Thank you to my reviewers so far! You guys make me want to keep writing :3
Melanie woke up alone. It was very dark in the little alcove she called home and Jared was nowhere to be found. They had laid down together, him just wrapping his arms around her as she slept after her accident in the caves. But now he was gone and Melanie felt a sadness in her and got out of bed.
"Where is that light?" she whispered to herself. Wanda had always kept the lantern close to the bed but Jamie had moved it because he wanted it closer to his bed. But in the dark, Melanie couldn't see where that was. She sighed, and tried to walk to the opening. It had a little more light in the tunnels so she peered out.
Not many people were around but she quickly found Lily by herself, watching the young children play across the room. Melanie decided to try talking to her even though she was not the one who Lily had been friends with. Wanda was and will be again when they find her a body.
"Hi," Melanie said softly as she stood right in front of the other human.
"Melanie, right?" Lily asked. It was still odd for her to think of that body not being her friend but someone else who she had never met.
"Yeah," Mel nodded. She wanted to tell Lily she was sorry about Wes but it might come out wrong since she wasn't techinically here for that. "Is it weird talking to me? Everyone's so used to Wanda but I thought maybe you and I could be friends, too."
"It's all right," she smiled, easing some of the tension both girls knew was there. "So...you know about me and Wes then?"
So she didn't have to bring it up, Melanie thought. "I was wondering if I should say something about that. I didn't want to bring up any hard memories for you."
"You can," Lily replied. She was fighting back tears but she wanted to be able to talk about it. Everyone was so fragile about it and she sensed Melanie knew what that felt like.
Right before Melanie was about to say something else, Kyle burst in the door yelling at Jared. What was happening, she thought. Melanie's feet inched toward the man she loved but she willed them to stay. She didn't want to get in between whatever was going on but her instincts disagreed.
"You don't have the right to tell me what to do, Howe!" Kyle's voice boomed and echoed across the walls.
"I wasn't trying to!" Jared yelled back. Melanie could tell he wanted Kyle to calm down but wasn't sure how. Kyle started to walk away from him. "Hey! You can't just go out there, man!"
Kyle turned out quick. "Why the hell not?!"
Jeb walked in with a serious look on his face. Melanie remembered this move of his from when Kyle brought Ian and a few others to fight Jared to get to Wanda. Her body shivered, remembering Ian's hands on her neck and Wanda going between Jared and Kyle.
Melanie fought the urge to put her body inbetween them again.
"Now," Jeb started, his tone was not in the mood. "Will someone please tell me what is going on?"
He looked at the two men. Neither of them looked at the older man or said a word. Lily walked closer and was standing half an inch in front of Melanie. She was reaching out and tried to comfort her.
"One of you better tell me or I'm sending you both to Doc," Jeb spoke his words carefully, letting them take it in. "He'll like getting to put you two to sleep I bet."
"It's Kyle's fault," Jared answered. "He wants to go look for more of his family and bring them back here."
Jeb considered that. "Kyle, why would you want to do that right now?"
Kyle didn't answer. He just stood there, angry. Jared answered for him. "It's because of Jodi. Because she didn't wake up. He wants to see if anyone else will."
"Kyle," Jeb turned to him, "is that true? Are you planning on a hunt for the rest of your family?"
Kyle stayed silent. He didn't want Jeb know his plan, at least not yet. But then who he last wanted to know at all walked in.
Ian.
Ian walked right up to Melanie, pushing aside any weirdness they'd been feeling. "What's my brother up to now?"
Melanie swallowed. Would it hurt him if she told him the truth? "Kyle wants to find your family."
Ian looked at her. His eyes hid what he was thinking. "I can't believe he'd do it."
"Where would he even go?" Melanie whispered. "Do you think any of them are in the same place?"
"I don't think they are," he whispered back. Neither wanted Kyle know they were talking about him. "I think they all moved when the invasion was early."
Kyle then noticed his brother, glaring at him; Melanie felt another shiver go through her. Jeb and Kyle were talking to each other in quiet voices. Jared walked over to Melanie, Ian and Lily, knowing he wasn't a part of that conversation anymore. "Hey, when did you wake up?"
"Just now," Melanie answered. "I thought he got Sunny now. Why's he doing this?"
Jared shrugged, as if it was so simple. "Because he lost Jodi."
She understood without another word. Jared went through hell when she disappeared and it only got worse when Wanda came here in Mel's body, looking for Jared and Jamie. That reminded her of something. "Where's Jamie?"
Jared looked at her with a confused look. "I'm pretty sure he said he was going to grab some food."
"That sounds like him," she smiled. "Sorry. I'm still..." She looked at Ian and thought over her next word carefully. "Adjusting. I need to get used to here."
"I'm feeling a little hungry, too, actually," Lily piped in. "Do you guys want to come?"
"Sure," Melanie answered. The four of them walked through the tunnels, Ian stood in front and guided the way. Jared absentmindly reached for Melanie's hand, squeezing it when he found it in the dark.
The gesture was so simple yet so sweet, it spoke more words than their mouths did sometimes.
The sounds of footprints were getting closer. Jared looked at Melanie, knowing they had to run and soon. Their eyes had a silent exchange. Jamie was back at the cabin, safe. They made this run on their own to try to find some extra food when the parasites came home. Now they were stuck.
Melanie wanted to ask Jared which way they should go but decided against speaking. He knew what she was thinking just by the scared look on her face. They needed to protect Jamie, no matter what. The "people" to use the term loosely walked through the house, turning on lights as if they knew humans were inside.
But they did not turn in the direction of Jared and Melanie. They shut off the lights they turned on as they went further in the house. Jared held a finger to his mouth, telling Melanie to not make a sound as he crounched down and got on his knees. He motioned for her to follow his lead.
They crawled across the floor in the room, hoping it didn't make a in the dark, they led the way to a side door. It made a small sound as it opened and they stopped moving insantly. When they heard no sounds besides their breathing, he tried again to push the door open.
It widened big enough for them to squeeze through one at a time. Jared let Melanie go first, she shook her head frantically and didn't want to go without him. He just smiled at her and squeezed her hand, letting her know he was right behind her and Melanie crawled out of the house.
The opening in the tunnel came up as light beamed from the game needed to walk through Aaron and Brandt's game to get to the kitchen so they stuck close to the walls as they tried to make it through.
It didn't take too long to reach the kitchen and there Jamie was, sitting at a table with Sharon. Melanie was a little shocked to see that after everything that had happened with Wanda. He didn't seem to be talking much to her but it was obvious she wanted to talk to him. Mel wondered what about and guessed maybe it was about Doc.
The four of them put some food on their plates, it was the same type of meal Wanda had when she first came to the caves. The thought chilled Melanie, not because of the reminder of that time but it meant a raid was needed. She wasn't ready to let Jared go just yet.
Jamie gained a giant smile as he saw them walk towards his table. It was funny the way he never got confused between Melanie and Wanda. But also sad, because he always remembered his friend wasn't here anymore. Mel sat next between Jamie and Jared. Ian and Lily scooted next to Sharon on the other bench. She seemed uncomfortable. Maybe she felt guilty about how she had been before.
"Mel, we saved you a seat," Jamie beamed when everyone was settled in. She managed a smile but also felt uncomfortable with her cousin across from her.
"Thanks," she nudged him playfully. Jared smiled at the exchange, glad to not only have Melanie back with him but to have their small family back together.
Sharon occasionally looked at Melanie while she ate. It was hard for Mel to ingore but she tried to pretend there wasn't this look she was getting. Ian looked at the females of the table and saw the tension himself. He didn't mind Sharon before but then he fell in love with Wanda. That made him change some thoughts about her.
Lily ate silently, mostly looking at her plate. She felt out of place with everyone lately ever since Wes but she kept to herself and grieved in silence. She missed Wanda, too. She was who she would talk to about these feelings.
Everyone ate fast. Ian and Lily were the first to clear their plates. Jamie had finished first but sat there, staring at Sharon, like he was telling her something with his eyes. Melanie and Jared wondered what it was. Jared became uneasy thinking about what she might want to say to Mel. It made him feel very protective.
Sharon eyed Jamie and gave him a look. He must have understood because he stood up and went behind Jared, whispering to him. Jared didn't look too happy but he eventually agreed, though he didn't want to leave Mel's side. The two of them stood up and Melanie watched them go. She yearned to follow and not stay here with Sharon alone.
Melanie turned to her cousin and forced a smile. They weren't exactly close anymore. Sharon spoke first. She looked at her hands in her lap as the words came out. "I wanted to tell you I was sorry. For everything."
"Okay," Melanie said, she wasn't in such a friendly mood when it came to her. "Is that all?"
"Melanie," Sharon looked up and faced her. "I really am sorry. For everything with...Wanda when you teo first came here and how me and my mom treated her. We didn't think she was good or that you were still in there. And I'm sorry."
The younger girl seemed touched. Almost. "Sharon...I guess in some ways I understand. I mean, I listened to Jared's apologies enough times to know how hard it must have been. It's just, you and Aunt Maggie didn't change your minds. Wanda wasn't a monster and I wish it took earlier than my return for you to see that."
"But doesn't it count that I see it now?"
"A little," she answered truthfully. "But it doesn't replace what happened before."
"How did you forgive Jared for how he acted?" Sharon almost snapped. "I'm your family. Why does he get a pass?"
Melanie tensed up even more. Over by the kitchen entrance, Jared and Ian noticed the change. They were watching over just in case. Jamie and Lily had gone to see the game. "Because I know why he did it. It wasn't hate over this unknown person, blaming her for the whole world. It was because it was me, only it wasn't."
"So you can forgive your boyfriend and not your family?" Sharon looked mad but you could also hear the hurt in her voice too. "That doesn't seem fair."
"It's not supposed to be," Melanie snapped. "I forgave Jared because he was only upset because the soul who came, inhabited my body. He wanted me back and he thought I was dead and seeing it before his eyes made it real. But also, he knew I was in there then and he and Wanda became friends. I can't hate him for that. He saved her life as well as mine. That's why he gets a pass."
Her last words came out hisslike, angry. She didn't want to be fighting with anyone especially not someone in her family. She put her head down in shame, feeling bad for her tone. "I'm sorry, Sharon. You tried to get past everything and I just...acted like me."
"It's fine," her cousin replied. "It's good to know why. I always wondered what would make you forgive and forget with him but why me and you couldn't work on that. It's nice to know."
Sharon stood up, plate in head. She was ready to hide, it looked like. She turned to leave and Melanie called her back. "Sharon? If it makes you feel any better, I will never forget any of what happened with Wanda. But it'll take some time with others. Just...give me some time, all right?"
She nodded and walked through the other entryway. Jared instantly walked back up to Melanie as she stood up from the table. Ian was behind him. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah," Mel answered. "She just wanted to apologize for everything before."
"Do you wanna go get some rest?" Jared asked her, his hands went to her waist as he pulled her closer. Ian tried to look away.
"Yeah," she repeated. They walked that way, Jared's arms around Melanie, holding her as close as he could as they walked. Ian and Jared shared a silent exchange and he went his separate way.
Jared helped Melanie lay down and began to walk to another side of the room. She pulled him back by his t-shirt. "Where do you think you're going?"
"I was going to go sit over there," Jared pointed to the chair on the oppisite side of the room.
"No," Melanie shook her head. "That's too far away. I want you stay right here and hold me."
"Yes, ma'am," Jared smiled as he sat down on the bed and put his feet up. "I can do that."
Melanie let out a happy sigh. She wasn't tired at all but she was perfectly happy sitting here with Jared forever. "Tell me a story."
He looked over at her face, so close to his. His hand was playing her hair. "What kind of story?"
"Any," she murmered against his chest. "Make one up."
"Okay," Jared whispered. He pulled Melanie closer to his chest and smiled. He was really glad to have her back. "Once upon a time, there was a beautiful girl named -"
"She better not be named Melanie," Mel cut him off. She looked up at him and smiled.
Jared smiled back. "It's not. Her name is...Megan."
"Nice save."
She nestled her head back onto his chest and he continued the story. Her eyes closed after a while and Jared kept playing with her, content in the moment.
Jared crawled out of the small space in the house and instantly looked around for Melanie. He had no idea what direction she could have gone in when she got out. He looked to both sides and saw movement. Jared froze, worried it would be the invaders.
"It's me," a familiar voice whispered so low but the sound had still been music to his ears. Melanie reached out for Jared, holding onto his hand.
"Let's get out of here," Jared whispered back. He stood up first and helped Melanie to her feet and they ran as fast as they could across the lawn and into the woods. The second they were clear from the house, Melanie let go of Jared's hand and wrapped her arms around his neck. She hugged him so tightly to her.
"I was so scared," she whispered into his neck. "I thought we were caught."
"But we weren't," he whispered back to her. His hands went to her hair and he held her head closer to 's eyes had tears forming and Jared wiped them away. "Hey, we're fine. Both of us. We got out, baby."
"I know," she sniffled. She wiped some of her tears herself this time. "Let's just go home."
She started to walk off but Jared still held her hand. "Wait," he said and pulled her back to him. He kissed her lightly and softly, wanting to reassure her he was there and so was she. Mel pulled herself closer to Jared, melting into him.
When the kiss was over, Jared let go of Melanie except for her hand. "Now let's go home."
Melanie smiled as they walked hand in hand back to Jared's jeep.