To read Part 1 of Melody’s story, click here.
Before settling into the room that had been hers for every summer spent at the MacCallister’s house, Mel methodically worked her way around the room, checking for traps and tricks left by Marcos. After one rough summer of finding prank after prank in her room, it had become a habit, or more like a ritual, to give her room a thorough once-over after arriving. She was startled to discover that there was nothing to find, not even a small harmless bucket of water. After catching him in her room she was sure there would be more of them than usual, not less. She even double checked half the room before she convinced herself that maybe there was nothing to find…yet.
With only a few minutes left before she would be expected for dinner, Mel let herself mull over the revelations Marco had dropped on her. He had only tormented her because his parents liked her? And now, he had decided that he did like her. What a load of codswallop!
He didn’t even know her. Not anymore.
“I guess this will be the summer of enlightening Marco, and both our parents, to the fact that even friendship between the two of us is never going to happen.” She said to her empty room.
It wasn’t until she arrived at the dining room that she encountered Marco again. Thankfully neither of his parents were there yet. She was surprised to find him already sitting, right next to where she usually sat.
Seeing her, he smiled cheerily and patted the seat next to him. “Don’t look so worried, Mel. I’ll be on my best behavior.”
“Marco, you are always on your best behavior around your parents and I still wouldn’t sit by you. Why would this year be any different?”
“Because this summer I have different motivations. So I really will be on my best behavior. My better, newly improved best behavior.” He winked.
She folded her arms and didn’t move any closer, surprised that she was having to fight down a smile. “Different motivations?”
“Keeping the newest hopefuls that my parents bring at a distance.” He winked. “And showing you that I do actually like you.
Mel was about to groan when the MacCallisters came in, hand in hand. When they saw them both there already, they stopped and smiled.
Mrs MacCallister stepped forward. “Oh Melody, I can’t even begin to say how much I missed you. Why do you keep breaking my heart and leaving?”
Mel gave her a bright smile. “If I had a choice, I wouldn’t.”
“Oh you flatter me.” Mrs MacCallister blushed. “Come, come. We had all your favorites prepared in honor of your arrival.”
Mel was left with no choice but to sit next to Marco when Mrs Callister guided her over to the chair next to him and pulled it out. Mr MacCallister beamed over at Marco. Mel rolled her eyes at Marco when neither of his parents were looking.
Marco only smiled benignly at her. Maybe he thought he looked charming with that stupid smile of his. She’d never admit that he did.
“So Melody, how was school this year? Did you do well?” Mrs MacCallister beamed her way.
Mel nodded as she served herself extra mashed potatoes. “My mother signed me up for cheer again. And this time they wouldn’t let me switch to another elective so I was stuck for the year. Other than that, it was great.”
“Good grades?” Mr MacCallister chimed in.
“Yep.”
Marco leaned over. “You were a cheerleader?”
“It wasn’t my choice.” She growled low so his parents wouldn’t hear her.
“Then how didn’t you get kicked out for not being able to do any of their stuff?” He pushed. “Don’t they do flips and crazy moves?”
It was his mom that answered. “Marco, you forget that Melody is a dancer. She could probably do those cheers without trying.”
Mel shook her head. “It took some effort still. Unfortunately they knew I could dance so they weren’t going to let me get out of it.”
“Where’s your cheerleader uniform?” Marco whispered. “You did bring it, right?”
“No, I didn’t.” She glared. “Eat your food.”
“Melody, dear.” Mrs MacCallister interrupted. “I wanted to let you know that this summer is going to be a little different than usual.”
“How so?” She turned away from Marco, fully turning away from him.
“We are going to be inviting some friends over that have children the same age as you and Marco.”
Mr MacCallister added, “It’s about time you two start networking. You are both old enough.”
Marco huffed.
Mel purposely avoided looking at him, instead looking over at his mom. “How often?”
“We’ll start with one this Saturday, give you a chance to settle in. Her name is Valencia Drent.”
With a nod, Mel went back to eating. She wasn’t sure what she was supposed to say. Marco took the opportunity to chime in instead.
“Mel doesn’t need time to settle in. Maybe you should invite David Cole over tomorrow night. We could hang out after dinner. Wouldn’t David and Mel look great together? They could network over a movie in the dark. I promise I won’t peek.”
Both parents ignored him and continued eating. Marco winked her way and whispered. “Well that ended that conversation.”
After that, dinner went by quickly. Mel excused herself first, tired from her long drive. Unfortunately Marco followed her out. He held out his arm and bowed deeply. “Shall I walk you to your room, fair maiden?”
“What do you want?”
He glanced back toward the dining room and hauled her further away. “I just need to talk to you for a second without the parents listening in.”
She yanked her hand free and slowed.
“When the Drent girl comes to dinner, I’m going to need you to sit next to me.”
“Why?” She smiled over at him. “Scared of a girl?”
He glared. “You will be sitting next to me every time there is a guest. Because they are always going to be girls. And I need a buffer. You know what they meant by networking, right? They are trying to marry me off.”
“Oh?” She stopped walking, forcing him to stop as well. “Is that why you brought up David Cole? You want to marry me off too? You know he annoys me even more than you do.”
“Yes.”
“So you want me to sit by you every time there’s a guest? I’m a guest, genius.”
He smirked and nodded. “Every night it is.” With a wink he strode away down the hall, leaving her staring and shaking her head at him. “Maybe we could even watch a movie together…to network.”
Click here to read part 3 of Melody’s story!
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