A lot of people have been asking me what I meant in my author's note about doing another fic on Embry and Melody. I meant begining of their relatshionship. Him imprinting, how they got together, how she reacted, all that stuff. It would be a prequel to this. I'm pretty sure I'm going to end up doing that for my next story. It will be when I'm finished with this though. Thanks everyone for the reviews(:
Melody's POV
"Sometimes you're traveling a highway, the only road you've ever known and wham! A semi comes from nowhere and rolls right over you. Sometimes you don't wake up. But if you happen to you know things will never be the same. Sometimes that's not so bad. Sometimes lives intersect, no rhyme, no reason, except, perhaps, for a passing semi." - Ellen Hopkins(Impulse)
Orphan. When people hear that word they probably think of that little red headed girl, Annie from the musical. I doubt they think of a pretty little blond girl like me. I hated that word and I hated how well it defined me. Nineteen and parent less, how pathetic. I mentally kicked myself for letting Leah's words actually get under my skin. Her words weren't just words though, she laces them with her venom and her own pain and shoots them right at you. I've learned that Leah likes to hit bruised spots on people, she hits your most broken spots with her words. It's like kicking a broken leg, the pain is doubled than it would be anywhere else because that spot is already broken to start with. Leah's played the 'you don't have a perfect family card' on more people then just me. I remember sometime last year Leah told Embry to go find his father really rudely and I was very tempted to ask the neighbor for a baseball bat and hit her in the head with it for that comment. It seems like years ago that we were like that with each other, so concerned about each other's feelings. I guess I was caught up in the moment when he stood up to me against Leah. It was a little glance of the past, the past I did love. I'm sure Anthony noticed my sudden mood change because before we ran into Embry and Leah I had been in a pretty good mood. I was usually really bubbly and sweet around Anthony, he brought out the side of me that had been dead for the last three months. I feel like I bring him down sometimes though. I really wish I could have met him before this all happened. I wish he could have met the Melody I use to be.
"Why do you hang out with me?" I asked as I pulled out of the Cullen's drive way. I really didn't know where we were going, but I just wanted to get out of here.
Anthony smiled and looked at me with his beautiful bronze eyes, "I think we've gone over this before, sweetheart. You're beautiful, sweet, and you brought Dracula over my house, remember?" he said restating the list that he told me the first night we kissed. We've shared many kiss since that night. Anthony's an amazing kisser and his cold lips are actually really relaxing. When Anthony calls me sweetheart and beautiful, I think I could actually love him one day. It's so much more complicated than that. I don't know a lot of things, but I know I don't want to be a vampire. I did admire Alice and Rosalie's beauty and grace, but their immortal lives were not one of my desires. So I always wondered if I didn't want to be a vampire, could I ever have a future with Anthony?
"But I'm so," I paused unsure of what word to describe me best,"depressing,"
Anthony smiled and like a chain reaction I felt a tiny smile creep across my lips, "You're not depressing. Look your smiling!"
I turned my eyes back on the road, still unsure of where I was going. I started to let my mind wander, which is never a good thing when your Melody Collins. Why did Embry have to do this to me, to us? Was it my fault for not calling off work that night to go with him? Was I boring him and that's why he slept with Leah? Should I blame my mom for never getting clean which made me have to move out to this hell hole and meet him? How could I ever go back to living in a world when I knew about this world? Most importantly, why does everyone I love leave?
"What are you thinking bout Mel?" Anthony asked sweetly from the passenger seat.
"How everyone leaves," I replied honestly. I've never cried in front of Anthony and I've tried really hard to keep it like that. Before I even had time to stop the tears, I felt them well up in my eyes and fall down past my cheeks. I wiped them away with my hand quickly, but Anthony had seen.
"Awe Melody, pull over." Anthony said softly. I complied and pulled the car over on some back road in Forks. He looked at me and with his cold hand wiped the few tears off my cheeks that I hadn't got rid of.
"I'm sorry," I replied instantly. I felt stupid for crying in front of him. I was suppose to be getting over all of this by now, but being confronted with it all at once was hard, really hard. Plus being reminded that you have no family by the girl that is starting a family with your ex isn't really a self esteem booster for the day either.
Anthony shook his head, "Because your ex is an asshole that knocked up some other girl? Listen to me Melody, you have nothing to be sorry about."
"It's just hard, I really love..loved him," I corrected myself and cringed at the sound of my own cracking voice.
Anthony nodded but I found it difficult to think he honestly understood, he never had to feel any heartbreaks that he remembered, "I'm not telling you get over it in a day, just let me in Mel. You wanna be alone forever?"
I didn't want to be alone forever, I was sure of that. I thought about my mom and how when she'd died, she pretty much did die alone. She'd never found real or any true friends during her short 35 years. Besides me, no one considered her an important part of their lives. I thought I was important in Embry's, but his actions proved that my thinking was off. Anthony had never gave me a reason not to trust him so I needed to open up, somehow. I did the first and best option to get off the depressing topic of Embry and Leah, I kissed him.
Kissing a vampire is really amazing. I remembered Jacob compared kissing a vampire to kissing a rock one time and he was so wrong. Anthony's cold lips felt so relaxing and comfortable when they parted with mine. It almost made me forgot about how messed up my life is, almost. My lips stayed connected to his for a few more minutes until he pulled away. Anthony always pulled away first, which I understood. Edward said it was amazing for a newborn to have that much self control around a human. The only time I've ever felt danger being with him was the first time I met, I don't think he has the desires to hurt me, so he won't.
"As much as I would love to make out with you in your car all day Mel, you have work at two," he paused and motioned his eyes to the time on my radio which read 1:15, "And I was suppose to go hunting with Alex today," he smiled and then laughed at my frustrated face.
Working in a hair salon on a Indian rez was a very boring and annoying job. Everyone on the rez knew every one's business and I couldn't tell you how many customers have asked me "Are you back with that Embry Call?". I went to cosmetology school with the dream in mind to do something really fun with it, not be subjected to the wolves's groomer and braiding children's hair. I tried to work as much as I could now because I desperately needed the money so that I can move out of La Push. I would really move anywhere as long as I could get off the reservation.
Driving to Port Angles use to bother me, but I drive there so frequently now that it seems short. Anthony and are both comfortable with silence, so the rest of the drive was pretty quite. Before I knew it I was pulling into Anthony's driveway. I looked over at him and smiled, "Call me when your done?"
He nodded and kissed me softly, "Try to stay out of fights with pregnant wolves," he said before opening my car door and stepping out.
"I'm not making any promises," I teased with the small smile still present on my face before pulling out of the driveway and heading back to La Push.
La Sabella Salon is a tiny salon in a plaza right by the beach. Kim helped me get the job since her aunt worked here. I miss Kim and Emily and I get really close to calling them sometimes, but I usually stop at the first three numbers. I walked in and that stupid annoying bell rang that rings every time someone walks in and out. I walked up to the front counter and looked at my schedule for the day. I was relived to see that it was all people I did not know. Paul and Jared come in here every other week for a hair cut, but I think they just like to irritate me. I promised myself if they come in here one more I'm shaving all their hair off. I wondered if that meant they would be bald when they phased too, ha!
By six I only had two more hair cuts before I could go home. I heard that annoying bell go off signaling someone walked in, I turned around wondering who this older not Quileute woman who had just walked in was.
"Hi, can I help you?" I asked potielty she looked me up and down before replying, "Sure, is Melody Collins working?" she asked.
I stared at her confused, "I'm Melody, can I help you with something?" the curiosity stayed in my voice as I placed the broom I was sweeping the floor with against the wall. The woman smiled and her tone of voice got a lot nicer when she realized my name, "Hi Melody, my name's Carrie," she paused and pulled out a business card out of her purse and handed it to me, "I work at the Paul Mitchell salon in San Diego and we've seen some of your work, you have talent sweetie. We'd love for you to be a stylist at our salon. My number's on the back of that card, just call and we can arrange something, " she paused again and lowered her voice into a whisper, "Plus, I think you're a little better of a stylist to be working here,"
I've gotten really good job offers before, but never as good as this. I smiled at the thought of what it would be like to live in a city like San Diego. My quality of life would triple and I would never have to see Embry Call or Leah Clearwater ever again!
"I'll definitely be calling you Carrie, thank you for the offer," I replied and smiled and began walking out, "Oh and Melody, money is not an issue. We can take care of your flight," Carrie spoke before walking out.
I couldn't get the smile off my face after she left. I thought of Anthony and our growing relationship but he told me that he understood that I wanted to get out of here and he'd support whatever I wanted to do. The two hair cuts went quickly and by 8:30 I was pulling into my apartment building. I was excited that I actually had exciting news to share with Brittany because prior to Anthony all I feel like I do is whine around her.
"BRITTANY!" I screamed as soon as I shut the apartment door behind me with my heels.
She walked out of her bedroom with no shirt and one eye of eye makeup done, "Yeah?" she asked.
"I got a job offer today in San Diego," I said excitedly and pulled the business card out of my purse and handed it to her.
She attacked me with a hug before squealing, "We need to celebrate! Let's go to that bar in Forks that you liked!"
Brittany was always looking for a reason to celebrate and even if I didn't get that job offer today, we probably would have ended up going to the bar. I was in a good mood though and I actually did want to go out. I nodded and went into my room and plugged in the curling iron and grabbed a dress out of my closest. It was black and had sequins all over it, Alice helped me pick it out when we went shopping a few weeks ago. I curled my hair and redid my my makeup. I thought I got myself together relatively fast, but we didn't pull out of our apartment complex till 10:30. The bar was really crowded, but I was having a good time until Brittany started downing back shots. I'm not big on drinking, but it's pretty boring being the designated driver every night. Two guys came over to us and Brittany in her drunk and flirty state had them sit next to us. They were cute, but way to clingy. They bought Brittany about four more shots and bought me a coke and rum. I really had no reason not to like them, but my instincts were telling me something was up about with them.
"Hey Melodyy, wanna grab my purse out the car?" Brittany slurred while throwing back another shot of tequila. I should be use to Brittany getting totally wasted and then asking me to run out to the car at least five times to get something she really doesn't need, but every time it pisses me. I knew it was about one and Anthony always tells me it's not a good idea for 'a pretty lil girl' like me to go out in bar parking lots alone. I nodded though and jumped of the bar stool and to the door. I could have swore I heard footsteps behind me, but I was sure it was just my anxiety playing games with me. I shivered a little bit as the cold air hit me. It was late May and the weather has been pretty humid and sticky, but not tonight. I thought my ears were playing tricks on me earlier, but I knew I definitely heard two voices behind me. I couldn't identify what they were saying, but it was two guys having a conversation. I always wondered how many pointless trips to the cars it would take for some creeper to follow me from the bar. The voices seemed to be getting louder and the footsteps sped up the pace a little bit.
Fuck.
Fuck.
Fuck.
I was regretting not listening to Anthony's advice now. I suddenly hated Brittany for making me go out to the car by myself to get her purse. I was almost at the car, but almost doesn't mean anything. I felt someone push me hard and I stumbled back into the car.
"What the fuck do you think your doing!?" I snapped and looked up at the two larger guys standing way to close to me. They were the guys in the bar that I knew were way to nice for their own good.
Come after the tiny blond girl, how typical.
"Ah you're a feisty lil thing, aren't you?" the guy on the left said before pushing me by my hips farther against the car.
I attempted to push him off, but I realized that physically had no chance with this. I'm strong for my size, but not strong enough to get two guys off me. The only other option I had was to scream. Before I even opened my mouth I felt a large hand slap over it, I winced at the burning sensation it left.
"If you shut the fuck up we can get this over with fast," the one that didn't have his hand firmly over my mouth said. His voice now seemed unusually terrifying, but maybe that's just because of the situation.
Get what over with? I then thought back to all the newspaper articles from a few months ago about girls in the Forks getting raped in the middle of parking lots and public places like that . Embry had been so protective of me for those few weeks that I was surprised that he'd even let me go to work alone. I desperately wished I had someone to protect me now. I tried to kick one of them which got me a stinging slap across the face. I felt the tears involuntary start to form in my eyes from the burning sensation that took over my cheek and the absolute terror that was running through my whole body. I was one of those people that believed that stuff like this would just never happen to me and I was about to proved wrong. What happened next seemed like a huge blur to me. The guy that had me in a death grip against the car was suddenly pulled off me by someone and I heard a bone crushing punch that caused me to shiver a bit.
I didn't really see where the other guy went, I was to contracted on the voice I just heard because that was a voice I knew too well.
"If you EVER lay a hand on her again, I'll find you and fucking kill you," the voice growled with complete seriousness.
In my confused and shocked state it actually took me a couple seconds to realize exactly whose voice that was. To my surprise I felt something I was positive I would never feel again, relief to see Embry Call.
"Em..bry?" I questioned through my tears that were flowing down my cheeks. I gently brushed them off my face in an attempt not to touch the swollen and red side of my face with too much pressure.
"Are you okay?" his voice shook with worry and angry.
I nodded and wiped the final tears off my cheeks wincing as my hand touched my cheek, "Yeah I think so," I said trying to control my cracking voice. It was dark but I could see his figure shaking, "Really Embry, I'm okay. Calm down, you don't need to be phasing in parking lots now,"
"Do you know what they could have done with you? They could have killed you Melody and you're telling me to calm down? Why are you even out here by yourself? You remember all that stuff we seen on the news about those girls in Forks, don't you?" he asked, still shaking but not as violently.
I remember everything.
"I was just trying to get my friend's purse," I answered and unlocked Brittany's car that I had been conveniently pushed into. I leaned over and grabbed the purse before looking back up at Embry.
It was dark in the parking lot, but I could see the sadness in Embry's eyes. It always made me feel guilty until I realized I don't have anything to feel guilty about.
"Will you please talk to me Melody," he begged.
"I'm talking right now, aren't I?" I said and regretted my tone after the words slipped my lips. He did just save my life, I could try and be less of a bitch.
"You know what I mean Mel, about us," he replied and started walking with towards the door.
"There is no us Em," I reminded him gently.
"I know Melody, but we never talked about anything. You just started screaming and moved out, we never got to talk about anything," he said and I couldn't help but notice how much I missed hearing his voice. Maybe we did need to talk so we could both get closure from our failed relationship. I was going to be leaving, it was the most mature thing I could do.
"Let me give Brittany her purse first, she's been getting kind of mad that I go to get her purse, find someone and then don't come back," I teased lightly referring to the night I met Anthony.
Embry must have not found it very funny because he started shaking, "I'm kidding! I'll be right back," I said and walked into the bar and handed the drunk Brittany her purse who was taking pictures on her camera with a new guy that had taken my seat. I should have still been scared and crying, but with Embry I just felt safe.
"So, do you just wanna go on a walk or something?" I said and I still couldn't believe I was being this nice to him.
He nodded and we started walking out of the parking lot and towards the lighted sidewalk.
I looked up at Embry, "You look stressed,"
He laughed humorlessly, "Yeah I'm having a baby with someone I don't even like, you won't talk to me, and you're new boyfriend's a vampire. I'd have to agree with you," he replied bitterly and I looked up at him and glared. I decided I should get out what I've had on my mind for the past three months.
"How could you do it Embry? I trusted you, I didn't think twice when you never came home that night when you promised you would, I guess your promises don't really mean anything, right?" I paused, but I was not done, "Then you lied straight to my face for weeks. Weeks, Em! You weren't even man enough to tell me, fucking Quil had to do that for you."
"I was drunk Melody! It meant NOTHING," he shot back at me.
Since when did alcohol become an acceptable excuse for cheating?
"I went out with Kim and Emily and drank and did I ever come home knocked up? Hmmm NO!" I yelled as we stopped on the sidewalk and looked at each other. I was trying not to make eye contact with me because I didn't want to see that stupid lovesick puppy look right now.
"I don't know what to tell you, I love you Melody. I can't even fucking function without you around," he said and I could hear the truth in his words.
I lowered my voice, "Well that doesn't really matter anymore."
He raised his eyebrow, "And why not?"
I looked into his right before speaking, "Because I'm moving to San Diego,"
Thanks for reading! This chapter had a little bit of everything in it so I hope you liked it(: The next chapter will be in Embry's POV. The more reviews I get, the faster I'll get the chapter up(: I love reviews, so please if you have the time leave one!