Melody

• Age Eleven •

"Ugh!" I heard from down the hallway. I stepped out of my room, my bare feet plopping against the hardwood floor. Dad said to make her feel welcome. She was my sister now – stepsister. This was her home too.

"Are you okay?" I asked, peering through the door of her room. Boxes were in the corner of the room, some still waiting to be unpacked.

A blonde paced back and forth in front full-length mirror. She was wearing a uniform that matched mine; a plaid skirt, a white dress shirt and a blazer on top. My heart pounded in my chest. I could do this. She seemed nice and nervous like I was. I mean, it was her first day at a new school. It couldn't be easy.

"I... I don't know what to do with my hair and it has to be perfect," Mia said. I stepped slowly into the room.

"I could braid some of it back for you... if you want me to," I suggested, not meeting her eyes. She probably didn't even want to be here.

"You'd do that?" She asked, her blue eyes wide. I nodded and sat down on her bed. Mia sat down on the floor and handed me a brush.

Brushing through her golden locks, I said, "It won't be as bad as you think, just get on their good side."

"Are you on their good side?" Mia asked. I pressed my lips together as I braided through her hair.

"Girls in my grade are mean. But they'll probably be nicer in yours."

Once I finished the braid in her hair, I tied a hair elastic around it and let Mia stand up. She walked over to the mirror and smiled. "It's so pretty." Her eyes met mine in the mirror and she looked appreciative.

***

"How was school?" My dad asked at dinner. Margot sat next to him, in the spot my mom used to sit at. I looked down at my plate. How was it possible that he was ready to have a new wife so quickly? One that was barely half as pretty as my mother. While Mia was nice, Margot had something sneaky about her. Something fake.

"It was good. These girls showed my where my classes were – 'cuz middle school is so confusing! This one is so much fancier than my old school too. But they were nice and let me sit with them at lunch," Mia said as I stuffed a spoonful of rice into my mouth. And then another, and then another.

"How about you Melody?" My dad asked.

"Same as usual." I didn't look up; I couldn't look at Margot stealing my dad away. I couldn't see his disappointment towards me, and the blooming love towards her. I could only look at my plate, and hope Leslie would bring desert quickly enough that dinner would be over.

After dinner, Margot came to my room. She glanced around the room at all the magazine cut outs on my walls and frowned. She leaned against the wall and changed her face into a smile.

"How are you Melody?"

"Good, thanks," I answered politely.

"Look, I think your father's worried about you... you've gained some weight in the past year, and I think it's because you eat so quickly. Something to remember would be that a lady takes small bites. Demure women don't wolf down their food," She said.

"Demure?" I wondered.

"It means modest, reserved a proper lady. Both girls living under this roof will be proper ladies. So, you will sit up tall and push out your chest slightly; pretty girls need good posture. You will do as you are told and look your father and myself in the eye when you speak to us."

"Yes, ma'am," I mumbled quietly, forcing myself to remain focused on her icy blue eyes.

***

"Chubby arms and big fat thighs, Didi please lay off the fries." The kids all circled around me. "Chubby arms and big fat thighs, Didi should lay off the fries!" They chanted. Tears rolled down my cheeks and they laughed and pointed.

"Leave me alone!" I whimpered. My voice quivered and it made everyone laugh harder. They sung their song louder and I tried to run away. My thick legs brushed together, and I hated the feeling. My vision was blurred by tears, but I needed to get away from these people. They weren't my friends. They were mean to me every day on the playground and I hated it.

I wasn't that much bigger than everyone else... was I? I was definitely taller than all the other girls, and a lot of the boys. Okay, and maybe everyone lost their baby fat by the age of nine, and it seemed I was gaining it. Couldn't they cut me some slack? Being eleven wasn't easy. Plus, my mom wasn't coming back anytime soon, and I needed her.

Through the crowd, I locked eyes with a familiar set on blue eyes. She had a frown on her lips but didn't say anything.

At school, she never said anything. But at least at home we were friends.

***

"Mom, Robert, I want to change schools for high school. There's a school right around the corner from us – Alcott High. It seems like a good change for me."

My dad and Margot looked almost as surprised as I was.

"You want to change schools?" I mumbled. Mia didn't look at me she just stared at her mother. Why would Mia switch schools? Did Margot really hate me that much that she convinced Mia to switch school to get away from me? Or was Mia getting bored of going to the same school as me?

"Can I? I know it's not a private school but –"

"Of course, darling, I'm okay with that," Margot cooed. "Are you okay with that love monkey?" My eyes narrowed at the pukey nickname.

"Yeah, whatever you want Mia."

After dinner, I headed up the stairs behind Mia. She had seen how mean they are to me, how could she be leaving me there? I know she didn't do anything to stop it, but it was at least nice to know I had someone there.

"Why are you doing this Mia?" I asked at the top of the stairs. "Is that what you really want?"

"I can't go back to that school in the fall," Mia said turning around. "It's hard to defend you and stay on everyone's good side."

"Defend me? When have you ever –"

"I always defend you. 'Maybe you shouldn't do that to her. That's a little mean. Lay off girls, she could be going through some stuff.' It's getting really hard to pretend that we aren't stepsisters."

"Then why don't you stop pretending?" I huffed. Mia narrowed her eyes at me.

"Didn't you say to 'get on their good side'?" Mia snapped. "If I go back, I won't be on their good side and it'll be thanks to you. Everything is always about you at that school. I need a life of my own and a day of not hearing how fat you are."

I swallowed hard at that and tears welled up in my eyes, but I didn't say anything. Instead, I watched as she turned her back to me and headed down the hall. I didn't know what changed overnight, but it stuck with her. She didn't talk to me directly unless to throw an insult. And just like that I was completely alone in this big house filled with people.

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Author's Note: Yay! Another chapter! Sorry it took so long! The beginning of February was kicking my butt! I hope you like this chapter! Comment and let me know what you think! Also, Happy Valentine's Day to you all - single or not! You are loved! <3