Chapter 1
The
summers air blew warmly through the small Californian city. Birdsong
echoed across parks and neighborhoods, reflecting the good natured
vibe from the people who lived there. Beyond a large golden hill,
rested a large High School. Through the large wooden doors, students
roamed the halls and chatted amongst themselves, sending the choir of
student voices through the long halls. A light buzz signaled the
beginning of classes as the students raced to their homerooms, ready
to begin the lazy day.
A young student, traversed the halls
quickly, searching for her friend and finally came to rest at the
large metal lockers near the music room.
- Hey Jessica.
Melody's steel blue eyes peered at her friend in question.
-
Melody, where the hell have you been? Ive been looking everywhere for
you. Well be late for drama class. She explained.
Melody closed
her locker and sighed with irritation.
- Why cant you go to drama
without me? You know how incredibly lazy I am.
- I dont want to
show up late by myself everyone will stare at me. She
whined.
Jessica had always had this thing about people staring
at her. She didn't do well in front of crowds and a drama class of
fifteen people didn't exactly calm her nerves. Melody stared at her
friend and raised a brow.
- They're going to stare at you
anyway.
- Yeah but you'll be with me and it'll make me feel
better. She smiled.
- Jess, some day you'll have to do things on
your own.
- And on that day I will hang myself from the gym
ceiling, lets go before we get into trouble.
Melody was about to
respond when someone turned the corner and walked towards them.
-
Hey Mike. Jessica greeted casually.
Melody kept her eyes to
the floor and didn't look at him. Not that it was hard to look at
him, he was very tall, tanned skin, dark eyes, and black spiked hair
all in all, he was quite soft on the eyes. There was something about
him that made her feel uncomfortable and she liked to stay away from
him for that exact reason.
He gave a small smile and raised a
brow.
- You're late again? This is the millionth time this year.
Miss Anderson is going to kick your ass. His voice was kind and warm,
but still had a hint of warning.
Jess glanced at Melody and
frowned.
- Well Miss Lazyass over here is procrastinating. I've
been waiting for her for like fifteen minutes now.
Mikes dark eyes
trailed towards Melody and he blinked slowly. She could feel his eyes
burning into her and she sighed uneasily.
- What can I say? I hate
drama. She muttered quietly.
- Well pick up the pace ladies, Miss
Anderson isn't going to wait all day. Shes giving us our parts for
the summer play. He explained, more to Jessica than anyone else.
She
grumbled and lowered her eyes.
- Dammit, I hate summer plays. She
always finds the longest plays and gives me the hardest part.
Mike
shook his head with a slight chuckle.
- Relax, Jess, I'm sure
she'll give you the smallest part there is.
Melody remained quiet during all of this. Besides, she wasnt going to interfere in the conversation between two friends. Thank God hes not my friend. I dont know how the hell Jessica does it.
-
Did you get your part yet? Jessica asked.
Mike shrugged
slightly.
- Nah, Anderson's handing out the parts during the last
half of the period she says she giving us time to examine the play,
blah, blah, blah.
Jessica nodded and looked at Melody.
- Shall
we go?
- Yeah, Melody muttered.
- See you in drama Mikey.
Jessica smiled.
- See ya.
Melody waited until Mike was gone
before she spoke.
- Oh my God, how the hell can you stand that
guy?
Jessica frowned in question.
- What do you mean?
- I
mean, how could you ever become friends with someone who's well you
know?
- No I dont know.
Melody squinted slightly.
- Someone
who's gay.
Jessica raised her eyes.
- I guess I just never had
a problem with it.
- But... But hes into GUYS!
- So are you.
-
But I'm female, he's not. It's disgusting.
- You're just saying
that because you don't know him. Mike's a nice guy.
Melody
sighed inwardly as they walked towards the drama room.
- I don't
care how nice he is, he disgusts me.
- Well he does'nt disgust me
and that's a good sign.
- Well you're odd. Melody muttered.
-
Because I don't have a problem with him being gay? Jessica asked with
surprise.
- Yeah. Don't you just find it a little bit creepy when
he like checks out guys and stuff?
- I've never really
noticed.
They entered the drama room silently and took their seats around the stage. Miss Anderson frowned and squinted through her glasses as she stared at the two girl's who came to class late. Melody glanced at Mike who was seated across from her. She felt a sickness rising in her stomach as she looked at him. Ugh, Jessica needs to wake up and smell the coffee that guy is sick.
- Melody, have you been listening to a word I just said?
She snapped her eyes towards Miss Anderson and swallowed hard. Consumed with thoughts of how disgusting Mike was, she hadn't heard the teacher speak to her. Jessica frowned slightly and looked at Melody.
- Uh, I was-.
Daydreaming again. Melody, if you
come to class late again, I'll have to send a report home with you.
Now, class I have given you each your playbooks and now I want you
all to go over it. Read it, summarize it and memorize it. I will be
giving you your parts soon.
Melody sighed with relief as Miss
Anderson left them to their tasks. Jessica shook her head.
-
Jesus, next time pay attention.
- I was just thinking okay? I'm
sorry if I didn't hear Anderson scolding me. I have other things to
worry about.
- Like what?
- Like having to be in the same class
as that fag over there.
Jessica frowned.
- Hey come on, give
the guy a little respect. He's been tortured about that for years.
-
The only reason he has respect now is because hes the captain of the
basketball team. Melody explained quietly.
Melody shook her head
slowly and opened her playbook.
- Let's just get to work.
After
a while, Miss Anderson settled down her students and stared down at
her clip board.
- Alright class, I have your parts ready.
She
began to read everyone their parts. Some smiles were shown and some
frowns were as well.
- Jessica, you will be the waitress.
Jessica
smiled, knowing the waitress only had four lines at the most and
didn't appear until the second last scene.
- Melody, you will be
the lead female, Christina.
Jessica patted her on the back.
-
Good job, Miss Anderson must see some potential in you although I
dont exactly know why.
Melody frowned and slapped her arm.
-
Shut up. She laughed.
- And for the part of lead male. Mike, you
will be playing Zack.
Melody's face paled. Mike raised a brow of
uncertainty.
Uh,
Miss Anderson, I dont think-.
Michael, you need to step out of
your comfort zone. I know how well you can act impress me.
He
frowned slightly and nodded. Jessica almost laughed.
- Wow, you
and Mike are the lead in the play. Didnt see that one coming.
Yeah
especially since the lead male is supposed to be STRAIGHT. Melody
whispered loudly.
- Have fun. Jessica smiled.
Melody glanced at Mike and felt a sinking feeling in her heart. This was definitely going to be interesting
-Jessica,
how the hell is this play going to work? I can't find the time to
work on this with Mike.
Jessica frowned slightly.
- You CAN'T
find the time or you WON'T find the time?
- Look, I cannot work
with Mike. Did you not read the end of the play? We're supposed to
KISS okay? KISS.
Jessica stared at Melody thoughtfully.
- Yeah
that may cause problems seeing as though hes gay and all. But the way
I see it, you're not so there shouldn't be a problem.
- Jess, I am
NOT kissing a fag.
- Stop calling him that.
Melody rolled her
eyes.
- Fine...
Jessica watched Melody's eyes brighten. Great,
somethings up.
- Jessica, you want to switch parts with me?
-
Hell no!
- Why not?
- I'm not kissing Mike.
- But...but...
-
But no. He's my friend. Kissing him would be like kissing my brother.
She shivered slightly at the concept.
Melody grumbled angrily and
crossed her arms.
- So what, I'm just supposed to kiss someone I
don't even know?
Jessica smiled and grabbed her backpack.
- No,
you're going to spend some time with him. Besides, you're going to
have to anyway if you want to rehearse your lines right.
Melody
stared at her friend desperately as she began to leave.
- Oh and
by the way, if you want to talk to him about this, he's out at the
basketball court. Jessica explained casually.
Melody lowered her
eyes as she watched her friend leave.
- Dammit. She muttered.
A
light breeze ruffled Melody's hair as she slowly walked outside
towards the basketball court. She found herself squinting slightly
under the bright sun and stopped near the bike racks. Mike jumped up
a little and with ease, threw the ball through the hoop. It bounced
back to him and he grabbed it, setting himself up for another shot
and again, missing the rim, the ball glided through. Melody marveled
at how well he played. He looked like a perfectly normal seventeen
year old. Stop it
Melody, if Jess heard you speaking like that she'd kill you. He is
normal... just in his own way... gay way.
-
You're pretty good.
Mike turned around slowly at the sound of her
voice. He gripped the ball in his left arm and nodded.
- I AM the
captain.
She leaned against the bike racks and stared at him.
-
Melody, right? he asked cautiously.
She nodded a little.
- So
you've heard of me.
- Jessica has mentioned a few things about
you.
- Like what?
- Like how you're afraid of me.
Melody
frowned at his words. She
did, did she?
- I'm
not afraid of you.
- Then why are you standing so far away?
- I
don't like people.
Mike sighed heavily and walked towards the
bench.
- Was there something you needed?
Melody stared at him
in thought.
- Yeah, we're both the lead in the play. I don't know
about you but I'm having some definite problems with that. She
explained.
- Why's that?
- You're gay.
Mike raised his
eyes.
- And that's a problem?
She stepped a little closer to
him.
- Your character is straight.
He stared at her with
realization filling his dark eyes.
- Oh, so you think I can't act
straight.
- I never said that.
- But you were thinking
it.
Melody lowered her eyes. He smiled a little as he watched her
dark eyes.
- I don't bite, Melody.
- I said I don't like
people.
- Do you always stand five feet away from people during a
conversation? he asked.
- Sometimes.
- No, you don't.
She
sighed heavily. He was more irritating than she thought. She also
hated the fact that he could see right through her.
- Alright
fine, I have a problem with you.
- That took courage. He
stated.
She stared into his soft brown eyes.
- Don't you feel
the least bit insulted?
He raised a brow in thought.
- A few
years ago I would have.
- So what's changed?
Mike sighed
heavily under his breath.
- What's changed is that I don't give a
damn what people think about me. I'm allowed to live life my own way
and if someone has a problem with that then they can go piss up a
rope.
Melody raised her eyes at his harsh words.
- It sounds
like a lot of people have a problem with you being gay.
- I try
not to let it affect me.
- What about your parents?
- Let's
just say that they are much happier vacationing in Florida.
She
lowered her eyes slightly.
- You're alone?
- I dont mind it.
It's much easier to study with an empty house. I like having my
thoughts to myself rather than conversing with family about how my
life is screwed up... according to them anyway.
Melody approached
him slowly.
- Sounds like a pretty sad life.
- For most people
it would be... I guess it's better to be alone than harassed about my
sexuality twenty four seven.
Jessica was right, he had been
harassed and tortured his entire life just because of how he was
born. Melody somehow felt that he had been rejected many times by
family and friends. Mike sighed lightly and squinted in the sun.
-
Besides, I don't blame you for the way you treat me. Judging by that
crucifix around you're neck you're Catholic. You must have been
raised in a conservative family. It's really not your fault the way
you feel about me. We have different values and I respect that, even
if you don't. Our society was built on discrimination just because of
fear of the unknown. I have merely chosen to follow my own values and
beliefs and if that means people frown at me because I'm gay then so
be it, I could care less.
Melody stared at him and noticed the
basketball rolling away from them slowly. Mike stared at the ball and
nodded.
- Could you grab that please? he asked calmly as he sat
himself up on top of the picnic table.
Melody stared at the ball
and then looked back at him. Mike's eyes softened.
- Come on
Melody, it's not contagious. He laughed.
She frowned at her own
silliness and retrieved the ball. Slowly, she walked towards him and
stared down at the orange ball.
- Mike look, I'm uh... I'm sorry I
acted like a bitch. It was unfair and you seem like a pretty good
guy and all.
He smiled as she trailed off. Slowly, Melody handed
him the ball and he grasped it, setting it down beside him.
- No
problem, I forgive you.
- How the hell can you be so forgiving? I
treated you like shit!
His tanned face shone in the brightness of
the sun.
- I guess I'm just a nice guy.
She stared at him with
a puzzled look on her face. Why
is he being so nice to me?
-
Well thanks. She muttered softly.
They stared at each other for a
long moment in silence. Melody reached into her shoulder bag and
pulled out the playbook.
- Have you read the whole thing? Mike
frowned a little.
- No, I haven't really had time.
- You are
aware that we have to kiss during the last act right?
His eyes
seemed to widen slightly. Obviously, he hadnt known that. Sickness
poured through his body.
- Uh I wasnt really aware, no. He
answered shakily. Melody nodded a little and handed him the book. He
opened it and read the small scene. When he was done, he swallowed
hard, closing the book.
- Are you okay? she asked.
- Yeah I'm
fine... I just didnt know I had to do... THAT.
- Well it says
passionate kiss.
He nodded and handed her back the book.
- Oh
boy.
- You're going to freak out at the last possible minute of
this play aren't you?
Mike lowered his eyes.
- Melody, I have
to say I'm a little uncomfortable about kissing you.
- You're
uncomfortably about kissing me, or kissing a woman? She asked.
-
Kissing women.
- Well I have to kiss you too so I'm in the same
boat. She stated slowly.
- Good point. He muttered.
She stared
at him and smiled a little.
- I'm surprised that you don't have
that accent.
He raised a brow in question.
- Accent?
- Yeah
you know, the lispy thing that gay men have... kind of makes them
sound like women. You sound like a guy.
A small smile curled
around his lips.
- It's not like I hang out at salons all day and
streak my hair blonde.
Melody chuckled under her breath.
- To
be honest with you, you don't even look gay.
- Now there's a look?
he asked lightly.
- Yeah there is. Usually homos dress in bright
colors, wear tight clothes you know, that sort of thing... dont even
get me started on the blonde highlights.
Mike laughed a little.
- But you... you wear dark clothing, kind of baggy... dark
hair... Jesus, do you love black?
He stared at her for a long
moment before answering.
- How many gay men do you know that wear
tight clothes and bright colors?
- None. I watch a lot of TV.
-
Stop watching TV.
- Sorry, Im stereotyping again arent I? she
asked.
He nodded a little and stood up.
- Yeah.
- Well, you
just look so normal. Mike almost laughed.
- I am normal.
- But
I mean, for a gay guy.
- Should I take that as a compliment? he
asked with uncertainty.
- Not really. Dammit, I'm such a bitch.
She scolded herself.
He shook his head with a small laugh and
walked towards the basketball court again. She followed him and
grabbed the ball from his hands.
- What are you doing? he asked
with surprise.
- Shooting that ball, what's it look like? He
stared at her as she stepped back.
- Aren't you a little too far
to be shooting the ball?
Melody frowned.
- Believe it or not, I
am strong enough to hurl this ball towards the hoop. Gay or straight,
you men are all the same.
She breathed and shook her head. He
crossed his arms with a small smile.
- Alright, go ahead.
She
rolled her eyes, stared at the hoop and chucked the ball towards it.
It slid through the hoop flawlessly, despite the distance and bounced
along the cement. She grabbed the ball and pushed it into Mikes
chest. He grabbed it and frowned.
- You look surprised Mike.
-
That was an amazing shot. He stated in disbelief.
- Oh, did I
impress the captain?
He lowered his eyes with a smile.
- Well
done.
Melody smiled and gripped her shoulder bag.
- Look, we
need to practice those lines sometime... meet me in the student
lounge tomorrow morning
He
stared at her as she began to walk away.
- Nice meeting you
Melody. He called.
She nodded a little.
- You too.
Mike
stared at the hoop in question and smiled. Shaking his head, he
bounced the ball, threw it into the air and watched as it flew
through the hoop. He knew that Melody was still uncomfortable around
him because of his sexuality. It would take time for her to get used
to him but he didn't see that as a problem. She was a nice girl...
most of the time. Perhaps they both had something to learn from each
other
