Melody's Crush: (Book One)

by Alora Dillon

  So why did guys not find me attractive?

  Okay, so my eyebrows needed a little waxing and pulling my hair back into a braid every day was a bit boring, but on a scale from one to ten, I would easily give my features a solid seven. Hell, even an eight on a good day.

  I heard the bathroom door open and I quickly grabbed my glasses and then reached for a paper towel to dry my hands and face. It was Tricia Scott and her two cronies that seemed to follow her around everywhere she went. She eyed me up and down once and then let out a snort of disapproval. I rolled my eyes at her and pushed by. Like I needed an additional insult added to the previous injury.

  After reaching the crammed lunch room, I scanned the sea of hormone crazed students for Jake but he was nowhere to be seen. I noticed through the lunch window in the courtyard, there were some guys playing hacky sack. Most likely, he would be there.

  I pushed my way through the crowd and out into the courtyard. Sure enough, there he was.

  A small beaned bag came hurling toward me. Instinctively, I popped my chest out stopping the assault letting the ball drop and then kicked the ball back into play. The circle of guys just stared at me with their mouths wide open as the hacky sack dropped to the ground with a resounding thud. Even Jake looked surprised.

  “What?” I asked. “Like a girl can’t play hacky?”

  Walking through the circle, I headed toward the closest vacant bench as I muttered imbeciles and then plopped down, crossing my arms. Looking up, surprised eyes were still staring as if I had grown two heads.

  Seriously, this couldn’t be that much of an anomaly could it?

  I shrugged my shoulders and lifted my hands with a jerk. “What?”

  They all turned back to each other and started hackying again without giving me another glance.

  Why was it so hard to believe a girl could hacky? Argh! Guys were so sexist.

  If they only knew the moves I could do when I was by myself kicking the bag out of frustration, then they would have the right to stare. It started the night after Jake left the hacky sack at my house after breaking up with girlfriend number eight, or maybe it was number nine. He kicked and popped it while talking about his frustrations of yet another failed relationship.

  Seemed to work for him, so I started playing around with it and then understood why he did it. It was a great stress reliever.

  Funny how I never shared that little secret with him.

  It gave me little butterflies in recalling his dropped jaw. Covering a grin with the back of my hand, I giggled to myself.

  “What are you giggling about?” His voice had me dropping my hand to my lap as I looked up to stare into those emerald pools. “Scooch over,” he commanded as he popped the side of my thigh. I obliged and he sat down.

  Looking around the courtyard, I noticed harsh stares coming from the girls around us. He didn’t seem to notice or care.

  My skin felt like crawling as I could hear the whispering. They were probably wondering why someone like Jake would be sitting with someone like me.

  Eh, who cared?

  But even as I tried to blow it off, it still stung at my pride.

  “I’m hanging out with the guys after school today so you don’t have to wait for me,” he said, ruffling my already unmanageable mane.

  I was a little disappointed. “I’m not your babysitter,” I said a bit too harshly.

  Second time today I caused him to look at me that way. Smiling a little bit too forcibly, I punched him in the arm at which point he shoved my head slightly to the side. He smiled again and I felt better.

  Somewhat.

  He got back up and joined the hacky circle and all I could do was just watch in awe at his amazing athletic ability. It did not hurt that his jeans hugged his thighs just right as he kicked and popped the bag. Quickly, I averted my eyes but not before the heat had already stung my cheeks.

  Jake was a different kind of jock. He wasn’t the arrogant football quarterback type jock like Kyle Warner. Instead, he was the soccer type and was the school’s most beloved medaled swimmer on the swim team. Several times I had thought about joining the swim team just so I could be closer to him. But there was no way I would ever get through a practice with him in the same pool. So, I elected to join the debate team instead.

  And of course to make my image that much brighter, I volunteered once a week after school at the Griffith Observatory giving tours to small groups. It was part of my community service toward graduation. Even though I had already completed all the required hours my freshman year, I couldn’t seem to give up my Thursday afternoons at the Observatory as it was the place Jake and I would spend countless hours at when we were in junior high.

  Finally, the bell rang interrupting my trip down memory lane and the students poured from the courtyard back into the halls and into the classrooms.

  Three more periods passed before once again, we all emptied into the parking lot. I reached my mustang and fired her up. There were many admirable onlookers as I pulled out into the line of exiters.

  Even my car had more popularity than I.

  As I pulled into the driveway at home, I noticed Mrs. Kensington, Jake’s mother, getting into the back of a luxury car. The chauffeur closed the door, got into the driver’s seat and then drove off.

  It seemed that my mother and Jake’s father were best friends in college which is why we were allowed to stay in the guest apartment when my mom left dad. It was only supposed to be temporary until my mother finished up her nursing degree working in anesthesiology, but we just kind of got used to being there and the thought of buying a house never came up. To be honest, I was thankful she never made the decision to move.

  I rested my head on the steering wheel for a few minutes before mechanically opening the car door like I had done a thousand times already, grabbed my books and then headed toward the guest house at the back of the property.

  After entering my room, I threw my book bag on the floor and just fell across my bed. Visions of Jake’s slackened jaw and widened eyes today made me chuckle. It was a great feeling to surprise him like that. I wondered what else I could do that would make his jaw drop again.

  After finishing my homework, I headed for the kitchen. I placed the permission slip under a magnet on the refrigerator so I wouldn’t forget to tell my mother to sign it in the morning. Hugging my arms and crossing my fingers, I prayed that it would be me Jake picked from the hat on Friday.

  After cleaning up my dinner dishes, I headed back to my room, took a shower and changed into my pajamas. Looking in the full length mirror, even my pj’s looked dull and boring. I flung the towel from my head at the mirror and plopped down on the bed. Hugging my pillow, I curled up into a ball, closed my eyes and for the first time in years, I fell asleep before nine.

  The hinges on my window screeched causing me to sit upright like a jack rabbit. Jake was standing above me looking down his perfectly shaped nose with concern.

  “Hey sleepyhead!” he yelled a bit too loudly.

  I looked up, cupping my hands from the offensive sunlight pouring through the window and gave him my best ‘kiss my ass’ look. But he only pushed my forehead causing me to fall back onto the bed.

  “Guess I will be driving my beamer today?”

  I sat up and pushed him out of the way, headed to my closet, stripped off my pajama bottoms, pulled on a pair of jeans, left my tank top on and just slipped into a button down shirt. I moved over to my vanity and pulled my hair back into a ponytail not bothering brushing it out or braiding it. I slipped into sandals and then grabbed my book bag and glasses, then headed out the bedroom door. It wasn’t until I was halfway down the hall that I noticed Jake had not followed me.

  “Jake?” I called out.

  I walked back to my bedroom and he just stood there staring at my closet door. His jaw was once again slackened.

  “Hey… you coming or not?” I asked, my eyes furrowing at what possibly could have caused him to go slacked jawed again.
/>   He shook his head and I noticed he swallowed a bit too loudly.

  “What’s gotten into you?” I insisted. But he just pushed by me and headed toward the kitchen.

  Mom was already getting her second cup of cream laden coffee before she started in on the sleeping arrangements for my ‘husband.’

  “Mom, really?” I asked, my voice a bit strained. “I’m already stressed enough about it. Can we not go there right now?”

  “Don’t worry, Mrs. Jenkins,” Jake intervened as he buttered his toast a little too hard. His eyes stayed glued to the bread and it was flattened by the time he finished talking to mom. “I plan to speak with Mr. Lloyd about switching with whoever picks Melody, so you won’t have to worry about making room for anyone. I’m sure he will understand.”

  It was my turn to drop my mouth.

  He glanced at me for a second, smiled a nervous smile and then spooned oatmeal quickly into his face without making eye contact with me for the rest of breakfast.

  Really, who was this guy?

  He didn’t even insist on driving the car to school. Instead, he said he would drive his car since he had practice. Even on practice days, he always rode with me. Why was today any different?

  The rest of the week flew by and Jake acted strange the whole week. Not once did he ride with me to school and twice he didn’t show up at my window. That only meant one thing.

  He was seeing someone.

  What hurt worst was that he normally asked me for my opinion before committing to any relationship. I was curious to know what made this one special enough for him to abandon me like that.

  Sheesh. One sided crushes really sucked.

  The bell rang for everyone to take their seats in Health class but there wasn’t a person in the room settled. We all were on edge for the pairing off of husband and wife. All the guys were practically squirming in their seats knowing they would have to move in with their ‘wives’ for the next three days. And then the following Tuesday, the gals had to move in with their ‘husbands.’

  The first person to draw from the hat was Jason Anderson due to his last name. There were twelve guys and twelve girls and all the parents had signed the permission slips.

  I wasn’t at all worried since Jake had already told my mother that he would make sure he and I were paired up. Seeing him chatting with Mr. Lloyd before class put my mind at ease. It was a relief to know that he was going to become my make believe husband and I already promised him that I would take care of the baby for the first four nights in my room and he could take care of the baby the remainder three nights at his house with neither of us having to worry about the awkwardness of staying in the same house.

  It was a win-win.

  Jason reached into the hat and pulled out the first name. Everyone was holding their breath. He unfolded the little piece of paper and slowly opened his eyes. Smiling, he called out Janette Shipley. Everyone clapped and Mr. Lloyd told Jason to go sit over next to Janette to which both seemed pleased as ever to be paired together.

  The next six were paired and neither Tricia’s nor my name had been called. It was Jake’s turn to draw from the hat and the rest of the girls seemed to sit on the edge of their seats. Even though I knew it wouldn’t matter who he drew, I still held my breath in anticipation.

  He reached his long fingers into the hat and withdrew his choice. He opened it and smiled that player smile I was so familiar with when he talked about a girl he liked. I knew right away, it wasn’t my name on the paper.

  “Tricia Scott!” he beamed and the rest of the guys were deflated. He got up and sauntered over to where Tricia was sitting and the other guys all gave him a high five and praised him for having the best pick of the liter. I wanted desperately to slap the smile off of Tricia’s face. I wondered if she would be smiling so much after she learned of Jake’s request for a ‘wife swap.’

  Ha!

  Finally, it came down to the last two and I still had not been picked. Jared Thomas was next to draw and then Kyle. Amy Cooper was one of Tricia Scott’s cronies and Jared was Kyle’s best friend. Neither were prime choices for a husband in my book.

  Jared reached in to the hat, his lips mouthing a silent prayer to pick Amy. I rolled my eyes and cradled my cheek in my left hand waiting for the drama to be over. He slowly unfolded the paper and then jumped up yelling, “Yes! Yes! Yes! Whoo hoo!” Then he clapped Kyle on the back saying, “Sorry man.”

  Kyle’s eyes were closed and everyone could tell he was not at all pleased with being paired with me. Who was he kidding? I wasn’t too thrilled with the idea either. I mean, who in their right ever lovin’ mind would want to marry that arrogant ass?

  “Alright, alright. Settle down. Kyle, go sit next to Melody,” Mr. Lloyd commanded but Kyle just looked out the window without budging. Mr. Lloyd turned to me and asked nicely, “Melody, would you please go sit next to Kyle?”

  I closed my eyes and let out a long sigh. I stood up and then walked over to the desk next to his and sat down with the back of my left shoulder facing him. It was then I noticed Jake looking at me with concern. I gave him a weak smile and then a thumb-up to let him know I was counting on him.

  “Alright everyone, it is time for me to deliver your babies.” Everyone laughed at the intended pun except Kyle who still had his arms crossed over his chest, staring out the window.

  Kyle and I were last to receive our baby. Reluctantly, I reached the teacher’s desk where the fleshy little bundle was waiting. Mr. Lloyd told Kyle he could come up or go to the office. His choice.

  Sighing, he grabbed the corner of his desk and launched himself to the front of the class, standing as far away from me as he could.

  Wow, could he be any more obvious?

  We were both given our keys so that every time we responded to the baby, a chip inside would document it after inserting the key into the baby’s side. The central computer within the baby’s body corresponded to the keys we were given and only would respond to those keys.

  “And your time starts now. Good luck everyone. Please be sure to read the manual and please, please be on your best behavior!” Mr. Lloyd specifically eyed Jared who only laughed as he pulled Amy close to his side pretending to give her kisses on the cheek. She pushed him away and the whole class erupted in laughter.

  The bell rang and Kyle quickly jumped to his feet and left the room leaving me with the baby, diaper bag and a surprised expression. When the room was empty, I walked up to Mr. Lloyd’s desk.

  Ehem. I cleared my throat to get his attention. Turning, he looking up at me appearing a bit taken aback.

  “Hi. Um… I was wondering when I can change partners?” I asked anxiously, my pointer fingers twirling around each other. “With the whole timing thing, I figured now was better than later before they can leave school grounds. You know, before the weekend? And before Kyle makes it to my house or worse, messes up my grade?” I plastered a fake smile on my lips.

  He genuinely looked confused and that made me nervous.

  “I am supposed to be partnered with Jake. Didn’t he talk to you before class?”

  His expression changed to that of clarity. Smiling, he said, “Oh, yes. He did.”

  Smiling for real now, I let out a sigh of relief.

  “I told him no.”

  “What?” I squeaked.

  He seemed quite surprised at my reaction.

  “But, but… Mr. Lloyd.” My hands were wringing around each other out of panic. “There is no way I am ever going to get along with Kyle. You saw how he just treated me.” I was pleading with him. Even I could hear the paranoia in my voice. “I can’t do this with him. I want to be with Jake.”

  My voice carried into the hall causing a few students to giggle as they walked past the doorway. At that point, I didn’t care.

  Mr. Lloyd raised his hands telling me to keep my voice down. “Melody, every girl in here wants to be with Jake.”

  He had me there.

  But not every girl was requested by
Jake. This wasn’t fair!

  “I’m sorry, Melody, but once the clock starts there is no disrupting the data.” He gave an expression of pity. “I know you of all people can do this and actually, I think it would be good for both you and Kyle to work together. I already spoke with Kyle’s coach and with his parents. If he doesn’t show up at the baby mom… I mean, your house and participate, it will be an automatic fail for him and he will be removed from the team for the rest of the season. So, I am sure he will give it his best effort. Don’t you worry,” he said, a little too un-assuring as he patted my shoulder.

  Feet heavy, I left the room and I could feel every nerve in my body begin to tremble.

  Melt down.

  This was what it felt like to have a melt down!

  For the rest of the day, I had to carry the baby around in a front harness carrier. I was solely responsible for changing its diaper, feeding, burping and trying to get it to coo. Cooing was worth extra points, so of course I had to do it.

  I was already exhausted by last period and since Kyle did not have any classes with me other than Health, it was pretty obvious I was in this more or less as a single parent.

  That thought just pissed me off.

  Before the final bell rang, I quickly scribbled down my address on a post it note. Gathering up my stuff, I headed for the classroom door just as the bell rang. It was the first time in four years I had ever left the classroom first.

  With determination, I marched down the hall toward Kyle’s locker. He was there laughing with his jock friends. I put on my pissed off face and slammed my palm against his locker door. All of them were taken aback.