Hey guys, I'm back again! Before we get started, i just want to let you know, I am still working on my other things. I've just had a little bit of a set back, that's all. But I should warn you, the next 2 or 3 weeks might be a bit hard for me to finish anything... :/

But enough of that! Now, let's move on to what you came here for! Read on, dearies, read on!

A Change in Time

Ch. 4

"I can't believe him," Melody grumbled, rummaging through her bag.

She was sitting on her rock at the place where her and Peter usually hung out. He wasn't there when she had gotten there, and now she was sitting there, still fuming about what had happened with her and Alexander.

"How could he just think I'd let him do that, it's not exactly a secret that I don't want this, or that I don't even like him. God, he's such a stupid, puffed up, spoiled little-"

But before she could even finish a pair large hands came up and covered her eyes.

"Guess who?" said a low voice.

Melody sat there for a moment, then smiled.

"Hi, Peter."

Peter chuckled and removed his hands. Melody turned and smiled at him.

"Where's Tink?" she asked.

"Oh, she had to go visit a friend. Terence, I think," said Peter, waving and airy hand.

"Oh, I know him," said Melody, smirking at the thought of the fairy boy Tink had always babbled on about whenever Peter wasn't listening.

"So, what's up with you?" Peter asked, crossing his legs together and sitting in the air. "Why were you grumbling?"

"Oh, um..." Melody scratched her head. "Just…stuff that's going on at home, you know…the usual…"

"Didn't sound like that," Peter gave her a look. "Was it your parents? Was it Alexander? Was it…"

"It's nothing!" Melody snapped before she could stop herself.

She froze, looking at Peter, who was staring at her, clearly shocked. Melody didn't know why she wasn't telling Peter that Alexander tried to kiss her. She didn't know why she was afraid of him knowing, but for some reason, she didn't want to see his reaction if he did.

Melody sighed, rubbing her forehead with her hand.

"I'm sorry, Peter," she said, softly. "It's just… usually my birthday is suppose to be a happy day, especially this one. I guess I never thought I'd have one I wasn't happy about."

Peter sighed, and floated next to her. Slowly, he reached out a hand to hold her shoulders, and he squeezed her gently.

"Don't worry Mel, it'll be okay, I promise."

Melody looked up at him, and smiled slightly. Peter grinned.

"Hey Mel, guess what?"

"What?"

"Your it!"

Peter gave Melody a playful push and suddenly started shooting away further into the water.

"Seriously?" Melody called. "We haven't played this in forever!"

But she could help laughing as she watched Peter stick his tongue out at her and then dive into the water. Still laughing, Melody stood up on the rock and dove right into the water.

The two teens had a good time playing the game they always used to love. It had been so long since they had played it, it felt great to do it again. But, unlike years ago, Peter had somehow gotten better than he used to, despite them not playing the game as much these days. In facet, by the time they were tired, they were both had a score of 12 to 12.

"When did you get so good?" Melody asked, out of breath, as her and Peter resurfaced from the water.

Peter shrugged. "I guess I'm just that amazing."

Melody rolled her eyes. Peter had also grown more annoying when it came to him and the skills he thought he had(though, honestly, he did have quite a few).

"Don't be so cocky," Melody said as she turned and started to float on her back.

"Hey, I can be cocky if I want to," Peter retorted firmly.

"Yeah, keep telling yourself that, stupid."

"Shut up!"

"Melody!"

Both Peter and Melody turned when they heard the voice. All they saw was something small and red splashing towards them. Melody was the first to react. She swam up to the thing and picked it up in her hands.

"Sebastian?" she asked. "What are you doing here?"

Yes, even nowadays, Sebastian still sometimes watched over Melody. Not because he didn't trust her, he just continued to distrust Peter. Especially since they had both gotten older.

"You- You left-" Sebastian panted, now kneeling in Melody's palms. "In de middle- of rehearsal-"

"The rehearsal ended ages ago, Sebastian," Melody said, calmly. "They didn't need me anymore-"

"If you had stayed," Sebastian cut across her, his breath now fully back in lungs. "You would've known dat due to de 'excellent timing', de time of de party was pushed up."

"When?" Peter asked.

"When?!" Sebastian bellowed. "It's starts in 30 minutes!"

"What?!" Melody shouted, and Sebastian yelped as he was suddenly dropped back into the water. "30- 30 minutes?!"

"Hurry!" Sebastian bubbled as he struggled to stay above the water's surface.

5 full seconds passed, in which time just seemed to stay still for the teens and the crab. Then, in a state of rushed panic, Melody swung her bag over her shoulder and swam around behind Peter, wrapping her arms around his shoulders.

"Mel-?"

"Fly Peter!" Melody ordered. "I have to get there! Now do what you do best, AND FLY!"

Peter said no more. Grabbing Sebastian, he hunched over slightly and shot up out of the water and into the air. Even as he gained speed he could hear Melody mumbling to herself for him to go faster. However, when he did give a sudden jolt of speed,(just to mess with her) she yelped and held on tighter, which made Peter chuckle.

Within minutes they had reached the column. When they were on the balcony, Peter put Sebastian on the railing. He then kneeled down slightly so Melody could get off. She did, but didn't take down her arms.

"Thanks," she said.

"No problem."

There was a pause. Then, realizing they were still on Peter's shoulders, Melody quickly removed her arms, giving a nervous chuckle, her cheeks slightly pink. She walked over to her tall change-screen, where a hanger with a large blue gown hung.

"Avert your eyes, boy!" Sebastian snapped at Peter.

"Alright! Geez!" Peter sighed. "I'll be outside, Mel."

"Okay," she said, airily.

Peter slowly made his way out onto the balcony, his hands coming up to hold the marble railing. He stared out into the sea for a few moments, enjoying the nice view. Then he heard a slight cough, and he looked down to see Sebastian standing next to his left hand.

"We need ta talk," he said simply.

"Um, okay," Peter said, unsurely(Sebastian had never needed to talk alone with him before). "What is it?"

Sebastian hesitated, then took a calm breath.

"Listen Peter, I know you're Melody's friend, and you're a good one at too, but… things have changed now, and very extremely. Melody is engaged ta a good and well brought-up man- a prince. She is becoming a woman now, and despite your physical appearance, your still just a boy, and a boy is someting she does not, in any way, need."

"I don't understand…" Peter started, but Sebastian cut him off.

"Dat is because you're just a boy. Look, Melody is a princess, Peter, she was destined ta be married and become a queen the moment she was born. By now, she should have already been properly ready ta grow up and prepared ta be married ta a good prince like Alexander. But you've held her back, you've made her tink she was gonna be a child her whole life, now she doesn't feel she is ready for any of dis. If she has any chance of doing so now, then you have ta leave. And I'm speaking for her parents, and her family, and for her well being."

Peter stared at Sebastian, shocked at what he had heard. Then he felt his brows crease and his face fall.

"I get your concern, Sebastian," he said, shortly. "But I'm not going anywhere."

"Peter-"

"No, Sebastian. I don't care what you think, I'm never leaving Melody, ever! For God's sake, we're best friends! Why is that so hard for everyone to understand?"

Sebastian shot Peter a nasty glare.

"Do you honestly thing me and her parents don't see what is going on between you two?" he asked, angrily.

"What are you talking about?"

"Oh, come on! It's not exactly a secret dat Melody has slight feelings for you. And do not say you don't feel de same, cause despite your little act of 'not-understanding-feelings', you have feelings for her, too!"

Seconds passed. Sebastian took a few breaths in an effort to calm himself. Peter sat there, frozen where he stood. He was sure he didn't hear him right, and yet…

Peter blinked a few times and let out the small breath he didn't realize he was holding.

"She… does?" he asked, quietly. "She really… likes me that way…?"

"Did you not know…?"

"No…"

"Oh," Sebastian looked nervous and angry. "Oh gosh, umm… d-de point is- you see, y-you need ta leave- it's, um, for her own good, so- you must leave soon-"

But Peter wasn't even listening anymore. Right now, he was going over everything in his mind, everything that had been happening lately; Why Melody was acting different, why she was laughing and smiling all the time now, and why her face always got slightly pink whenever he got too close to her or said something nice to her. It all made sense now.

Melody liked him… as more than a friend.

Peter felt his lips curl as a small smile formed on his face.

"Oh, no!" Sebastian snapped. "I know what you're tinking, and I'm telling you now, you might as well drop it!"

Before Peter could respond he heard Melody's voice from inside.

"Peter, could come help me?"

"Coming."

Leaving behind an irritated Sebastian, Peter walked back into the room. Melody was standing there, her back facing him, the back of her dress hanging open.

"Zip me up, would you?" she asked, holding her hair over her shoulder.

Peter paused, then walked up behind her. He took the time to zip up her dress and tie a few loose strings before backing up. Melody turned to face him.

Her dress looked stunning. The whole thing was a bright, misty blue. The top part hugged her chest and came down only slightly in the front and it had white fabric along the edge of the V-cut. It wasn't like the itchy lace on her purple dress, it was like smooth silk that was soft on her skin. The sleeves only came down to her elbows, and they had silk cuffs, as well. The skirt was long, but not too puffy, and came all the way down until it was barley on the ground. Around her waist she had white silk ribbon that tied around her middle and ended in a bow on her back.

"What do you think?" Melody asked, looking down at her dress. "I didn't want anything really fancy, but my mom said I needed to be a little more formal. I'm glad she let me chose the dress, though. But, on the whole…"

"You look amazing…" Peter said, quietly.

Melody looked up at him, giving him a small smile as her cheeks went pink.

"Well, thanks…"

Melody paused, then went over and sat down in front of her mirror. She picked up a brush and started to brush her long, still slightly wet hair . A few seconds later, however, she started having trouble.

"Stupid knot…" she mumbled, irritably.

"You need help?" Peter asked.

"Oh, no, I'm fine."

But Peter rolled his eyes.

"Come on, hand it over."

Peter walked up to her chair and took the brush. Melody paused, then sighed.

"Well, alright," she said, turning back to the mirror. "I didn't think you brushed anybody's hair."

"I don't."

It was perfectly true. Peter couldn't remember ever brushing anyone's hair. Hell, he couldn't remember ever brushing his own hair! He just didn't feel there was any need for it. But he just grabbed a handful of Melody's hair and started to brush the knot. Despite said knot, Peter was surprised at how soft and silky Melody's hair was, and when he brushed it, he could see small flecks of sea salt fling out of it.

Within a few minutes the knot was out, and Peter set down the brush. He took a step back and stood there, expecting her to say something. What he didn't expect was to look in the mirror and see a reflection of Melody's sad face, her head hunched over, and something shiny gleaming on her cheek.

"Mel…?"

But only response Peter got was a small sniff. He walked over to her side and kneeled down in front of her.

"Mel, come on," Peter held her face so her now shining blue eyes where locked with his own. "What is it?"

Melody let out a shaky sigh, her eyes closing for a few moments before opening again.

"It's just… It's so hard, knowing that in less than a week, my life, my freedom, my everything… it'll all be over, forever…"

Melody closed her eyes and hiccupped, a few more tears escaping from her lids. Peter looked sadly up at her, both his hands coming up to cup her face.

"It won't always be this way," he said, his voice smooth. "You hear me? I promise, everything will be alright."

"How do you know?" Melody asked, wiping her cheeks.

Peter looked at her, holding her face a little more. Then he tipped her head down a little and pressed his lips to her forehead, giving it a soft, gentle kiss. A second later he pulled away to look at her. Her eyes were still wet, but she didn't seem to be crying anymore.

"Because, I can feel it in my gut, and since when has my gut ever been wrong?"

Peter smiled slightly as Melody gave a faint chuckle. She looked up at him, then opened her mouth, and then closed it. She opened it again, then closed it once more.

"Yes?"

Melody bit her lip.

"Peter," she started, her voice faint. "There's something I have to-"

But before she could say more there was a loud knock on the door. They both gasped.

"Melody?" called the voice of her mother. "Sweetie, it's me. Are you ready?"

"Just a second, mom!"

Melody stood up from her chair then started digging through a drawer.

"You have to leave," she said as she pulled out a white ribbon. "Now, before she sees you."

"I know, I know," Peter said quietly.

There was a pause, then Peter went up and hugged her around her waist. Melody hugged him back, then pulled away.

"I'll see you later," she said, smiling. "Now go!"

Peter nodded. Then he floated up and zoomed out of the room and in no time, he was gone.

Melody took the top half of her hair and tied it up in the ribbon, tying it into a bow, the ends of it molding into her hair. She then ran up to her closet where she found a pair of bright blue heels and slipped them on. She smoothed the skirt of her dress before turning to the door.

"Come in," she called.

The door opened to reveal her mother, who was dressed in a beautiful green ball gown that was puffy, covered her whole arms, and only exposed some of her chest.

"There you are," said Ariel, coming up to hug her daughter.

"Yep, here I am," Melody said, smiling slightly as she hugged back.

Ariel pulled away, smiling. But a second later, her face fell.

"Melody, you eyes and face are all wet. Have you been crying, sweetie?"

Melody froze, touching her face. She felt a small, damp spot where a tear must've been before.

"Oh, um, no," she lied, smiling. "Of course not. I'm fine, really."

Ariel held her hand under her daughter's chin, looking at her for a few seconds. Then she smiled slightly.

"Well, okay, dear," she said. "Now, how about we head downstairs to the party, your guests are waiting."

Melody nodded. "Yes, mom."

Well, there ya go...again! Sebastian's not tied up to Melody this time, but will that make it any better? And will Peter really stay away the whole night? Welp, you're just gonna have to find out, won'tcha?! XP

Now, i already got plans for the next chapter, so just hold up you all. I'll have it up here as soon as I can. I Vertually Pinky Swear!