Chapter Thirty-Two-Thank Goodness

Chapter Thirty-Two

Thank Goodness

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Alright, alright. Settle down! I propose a toast. To Melanie Wilkes, one hell of a girl. And to my amazingly hot girlfriend."

"Way to ruin the moment,dude."

"What? Audrey's hot." 

     Audrey put her face in her hands as she blushed. Melanie laughed next to her, throwing her head back.

"To Audrey!" she said.

"To Mellbells," Tommy replied,"and to my babe." He winked at Audrey. She shoved him. Melanie drank back the water that was in her hands, and Tommy cracked open his beer.

"You realize I'm FBI, right?" Melanie told him.

"You realize I don't care?" Melanie frowned.

"Fine. Take a week liver. See if I care. Go die."

"Melanie!" Audrey cried.

"I warned him! You can't say I didn't! And when you die, I will be the one over your grave saying,"I told you so.""

"You're terrible," Tommy said, but he was smiling. Melanie smiled to, and stretched out on her sleeping bag. She was wearing a red nighty, and Mammy was angry at the fact she was wearing that, and in front of boys who were spending the night. Phillip was there, and he assured Mammy no one would touch her, to which Melly blushed.

     Phillip brushed a few stray hairs from Melly's face and tucked them back into the messy, curly ponytail they belonged in. Melanie sighed without opening her eyes, savoring the touch. His hand touched the skin on her knee, just below where the hem of the dress was. Melanie opened her eyes and quickly pulled the hand away and she and her fiance locked eyes. Melanie's where sad, saying one thing: No.  Phillip frowned. He'd tried and failed over the last few days to seduce Melanie in any way possible. She caught on every time and rejected him.

"We have to do karaoke tonight," Audrey mused,"for Melly."

"Whatever," Melanie said, happy to yank her attention away from the awkward situation. "I'm just glad I passed."

"All A's," Niall whistled.

"I've never had all A's..." Zayn mused. Carla and Christine stared.

"Never?" asked the dark-headed Christine, like she couldn't believe it. Melanie laughed at her naivity.

 "Never, babe," Zayn replied. Niall grimaced.

Phillip interupted by plugging a few notes into the grand piano in the corner of the ballroom. Melanie frowned at the tune.

"Alexandre Desplat was my favorite," Melly sighed,"Daddy said it was crazy to like a composer that was still alive. It gave them a big head and he said it wouldn't make the music immortal. Because you have to respect the dead."

     Lightning streaked the sky as Melanie stared sadly out the huge windows. Phillip slipped away from the piano and next to Melly. She shivered.

"Are you cold?" he mumbled. The other's had gone into their own conversations, and for that Melanie was thankful.

"A little," she said, but she held a hand to stop him from unbuttoning his pajama top. "I'll survive," she said with a smile. He smiled back.

     There was a knock at the huge gold french doors before it swung open. Melanie scooted slightly away from Phil at that moment.

"Lights out, Miss Melly," Mammy frowned before closing the door and turning out the lights.

     A flash went off not far from Melanie's hair, and she yelped. Tommy smiled in the faint orange light before finding two or three candles, lighting the room and he clicked the lighter shut.

"Do I want to know why you have a lighter?!" Melanie growled.

"Probably not, babe," he said, smirking.

"Fine! Ruin your lungs too!"

"Melly!" Audrey cried. Melanie crawled into her sleeping bag, and sigh. Christine was already asleep, and Carla held a book close to her face. Niall was watching Christine. Zayn was talking to Niall, but he wasn't listening. Tommy had somehow managed against Audrey's protests and they were in one sleeping bag with his tongue down her throat.

"Ew," Melanie said. Phillip laughed, his deep voice ringing in her ear. His pink lips touched her bare shoulder and ran up to her neck. Melanie shivered and sighed. Phillip pinched shut the candle next to them, and their corner of the room went black. Melanie groaned, pushing him away.

"Don't..." she mumbled.

"Why?" he said, and she heard him slip into her sleeping bag before she felt him.

"Get out," Melanie pleaded softly, but his lips found hers again. His tongue ran along her red lips and burst into her mouth. His hands found her waist and were pulling her to him.

"J-just-ugh-stop!" Melanie shoved him away as hard as she could, which moved him back enough.

"Get out," she demanded. He stared at her, but obeyed. She rolled over away from him, but she didn't go to sleep. She shed a few tears and watched the sun creep over Ardely slowly. She listened to her fiance's breathing. No, she didn't sleep. When she slept, it was worse than any reality. Nightmares sticking to your eyelids and not being able to run...her constant curse. Her constant hell.

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"Good evening, Melanie."

"Mayor Barly," Melanie said, taking the older mans jacket.

"What's for dinner?"

"I haven't the slightest. I haven't spoken to Cal since this morning. He's been rather fatigued lately, getting older I suppose."

"I am not old!" Cal said, passing the pair in the dinning room.

"I said older, Cal. Everyone gets older."

"I am only in my 40s. Almost 50s. Not old."

"I know that, Cal," Melanie said smiling, straightening the chef's lapels.

"Thank you, Miss Melly," he said.

"And thank you, Cal."

"Supper won't be ready for a while, Miss Melly. Perhaps you should take our guest into the great room?"

"Of course," Melanie said,"Mayor Barly?" she said, her tone darkening at the name.

"My, my, Melly, this chair is just so comfortable!" he said sitting in the wooden chair opposite the one her mother sits in.

"Of course. I used to read in it often."

"Oh, do you want to swit-"

"No! No...I-I prefer this one, sir."

"It's your father's chair," he said plainly. Melanie looked at the carpet as if it might run away.

"Yes. Charlie normal sits here...but he's dining in his room tonight..."

The Mayor nodded.

"Well-Ah, Dr. Reid. How is our young genius tonight?"

Reid stopped on his way up the stairs looking like a deer in the headlights.

"Uh, fine, sir. You?"

"Oh, just fine! Why don't you join us for dinner, tonight?"

"I'd love to, sir."

"Great! C'mon, Melly. Let's see if supper's ready."

"Miss Melly!" Mammy yelled from upstairs. "The Vicomte is coming up the drive!"

"Alright, Mammy! I'll greet him!"

***

"Always delious, Dresella. You have quite a chef. Where ever did you find him?"

"He and Rene were childhood friends. He was down on his luck and we offered him a job. Melanie refuses to let him go and we've given him opportunities, but he chooses not to leave."

"He belongs here," Melanie said to her mother.

Dresella blinked. "Thank you for that, Melanie, dear."
"Melanie," the Mayor began cautiously,"have you considered the offer I gave you at all?"
Melanie stared at the pattern on the table cloth. "Yes, I have. I just..."
"It could really help, India. You have no idea the panic the towns people are in. If you could just calm them down, and get their minds off India, then maybe, in a little while, we can bring her back. If she's innocent."
"She is," Melanie said harder.
"Then there's no problem," he said. "So?"
Melanie looked across the table at Spencer. "What do you think?"
Reid cleared his throat,"Well, if you can calm down the towns people, and we prove India is innocent, then yes, I would. If you can play the part right."
Melanie nodded fiercely. "I'll play any part I need to. I'm bringing India back."
"India?"
They turned to see Charlie Wilkes in the door way as a glass fell to the floor in shatters.
"What about India?"
"I'm going to bring her back, Charlie. With the help of the mayor."
"What's the sudden interest?" Dresella asked, sipping her wine.
"I-I just know how much it means to Melly. That's all."
"Indeed..."
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"Well, how do I look?"
     Spencer turned toward Melanie and smiled.
She had on a pure white dress, which resembled Disney's Cinderella's all too much with glitter all over. It was sticking to her cheeks and and neck and eyes, and Spencer wasn't sure if she was supposed to resemble a fairy princess this much. Her hair was up in curls and her lips had been stained pink. Several times. A silver tiara decorated her head and she had to keep adjusting it. Her long black eyelashes were primped and curled, and her cheeks were painted pink.
"Beautiful," he said, hugging his friend. "Do you have glass slippers too?"
"Spencer Reid you are evil!" she frowned. "I'm so nervous," she said.
"Don't be. So, Chairwoman Peacekeeper?"
"That's the title they gave me. Apparently my formal title is now Lady Melanie Wilkes the Good. I guess that will get replaced with Vicomtesse in due time, anyway."
Reid tried hard not to flinch.
"Melly."
     Melanie turned to face her fiance and brother, both in their dress jackets with bars across the chest, tight pants, and knee boots. Phillip's jacket was navy and Charlie's was red.
"You two look so charming!" she said, hugging them both.
"Thank you, Lady Wilkes."
"That sounds terrible," Melanie said, wrinkling her nose. Phillip laughed and pulled her toward him.
"For India," she mumbled.
"For India," Phillip echoed. Charlie stayed silent.
"It's all an act. I'm an actress. I can handle this," she said, stalking off. She peaked her head out the window to see town square. They were standing in city hall, and Melanie was going to give a speech out on the balcony, the two boys flanking her sides, and another city official woman with her.
"What's up, kid?" she asked Melly. "I'm Amanda Morris. Press secretary."
"Melanie Wilkes."
"Well, I know that," said the woman. "Your daddy was the richest man in town."
Melanie frowned. "That's all you remember him for?"
"He was pretty good lookin' too. Whoop, we're on, kiddo!"
     She and Melanie stalked forward smiling, waiting on the entire town gathered on the square to quite down.
"Good evening!" Amanda called. "Now, I know you've all been on edge this week what with our current events."
"You mean murder by that awful whore parading around the country side?!" some man yelled, which started a riot.
"All of us have been worried sick! She's just looking for more people she can hurt!"
"Defaming our poor mayor. Our country! With her lies!"
"Citzens, please!" Melanie cried, stepping forward. The people quited at her sight.
"As terrifying as this is, can't we put aside our panic for one day? Let's celebrate the fact that now, we are all living and fine! C'mon, a celebration! Let's have a celebration the Wilkes way!"
"Don't you all want a day that's totally Witch free?" Amanda said. "Why don't we celebrate the instating of Melanie Wilkes as Chairwoman Peacekeeper! Anything to say, Wilkes?"
"We couldn't be happier, right dear?" she asked Phillip, who didn't respond. "Couldn't be happier. Look what we've got, a fairy tale plot. Our very own, happy ending. Where we couldn't be happier - True, dear? Couldn't be happier. And we're happy to share ,our ending vicariously.With all of you. He couldn't look handsomer. I couldn't feel humbler. We couldn't be happier. Because happy is what happens,when all your dreams come true!"
Amanda laughed,"Melanie, dear, we are happy for you. As press secretary, I striven to ensure that all of us knows the story of your braverism.

The day you were first summoned to an audience with the President, though he would not tell you why initially. When you bowed before him, he decreed you'd hence be know, as Melanie the Good officially. Then with a jealous squeal, India Hampton burst from concealment, where she had been lurking surrpetitially!"

The crowd gasped and Melanie flinched at the lie. The president of the US get her into the FBI? Please. Small town people have very small minds. But people weren't concerned with Melanie. They were concerned with what was on every one's mind...India.
"I hear she has an extra eye, which always remains awake!"
"I hear that she can shed her skin!"
"I hear some rebel anarchists are giving her food and shelter!"
"I hear her soul is so unclean, pure water can melt her!"
Charlie rose from his seat in anger.
"What?!"
"Please!" the crowd cried,"Some body go and melt her!"
"Do you hear that?" Charlie growled. "Water will melt her? People are so empty headed they'll believe anything!" he stormed off.
"Charlie!" but the attention was on her again. Phillip nodded, and tromped after him.
"Oh," Melanie covered,"thanks plenty, dearest. He's gone to fetch me a refreshment. He's so thoughtful that way. That's why...I couldn't be happier...no, I couldn't be happier. Though it is, I admit, the tinniest bit, unlike I anticipated. But I couldn't be happier! Simply couldn't be happier-...well, huh, not simply. 'Cause getting your dreams, strange as it seems, is a little, well, complicated. There's a kinda, uh, sorta...cost. There's a couple of things get lost. There are bridges you crossed you didn't know you crossed until you crossed! And if that joy...that thrill...doesn't thrill like you think it will...still," Melanie snapped out of her sad faze, remembering her part. "With this perfect finale, the cheers and the ballyhoo, who wouldn't be happier? So...I couldn't be happier! Because happy is what happens when all your dreams come true...isn't it? Happy is what happens when your dreams come true!"
The crowd went wild. "We love you Melanie, if we may be so frank."
"Thank goodness!"
"For all this joy we know who we've got to thank: thank goodness! This mean the mayor, Melanie."
"And fiance!" she cut in.
"They couldn't be goodlier. She couldn't be lovelier. We couldn't be luckier!"
"I COULDN'T BE HAPPIER!"
"THANK GOODNESS FOR TODAY!"