Melody

Sweaters, blouses, skirts, jeans, and dresses, all thrown across the room like a tornado had ripped violently through my closet. I paced around the room in a panic. I'd just gotten home from school and had a couple hours before Carson came to pick me up. Yet, all I could do was stare into my closet.

How fancy was this? Dress or skirt? What if looked like a prostitute like Rose said I did... Or what if I looked too bloated from eating? Should I wear something loose then? How formal is this? Maybe tighter is better... but not too tight.

I sat on my bed and took a shaky breath.

Okay. It's a November night... it's chilly.

My eyes wandered over to a burgundy garment in the more wintery section of my closet. A sweater dress... I stepped over to it gingerly, as if moving too fast would make the outfit look terrible on me. My fingers pried it off the hanger and I slipped it on me before slowly turning to face the mirror. Focusing on the clothes and not my body, I decided it would do. Loose enough to hide me, but close fitting enough to look nice.

I found a pair of black boots that came up over the knee and socks of the same length and put those on. After putting on a necklace, I curled my hair and did my makeup before I started to clean up the mess in my room.

A knock on my door made me jump and I turned to face it. "Come in."

"Just so you – whoa." Mia stopped mid-sentence as she opened the door and noticed the clothes bomb that went off. "What happened?"

"I got dressed."

"Fair... anyways, I was letting you know that my mom and your dad went to some conference thing in Boston and are coming back tomorrow afternoon. They left a note," Mia said, resting a hand against the doorpost. I continued picking up clothes as she spoke. "I'm having a few friends over anyways – that's a nice dress."

"Um, thanks." I hung up the clothes in my hands and bent to pick a few more up. Mia never complimented me; was she feeling okay?

"Are you going somewhere?"

"Yeah."

"Right. Good. Don't need you around..." Mia said.

I turned to face her from my closet. "Look, I know you hate me or something, but I'm really stressing over this night and don't need this right now."

It sounded a little harsher than necessary, but my anxiety levels were high, and the last thing I needed was Mia taking away what little confidence I had.

"I don't–" her voice was small, and then she cut herself off. In a louder voice, she added, "Right, whatever. Just don't get in the way when you come back."

"I won't." I glanced out the window and then saw Carson's car pull up outside. My heart pounded in my chest, and I threw the rest of the clothes on a pile on my bed. My knees wobbled slightly with every step I took, but I kept moving because if I stopped, I would turn back and hide under my duvet.

I pushed past Mia, closed my room door behind me and headed down the stairs. By the time I made it to the front door, my hands were trembling. I pulled open the wooden structure, and saw my handsome boyfriend waiting behind it. A smile illuminated his face, which made me think I was going to have a heart attack right there and then. He was wearing dark, fitted jeans, and a nice white button up shirt. Carson lifted his hand slowly, a red rose between his fingers.

"Hey," he said.

"Hi," I whispered. I took the rose from his hand and wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him towards me for a hug. "Thank you."

"You look beautiful," Carson said brushing my cheek softly with the back of his hand. My cheeks felt as if they'd took a turn down scarlet lane, as they were hot.

"Really? Because if this is too much, or not enough I can go ch–"

"You're perfect." While I stammered out a quiet 'thank you', Carson let go of me and took my hand in his. "It's not dinner at the White House...it's just dinner at the Whites' house."

"Ba-doom tss," I said sarcastically, making Carson chuckle. I closed the front door behind me as he guided me to the car.

Carson opened my door and smiled. "Everything will be fine."

***

We stepped inside the Whites' foyer, and I smiled at the familiar dark wooden floors and golden chandelier that hung from the ceiling. A slender woman with caramel hair, tanned skin, and familiar honey brown eyes came from the direction of the kitchen. She smiled when she saw us, her expression reminding me of Carson's when he was excited about something.

"Hello!" She said brightly as she moved over to us. "You must be Melody! It's so great to finally meet you!"

"You as well," I said quietly.

"I'm Harper, Carson's mom – though I know I could pass as his sister," she joked. I smiled at her, already liking her bubbly personality.

"Mom, stop," Carson mumbled with a shy laugh, making my smile widen. Seeing him shy and embarrassed was really cute.

"Right! I won't embarrass you in front of your pretty new girlfriend," she said holding up her hands in defense. "Take your shoes off, come on in! Carson, could you go drag your brother down here before he drowns himself in cologne? Melody, sweetie, you can come with me to the kitchen."

I slipped my boots off, and watched as he disappeared up the steps, leaving me alone with his mother. Though terrified of what shame I could bring on myself, I smiled and followed her into the kitchen.

"You have a beautiful home," I said quietly.

"Oh, thank you! Carson's dad let me go a little crazy when we were decorating," Harper said with a laugh. We stepped into their gorgeous, modern kitchen. "I'm making lasagne which is already in the oven."

"Can I help you with anything?" I asked as Carson's mother pulled various vegetables out of the fridge.

"How are you at cutting cucumbers?" she asked with a smile.

"We're about to find out," I said nervously, making Harper laugh. She handed me the vegetable, a knife, and a purple cutting board. I suddenly felt like a loser for having never cut up vegetables in my life. I always had Leslie or my mom around. When Leslie wasn't there, she left meals for us.

I rinsed the cucumber off and held the knife, aiming it away from my fingers. It wouldn't be too hard right? I sliced and got a good even piece. I smiled to myself and cut some more slices, carefully. I wasn't quite ready to rule out hand-modelling yet.

"So, Melody what do you like to do for fun?"

"Oh, um. I'm into art and fashion... anything to do with those things," I said quietly.

"That's cool! So, you like to draw and paint?"

"Yes. I draw more frequently, but I like to paint too." I slid the cucumber slices to the side of the cutting board. "Is there more to cut?"

"Awesome, and can you cut these cherry tomatoes into halves?" Harper handed me the container after taking the small tomatoes from under the running water.

"Sure."

"So, with fashion–"

"Wow, already putting her to work I see," Carson's voice echoed in the kitchen, interrupting his mother. "Our family calls her the Delegator, because she's always ready to give someone a task."

"Helping hands lighten the load," Harper laughed.

"That's the Delegator's slogan," Carson teased. I laughed and shook my head.

"I asked to help," I said, cutting the cherry tomatoes in half.

"Rookie mistake," Carson replied making his mother and I giggle once again.

A masculine "hello, hello," interrupted our conversation and in walked an older image of Carson. Though he was paler and had darker eyes, I could see the resemblance in the bone structure of his face and the fact that his hair was the same colour.

"Dad, Melody; Melody, my dad, Carl," Carson introduced.

"Nice to meet you," I said turning around.

"Likewise," Carl replied with a smile. Before anyone could further the conversation, a boy who could only be Carson's younger brother walked in. His hair the same colour as his mother's but the spitting image of his brother.

"Sup, I'm Connor."

"Hi," I smiled with a wave.

"You're all distracting my helper!" Harper complained. The boys laughed and sat down at the already set table. Carson's dad began pouring juice for his sons and I smiled seeing them interact. I already could tell this family dinner would be better than my previous experiences.

***

"So, are you in the same grade as Carson?" Carl asked, digging his fork into the cheesy lasagna.

"Yes, I am. We're in the same English class."

"Oh, that's cute!" Harper exclaimed making Connor smirk. "Is that how you met?"

"No, she was lost, and I helped her find her way."

"You're leaving out the part where she smacked you in the face!" Connor said making Carson laugh and me blush.

"That was after we met, and a total accident," Carson interjected.

"I didn't see him when leaving the cafeteria," I added, hoping the redness of my face would disappear.

"Now here's the juicy part," Harper grinned, scooping up some salad with her fork. "Tell us the whole story! Since you already told Connor and not the woman who gave you life!"

"Oh my God!" Carson protested in embarrassment, making everyone chuckle. "Fine, I will..." Carson began the story and I smiled, hearing how he told our first day of knowing each other.

I was the smiling girl who was lost and the brave girl who stood up to a bully on my first day. I was the shy girl who fled from the cafeteria, but the sweet girl who stayed to see if he was okay. I was the quiet girl avoiding attention, but the witty girl who caught his.

Carson's parents sat there with grins on their faces, his mother with a dreamy look in her eyes. Proud, happy for their son, content with the situation – I hoped. His younger brother was far more interested in his lasagna, but that was to be expected. He'd heard it before, and the meal was really delicious.

I put a forkful of salad into my mouth and chewed, a smile resting on my lips, content with dinner at the Whites' house.

________________

Author's Note: Yaaay chapter 50 and all is good & happy with Carson's family! Hehe Harper is the bomb dot com! Tell me what you think of her and Carson's brother and dad! Also... what's with Mia this chapter? A very interesting and unusual interaction with her and Melody huh? Let me know your thoughts! :) 

Melody's outfit: