Chapter Thirty-Three-"You Don't Understand!"

Chapter Thirty-Three

"You Don't Understand!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     "Melanie, you don't understand! She's gone and married my Mr. Kennedy!"

"Victoria, it was to save Ramblings. You must understand-"

"I hate Ramblings! It's the only thing I hate more than Charlotte!" Melanie chased after Victoria, but she knew there was nothing she could do to fix the girl's broken heart.

     Charlotte sighed, with no expression on her face. She had married Frank Kennedy, Victoria's beau, simply because she needed the money to save Ramblings. Phillip sighed from his spot by the fireplace, running his finger over the dust.

"It's my fault. I should've committed highway robbery to get that tax money for you," Phillip sighed.

"I couldn't have let you do anything like that. Besides, it's done now," Charlotte said. A teasing smile appeared on the man's lips.

"Yes, it's done now. You wouldn't let me lift a finger to help you but you'd sell yourself in marriage to a man you didn't love."

Charlotte looked away, brushing back her black hair.

"At least, Charlotte, you won't have to worry about my failures anymore."

Charlotte finally gave an expression: alarm.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"I'm going to Quantico with Melly. I've accepted a management position in a bank."

"You can't do that!"

"Oh?" Phillip asked.

Charlotte sighed, thinking up a lie. "Phillip, I was counting on you to help with my lumber business in Atlanta. Phillip...Phillip, I counted on you!"

"Oh, Charlotte I wouldn't do you any good. What do I know about lumber?"

"About as much as you know about banking."

Phillip shook his head. "I won't let you do me any more kindnesses, Charlotte."

"Well, over time, you could gradually buy the business and make it your own-"

Phillip shook his head. Just as he was turning away, Charlotte began to feign sobbing. Quite loudly at that. Melanie came running at the sound of the tears.

"Charlotte!What's wrong?" Melanie ran and wrapped the girl in her arms.

"Oh, Melly! Phillip's so mean and hateful!"

Melanie looked up at Phillip.

"What have you done?" she demanded. Phillip stared, shocked like a deer in the headlights.

"She asked me to go to Atlanta with her to help start a lumber business."

"I counted on him and he won't lift a finger to help me!"

"Phillip, why, how unchivalrous of you. Why, just think, if it wasn't for her Gustave might've died on Coney! And we wouldn't have him today...and I think of her plowing and picking cotton just to put food in her mouth, I could just...Oh my darling!" Melanie squeezed her almost-sister into a tight embrace, rubbing her back as Charlotte continued the false sobbing.

"Alright, Melly...I'll go to Atlanta."

Melanie smiled, and pulled Charlotte closer.

"I can't fight you both..."

**************************************************************************************************************
"Maybe once or twice more, Melly, until this calms down."
Melanie sipped her tea. "I want it straight, did it help India at all?"
"Well,"the mayor scratched his bald head,"nothing that awful has come up-"
"That awful? What's going on."
He sighed,"Melanie, of course they are going to be some that get angry and hard-headedly pick up their pitch forks."
Melanie sucked in a breath. "You mean..."
"They're hunting her."
Melanie nodded, wiping her eyes.
"I don't think you should speak again, Melly," Charlie said from his place at his father's desk.
"If it's helping Indie-"
"But what if it's not?! What if you end up like her?!"
"Then at least I've tried!" Melanie screamed.
"Inside voice, Melanie," Dresella crooned. Melanie sunk back into the love seat.
"Yes, mother."
"I agree with Charlie, Mayor. This is dangerous." Melanie looked up at Hotchner. He didn't smile at her, even when she smiled back. She sunk into her chair again.
"While we are all here," Dresella began,"we all need to have  conversation. I think we should sell Ardely."
Melanie stared. "Sell Ardely?You...you can't do that!Charlie and I own Ardely."
"I think it's for the best, Melanie."
Melanie looked at her brother, shocked.
"You can't make me leave! I won't!"
"What's here for you, Melanie? Besides pain and memories?"
"My father! You just want me to forget he exists! You want to sell Ardely? Sell it to me! I make a pretty good pay check from the government that I don't deserve."
"Melanie, we are doing this for you-"
"No, mother. You're doing this for you!"
"Melanie-"Charlie began. "This is for the best."
"Charlie, shut up!"
"Melanie, we are all worried about you. Do it. For me."
"Why should I help you?" she cried. "You walk around here...you ask me to join the BAU because you want to save people you've never even met and not once did you think to use your psychology to save me!
     All of my life I've depended on you! How do you think that feels? Wallowing around with nothing better than to cry for myself? Scrounging for scraps of pity to pick up and longing to kick up my heels." Spencer had never seen Melanie sneer like that.
"Melanie...please..."
"It's not like I could talk any sense into you! You're just mom's puppet! You'll do whatever she says! I'm not selling Ardely! I'm not-"
"THAT-IS-ENOUGH!" Melanie turned to her mother, who had risen and slowly stalked across the room.
"Mother...I-" Melanie was promptly cut off with a smack to the face. She yelped and fell.
"Because you insist, child, and I find you to often have the voice of your father, we won't sell Ardely...for now. Let me walk you out, Darling."
"Thank you, Dresella. Charlie. Melanie."
Melanie's mother left with Mayor Barly.
"Did you mean all that?" Charlie asked.
Melanie looked away when she nodded stiffly, her eyes still filled with rage.
She started rising on her own, but then Charlie grasped her waist and straightened her up. Melly gasped.
"Come outside with me. Before it gets too hot."


Melanie followed Charlie into the field where they used to play as children. Melanie laid down in the grass, letting it tickle her face. Charlie laid down opposite her, so that only their hair was touching.
"You've been wanting to ask me something," Charlie sighed, taking a gold strand between his fingers. Melanie nodded.
"I've been trying to figure out what you did after I left for college, why suddenly when I returned you hated me so much. Why you snapped out of college and made me join the BAU. I got to thinking...well, when you volunteered to watch over me at the public speaking and when we mentioned India the other night...and today when you mentioned her...."
Charlie swallowed. "Yes?"
"...You love her."



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.

**************************************************************************************************************

"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..."
**********************************************************************************************************
"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!"

Chapter Thirty-One-Melly's Hell

Chapter Thirty-One
Melly's Hell

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     "All I'm suggesting, Melanie, is that you consider it. It could help Miss Ha-"

"Don't," Melanie growled, hands going to fists. "Do not...ever...say her name in front of me."

"Melanie," Mammy warned.

"It's alright," Mayor Barly said, standing,"touchy subject I shouldn't have encroached upon. My apologizes Miss Wilkes."

Melanie did not forgive him.

"Do consider it, though, will you, Melly?"

"Good day, Mayor," Melanie said without a smile. The old man nodded solemnly as he let himself out.

"Stop that,"Mammy growled at the girl. Melanie stared at the door with cold eyes and a sneer.

"He's not even coming to see mother! He's just coming here trying to act like...like...ugh!" Melanie screamed loud and hoarse. She blinked away the tears coming on.

"Do it for your Momma, Miss Melly."

Melanie didn't say what she wanted to in that moment. And what has she ever done for me? She wanted to growl. But she didn't. She wouldn't do that.

"Even if I did speak in town square about the incident, what would I say to help..." Indie...

She couldn't say India's name, much less her little pet name Melly and Aud had always called her.

"The people are still shook up from Damien and what they think to be India," Melanie flinched at Reid's words.

"Please don't say her name..." she mumbled. "Just...I can't..."

Spencer squeezed her hand.

"Mail, Miss Melly," the old house worker came up to Melly. Xylen was aging, just like Ardely. He had to be in his late 40s or early 50s now. Melanie shuttered. She too was getting old. She was working on her bachelor's degree now. She was in her 3rd year thanks to the fact she was taking them online and all year round. She'd only been on a campus for a half a year. It was horrid. All the drinking and parties and sex...ehhh...It hadn't been for Melanie.

Melanie looked through the mail and her eyes stopped as she scanned a sheet of paper.

"What is it?" Spencer asked. Melanie had gone pure white and her blue eyes were struck.

"Melly?"

"It's from the school..." she mumbled.

"Victoria?" Charlie asked, just coming into the room.

"Charlie...it's got my name on it."

"What does Neeses High School have to do with you?" Mammy grumbled.

"That's why I'm worried, Mammy..." she mumbled.
Melly tore open the envelope and stared, her lower lip trembling.
"Melly?" Charlie asked.
"They want me back."
*****************************************************************************************************************
“There has to be some mistake!” Melanie screeched.       

       Spencer had never seen her in such frenzy. He too, though, would’ve been rather upset about having to go back to high school. He knew Melanie graduated a year early, and he just knew Melanie hadn’t been the social hub. She was too…different. It wasn’t bad. He loved that Melanie was different. It made her better. Better traditional and loving than slutty and distant. For a moment, he tried to imagine her that way, but he cringed. Her in a short denim skirt and pink glittered tank top, bubble gum rounding from her lips, hair cropped short with a curl at the tip and much more make-up than she wore now…just wasn’t real. That wasn’t Melanie.

       Regardless, the girl was in the admistrational office, just a few miles from the school.

“Miss Wilkes, the fire destroyed all the records, including yours. You were the only one meant to graduate in 2012 that graduated in 2010.”

“But you know I graduated!”

“The state doesn’t. Your college can’t update your grades because of this.”

“But-”

“I understand how upset you are. But you will just have to return to high school.”

Melanie stared.

“You can’t-”

“Melanie,” Charlie said. Melanie looked hopelessly at him.

“Spencer?” she said, looking for one last trace of hope. He too shook his head. Melanie collapsed into a folding chair she had been offered.

“How long?” she asked, resigned.

The man pursed his lips. “How about we strike a deal? You said you had your transcripts. Bring those to me, and you only have to do a week of high school and make straight A’s. Alright?”

“Alright,” Melanie sighed hopelessly.

*

“I just-can’t-uh-Gah!!” Melanie screamed.

“I know,” Spencer said lamely, taking her hand. She rose, breaking the grip.

“All that’s going on! And this happens! Going back to high school? Are you kidding me?!”

“Melanie…”Penelope whispered across the table, “How old are you?”

Melanie smirked, “I’m surprised you haven’t looked, or that none of you figured it out.” She smiled sadly. “I’m 18.” They blinked. “I’ll be 19 in February.”

“Serious?” Morgan gasped. He was the first. Melanie laughed at him.

“Serious,” she replied with a smile.

“Melly, I’m so sorry,” Spencer murmured.

It was Melly’s turn to be shocked. “Why?”

“You’ve seen things…you never should’ve-”

“Lest we forget, boys, the BAU was not my first brush with death,” she mumbled, “nowhere near my first or last.”

*

Shaking. Cold.

I saw Charlie standing next to mom, unsure. His expression was unreadable. I felt a push from behind. Aunt Strauss.

“It’s your turn, child,” she said, pushing me toward the casket with the Wilkes code of arms on the side. I blinked. I was trembling as she held my shoulders pushing me forward. I was inches from it now.

“Abba?” I mumbled, tears blurring my vision. I wondered how dark and cold it must be in that casket. Abba didn’t like the dark too much. He didn’t like me to be left in it. “Abba…Abba…ABBA!” I screamed. Aunt Strauss let go of me out of shock. I leaned forward, trying to pry open the lid of the casket. A vase of lilies fell off. I felt hands on me. Two older boys-cousins-were ripping me away from under my elbows.

“Abba! ABBA!” I screamed out. “Let me go! He needs me!” I wanted to yell, but all that came out was my Father’s name. “No! Please!” I was shaking and screaming and kicking, the itchy black dress with white lace collar felt hot and sticky to my skin. They were taking me out of my own Father’s funeral. I couldn’t…ABBA! NO! DON’T!

 

They put me in a car somewhere, far from where they were lowering him into the ground. I wasn’t there at his final goodbye. I regret that. But mainly, I regretted the fact that I wouldn’t be able to throw myself into the hole with him, and break my neck, joining him. That’s what I wanted, but not what he wanted. I read and reread and reread the letter. He wanted me to move on. He wanted me to live.

Aunt Josephine held me, after they put him in, the back of the car. Charlie sat in the front seat, not looking back at me, not looking at the road. Not seeing at all. I wondered what he was thinking, later, but now all I was thinking was about how my father was dead, and there was nothing I could do about it. Or that’s what I thought.

“Have you ever thought of witchcraft?” India had murmured to me one day. Aud stared.

“Indie…” she whispered. I looked up at them. It was the first day back at school. The first day I had successfully pulled myself together and didn’t hyperventilate. Much.

“When my parents died, you know my dad was a scientist, he also had a lot of books I read up on that he left me. It was all witchcraft. I just thought, maybe, there was something-“

“That’s blasphemous, Indie,” Audrey had said.

I would’ve jumped on the boat, but I was too entranced. A way to bring back my father?

“Show me your books, Indie.”

“Melly…” Audrey said.

India smiled. “We can start tonight.”

*

Melanie sat up with a start. She rubbed her eyes, and looked at the clock. 3 a.m. Great. She could hear Spencer breathing quietly. She wished silently he would leave the room. She wanted to be alone to cry for once. She didn’t like Spencer holding her and feeling vulnerable.

 

The last time she had let down her walls had been for Charlie. Look how well that went.

“Goodness…” She mumbled. She heard Spencer snort, and she knew she had woken him up. She groaned.

“Melly?” she heard his tenor voice whisper.

“Yes?”

“You’re up?”

Melanie rolled her eyes. “No, genius, I’m sleep talking.”

“Touchy,” he said.

Melanie rubbed her eyes. She felt Spencer sit down on the edge of the bed, his hip next to hers. He was facing her as he sat on his left leg under right.

“What’s wrong?” he whispered.

She snorted. “You can tell something is wrong?”

“Am I wrong?”

Melanie didn’t respond.

He scooted so that they were both facing the same direction, and they were hip to hip, side to side, and arm to arm. She let her head rest on his shoulder and he put his hands into her gold hair.

“What is it?”

“I had a bad dream,” she mumbled.

“You weren’t screaming that loud. I figured it wasn’t that bad. You stopped, and I went back to sleep.”

She glared at him in the darkness.

“Oops?” he said. She smacked him playfully.

“It was my Father’s funeral.”

Spencer’s smiled dropped.

“Exactly like it happened. Every horrifying, embarrassing moment coming back to haunt me. Goodness, it was just…awful…Spencer…” she mumbled, placing her head into his neck.

“Hey, Mel, it’s okay…okay? Hey, look at me.” Melanie did. Spencer knew this was something Derek would do, but not him. He didn’t have bravery like him.

 

But he did.

 

He leaned down and pressed his lips to her forehead, his hands gripping her shoulders to keep her there. After a few seconds, he pulled back. Melanie stared.

“What?” he asked. “You’ve kissed my cheek before and skipped off like it was nothing before. Can’t I kiss you too?”

Spencer caught on a few seconds after he said it. Melanie slipped slowly to the other side of the bed, his warmth distracting her. His memory of the almost kiss at JJ’s and then that night in the woods…he shivered, remembering her red lips….

“Spencer, I don’t think you need to come into my room anymore.”

“Melly, we can still pretend-”

“No, it wasn’t that, Spence…it’s not that…I just…don’t need it anymore. I’m okay, alright?”

“…Get some sleep. You have school in the morning.”

 

The door clicked shut.

*

Melanie burst into hysterics the minute it did that. Every emotion flooding her. Her father’s death, India lost, Spencer’s touch, Phillip’s betrayal, Charlie’s pain, and every feeling that Melanie Wilkes had ever felt in her heart. The sobs wracked her body; she kept a hand clamped to her mouth as she sobbed.

       She stopped herself. She knew if she kept on like this, she couldn’t stop. The slow tears trickled down her cheeks in her silent sobbing, her body convulsing, as she tried to get to sleep.

*

Melanie twitched at the lunch table. Audrey was throwing food down her throat and Melanie stared off in the distance, thinking.

“You gonna eat that?” Audrey asked, pointing toward the tray on Melly’s lap.

“Did I ever?”

Audrey promptly picked the food off the try and onto hers. Melanie stared.

“How in the world are you so skinny?” Melanie asked. Audrey shrugged.

“What do you have next hour?” she asked her friend.

The red-lipped girl sighed as she brought out a folded piece of paper.

“Uh, Spanish with Yeck. Jazz Choir I. English IV with Dwyer.”

Audrey frowned. “I don’t have any of those.”

Melanie joined Audrey’s expression.

“I have choir with you,” Niall said throw bites of food.

“And we have English together,” Tommy said.

Melanie blinked, “You mean you passed?”

Tommy’s eyes narrowed and Audrey stared.

“So mean!”

Melanie shrugged as she sipped the carton of milk on her tray. 

“Cruel, Melbelle, Cruel,” Tommy said before smiling from ear to ear.

“I’ve got Spanish with you too, Mel,” Zayn said, knocking her chair. She nodded a little.

“You think you can do this?” Audrey whispered after a moment to her quietly. Melanie smiled while looking in the distance.

“I’ve done it before, haven’t I?”

*

“How’s yo’ day go, Miss Melly?”

“I have homework,” she mumbled trudging into the dining room.

“Miss Melly-”

But Melanie had shut the door to the room.

*

It was half way through the week, when Spencer saw how horrid Melly’s Hell had been.

       She was about 5 or so minutes late to getting out, which didn’t bother him. But when he was sitting in the car, 5 minutes turned to 10, and 10 turned 15, and 15 was turning into 30.  Spencer got out of the car, and entered the school. He looked past Melly’s locker and chorus room, and then wondered where she’d be.

 

The library.

 

He entered the back, and she was manning the desk, saying goodbye to the librarian. She must’ve left her phone at home, or she would’ve called him.

“Alright, ma’am, see you tomorrow!” Melly called as the librarian left.

       Melanie went to the cart and unloaded the recently checked-in books. She carried an arm full, and she didn’t see over the stack when two muscular boys in football jerseys came in.

       Spence decided to wait by the back door. She didn’t notice him there, blending in with the books and knowledge.

“Hey, bookworm!” the red-headed boy called. Melanie stiffened. She turned, but didn’t speak.

She saw the cocky smirks on their faces.

“Bookworm, bookworm, ugly little bookworm,” the brunette boy sang.

Melanie’s eyes burned. “Can’t you come up with a different taunt than the one you used in 3^rd grade?” she said, but you could tell she was hurt. She knew her emotion, but couldn’t control it. “Oh, I forgot, that’s your reading level, isn’t it?”

The red-headed linebacker growled, and pushed her down.

“Hey!” Spencer said rising and running over.

“You got a bone to pick-” the brunette started, but they saw Spencer’s shown badge and aimed glock. The red head backed away from the mess he’d left Melly. Books all around her and her skirt twisted.

“You’re lucky, nerd,” the red head hissed. “Lucky you got the government working for your rich ass. What? They’ve been working for you since your daddy died?”

Melanie flinched, but the two boys were leaving. Spencer looked sadly at her.

“Melly?” he asked. She ignored him as she rose slowly, picking up the books.

“Mel-“ but she had sorted, and put the books up and was heading for the door.

“Melanie?” he asked again in the car. She stared out the window.

“Since the 3^rd grade?” he asked her.

“My whole life.”