Melody

"Meeeeeel-oooooooh-deeeeeeeeey!" Margot split my name into distastefully drawn out syllables as I jogged down the stairs and towards the kitchen.

I felt bad that I left Carson up in my room, but this way felt better. I carefully entered the kitchen to see glass shards across the floor. Margot was sitting on a counter with a fresh glass of wine. She was in her obnoxiously furry housecoat and wearing matching slippers.

"Yeah... clean this up," Margot said dryly. She lifted the glass to her lips and took a large swig. I stared at her incredulously.

"This isn't my job," I said, folding my arms across my chest.

"You don't want a matching mark, do you?" Before I could respond, she threw her head back and cackled. "I'm joking! But seriously, clean it up. Now."

I reached under the sink and grabbed the dustpan and hand broom, then knelt down and began cleaning up the broken glass. As I swept, Margot swung her feet back and forth.

"I hope you never leave the house when your hair is like that... It isn't cute," Margot said smugly. I pretended I didn't hear her and kept sweeping. "It's frizzy and not even brushed."

"I'm going to sleep soon Margot, it doesn't matter what my hair looks like," I said glancing up at her.

"Oh dear! Your face is looking a little, well, puffy too," she added leaning towards me. I rolled my eyes and hurriedly swept the last bit of glass off the floor. In my haste, my hand slipped off the hand broom and dragged the side of my palm across the jagged stem of the wine glass.

"Ow," I hissed. Margot laughed and took a large swig of her wine.

"You're soooo dramatic. Throw the glass away and leave me alone!"

I stood up and tossed the glass into the garbage bin and tossed the dustpan under the sink quickly as blood was starting to rise to the surface of my skin. I turned on the tap ready to wash my wound and Margot turned the tap off immediately.

"Ugh. Do that upstairs; this is where people eat Melody," Margot said.

I sighed and grabbed a paper towel then pressed it to the cut before leaving the kitchen. I stormed up the stairs and into my room, hating the stinging feeling in my hand.

"Melody?" Carson said from my bed.

"I just cut my hand don't worry," I said quickly, walking into my bathroom. As I ran cold water over my cut, Carson came to the doorway.

"How? What happened?" he asked.

"Nothing, I was cleaning up a broken wine glass. It's not a big deal," I said.

"Did she do this?" Carson insisted.

"No! I mean her hurling insults at me didn't help but I did it to myself," I replied, turning off the tap. Carson grabbed a fresh towel and walked over to me. He began drying the wound on my hand, which turned out not to be as big as it felt.

"Insults? You know what? Enough is enough!" Though his tone was angry, his touch was gentle. "I'm going to say something."

"No, you won't!" I snapped, pulling my hand away from him. I bent down and reached into my cabinet and pulled out a bandage. Carson gently took it from me and put it on my cut.

"She can't keep doing this," Carson insisted.

"My dad doesn't pay attention to me. I doubt he'd believe a word I said to him. And if you say something, you're only going to make it worse."

We stood there for a minute, our eyes locked, our breathing heavy.

"Melody–"

"You know what... it's probably better if you go," I said quietly.

"Mellie," Carson sighed.

"She's already tipsy and annoyed. I don't want you to be here when she's drunk," I added, not meeting his eyes. I rocked back and forth on my ankles and stared down at my hand.

"Okay..." Carson said after a moment. "If you think it's best."

When I looked up at him, I caught the expression on his face before he changed it quickly. It was a mixture of shock and disappointment, and it made my stomach twist in knots. I swallowed a lump in my throat that didn't want to go away.

"Yeah, I'll, um walk you out," I said quietly.

***

I messaged Carson that morning that I'd walk to school because I was running late. The truth was that I really needed the exercise and the only way that would happen was if I walked there. I didn't care that it was a little colder than yesterday or that I felt exhausted; I just needed to walk. I threw on ripped, loose boyfriend jeans and an oversized, grey sweater. The outfit sort of swallowed me up, but I didn't really care. I sort of wished the earth would swallow me up. I rushed my makeup and left my hair down, before pulling my jacket and boots on.

When I got to school, the hallway was beginning to clear up, as it was just before the first bell rang and people were heading to class. As I put my jacket into my locker, I noticed a dizzy feeling washing over me. I paused for a moment and took a deep breath as it slowly passed. I closed my locker door and sighed seeing Rose and the twins waiting for me.

"You're looking particularly sloppy today," Rose smirked.

"What do you want?" I asked ignoring her.

"Oof, she's grumpy too," Summer said to Serena as if I couldn't hear her. Serena giggled and Rose rolled her eyes at the twins.

"I don't want anything from you. You're pathetic enough as is it and it shows. The whole school hates you, and pretty soon your friends and Carson will too," Rose said. She leaned in closer and added, "You might as well leave before that happens."

"Oh. Is that the next part of your plan? Step one: humiliate Melody. Step two: send Diesel her way. Step three: turn everyone against her. Step four: Melody leaves the school? What's step five? Have Carson fall in love you? That's never going to happen."

"Oh my god she knows?" Serena whispered loudly to Summer, who smacked her sister in response.

"You know something Melody? No one wants you here." Rose folded her arms across her chest. "Not even your family. Mia's embarrassed to have people even know you live together. That means you really must suck."

The bell rang and the trio pushed past me smugly. I swallowed hard and went to class despite my shaking hands and wobbly legs.

***

At lunch I was the first person in the art room besides Ms. Foster, who looked up when I walked in. She seemed happy to see me, but her forehead was slightly crumpled into a frown. Maybe she was mad I cut class yesterday.

"Hey lovely! How are you?" Ms. Foster asked as I put my stuff down at my spot.

"Fine," I lied, not meeting her gaze. "Um, can I paint?"

"Of course," Ms. Foster replied, cheerily. She sounded a little far away, as there was a slight ringing in my ears.

I grabbed an easel and a canvas and then set it up near to my table. By the time finished setting up my paint, Carson entered the room. He gave me a faint smile as his eyes met mine.

"Hi," I said quietly.

"Hey," Carson said. He sat down and pulled his lunch out. "What are you going to paint?" He unpacked a sandwich and some cucumbers and hummus.

"I haven't decided yet," I said with a ghost of a smile on my lips. Carson chuckled as I turned back to the easel, accidentally knocking my paintbrush to the floor. I bent down to pick it up. As I stood up, I immediately felt hot and light-headed, so I steadied myself and blinked the feeling away.

"You okay?" Carson asked. I glanced over at Ms. Foster who looked like she was pay attention now.

"Yeah, I'm okay," I said quickly, though the ringing in my ears was still there.

"Have you eaten today?" Carson asked quietly. "I brought veggies."

"I'm fine," I repeated forcefully. I dipped my paintbrush into the blue paint and began working on my easel as the rest of our friends began join us.

"Mel! I heard there was a showdown with Rose this morning," Alani said as she plopped down at the table. "Do I need to kick her ass?"

"She was bothering you this morning?" Carson asked.

"It wasn't a big deal," I shrugged.

"I heard she said some pretty horrible things... are you okay?" Emma asked softly. I dipped my paintbrush into a lighter shade of blue.

"Yeah. It wasn't anything I haven't heard before," I dismissed.

"Melody," Carson started.

"It's okay," I said without turning around.

"I'm walking you to your next class," Carson said. I didn't try to fight it because I knew his mind was made up. It was sweet that he wanted to be there, even if it wasn't necessary.

***

After class, I waited until the room was half empty before getting up slowly. Even then, that uncomfortable rush of heat and light-headedness washed over me. I took a deep breath and slung my backpack over my shoulder.

"Melody?" Ms. Foster's voice barely registered in my ears. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," I said slowly. I began walking to the door and noticed Carson waiting across the hallway for me. As I walked, I could barely feel my legs move and the room looked like it was slowly spinning. The hot feeling didn't go away and the ringing in my ears grew.

"Wait, sweetie you should s..." her voice seemed to fade as I stopped at the threshold of the art room and leaned on it.

"Mellie?" Carson's lips moved but it didn't seem to sync up with his voice. I tried to find words to answer him, but it felt like my head wasn't attached to me. The hallway seemed to have little black spots beginning to cover it. "Melody!" Carson walked towards me as I let go of the door. I took another step and my legs crumbled beneath me. The hall tiles grew closer and everything faded to– 

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Author's Note: CLIFF HANGER OH SNAP.  LOL I hope you liked this chapter! I'm really curious to know what you all think is going to happen next!

I've been saving this song for this chapter sksksk okay bye:

https://youtu.be/dglgroGeMoA