Category: Melody

If you’ve missed any of Melody’s previous posts, click here for part 1, here for part 2, and here for part 3!

“Melody! There you are.”

Mel froze with her hand on her doorknob. “Mrs. MacCallister. You were looking for me?”

“No. Actually I was looking for Marco but I swear that boy is hiding from me.”

Mel laughed. “He might be. After all, you let Violeta in.”

“What?”

“You do know how Violeta treats Marco. He’s probably worried that you are looking for him to tell him that she’s back.”

Mrs. MacCallister pursed her lips. “Indeed?”

Mel swallowed a gulp. “He hasn’t told you?”

“Told me what, specifically?” Her smile seemed patient but Mel suddenly had an itch to be anywhere else.

“Did you want help finding him? Dinner with Valencia is tonight, right? Maybe he’s in his closet trying to figure out what to wear to impress her.”

“Mel, you would tell me if there was something I needed to know, right?”

“Like what?” Mel shrank, instantly recalling how Marco had been acting toward her lately. Would she want to know that her son was trying to convince Mel that he really liked her, in order to save himself from any other girls his parents were planning on foisting on him? 

“Anything.” Mrs MacCallister shrugged. “I know that you and Marco no longer get along but I hope you still consider me someone that you can talk to.”

Mel immediately nodded.

“Oh, my dear.” Mrs MacCallister gave her a hug. “You don’t have to help me find Marco. Go ahead and do whatever it was you were on your way to do.”

Mel nodded again and silently went into her room. She didn’t close the door as she watched Mrs MacCallister walk away. 

She did, however, slam it shut in surprise when Marco’s voice came from further inside her room. “Is she gone?”

“Marco?” She whisper-screeched. “What are you doing in my room?”

His chuckle echoed through her. “Would you believe me if I said I was waiting for my fair maiden to return in order to steal a kiss?”

“Ha.” Mel flicked on the light and looked around for him. He wasn’t visible. “We are not playing hide and seek.”

He emerged from her closet, holding up one of her dresses. “What were you talking to my mom about?”

“You.”

“Really?” His eyebrows shot up. “You talk about me with my mom?”

Mel crossed her arms, eyeing the dress he was waving around. “Not usually. She’s looking for you.”

Marco barked a laugh. “That’s why I was in your closet.”

“Because my room is the last place she would think to look?”

He nodded, smiling.

“Probably because she assumed you were too much of a gentleman to be in a young woman’s room.”

“What are you wearing tonight?” He asked, ignoring the jibe. “This dress?”

Mel shrugged, wandering over to her bed and flopping onto it. “What does it matter? It’s not like there will be anyone there for me to impress.”

“You don’t want to impress me?” Marco shot her an exaggerated pout.

She didn’t move. “If I was going to ever impress you, it would have happened already. You know me too well to be impressed by me because of a dress, even that one.”

Marco dropped onto the bed next to her, hands behind his head. “I didn’t know you could dance.”

Mel looked over at him. “And now you’re impressed?” She scoffed. “Yeah right. And before you even think to ask, no I will not dance for you. I know how that brain of yours works.”

He propped himself up on his elbow and smiled down at her. “Though I wouldn’t mind my own private performance, I wasn’t going to ask. You’ve always impressed me, El. I just never let you see it.”

Mel blinked, speechless. It took several seconds to find her words. “Why do you randomly call me El sometimes?”

It was his turn to stop and blink before smiling slyly. “You haven’t figured it out?”

“What?”

“You don’t remember?” His smile deepened further. “Sitting in the treehouse down by the lake? We were 8, maybe.”

“No.” Mel wracked her brain, trying to remember.

Marco sat up. “When you do, let me know. See you at dinner.” He reached the door and paused. Looking back, he winked. “Don’t forget, you’re sitting next to me.”

Mel rolled her eyes. “She’s just going to sit on your other side, genius.”

Shaking his head, he left the room.

Mel lay there on the bed, searching her memories for that one time in the treehouse. It didn’t help that they had practically lived at that treehouse that summer. Turning memory after memory over in her head she began to smile, remembering all the fun they used to have. Shaking herself free of the past, Mel glanced down at the dress Marco had left on the bed. Her brow furrowed as she tried to remember ever seeing it before, and she couldn’t. In fact, of all the dresses she had, she knew this wasn’t one of them. 

Glancing back at the door, her eyes narrowed. Shrugging off her suspicions she tried the dress on, pleased to see that it fit and actually looked really good on her. On impulse she decided to wear it, even if Marco had been the one to suggest it. He couldn’t possibly have bought her a dress. Maybe Mrs. MacCallister had snuck it in her closet as a surprise.

However, when she walked into the formal dining room she immediately knew who had snuck the dress in, and it wasn’t Mrs. MacCallister. Marco’s eyes gleamed with pleasure as he drank her in. She was practically a puddle in her gorgeous high heeled stilettos by the time she made it over to the table.

“Oh Melody!” Mrs MacCallister exclaimed. “What a beautiful dress! You look so grown up, dear.”

“Thank you.” Mel smiled at her and moved to take her seat. 

Mr MacCallister rose. “Now, Valencia Drent and her parents will be arriving any minute. Marco, you will be nice and be on your best manners.”

“Dad.” Marco protested, even as he stood to pull out Mel’s chair. His hand slid down her arm as she sat.

“Ah, see.” Mrs MacCallister chimed in. “Be sure to get Valencia’s chair as well. What a wonderful idea. I didn’t realize you had been listening when I made all those suggestions the other day. Did you perhaps get a gift for her as well?”

Mel’s eyes jumped to Marco’s at the question, glancing down at her dress. He held her gaze as he answered, “No, Mom. I didn’t get Valencia a gift.”

Mel blushed and hastily looked away, but not before she saw him smile. And that stupid smirking confident smile of his instantly set her heart and cheeks aflame.

If you missed part one of Melody’s story, go ahead and click here to start from the beginning.

If you want to go back and read part 2 of Melody’s story, click here.

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“Why didn’t I know you could dance?” Marco cornered Mel on her way to breakfast. “I thought I knew everything about you.”

Mel rolled her eyes as she folded her arms. “Why would you know? When and why would I have told you anything personal about me, Marco?”

“When did you start dancing?” He persisted. “Wait. How does my mom know?”

“I talked to your mom, Marco. We are more friends than you and I have been for years.” Mel shrugged. “I started dancing when I was 7. My mom put me in a ballet class because all of her friends had put their daughters in one.”

“7?”

His flabbergasted face had Mel laughing. “Sorry to tweak your world. You don’t really know me.”

“Yes I do.” Marco’s eyes flashed. “I do know you.”

“How?” She challenged.

“I…I am a brilliant observer.”

Mel moved around him. “So you are finally admitting that you are a creeper. Kudos.”

He growled as he fell into step beside her. However he came to an abrupt halt, dragging her into a nearby corner when his mom called out, “Marco, Violeta is here to see you.”

Mel shook him off. “Sounds like you have company. I’m off to breakfast.”

Before she could leave the sheltered confines of the curtained corner, Marco snatched her arm tightly.

“Don’t.” He whispered.

“Who’s Violeta?” Mel’s interest was piqued as he pushed himself further back into the corner, as if he could convince the wall to let him sink into it. 

He shook his head. “New neighbor.”

“And you don’t like her either?” Mel laughed. “I might as well go meet her.”

“No!”

His emphatic response gave her pause. This was not normal Marco behavior. Where had the overconfident, brazen, surprisingly flirtatious guy gone?

“What is wrong with you?” She whispered, no longer trying to leave. She softly laid a hand on his shoulder. “Are you alright?”

A spark of something lit his eyes for a moment as he looked into her face but it was quickly squashed by a melodic, lilting voice that seemed to echo along the corridor. 

“Marco.”

Mel shivered.  Whoever this Violeta person was, she had a thing for her new neighbor. Her low voice seemed a mix of seductive minx and psychotic serial killer.

“Is that her?” Mel whispered, stunned to realize that somehow the hand she had placed on Marco’s shoulder had somehow ended up tightly pressed in his own hand, their fingers interlocked and almost intimate. Mel couldn’t process her surprising feelings that surged from her now tingling hand and arm.

“We can’t hide in here forever.” Mel tugged on his hand gently. “Introduce me to your neighbor. Pull out that cocky, bad boy attitude I’ve seen for years now and get out there.

His eyes locked on hers and he straightened. There was something quixotic about the way he morphed into the Marco she had known over the past few summers. “I want to kiss you, Melody Carmichael.”

“In your dreams, Marco MacCallister.” She whispered back with a smile.

“That’s not a no.” He inched closer.

Mel used his momentum to yank him out from behind the curtains and down the hall. He didn’t let go of her hand though. Turning the corner they were met by a girl their same age, slinking down the hall with cat-like fluidity. Mel was surprised she could manage any sort of gracefulness with the towering heels she was wearing, but she did.

“Marco.” She purred, ignoring Mel completely. “It has been far too long, darling. My parents insisted we stop over in Paris for a quick shopping spree. And how could I say no? Please do not be angry that we had to be apart for so long.” She pinched his cheek and pulled him in for a swift lip-smacking kiss. “Don’t worry, my dearest, for I will insist you come along with us on our next trip. I cannot bear to be apart from you again.”

Mel stood there shocked, watching as Marco stiffened and froze. It wasn’t until Mel squeezed his hand that was still interwoven with hers that he shook himself free and took a large step back.

“Violeta.” His voice was sharp. “You know we aren’t together. I won’t be going anywhere with you or your family.” His voice turned to warm honey as he continued. “I’ll be far too busy weighing my options. Haven’t you heard? My parents are only inviting the elite over for dinners. I’ll have a wonderful array of lovelies to kiss from.” He paused with a feral smile. “I mean pick from.”

Violeta’s eyes narrowed for a blink of an eye before turning on Mel, her gaze skittering sharply over their clasped hands. “And is this kissing buddy number one?”

Mel opened her mouth to put the arrogant girl in her place but Marco beat her to it, pulling her behind him.

“This is Melody Carmichael. You will never speak to her or of her again with such disrespect.”

Hatred shimmered out of Violeta’s eyes at Mel. “She must not be very important. I’ve never heard of her. Is she your maid? You know what I’ve said about kissing the help. So unbecoming.”

Mel saw Marco’s shoulders stiffen with rage and pulled on his hand. When he glanced back at her she shot him a soft smile. “She obviously doesn’t know what she is talking about or who she is talking to. I don’t need her validation to know who I am. Walk with me in the garden?”

Mel was once again stunned at how quickly Marco transformed, this time from rage to sweet and considerate.

“You want to go on a walk with me?” His voice was back to the playful bantering tone he had greeted her with when she had first arrived. “Lucky me.” 

He completely ignored Violeta as he turned and escorted Mel out to the back patio, his eyes only on her. 

Mel, however, could not resist glancing back at the girl who still stood there staring in shock. “You may want to look up my name. It may be useful information, neighbor.” Looking back up into Marco’s eyes, a flutter shot down her spine as she whispered, “You owe me.”

His velvety laugh tore into her already weakening wall. “Could I pay you back with a kiss?”

“And become kissing buddy number one? No.” She shook her head with a laugh. “I’m sure I’ll think of something though.”

Marco’s eyes snared hers as he became instantly serious. “When I kiss you, Melody Carmichael, you’ll know that you are far more than a kissing buddy ever could be.”

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Click here to read the next part of Melody’s story! And tell your friends!

To read Part 1 of Melody’s story, click here.

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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.”

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Click here to read part 3 of Melody’s story!

“Dad, you can’t.”

“I will and I expect to not hear another word about the matter.”

Her silence was supposed to be deafening but he didn’t notice.

“Melody. Your mother and I have discussed this. Be ready to leave in 10 minutes.”

Mel stormed out of the room. For yet another summer, her parents were exiling her to their best friend’s house in the country, with the one person she hated most…Marco. Were her summers never to be her own?

True, Marco and her had been friends when they were younger but four years ago he had suddenly changed, making her life miserable every chance he could.

Sitting in her room, her mother had sent a maid to pack her things. Mel knew it was pointless to object to what was packed. Her mother tended to be very specific in what was to be packed and it had proven to be useless to try and pack anything else. So, in went all the cute flirty sundresses her mother had recently bought her.

“Melody.” Her mother’s voice came from outside her door.

“Yes, Mother.”

“It’s time to go. Gather your things.”

Mel walked to the car without looking at either of her parents.

“See you in a few months, my dear.” Her mother called from the door, not bothering to hug her.

After driving for several hours, she pulled up to the MacCallister estate and Mel groaned. She hesitated, refixing her hair though. It’s not like anyone would be expecting it to be any specific way. The MacCallister’s didn’t know her father’s strict rules. The car pulled to a stop and Mel ran her fingers through her hair. It was staying down.

“Miss Melody.  Mrs. Carmichael informed me that you were expected. You can go right on in. I will bring your things up.”

“Thank you Simon.” Mel got out of the car and headed up the stairs. She knocked once then entered. She had been there too many times, lived there for too many summers to stand on ceremony.

If only they didn’t have a son, then her summers would be so much more uncomplicated and enjoyable. She headed straight to her usual room. On the way she came across Mrs MacCallister.

“Mel! You made it! I didn’t even hear the door.” Mrs. MacCallister pulled her in for a breath-snatching hug. “My dear, I have missed having you around. Each year that you go home for the winter I find myself only missing you more.

“It’s good to be here. Am I in my same room?” Mel couldn’t keep the smile from her face.

“Yes. And Marco is around here somewhere. Be sure to find him and say hello. He has been looking forward to your arrival almost as much as I have.”

Making her way back out into the familiar hall Mel made her way to her room, ready to flop onto her bed and not move. But instead she found Marco laying on top of her bed waiting for her.

As soon as he saw her, his smile widened. It was lethal and he knew it. “Well, if it isn’t Melody Carmichael.”

“Get out of my room, Marco.”

He didn’t move off the bed, settling deeper into the pillows spread out underneath him. “Aww and what would my mother say? She is expecting me to be ecstatic over your arrival and spending hours in your room catching up and being all gossipy.”

“Somehow I seriously doubt that. Your mother is well aware we don’t get along.”

“And each year she somehow thinks we are going to change and become besties.”

Mel glared his way. “It isn’t that far-fetched, genius. We used to be rather good friends as I recall. That is, until you randomly decided to hate me for no reason.”

“Well, I’ve changed my mind.” He patted the open space on the bed next to him.

“About what? About hating me or about spending hours in here pretending to be catching up?” Mel folded her arms and moved no closer to the bed than she was before.

He propped himself up on his shoulders. “I declare a truce.”

“Why?” Her eyes narrowed and his smile deepened.

“Would you believe that I find you pretty and I want to kiss you?”

“No. Try again.”

He sat up further. “How about I’m tired of making you miserable and have decided to give you a break this summer out of the generosity of my heart?”

She laughed. “You’re funny.”

“Fine. My mother has started introducing me to possible alternatives.” He fell back onto the bed. It was his tone that caught her curiosity.

“Alternatives to what?” She moved closer.

“You.” His eyes stayed closed.

She stopped moving abruptly. “What do you mean? Your parents have started looking for new summer house guests?”

“House guests? He peeked an eye open to look at her, his face drowning in incredulousness. “No. You don’t know why you’re here?”

“So my parents can be rid of me for the summer. I’ve known that since I was 4 and they dropped me off on your doorstep without even saying goodbye.” She edged onto the bed, still keeping her distance. His good looks had always been a problem for her to get past. Her breathing always shortened and her thoughts scattered, even when he was being mean.

“It may have started out that way.” He admitted. “However, I was eavesdropping on our parents a few years ago and discovered the real reason.”

His pause made her whack his arm good and hard. “And?”

“They expect us to fall in love and get married.”

Her eyes narrowed. “How many years ago?”

He looked at her then but didn’t answer.

“Don’t make me ask again.” She growled.

Oddly enough he smiled in response to her irritation. In seconds, she went from sitting on the opposite side of the bed to being caught lying fully underneath him, his weight pressing her down into the bed.

“Get off me!”

He looked her straight in the eye. “It was four years ago.”

His quiet confession halted her attempts to maim him for life. “It wasn’t something I did?”

“I don’t hate you El. I hated feeling pushed into liking you.”

“You don’t have to like me like that, Marco. I just miss my friend.” Mel focused on the far corner of the room as tears threatened.

“I know now that I don’t have to, but I do.”

“Do what?”

“Like you.” He flashed her a half smile and rolled off her. He shrugged a little as he strode quickly to the door. “Don’t hate me.”

It wasn’t until after he had left that it occurred to her that she should have said something back. 

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