Melody's Crush: (Book One) (3 page)

“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.

“Be at my house by nine or I will lock your ass out and you can sleep on the frickin’ lawn for all I care. But so help me God, if you do not show up, I will make sure you get kicked off the team and I will not lose one bit of sleep over it. Got it?”

His eyes widened and he only shook his head once in agreement.

I gestured my head to the left toward his locker door at the post it note. “That is my address.” I put a finger in his face. “I’m warning you, don’t be late!”

I looked at the rest of the guys surrounding him with all their jaws slackened, daring them to make a peep. It was the second time this had happened in a few weeks. I was beginning to like it. I let out an exasperated sigh and headed toward my locker.

I could hear comments like, “Crazy bitch,” or “Man, I feel sorry for your ass,” and my favorite, “Psycho much?”

They had no idea who they were messing with. I’ve kept quiet in my little corner happily for four years. I never gave anyone a reason to give me trouble up until now. I wasn’t about to let some jerk of a jock ruin my four point oh! I worked too hard to get the Valedictorian award and I wasn’t about to let this punk ass oversized meat-head ruin it for me.

Back at home, I was pacing back and forth in my bedroom. I was nervous enough about Kyle showing up at my door, but I was even more nervous about how he was going to treat me after what I had done to him at school. I realized that my fear of failing the grade provided me with false courage and now I regretted over and over how I handled the situation. But I was completely serious about it too. There was no reason I had to put up with his lack of interest in the program or his lack of interest in me, period.

Looking at my watch, the face read five minutes to nine. He was obviously going to spite me to prove a point.

Argh. I wanted to kick him so hard!

I picked up the pillow and blanket that my mother left out for him and waited next to the front door watching the clock. At exactly nine o’clock, I saw headlights pull up in the drive. I waited until about a minute after nine and then opened the front door. Kyle was sauntering lazily up the path toward the house. He stopped and held his mouth open in disbelief as I took the pillow and blankets and threw them out on the porch. I slammed the door and locked it.

Within a few short seconds, he began pounding on the door demanding that I open it. I waited until he finally stopped pounding and the obscenities ceased. Placing the chain on the door, I cracked it open slightly. Immediately he pushed against it, scaring the crap out of me. However, the chain held… thank God.

“Let me in!” he demanded.

“When I say nine o’clock or else, I mean nine o’clock or else!”

Pushing away from the door, he growled and then kicked the blanket and pillow out onto the pristine lawn. Marching back and forth on the porch like a caged tiger, he cursed out loud with every possible obscenity in the book.

“There is a hammock to the right of the porch,” I thumbed through the crack. “You can sleep there tonight.” Then I slammed the door shut locking the deadbolt.

“Argh!” he screamed and slammed his fists on the door. “I won’t forget this.” His voice muffled through the wood.

“Good. It was meant for you not to forget,” I yelled equally as loud at the door. “Every night, the door will be locked at nine o’clock. If you are not here, you will sleep in the hammock.” I waited. He did not respond. “Do you think your peon brain can remember this? Or has your head been hit one too many times for you to comprehend?” I smiled to myself at the small victory. “Growl once if you understand.”

I could swear I heard a growl.

Okay, now I was trying my best not to double over in laughter.

Using my body weight to lean a shoulder against the door, I calmed my nerves and then quietly, I removed the chain so that my mother could get in later. Maybe she would take pity on him and let him in when she got home.

I headed toward my room and undressed to take a shower. I was feeling pretty good about myself after I put on a pair of sleep shorts and a tank top. I let my hair down to air dry and was putting lotion on my hands when the baby started crying. Finding the key, I placed it in the baby’s side and checked to see if changing the diaper made a difference, but it was still crying.

Finding the fake bottle, I placed the nipple in its mouth and it started making a sucking sound. I remembered that the manual said the baby liked to be burped every five minutes during feeding and they liked to be fed for twenty minutes. So, I went to the kitchen and grabbed the timer off the refrigerator and headed back to my room. I set it to go off in five minutes. Four burps and thirty minutes later, I was able to get the baby to coo and then I laid it down in a makeshift bed next to mine. Satisfied, I headed to the bathroom to brush my teeth.

Looking at the girl in the mirror, I stared at her hard, squinting. She looked back at me, mimicking my movements, my expressions and I could tell what she was thinking. Her eyes read intelligence and yet, there was a hint of sadness. A gentle cloud of unhappy emotions seemed to show up more often of late. I wondered why she couldn’t snap out of it. She has a bright future ahead of her. She was a shoe in for acceptance to any college of her choice which meant she could go to the east coast, far away from her classmates, far away from the too perfect people of Los Angeles and far, far away from Jake.