A/N: Please R&R. Thanks a bunch.

Disclaimer: Do not own Harry Potter or associated characters/story lines. I do however own Melanie, her friends, family and the plot of this fic. Yay me!

Chapter Eleven:

Parental Guidance Can Go Too Far

My plan was to just get them both sitting down so I could talk it all through with them. The problem was that after nearly three months of my avoiding them, they had started to avoid me. They were giving me my space. It was going to be hard to get them to stay put in a room, alone with me, for longer than two minutes. For a week, my multiple attempts at catching them all failed horribly.

"This is hopeless!" I groaned during lunch, one day at school. I dropped my head to the table and continued in a muffled voice, "They won't stay put! They're avoiding me as much as I avoided them."

"Maybe you're approaching this the wrong way." Hayden suggested. He had taken to sitting with us during lunch instead of alone at a table in the corner.

"And how exactly would you do it?" I questioned raising my head and glaring at him. "'Cause I supposed it's a better way."

"The way I always do." Hayden replied, and took a bite of the sandwich I had given him just moments before. "You see I've always had trouble keeping my parents in the same room with me. But when I need them to sign something or other or whatever I've got to get them sitting down for at least five minutes. I'm a master in that department. And I'm well experienced."

"Is there anything you can't do?" I mock squealed.

"Seriously Mel, this needs to be done the right way or it won't work." Kaya replied, "Because the longer you wait, the harder it's going to be."

"I know, but if I can't get them to listen, I won't be able to do it anyway." I said.

"Sneak up on them. I know you don't want to shock and surprise them, but it may be the only way to catch them off guard long enough to get them to stay put." Hayden suggested, "It works too. I do it all the time."

"I don't want to give them a heat attack." I responded.

"It might be the only way." Cam said, "And if it works, then that's good. If it doesn't then we'll just help you figure out a different way to do it."

"I'll try. But it's going to be hard to do in these next few weeks. All of the autumn-and-winter regulars are starting to come in. Mrs. Dublin's flooing in at seven forty-five next Tuesday. The Hutchkinsons arrived yesterday and will be here for two more weeks. Then there is the Taylor family with the five kids, and the oldest Mercue daughter just got married so they've turned the annual vacation into a honeymoon for her and the new son-in-law. They're super busy and they're spending increasing amounts of time at the hotel. I want to do it at home and not in the office of our hotel!" I rambled quickly.

"You talk way too fast!" Hayden replied, "I think I caught maybe three words out of that whole thing!"

"Is it sad that I understood every word she said?" Kaya questioned with a laugh.

"Yes, very." Hayden smiled and nodded, "But hey, if you understood at least you're not confused."

"Stop making fun of me! I don't appreciate it. I'm just very anxious. I talk fast when I'm like that." I scowled.

"I just hope you don't talk that fast when you finally get your parents to listen." Hayden replied.

"Whatever." I stuck my tongue out at him.

"How juvenile!" Hayden scoffed.

"Juvenile? This coming from the guy who can't go a day without causing some kind of immature trouble." I retorted.

"I can too!" Hayden defended.

"Name one day that you didn't." I challenged, "And not getting caught doesn't count."

"Fine, yesterday." Hayden replied.

We all sat there a moment, thinking it over. I played over all the things we did the day before. I tilted my head as we thought. Kaya and Cam had the same contemplative look on their faces.

"You guys have to think about it?" Hayden exclaimed, "I'm offended."

"Well..." I began.

"Forget it I cannot believe you guys." Hayden scowled.

"I'm sorry, you're just such an immature, troublesome, crazy..." I started.

"I wouldn't finish that if I were you." Hayden warned.

"Why not?" I replied.

"While I may be an immature, troublesome, crazy, blah, blah, blah I am also very skilled in the art of...revenge." Hayden interrupted, "And I am not above using said skills against you."

"You don't know me very well Parker. I could do more damage to you blindfolded with my hands tied behind my back, without moving from my seat, than you could ever do to me." I smiled, "So try me."

"Ooo!" Kaya called.

"I think I'll take my chances." Hayden replied.

"He's a brave one Mel." Kaya said.

"Or just stupid." Cam added.

"Osman! You're supposed to be on my side! Us guys got to stick together!" Hayden responded.

"Sorry Parker. I've found it's not a good idea to side against Mel. Past experience, you see." Cam said, "Sorry."

"Whatever." Hayden replied, "I see how it is."

"It's just Mel's so...terrifying when she's angry and it's aimed at you." Cam explained. "Believe me I know."

"You know you could just not say stupid, hurtful things to Kaya and I wouldn't get angry." I replied.

"Mmhmm." Kaya nodded in agreement.

"Am I a bad boyfriend? Huh? Am I?" Cam asked sarcastically, "'Cause if I am, just dump me right now and go off to find someone better."

"Okay." Kaya replied, and made to get out of her chair.

"Kaya, I think he was joking." I replied with a laugh.

"Was he? Sorry Cam. I thought you were serious." Kaya shrugged.

"Very funny." Cam rolled his eyes.

"I thought so." Hayden snickered.

"Shut up, Parker." Cam scowled.

"Oh Cam, lighten up." I smiled, "It was just a joke. He's a great boyfriend, right Kaya?"

After a long pause, "Am I supposed to answer truthfully?"

"Kaya, you should probably quit while you're ahead, because I may just decide to dump you instead and take Ari up on her offer." Cam replied in a serious tone, but he struggled to keep a straight face.

"Yeah like you'd leave me for her, funny." Kaya chuckled, "I don't think so, buddy. Unless you're looking for an early death at the hands of Mel, here."

"No one should leave anyone for Ari, but that seems to be an increasing trend lately." I said.

"I don't like it." Kaya added. "It's like a sign of the Apocalypse. The next thing you know Mel's going to go soft and Parker's going to turn to the church!"

Laughter broke out around the table and wouldn't control itself. The fact that Kaya had said that while Hayden was in the midst of drinking his soda only made it worse. The second the words 'Parker' and 'church' were used in the same sentence in relation to each other, Hayden sprayed soda all over us. Mainly just Kaya and Cam though, since I was wise enough to duck just before—I saw it coming I guess.

"Thanks a bunch, Parker. That was enjoyable." Kaya said with a false happy voice, smiled and scrunched up her nose as she wiped soda off of herself.

"It's your own fault!" Hayden replied, "Turn to the church. Ha. Ha. Never in a million years."

"I would love to see it. Heck, I'd pay to see it. A 'holy-oriented' Hayden. Oh! It would be hilarious." I smiled. "But you're right Kaya, the world would probably end if that ever happened. And me going soft, the very thought of that happening is bogus."

"And a sign of the Apocalypse! I told you." Kaya exclaimed.

"Sure." I nodded, and then changed the subject. "Now, how am I going to get my parents to listen to me?"

"I'm telling you, it's not the hardest thing to do." Hayden replied, "You're making it too difficult on yourself."

"It's hard for me!" I called, "It's harder for me than it is for you! I never fight with my parents...not like this. Never like this. It's never this bad between us. I don't know how to fix this. I don't know what do say. I'm just so...I don't know. I just, I just...I just feel so completely confused."

"Look Melanie, I didn't mean to say it like that. I didn't want to upset you." Hayden replied frantically, "I'm sorry."

"They just wen too far with this. They crossed that line from support to manipulation!" I said angrily. "And it hurts still. I want to forgive them, but they're making it really hard to do that. I want to believe they were trying to help me, but with all the stupid, dramatic trouble that's been caused by it, it's hard to understand it or even believe it. They went too far, now I have to go out of my way to fix their mistake? Is that fair?"

"Mel, you're just frustrated with not being able to get them to talk to you." Kaya replied, "And it won't do you any good to give up now!"

"My parents aren't supposed to do things like this. My parents are the ones who everyone is supposed to admire. My parents are supposed to be like my friends, the ones I can talk to and tell things to. The things they do shouldn't hurt this much!" I exclaimed. "My parents are supposed to be the ones who never hurt me."

"They are." Kaya corrected, "But you shouldn't let one bad choice on their part to ruin your relationship. I know that much."

"I just want things to go back to normal. I want things to be like they were, before." I said. I used the term loosely, but everyone knew what I meant.

"In order for that to happen, someone has to take the first step." Kaya replied.

"But why does it have to be me?" I sighed.

"I don't know." Kaya answered, "It just does."