even exist?
---Melanie---
The guy appeared out of nowhere and grabbed at my bag. I swung it out of his reach and backed up quickly. There was a flash from a knife and I turned and ran, a scream escaping me as I did so.
Michael must have heard my scream cause he suddenly appeared in front of me "Run!" I called.
We ran and ran unti we realized something. We'd left the park and run into a dead end ally.
I spun around to see the formidable figure in black blocking the exit, the knife reflecting the moonlight and sparkling in his hand.
Michael moved in front of me, protectively shielding my body behind his.
The figure moved toward us
"listen man, we don't want any trouble. We'll give you the money" Michael said. He pulled his wallet from his pocket and threw it at the guy.
The figure kept moving and in the moonlight I could see an evil, mad grin on his lips.
He lunged at Michael who let out a scream as the blade connected with his flesh.
I backed away, unable to do anything to help but pray. And almost like an immediate answer to prayer there was the sound of a nearby siren. Michael's attacker backed away then ran from the alley. My whole body shaking I rushed over to where Michael was lieing on the ground, tears running down my face.