Warning : mentions drugs and sa, read at your own risk.

MELANIE CARSON WAS TROUBLED, right from birth she was. Melanie faced everyday head on, as she grew up her skin grew thicker. The Carson girl had to do what she had do in order to survive the 20th century, especially in Ireland.

The irish young woman thought the world was out to get her, Melanie trusted herself and herself alone but even that was sometimes far fetched. Independent and proud she made her way through life by the skin of her teeth, the care system wasn't enough to keep her grounded. Melanie Carson seeked a better life, most girls her age and younger had a normal family. Both parents, a house, a decent meal and love. The Dublin girl was yet to discover what that was, but she didn't whine or bitch about it.

The guns and bombs fired around her in her home city of Dublin, Ireland. Melanie was used to the battle within her homeland, a battle of various issues. But it was nothing to the battle she faced as an individual, a constant battle between wrong and right as well as her sexuality. Melanie Carson had a lot on her plate.

She saw her life as gods way of saying she was meant to be without parents, for her it was a gold mine. Melanie had no one to answer to, she was her mum and dad. Being abandoned at birth would do that to a person or it would drive them insane and in some cases they'd be raised by a pack of wolves, Melanie enjoyed being alone for some sad reason. But moving to Australia with her now ex boyfriend Brendan brought her a new problem, high school.

A society expectation of all human beings, Melanie saw no point in it but felt as if a little normality would do her good. So for a year now she had been attending Hartley High, her best friend Peter Rivers at first rejected the idea of Melanie attending the school but gave way since he didn't want her in anymore trouble, Melanie knew some of the students at Hartley but the little Irish tomboy wasn't the same anymore.

She grew up but she ditched the cardigans and old jeans for a leather jacket. Melanie spent her time learning how to ride a motorbike after leaving her foster parents home, Peter rivers helped her fix an old one up that they found on the street.

To the duo it was theirs if no one else claimed it, Melanie added the purple flames on the left side. The Irish girl found one purpose at least and that was her bike. From then a bike turned into a small flat near the high school getting round the system meant Melanie was able to work a job meant for women older than her, a waitress at a club in town.

She hated the job most times since old men would try and touch her up, not only old men it was the filthy richest too. Any kind of man seeking to take advantage of her but she grew a thick skin and some of the predators who tried to take advantage didn't leave the club walking the same way they came in.

Her best friend Rivers didn't like the idea of her working there but he knew she could look after herself, so like a big brother would he had to sit back and watch from the sidelines.

Melanie trusted him the most she didn't know what she'd do without Peter and the feeling was mutual on his side, it was a platonic love in a way. Peter did fall in love with Melanie but in a way that was never romantic, he knew she needed a brotherly figure instead of a boyfriend.

Someone who wouldn't leave her or break her heart both of them knew it felt right. Best of friends was the best way to describe Melanie Carson and Peter Rivers.

They've always been a dynamic duo, inseparable in fact. But why did it take two boys and their friends to pry Melanie away from her best friend?

January, 1994

THIS YEAR MELANIE CARSON WAS the talk of the school, this time it wasn't a police incident or someone she may have punched. It was her appearance, she had blossomed within a few months. Melanie took three months away from school, for what reason? No one knew apart from her. But everyone was whispering as the Irish girl got off her bike at school, first thing of course was her chest.

It never stood out the way it was now, a perfect cleavage some said. The once tomboy was now a hot biker girl, a cross charm from her necklace hung in the middle of her breasts. "Is it me.... Or has Carson got hotter? I mean... just look at her chest!" Bolton commented to Peter Rivers who wasn't entirely happy with Melanie's appearance.

He knew that all the boys at school would go feral, his inner brotherly instincts began to show. "Bolton will you shut up?! And stay away from Mel besides bald idiots aren't her type" Peter told him and he just laughed in his face. The boys pushed and shoved each other and returned to their conversation before Mel had turned up.

Melanie walked through the yard like she owned it, her jacket hung over her left shoulder and rose tinted glasses sat on the bridge of her nose. Her figure was showing through her vest and her ripped tights showed the shape of her legs, like she had gone away to be sculpted by gods.

Her shorts were cut to a length she felt comfortable in, her nose and lip ring shone in the sunlight. Boys began to drool over her including some of the female students, but most were in secret envy and shock at her transformation. Her golden hair was no longer unkempt and frizzy, it was hung straight over her shoulders and her fringe was perfect.

Nick Polous was speechless, the once tomboy he was friends with had got hotter in his mind. Sure he had crushed on her the moment he saw her when they were both about thirteen but, her new look only made him desire her more.

"When and how did she get that body?! She was just a... tomboy like she didn't have a chest like THAT before or body... or legs or chest" Con Bordino, nicks cousin stuttered as Nick was simply under Melanie's hypnosis. His feelings for the girl had only heighten over time, this time he was sure he was in love.

"I think I need to stop stalling, this year, that girl is mine" Nick said looking at the girl, causing a few of his friends to snicker. "Yeah right she's been blowing you off all year nick, you'd think you would've got the hint by now" Danielle Miller, Melanie's closest female friend said whilst she and the two other girls laughed. Nick sighed looking at Melanie like a lovesick puppy,

"Look I know I look like an idiot but I just can't stay away from her man" Melanie had walked past when Nick had said that but luckily for him she wasn't paying attention. Melanie never payed attention being quite honest, she was always in her own mind. Almost like a deaf old lady when she was deep in thought.

Steve Wiley however eyed the girl silently, pretending that he wasn't completely blown away. He was intrigued by Melanie Carson like everyone else was but in the way he wanted to know her better than he already did, when he met the once tomboy when they were pre teen their relationship was sort of a special bond.

Steve never pestered her or was as extroverted with her like Nick was, he would sit by her barley talking but he was the only person Melanie would let touch her. Sure she'd let Nick and the boys hug her but with Steve she felt less on edge, he would play with her hair for hours at one time.

Melanie always felt safe with him as well as Nick but Steve's easy going nature made her feel calm. Like he was comfort personified. Steve always had a soft spot for the Irish girl. Her eyes drew him in the most rather than her body, her misty grey eyes hypnotised him. As well as her voice, she was undeniably beautiful to him. An angel in fact.

He watched as his best friend as he followed her, in Steve's mind he knew Nick had already claimed her. The Polous boy made it clear that Melanie was his even though the blonde girl always shoved him off, all Steve could do was be silently jealous.

"Where have you been? I've missed ya, I have to address this but where did you get that body from? A goddess?" Nick followed the girl who simply laughed at him, "Wow I go for three months and your still hung up on me Polous, you do know I'm not the only girl in this school, you could find another" she couldn't help but be sort of glad he didn't find another girl to bug.

Overtime she did in fact have a crush on him too but Melanie's paranoia meant she wasn't in a rush. Nick seemed okay despite his stupid lines and the way he looked at her like some hungry animal, the Carson girl loved to tease it was her way of telling you that she did like you just that you had to be practically begging her to be yours.

"Another? Melanie! As if I would EVER look at another girl I mean none of them compare to you, you drive me crazy and I know you know it" Nick slightly lifted her chin and they both held each others gaze, the tension was so thick you could cut it with a blunt knife. If either of them moved it was over for Mel's stubbornness. She melted at the sight of his eyes,

"How can you refuse? I already make you nervous, I can see it in those grey eyes. I'm handsome, I'm nice and I know you think the same" Nick said in a low voice his warm breath brushed her face. Melanie inhaled deeply resisting the urge to kiss him right there and then, she wasn't going to make the first move.

"Says who? Your ma?" She managed to hit back and Nick let go of her chin. She walked off leaving Nick Polous flustered and frustrated, he just didn't have a clue how to break her icy exterior. Nick had luck with many girls, he was used to them falling at his feet but with Melanie Carson it was a challenge. She wasn't one to fall for his obvious charms, she was independent meaning she did everything on her terms. She answered to no one, at least she thought when her best friend approached her.

"Mel! You've been AWOL for three months, I've barley seen you and when I do your all secretive. What's been going on? Your not in trouble are you?" Peter has asked her and he was right, Melanie's old gang was around. What no one knew is what risks she had to take to get them off her back, Melanie knew one day that they would find her. The Carson girl was good at hiding the truth from the world, she didn't want Peter or anyone to know her dodgy dealings with the gang.

"I've been around, you know me i actually have a job but... I had to take on a day job. My rent went up and I needed to make extra money so I ditched school so I can keep warm" part of what she told him was in fact true, the gang came at the right time for her she needed money and she knew how to get it. Selling drugs and knock off cigarettes, but one secret she kept was her most traumatising. Melanie Carson was in too deep with the criminal world, she didn't trust doing things the legal way so she cut a few corners and broke a few laws.

Of course her best friend didn't buy it, Peter had briefly had knowledge of the gang. He knew they were back, "Mel don't lie to me, I know their back" he looked into her eyes and her grey eyes said it all, the blonde girl couldn't hide from Peter Rivers. He knew her too well, "and so what? What I do in me own time is my business so just feck off" she bashed into his shoulder as she walked away. With a heavy heart of course, she wanted to tell him about what happened to her during those three months but in typical Melanie Carson style she kept it to herself. What happened in October, stayed in October.

October 1993

"MELANIE! COME ON I KNOW YOUR IN THERE!" Patrick O'Neil almost knocked her flat door off knocking. Patrick was the leader of the gang, he had recruited Mel when she was just eleven. At first she was just a little girl who could pick open locks and hide drugs, now she's a young woman and her talents had expanded.

Now she deals and occasionally does the drugs but she wasn't too deep into it to become addicted, if anything the weed stimulated her brain. She never did cocaine or crack, hard drugs wasn't her style. "Come on out clover! I got a job for ya!" He continued to say outside her door, she knew what it was and she held back tears as she slowly opened the door. The man was stood in the door frame with a cigarette hanging from his bottom lip, a visible scar above his left brow and a wicked glint in his green eyes.

The man pushed back his gelled brunette hair as Mel began to huff in frustration, "What do you want dickhead? Can't you see I'm busy doing your fecking dirty work" he held her hands and chuckled.

"Oh come on clover! Would I treat my special girl like that? Hm?" Patrick was the predator and she was his prey, the green eyed man knew what he wanted and that was Melanie Carson. He saw her as a queen, a criminal queen like a mob bosses wife. He analysed her teen body, Melanie looked older than she was. It's how she was able to pull strings but Patrick was prepared to take advantage of that, so he decided to place a hand on her waist making Mel freeze.

"Patrick... just let me go... I'll do whatever just leave me alone" Mel choked out through held back tears, Patrick run a finger under her chin smirking at her. "It's true what everyone says... aye you are a fine beour Melanie. Your an angel but you have the horns of a devil" the brunette man whispered as he began to kiss her, Mel instantly pushed him off. "Patrick, no, get out" Mel protested and he didn't take no for an answer as he grabbed her throat.

"I'm sick and tired of your games! You walk around with your tits on show and your legs and expect men not to try it on? But that's just what you are, a teasing hoor" he continued to assault her and all she could do is try and wriggle out of his grasp, in a rush of adrenaline she found strength in her legs to knee him in the groin.

"I SAID NO! NOW GET OUT OF MY FLAT!" She screamed at the groaning man on the floor, "You... wee.. bitch! Your gonna pay for this!" He practically crawled out her flat, from that night on she was forced to move and sell drugs for him.

On the promise she wouldn't go to the police Mel feared what would happen if she did but she didn't trust the police either, three months of pressure and the upkeep of her word took its toll on her. In typical Melanie style she decided not to let it take hold of her life, so she changed her look and put up a guard. Because to her no man was going to have an invitation to her body, it was hers and no one else's.

She believed women should walk around in whatever clothes they are comfortable in and shouldn't have to be a beacon to men to expect sex from them. If anything she did it in defiance

Pushing the memory of that night down deep into her soul she did everything and anything to block it out, so maybe Nick Polous could be it after all. Her safe haven, a distraction maybe she didn't have to date him but she knew what to do with the feelings she had for him.

Present day

MELANIE WAS SAT IN CLASS, the new English teacher Miss Milano started at Hartley, Melanie's sudden return and the reason for her absence was still lingering around school. Everyone coming up with their own theories the Irish girl ignored idle gossip, Melanie had better things to do than to set people straight. She watched the group of boys act like children around the new teacher.

Her eye fixated on Nick Polous. Since she met him at age thirteen Melanie had always felt something for him, it started off as a friendship to Nick openly admitting his true feelings for the Irish girl. However Melanie wasn't that obvious, she hated being the first to admit it. Deep down she was scared of losing him because of her issues, with Melanie what you saw was what you got but underneath it all she was like a scared little abandoned kitten.

Outside she was as tough as they came, not afraid to throw a punch if she had to. The Carson girl did everything she could to survive, Melanie didn't care who she hurt in the process but when it came to Nick it was a different story. For some reason he awakened something she didn't know she had and that was a reason to live as crazy as it sounded but that's the only way she could describe it. As if he saved her from herself well only just, she still cut legal corners and dodged jail cells only barely.

                                    *******

LATER ON Melanie went to a little cafe place called 'Ruby's' a place where almost everyone at Hartley High hung out, almost like a place for teenagers to hang out and talk. The Irish girl was playing pool with Peter Rivers, who still hadn't got to the bottom of why she was away for months. He decided that Mel will tell him in her own time, as she looked up from the table there Nick Polous was with his group of friends. She shot him a grin as she caught his eye, making him walk over when Peter had left.

"So, have you made a choice yet or what? I'm kinda growing impatient here Melanie" Nick stood in front of her and she smiled slightly, "Well... I'm not gonna jump into a relationship straight away but.. I'm open to something on the lines of no commitment but... we have the occasional meeting" she bit her lip and Nick didn't know what to say to that.

His mind was screaming at him to say yes, and he felt his heart beat rise up.

"I... well... I can't say no to that, when and where?" He held her chin gently and the Irish girl's heart began to flutter, she couldn't help the way he made her melt inside. She knew she needed him, even if it wasn't serious she had to have some kind of physical contact with him.

The tension was so thick if you used your imagination you could see it, "Why not back at my flat?" She suggested through a clearing of her throat. Nick gave her a crooked smile and kissed her cheek when no one was looking, when his lips touched her blushing cheek it felt like a soft pillow. Melanie was weak in that moment, she had dragged out this game of cat and mouse for too long now. The Carson girl wanted him.

The two ended up back at her flat, it was awkward at first since Nick had never seen where she lived. He presumed she'd be staying with Rivers.

"Wow... it's a pretty cool place, how did you afford it?" Nick asked looking around the poster covered living space. "I pulled a few strings but I have a job so I'm able to keep this place" she responded as she went into the kitchen area.

Melanie's flat was her own space, she made it her safe place. Melanie had a sofa with two seats and a spare chair incase Bolton and Peter came over, her furnishings were purple cushions and a black blanket draped over the chair. The walls were dark purple and through into her room they were black.

Melanie also had a small tv set and a record player placed on a coffee table beside it, accompanied by an ashtray. Her posters consisted of her favourite bands and artists, mostly Nirvana, the Beatles and her favourite band ABBA with a mixture of other musicians. "I see your into music, got a favourite?" Nick asked as he looked at her posters, Melanie was pouring two glasses of whiskey as she responded.

"Aye, ABBA is my favourite band. I like all sorts Nirvana, the Beatles, the cranberries... I like a wee bit of prince depends on my mood but mostly ABBA" she told him as she handed him a drink, Nick smelt the liquid in the glass slightly taken aback by the strong scent. "Wow.. is this proper Irish whiskey?" He asked as Melanie laughed at his expression sipping her drink, "Aye i get it imported, a friend of a friend gets me a sweet deal on them" she placed her glass down and looked into Nick's eyes.

"You know.. I'm sorry if I left it too late but I just don't want to hurt you Nick. Admittedly, I taught you'd give up on me. The way I've been towards you, anyone would've.. run off" Melanie whispered as her lips were only meters away from his.

"I would've waited ten years Melanie Carson, you have no idea of the hold you have over me. Your... so beautiful and I really like you" Nick began the kiss and Melanie soon melted into his kiss, the kiss was sweet but passionate. Mel pulled away slightly, looking directly into his eyes.

"Nick... I'm.. not good at all, I'll break your heart" Mel placed a hand on his chest, "what if I wasn't bothered about getting my heart broken? Your worth it" nick said in a low whisper.

As much as she wanted to kiss him again she backed away from the dark haired boy, leaving him slightly confused. "Don't you want me?" He asked with a slightly disappointed tone, causing the grey eyed girl to shake her head.

"It's not that I don't want you Nick it's just too soon, like I said I'll break your heart" she repeated and reluctantly nick nodded. "Fine, I'll go but just know that we're not done yet" he told her as he lifted her chin to kiss her lips again before leaving her flat.

This was the game Melanie enjoyed the most, making him work for it. Strangely she enjoyed the tension and the aching need for Nick Polous it meant she was in control of it something the irish girl liked.

But wether she would be able to leave it as just one passionate kiss was another question.