The last bell rang and Mel jumped out of her seat as fast as she could. Two-Bit and Steve did too but Two-Bit was stopped by the teacher and asked to stay behind. Mel sent him an apologetic glance before pulling Steve, who was in hysterics, out of the classroom.
"End of the day…finally!" Steve said, throwing everything into his locker. Mel nodded and sighed. She packed her English work into her bag before slamming the locker door shut. They heard the familiar sound of Two-Bit muttering and laughing under his breath as he made his way over to them.
"How many detentions this time, Two-Bit?" Mel asked, slinging her bag over her shoulder.
"Just the two. But I know that deep down she wanted to give me more." Two-Bit laughed.
"I still don't understand why you got two detentions for passing notes." Steve said, trying to perfect the masses of complicated swirls in his hair.
"I still don't understand why you had to tear out a page from your text book just to write me a note." Melody said.
"Whatever. Let's just get out of here." Two-Bit said. The three walked through the hallways until they stopped at a poster.
"Hey, look. There's a dance coming up in a couple of months." Steve said, reading the notice aloud.
"Awesome!" Two-Bit said as they made their way outside to the car.
"I'm just gonna have to drop you both and run." Steve said as he started the car. "I've gotta go and work on someone's car."
"Not my fault the thing hates me." Two-Bit said defensively. Melody shook her head and laughed.
The two waved goodbye to Steve as he sped off down the street. Knowing the house was unlocked, Two-Bit just walked in and headed straight for the kitchen. Mel tossed her bag in her room, unsure of where it landed, exactly, and collapsed on the couch.
"Want a beer?" Two-Bit called out from the kitchen.
"Love one. I think there's some more out the back. Can you refill the fridge?" Mel asked, kicking her shoes off and stretching out on the couch.
"Sure thing." Two-Bit called out. Mel heard the backdoor slam shut when the phone rang.
oOoOoOoOoOo
Two-Bit came in with a couple of beers and sat down next to Mel on the couch.
"You mom just called." Mel said, accepting a beer off Two-Bit.
"She did?" he wondered. Mel nodded and took a sip of her beer.
"Yeah, she wanted me to tell you that she's working late tonight and working a double shift tomorrow." She explained.
"Not fair." Two-Bit mumbled under his breath.
"Yeah I know. So do you wanna ditch school with me tomorrow and help clean your house?" Mel asked. Two-Bit shrugged his shoulders.
"Got nothing better to do…why not." He said.
"Oh darn, means you'll miss out on your first detention." Mel said sarcastically.
"Oh No! Whatever shall I do? My life is over!" Two-Bit said. Mel laughed at his immaturity.
"Seriously though, I'm up for it." He said.
Ponyboy, Darry and Soda came home just before dinner and were completely exhausted. Mel made a quick and easy dinner while the other three relaxed in the living room. After dinner they all just kicked back playing a few rounds of Poker and relaxed.
"Alright, I'm heading off to bed." Darry said. "Make sure Ponyboy finishes his math for the test tomorrow and that he gets to bed on time." The twins nodded as Soda dealt out another hand.
"Oh, and Mel?" Darry asked.
"Yeah Dar?" Mel said, shelling her hand properly.
"Get up early tomorrow and I'll take your stitches out, alright?"
"Sure thing Darry. Goodnight." Mel said.
"Anything interesting happen at school?" Soda asked. Mel just shrugged.
"the usual. Two-Bit got a couple of detentions for note passing. Oh, and there's a dance coming up." Mel said.
"A Dance? Alright, sounds pretty cool." Soda said. Mel smiled and laid down her hand.
"read 'em and weep Sodiepop." She said. Soda sighed and threw his cards down on the table in defeat.
"Ponyboy have you finished you're homework?" Mel called out.
"Almost…there." Pony said. Mel got up and went to check it.
"Alright, good. Time for bed." She said. Ponyboy nodded and packed up his work. He said goodnight to his brother and sister and went to bed. Soda and Mel played a few more rounds of cards before getting tired and both going to bed.
oOoOoOoOoOo
Darry woke Melody up at about five the next morning. At first she struggled and didn't want to get up, but eventually gave up and dragged herself out of bed.
She was now waiting for Darry to get some things from the bathroom to help clean her wound and get the stitches out. After a few minutes he returned.
"Remind me again why this couldn't wait until after you got home tonight?" Mel asked, yawning.
"Because I'll be too tired and you'll be off doing something. And then you would tell me to wait." Darry said. Mel sighed and yawned again.
"Alright, get it over with so I can go back to bed." She said. Darry laughed and picked up a pair of scissors. Mel lifted her shirt to expose her stomach and Darry set to work.
"Ouch! Jeez, Darry!" Mel said, wincing in pain.
"Sorry, Mel." Darry said as he continued pulling out her stitches. After a few painful minutes, he was done.
"There, all done." Darry said. Mel smiled and pulled her shirt back down.
"Thank you…now can I go back to bed?" she asked sleepily. Darry laughed quietly and nodded. Mel started to walk back to her room when she stopped.
"Hey Dar?" she asked. Darry looked up at her.
"Is it alright if I skip school today? Lynn rang yesterday and I offered to help her around the house."
"You're not going to miss much today?" Darry asked. Melody shook her head.
"Alright then." Darry said. Mel smiled in thanks and went back to bed.
oOoOoOoOoOo
A few hours later, Melody woke up again. This time, without the irritating itch of her stitches. She loved those mornings where she didn't have to fight one of her siblings for the bathroom or have to wait for her darling twin to find his shoes. If Mel had it her way, she would sleep in everyday…although not one of the guys would ever allow that. They love waking her up far too much and have been doing it increasingly often.
Eventually she knew that she had to get out of bed. After a few more minutes of blissful sleep, Mel threw the covers off and got out of bed. She found her favorite pair of jeans hanging in her closet and now needed a shirt to wear, so she decided to search her brothers' room. Mel searched the floor for something that resembled a shirt when she found the green shirt that she had been looking for. Tossing them aside, Mel turned on the tap, begging and pleading for a hot shower. Luckily, there was enough left.
The best thing about being alone in the mornings is having the bathroom all to yourself, and no annoying brothers or friends using up all the hot water for showers.
After her relaxing shower, Melody got dressed and dried her hair. Grabbing a piece of chocolate, she raced out the door. Lynn was gone by the time she got there, but she did leave a note on the bench.
Melody
Thank you so much for your help today, you really are an angel.
There isn't much food in the cupboards I'm afraid, I haven't been able to get the shopping done yet. Feel free to gab some if you like. I've left some money on the counter.
My darling son should still be asleep when you arrive. Time for a little payback, don't you think?
Have a good day and try not to let Two-Bit destroy the house.
Love you both
Lynn
Melody smiled as she placed the note back on the counter. Lynn knew how much her son loved to wake Mel up in the mornings, and she too thought he needed a taste of his own medicine. Quietly, she crept over to Two-Bit's room and opened the door. He was sprawled out on his mattress with his feet dangling off the edge. Mel laughed as she tip-toed around to the other side of the bed.
Trying to contain her laughter, she gripped the edge of the mattress and flipped it over, causing Two-Bit to land flat on his back on the floor.
"Oh god," Mel said, clutching her sides as her body was violently shaking with laughter. "Revenge is so sweet."
"Hahaha ok, ok I get it…I can be a bit on an ass." Two-Bit said, as he yawned and stretched. He went to walk out of the room but slipped on the blanket and flee flat on his back, making Mel burst out laughing again. Two-Bit smiled evilly and tripped her over so that she too was lying on the floor beside him.
"Morning Mel." He said. Mel poked her tongue out at him and got up.
"I'm supposed to be helping clean your house…not mess it up even more." Mel said, helping her friend to his feet.
"Yeah I guess." He said.
"Get ready, were going shopping." Mel said as she left the room. She waited patiently as Two-Bit had a shower and got dressed.
"Alright let's go." He said. Mel nodded and the two left the house and went to the grocery store.
"Two-Bit…what are you doing?" Melody asked.
"What does it look like? I'm getting a shopping cart." Two-Bit said, as if it was the simplest thing in the world.
"I can see that. But you do realize that the shopping is supposed to go in there…not you." Mel laughed. Two-Bit shrugged and sat inside the shopping cart.
"Onward milady." He said, pointing forward towards the first aisle. Melody sighed.
"I am not pushing your fat ass in that thing." She said. Two-Bit's smile faltered.
"My ass is not fat!" he whined. Melody laughed and held the handlebar of the cart.
"if we get kicked out because of you…" she warned.
"Relax babe, we won't." Two-bit said. Melody rolled her eyes and pushed the cart. They walked down the aisles with Mel pushing and Two-Bit pulling random items off the shelves and putting them in the cart with him.
"Ooohh! Mel, can we please get these?!" Two-Bit wondered, holding up a bag of chocolate chip cookies.
"As if you don't act like an idiot enough already." Mel mumbled to herself. "Sure, chuck 'em in." Two-Bit cheered like a small child and pulled the packet of cookies into the cart beside him.
"Hey, grab me some gum, will ya?" Mel asked. Two-Bit smiled and quickly grabbed a couple of packets of gum and shoved them into his pocket.
When they had enough they made their way over to the check out counter. Two-Bit sat peacefully in the cart, handing things over to Melody to put up on the register. When it was empty, he jumped out. Mel put some money on the counter and handed half the grocery bags go Two-Bit before they left the store.
oOoOoOoOoOo
"So you and Dal gonna go to the dance?" Two-Bit asked, folding his shirt into a pile. The house was clean and now they were folding the washing. The radio was playing in the background as they worked and talked.
"Probably not." Mel said.
"Why not…you're a great dancer." Two-Bit said. Melody shrugged.
"I don't think he's into that kind of thing, you know." She said, as she added two more towels to the pile. Two-Bit scoffed.
"Maybe he can't dance." He laughed.
"I've seen him dance before, at Buck's." Mel said. Two-Bit laughed again.
"Shoot kid, that ain't dancing!" he said, taking her hand and spinning her around.
"This is dancing." Mel laughed as they danced around the room to the beat that was coming from the radio in the corner.
"Tell you what, Why don't I take you to the dance?" Two-Bit suggested.
"Really?" Mel wondered. Two-Bit nodded.
"If Dal won't take you, I will, alright?" he asked. Mel nodded as he spun her around again. Only this time, they tripped on a towel that had fallen and landed on the couch in a laughing heap.
oOoOoOoOoOo
"Hello? Melody? Two-Bit?" Lynn called as she got home that evening. She checked the house for the two teenagers and found them asleep together on the couch. She just smiled and shook her head as she went to go and fix dinner.