by Noa Melody
“By throwing her in the water?”
Melanie nodded and smiled. “Of course. The girl should have never been born in the first place! I mean, if she wasn’t, then Jordan and I…” She narrowed her gaze and looked longingly at my lips, touching them with her fingertips. “Well, let’s just say it would be Jordan and I in this position instead of you. Not that I don’t find this very attractive and alluring.” Her voice became a whisper and those eyes of hers were like a vixen’s.
“Tell me. Why do you resent her so much?” I asked as I felt Melanie’s leg rub against mine.
I tried to ignore the disturbing things that were happening to me and tried to stay in character. Dominic was the one being seduced, not Freesia… In fact, Freesia would never be seduced. Ever.
“Well, isn’t that obvious?” Melanie’s voice seemed lower and more natural. She sounded mature, but still annoying. “Anyone gets between me and my beau, and they may as well die.”
My eyes widened and I leaned myself away from her, sitting at the edge of the king-sized bed. “But didn’t you used to torture her in middle school?” I asked her.
She paused for a moment, before having that seductive smile grow back on her face. “Well of course. She was the one getting all the attention! The boys baseball team, the basketball team, the academic club and the drama club all loved her! No doubt it was because of her painful past. The teachers always talked about it during their breaks.” She said, checking her nails and puckering her lips. “Now, can we do this or not?” She asked me, that feminine voice reflecting off my heart that was too crammed with the truth of her words to even find it seducing.
I gave her a smirk. “Yes, let’s do this now.” I gently pushed her down on her back and leaned on top of her.
She gave me a seductive gaze and wrapped her hands around my neck, moving them up to the cap on my head. “If we’re really going to do this, I think that lovely little baseball cap should be taken off your head first.” She whispered to me.
I smirked at her and took one of my hands and, gripping the bill of my cap, spoke with satisfaction. “I think you’re right. But I have a feeling that what you’re going to see may come as a bit of a surprise to you, Mels.” I stated, trying to gaze into her eyes as long as I could without thinking of gouging them out there and then.
Her hand set directly over mine and she leaned in a little. “My dear, Dommy… No matter what you look like, I will never be surprised or shocked to see. In fact, I’m just itching to see that beautiful hair beneath that cap so I can rub my hands through it.” She explained, keeping that dim-witted, completely entranced, look on her face.
“Sorry, Melanie, but I’m afraid I must disagree with you there. But, if you wish me to take it off, I will do as you wish.” I replied, slowly slipping off the cap, allowing my long brown hair to land delicately on my shoulders.
And that was the very first time I saw the girl beneath me cower with fear.
“Hello there, Melanie.” I spoke to the girl who was just lying there gob-smacked. “I must say, you really are as dumb as they come. Not figuring out I was Freesia all along! I commend you for being the thickest girl I’ve ever met!”
“B-but how. I…” She couldn’t seem to find any words. Poor dear, still in shock. “So Dominic. He’s-“
I gave her a menacing smirk. “Me. Congratulations for finally getting it! For all this time you’ve been hanging around ‘Dominic’, you’ve been telling me everything. And you even fell in love with me!” I stated, laughing at her quaking body and that blush of embarrassment and rage on her face. “What’s wrong? Something finally slapped you in the face?”
Before anything else could be said or done, Melanie let out the largest, most ear-bleeding banshee shriek I had ever heard, before kicking me in the face with one of her heels she was still wearing.
“You fucking whore! How DARE you!? How fucking DARE you!?” Her voice was full of panic and rage.
Even with a mouth full of blood after being kicked directly by the heel of her shoe, I managed to laugh and grin at her. “How dare I? How dare YOU by trying to make a pass at somebody you didn’t even fucking know was me! And how dare you treat Jordan like he’s nothing but a rare, expensive vase on a pedestal!” I started yelling at her, getting myself to my feet.
Before I could, she pounced on me and took her hands around my throat. “You are NEVER going to live through this! I swear I am going to kill you, you bitch! You don’t deserve to live after this!” She growled and hissed as her hands tightened around my skin.
I struggled to keep them apart enough for me to still breathe. “Really? You wanna bet, bitch?” I gave her a wry smile and kicked her in the stomach, causing her to release my neck long enough for me to get to my feet.
I looked to see her kneeling against the wall, shaking. “You… You…” Her voice quaked. “You’re nothing but scum like you’re family!” She started, dragging herself to her feet. “You’re slut of a father who abandoned you and your mommy to go and run off with another woman,” She struggled to stay upright, holding her stomach with one hand but an apparent smirk on her lips. “And that mother of yours. She must have abandoned you too, right? After all, you were shipped off to an Orphanage, weren’t you? I get it, that mommy of yours is a whore! Just like your good-for-nothing daddy!” she began to shriek at the top of her voice with every word.
I clenched my fist as tight as I could, as I held my mouth with the other. “If you say another word-“
“That mommy and daddy of yours didn’t love you! They left you all on your own, poor little Freesia! Nobody loves her, boohoo! Her daddy is off fucking another woman whilst her mommy is in a brothel!”
“Shut the fuck up, you fucking little slut.”
My body jolted as I felt tears escape my eyes after trying for so long to force them back. My heart was trying to escape my chest and get away from the painful words penetrating my heart like needles full of venom. And I couldn’t stop my body shaking with rage and fear.
But my pain eased a little as I noticed Joe, Josh and Craig suddenly standing between me and Melanie. And Jordan gripping Melanie by the arm, a malevolent look on his face.
“Say another fucking word and I will tear out your fucking voice box.” I heard Jordan’s violent voice threaten the skank into submission.
I saw the fear in her eyes, but it didn’t stop her from making crude comments about me. “Aw, little Freesia can’t stand up for herself? So, now she has four big strong boys to protect her?” She laughed a little before her voice turned menacing. “Just as I thought; Whores DO run in your family!”
I watched Jordan’s fist rise and he was ready to throw it forward. “Jordan, stop!” I yelled to him, just in time for him to pull back before contacting that orange skin of Melanie’s. My quaking voice took all the boys by surprise and I pushed my way through, between Josh and Craig, making my way to the Skank. “Don’t waste your energy on her, she’s not worth it.” I spoke with tears flowing down my face and blood from my mouth.
“Freesia…” I heard Jordan’s voice suddenly become gentle and his malevolent look faded the very instant he set his eyes on me. I wiped my eyes and gave him a frail and quaking smile.
I took a deep breath and grabbed the skank by her low-cut top and dragged her face to mine. “You fucking say another word around my family and you are dead! For the record, all that you said was wrong. My dad didn’t abandon me, he adopted me. My mom isn’t a Whore and she wasn’t a Whore, she’s dead you idiot! And these boys… They’re not just my closest friends, but also my step-brothers! And if you want to get out of here alive, I suggest you get that slutty arse out of my bedroom and out away from our home and never come back!” I threw her body on the ground and she staggered back. “And, for the record, it looks like you’re the one who can’t stand up for yourself.”
There was a momentary silence before Melanie spurt out more venom from her fangs. “I wish you weren’t even born…”
I felt my he
art fall again, but picked it back up. “I know, you’ve told me.” I stated to her as she looked up, giving me the look of pure hatred.
Melanie’s piercing gaze was stabbing my heart like a dagger. “If it weren’t for you, Jordan wouldn’t have changed! If you didn’t exist, Jordan wouldn’t be so miserable! If you had just kept your slut to yourself, Jordan never would have kissed you!”
…What?
Chapter 31
I quickly snapped my gaze to Jordan, who averted my eyes, and then to the other boys, who did the same.
I glanced back at Melanie and scowled. "Yeah, he's kissed my forehead, what's wrong with that?" I asked her, folding my arms.
"No, you idiot! On the lips! Like a real kiss!" She stated.
"What... What's she saying?" I asked any of the boys who were willing to answer, and apparently that was none of them.
"I said, Jordan ki-"
"Yeah, I'm not deaf or stupid. I know what you said and I know what it means." I snapped at the girl still on the floor, before she could repeat those questionable words.
"What I want to know, is when and why." my voice turned serious, but I was quickly snapped out of it by a hand gripping my wrist.
I looked to see Craig holding as tight as he could, with eyes full of sympathy. "Let's go. We need to wash that cut." He spoke to me sheepishly, trying to drag me away.
I couldn't not follow him, not with that look on his face. I took a quick glance to Jordan, standing there with a solemn look in his emerald eyes who didn't even look at me.
What the hell...
"You got hit hard." Craig's voice was gentle as he dabbed cotton on my lip. I sat in the bathroom sitting on the edge of the bath and Craig stood in front of me, cleaning the blood off my face.
I narrowed my eyes, unsure if to ask or not. "Craig. Is what Melanie said true? Did he really kiss me?" I asked him, tensing my body.
He gave me a weak smile and nod as an answer.
To be honest, I didn't know what to do. That would be the second time I've been kissed by one of my step-brothers... The first time caused enough troubles as it was, now I have to deal with it again?
Everything's just so messed up...
"Tell me, Craig." I started, feeling a lump in my throat. "Does this mean it's going to be me and Josh all over again? Because I don't want that..." I confessed to him, feeling tears mist my eyes. "But I'm scared..."
I felt Craig wrap his arms around my neck and give me a hug. "Jordan's scared, too. I heard that fight you both had earlier today, and we were all surprised that Jordan snapped at you over nothing." he explained to me, still cleaning my lip. "When me and Joe and Josh confronted him, he practically spilt all of it. And to say he was repenting wouldn't be enough..." as he drew his hand away from my lip, he gave me a gentle smile. "But, you should be thankful." Craig pulled away so I could see his sincere eyes.
"After all, that kiss did save your life."
What?
My eyes widened at his words. "W-what do you mean 'saved my life'? What are you talking about?" I asked him, slamming my hands on the bath.
His gaze became full of a nostalgic fear. "You weren't breathing when Jordan pulled you out the water. So he performed CPR..." he quickly grabbed me by the shoulders, taking me by surprised as I saw tears fill his eyes. "Please don't be mad at him, Freesia! He did it to save you! If he didn't, then... Then..."
I felt his arms quiver and I gave him a soft smile, trying to reassure him. "Craig, I'm not mad. Just... Confused." I stood up from the rim of the bath, pushing Craig off me. "And I hate him more than anything for not telling me. Something like that... It was definitely something Melanie could have twisted around so that the relationship between me and Jordan would crumble. Jordan must have known that, so he should have told me..."
I glanced to Craig, wiping his eyes with his bed shirt. I hated seeing anybody cry. The fact it was a cute little boy made me hate it even more. I placed a gentle hand on Craig's hair and ruffled it up. "Don't worry, Craig. I'll deal with it some way or the other. So don't cry..."
Even though I had made that decision then and there, I had deep doubt in my heart of actually being able to face Jordan without panicking...
Chapter 32
It finally came to the day that Melanie was leaving. She decided to head off a day early, most likely for the little mess I started... But also for the mess she started, too.
It had been an entire day and Jordan hadn't once looked at me. In fact, we did bump in to each other this morning and he looked like he had something to say... But I chickened out and ran away from him. I felt like such an idiot for doing that! After all, I told Craig I would handle it...
I guess, because it involves Jordan, I just can't not think about his lips on mine every time I see him!
"Free, you're spacing out, again!" I heard Josh as he tapped my head with his fist.
The group of us were up at the hill, again. It was the best place here to just relax and hang out… And space out, apparently.
I looked at him and couldn't help but have a large blush grow on my face, realising the topic I was pondering about. "Uh, yeah. Sorry..." I mumbled to him, lowering my head trying to not show him my flushed cheeks.
But, that didn't stop him from laughing at me. "Free, you're an open book!" He stated, patting me on the head. "Why not talk to him if it's got you all in dreamland?"
I paused for a moment and looked to Jordan, who was teasing Craig with the baseball. He had it raised over his head, Craig painstakingly trying to reach it.
The sight was too amusing to not laugh at. But I still couldn't gather the courage to talk to him....
I looked over at the sea and my mind tried to search for some support. Someone... Something... Anything to help me.
"Y'know..." Josh started, resting his arm on my head and his chin on top of it. "Sometimes it's best for the opposing person to start talking first. You've already coped with everything on your own, just have another person deal with it instead. Let Jordan figure this out and confront you instead of the other way around." He stated to me.
I tried to look up at him, but he had my head weighed down. My eyes narrowed as I gazed at the ocean. "Yeah... I guess you're right." I mumbled to him.
"Anyway, how's that mouth of yours, does it still hurt?" he asked me, changing the topic quickly.
I rubbed my tongue against the stitches, only to wince at a sharp pain. "Yeah, it still hurts. But it's bearable. The doctor said it wasn't infected or anything, so it's not too bad" I explained to him.
After Craig had cleaned my wound, I heard that Joe asked Miriam to call the family doctor to have a look. It wasn't a nasty injury, so he stitched it up then and there. I also heard that Jordan had to be held back by Josh so he wouldn't tear Melanie to shreds...
Josh told me earlier that he wanted to kill her for saying those things to me and hurting me. The idiot...
"Freesia! Freesia!" Craig ran towards me with a pout in his face, pointing to Jordan. "Jordan won't give me the ball!" He fake-cried, obviously trying to get to Jordan. But I knew he wouldn't buy it.
I looked to Jordan, who also had his eyes set on me and I couldn't help but avoid him. "G-give him the ball, Jordan..." I stuttered the words. Even talking to him was hard...
I noticed him walking towards me but I couldn't look at his face, not unless I wanted to fall in a trance.
"Here." was all he said and placed the ball on top of my head, allowing it to roll off to the grass below me.
He walked away and went back to the villa in a bad mood. Of course, I was to blame for that...
"Hey, cheer up, Freesia." Josh ruffled up my hair but I couldn't even look at him, either. "He's just stubborn."
"It's not because he's stubborn." I corrected the boy. "He's just a good-for-nothing jerk." My voice sounded cold, but I couldn't help it.
How long has it been since he last spent some time with me? A week has gone by and the guy never once pissed me off like he usually did. I would
have expected at least a comment about my lack in femininity, but nothing.
And I miss it...
"Guys!" Joe's voice came from the villa, a wide smile on his face and in his emerald eyes. "Guys, listen up-wait, where's Jordan? No, never mind, I'll tell him later. Anyway!" he started trying to gather his thoughts in order. "Mom and dad are free all day tomorrow and they said they'd take us to the Yankee Stadium to see the game!"
I immediately jumped up on my feet, completely forgetting about whatever was on my mind before. "You're serious!?" I asked him, my heart almost leaping with excitement. “How’d they get tickets so quick!?” I asked him.
He gave me a small laugh. “Dad has connections with the Yankee’s manager and managed to snatch 7 tickets!” He explained.
Wow… Never thought Kyle would have that good of connections. Either way, I couldn’t help but squeal with excitement.
The Yankees! It’s been my dream to see them play! And now I finally have my wish!
My actions weren't unnoticed by the boys who all had smiles appear on their faces.
Right then, I was too psyched about watching the Yankees play to even think about Jordan!
But I still wasn't confident enough to approach him, not yet.
*
"I still can't believe this... To watch the Yankees play... Nothing could make this day better!" I stated, unable to stay still in the front seat of Miriam's car.
I saw Craig's head appear between the seats with that childish smile. "You've never been to a Yankee game?" he asked me curiously.
I shook my head. "No, I've only been to one game and that was with my mom for my 15th birthday." I explained to him with a smile. "It was only a local game, since we were pretty much broke."
Craig's eyes showed sympathy, but I shook my head with a soft smile. "Don't look at me like that! Even if we were broke, we were happy!" I told him reassuringly. “In fact, it was thanks to us being poor that my mom and I were so close. We used to do as much as we could together…”