Everybody's got a hungry heart
Everybody's got a hungry heart
Lay down your money and you play your part
Everybody's got a hungry heart
-Hungry Heart; by Bruce Springsteen
Melanie and Oliver stayed at Pop's for about half an hour, the two siblings enjoying their sundaes and the time they were spending together. Some of the other customers talked to them, telling them about their day or giving advice on their future. It was nice, being able to hear what others had to say and having a moment to just relax. But at the same time, Melanie knew the risks she and Oliver were taking by being in the parlor for too long. Leaving Joni by herself for long periods of time was dangerous, they couldn't afford to have anything happen to her.
While Oliver finished his sundae, Melanie went over to the counter Pop was at and started digging for her money in her pocket.
"How much for the sundaes?" she asked.
"Don't worry about it," Pop said.
Looking up at him with furrowed brows, Melanie frowned. "What do you mean?" she stated. "I can't just not pay you."
"You need that money more than I do, sweetie." Giving her a warm smile, Pop placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Use it for your mother's doctor. She needs that treatment."
With a hint of a smile on her face Melanie nodded. She did feel a bit guilty for not paying, but she knew how stubborn Pop could be sometimes. It was almost impossible to argue with him once his mind was made up.
"You and your brother head on home, okay?" Pop said. "It was nice seeing you again, Mellie."
"It was nice seeing you, too, Pop," Melanie said.
"You two take care of yourselves, alright?" he said, his tone becoming firm. "And give your mother a hug for me."
"I will."
The two shared a smile before Melanie walked back over to where Oliver was sitting. He'd finished his ice cream, though he did get most of it on his face and shirt. With a chuckle, the teen managed to clean his face and wave a goodbye to everyone in the parlor before leaving.
"Did you have fun?" Melanie asked. She and Oliver were quickly walking across the street to their apartment building. The streets weren't as busy as usual, which was a good sign.
"Was fun," Oliver murmured, gripping Melanie's hand tightly.
"When we get home, I have to give Ma her painkillers, then you need a bath, okay?"
"No!" The exclamation was sharp and loud, causing a few other pedestrians to turn and look at them.
"You've gotten ice cream all over your shirt," Melanie stated, her voice firm. "Not to mention your face is sticky from it, too. You're going to clean up and I'll make you something to eat in a little bit."
He let out a huff and tried tugging himself out of Melanie's grip. His attempts were ignored and they continued their journey back to their apartment. Bath time could usually be an issue with Oliver, considering his disdain for having to wash off the day's events. Melanie liked to believe that, in her brother's three year old mind, the junk he gathered on his body over the course of the day symbolized something important. Either that or he just thoroughly enjoyed being stinky. It didn't matter, in the long run. Oliver would have to get clean whether he liked it or not.*
When they reached their apartment building, Melanie had to practically drag Oliver up the front steps and into the building itself. His dislike on having to take his bath became overwhelming, and he was doing everything in his power to not go into their small apartment. Melanie's trick to ignore her brother's attitude change seemed to fuel his need to make an even bigger scene. Oliver would tug and pull and scratch at his sister's arm, doing whatever his three year old mind could think of. When it finally came to his attention that it wasn't working, he essentially gave up and started going limp. He couldn't take his bath if he wasn't moving.
Fuck it, Melanie thought bitterly. When she and Oliver reached the building's stairway, she reached down and picked her brother up, holding him securely on her hip. The one good thing, though was that their apartment was on the second floor, so she wouldn't have to walk up too far.
"This is the last time I do anything for you," Melanie hissed, "do you understand what I'm saying?"
Oliver simply hmph'd in response. His arms were lazily slung around Melanie's neck, his face was looking off in another direction, refusing to meet the hateful look on his sister's face.
God, now isn't the time for him to be acting up, Melanie thought. As she started walking up the stairs, she had to continually stop in order to adjust Oliver. He was doing just fine in the ice cream parlor, now he has to act up.
It seemed as though her frustration grew with each step. Oliver wanted some ice cream, despite money being tight, and Melanie decided to go against her better judgment and buy not one, but two sundaes for herself and her brother.
I should've been more stern with him. Now he'll think I'll let him do anything. Melanie's face contorted into a scowl at that. I don't know how I can explain to a three year old the importance of finances, but I'll have to figure a way out. He can't get it into his head that I'll let him get whatever he wants.
Wouldn't it be nice to have that? To think of a child-friendly way to explain that the Salinas family didn't have enough money! It'd be amazing to think something like that was possible. At the same time, though, Oliver probably wouldn't want to listen, considering he wouldn't find any of that interesting.
God, as if things couldn't get any more frustrating.
"If I put you down, will you behave?" Melanie grumbled. Oliver simply grunted in response. Without another word, Melanie placed her brother on the ground, keeping a firm grip on his wrist. Continuing their journey, the siblings made it to their floor and quietly made their way over to their apartment. At that point, Oliver had finished throwing his little tantrum and chose to go along with what Melanie was doing. She was in charge and there was nothing that could change that. "When we get inside," Melanie started, walking up to their front door, "I'll give Ma her painkillers and then get your bath ready. No arguing this time, okay?"
Again, Oliver simply grunted in response. He refused to meet her gaze, his bottom lip stuck out in a pout.
Opening the door, Melanie pushed her brother inside before closing it behind her. Initially, she wasn't really paying attention to the apartment's atmosphere. To Melanie, it felt like another day. But as she took her shoes off, she started to notice something a bit off. It was really quiet, aside from the commotion Oliver was making. The three year old had thrown his shoes off and was running around, trying to find toys to play with and things to do.
Aside from that, the quietness in the apartment made something churn in the pit of Melanie's stomach. It didn't feel right in the slightest. Once her shoes were off, the teen ran over to where Joni's room was and threw the door open. An exclamation was on the tip of Melanie's tongue, but fell short almost immediately. Juni was still in her bed, laying on her back with her hands on her stomach. That wasn't what caught Melanie's attention. The one thing she noticed was the look on her mother's face. Joni's eyes were open and unblinking, her mouth slightly agape. Her pale skin seemed even whiter, almost pasty. There seemed to be a glazed over look in her eyes, too; one that hadn't been there before.
Tears burned the backs of Melanie's eyes. Her breathing became labored and her head started spinning. Everything in her life seemed to fall apart, and Melanie was just watching it happen. She had helped take care of her mother since Oliver was a year old. That was over two years.
Two years of Melanie's life had been looking after her infant brother and sickly mother. Two years, working more than one job while trying to get an education. Two years, hoping that one day there'd be enough money for a doctor to come in. Melanie had done everything she possibly could to give her mother some comfort and her brother a good foundation. Now Juni was dead. The two siblings were orphaned; their extended families either lived outside of the country or wanted nothing to do with them.
A choked sob escaped the sixteen year old's mouth. Hot tears rolled heavily down her face. In Melanie's eyes, it felt as if she didn't have a purpose anymore. Without her mother to take care of, what could she do? She'd still be able to care for Oliver — hopefully — but for how long? Melanie had dreams of becoming a doctor, so medical school was one thing she dreamed of going to. She couldn't afford to take Oliver with her if she wanted to go to medical school.
Leaving the bedroom, Melanie felt another sob escape her mouth. Her hands were trembling and her breathing was so erratic it hurt. Her head was spinning so much she felt as though she'd faint.
Rushing to the apartment's front door, Melanie tried for a minute or two to open the front door, but her shaking hands made it hard. When she got the door opened, she ran over to her neighbor's. Slamming the palm of her hand on the door, Melanie waited for someone to answer. The tears continued to roll down her face, and she was trying her best to compose herself.
After what felt like a lifetime of waiting, the door finally opened and Melanie's neighbor, Isobel, appeared.
"Sweetie, what's the matter?" she exclaimed, her eyes widening. Isobel Giovanni was a younger woman who immigrated from Italy. The entire apartment building adored her, admiring her kind attitude and gentle demeanor.
It was that question that really caused Melanie to break down.
...
Isobel watched as Melanie cried. It was so unlike the teen to be like that; it was frightening! The Salinas family usually kept to themselves if they could help it.
"Sweetie, you have to tell me what's going on," Isobel pressed. Her hands flew out and gripped Melanie's shoulders tightly. The young girl's sobbing seemed to interrupt whatever she was trying to say. Hastily bringing Melanie into her apartment, Isobel did a quick check to make sure she wan't hurt, and when that was out of the way, she held the teen's face up to look at her. The tears never ceased falling, and the teen's eyes, cheeks, and nose were red from crying so hard. "Hon, you've got to tell me what's going on," Isobel exclaimed.
Quickly removing herself from Isobel's grasp, Melanie ran a hand through her hair, looking extremely disturbed. Her mouth kept opening, like she wanted to say something, but the words weren't coming out. That was when Isobel started to notice something a little off. There was a change in the air, that was the first sign. It had gotten heavier, weighing down in Isobel's lungs in the most uncomfortable way.
"Melanie?" Isobel exclaimed. She tried reaching out to the teen, but it felt like some invisible force was holding her back. "That's your name, right? Look, I need you to calm down, okay? You need to calm down!"
Turning her head abruptly to the Italian woman, Melanie's eyes widened. Her breathing was labored and her head was still spiraling, it felt like she'd lost control of herself. She couldn't seem to formulate a single, coherent thought and her words just couldn't escape her mouth. None of what was going on made sense. Joni seemed to be fine when the siblings left to get ice cream; now she's not breathing. How could that be explained calmly? Isobel might have good intentions, but in the mind of an emotional teenage girl, it was going over her head.
"I can't," Melanie sputtered, after taking a minute or two to actually formulate her words. "I. . .I don't know what's happening!"
Isobel struggled to find it in her to move, but her body felt as though it was being restricted. No matter what she did, her body just wouldn't move. She watched anxiously as Melanie continued to run her hands through her hair, looking around with big, wild eyes. Out of the corner of Isobel's eyes, she noticed some of her belongings were trembling, as if they were wanting to move but being restricted, as well.
"Melanie," Isobel cried out, "please let me help you!"
In a split second, all the glass in Isobel's apartment exploded, and the older woman felt as though the wind had been knocked out of her. Pain washed over the Italian woman's body, and she placed a trembling hand over her chest. Melanie had gone still, her eyes still big but her body stiff. Isobel saw the teen's eyes looking at all the broken glass on the ground, and then to where she'd been thrown against the wall.
Slowly standing up, Isobel struggled to make her way over to where Melanie was standing. She could practically see the fear radiating off the sixteen year old, and it made her feel a great sense of remorse, but also fearful.
"Melanie, please," Isobel rasped, kneeling down in front of her. "Tell me what happened."
(A/N):
Sorry for the wait on this chapter, but here it is! If you've got any constructive criticism, don't hesitate to let me know, okay? I'd very much appreciate it.
The MCU does not belong to me. All I own are my OCs, my subplot, and the keyboard in my room. If you've got ideas for an OC or a subplot, don't hesitate to PM me or leave a review. I'll add them in as soon as possible.
Again, constructive criticism will be greatly appreciated. I don't know how to improve this story if I don't know how you guys think it's going. It'll help me in the long run, really.
Also, in case any of you are wondering, Melanie's hair is kinda like an afro. . .but it feels weird using that word descriptively. So I'd appreciate any help from you guys when it comes to properly describing the hair styles of other ethnicities. I'm half-black myself, but my hair's kinda thin and wavy/loosely curled. So, yeah. That's one big thing I'd love to have some help with: describing, accurately and appropriately, the hairstyles of other ethnic groups.
Be sure to leave random facts in the review section! It can be on new or old things, I don't care.
Blessed be,
Florida Mayers
