Okay this chapter is completely relevant… the party is finally beginning and there are a couple of unexpected guests. Well maybe their expected but umm… oh never mind. Just read…
Standard Disclaimer: Don't flatter me… I own nothing
Here we go…
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
February 14th, 11:00 am- Valentine's Day
Virginia giggled happily as she followed Melody into her office. "Melody, why does that little boy have silver hair like Elliot," she asked remembering the tank she had been shown. She didn't know people could live in green water…
"It's Elliot's son, I guess…" replied Melody as she fumbled with the keys to her office.
Virginia frowned. "You called him an it."
Melody smirked. She had called him an it. Elliot would have killed her if he had heard… It was strange how Virginia had picked that up without even knowing the story behind Jet Enduro… "It was a mistake, I'm sorry."
"It's okay." Virginia looked up at Melody. "What else are you gonna show me?"
Melody finally got the door opened. "I'm going to show you a letter that I got from someone special." She stepped in.
"Who? I have a special friend named Neil back home… but he doesn't write me special letters." Virginia seemed thoughtful. "I know! Malik must have wrote you the letter." She smiled triumphantly.
"No, it isn't from Malik." Melody reached for the envelope and waved it around. "This is from someone more important." Melody resisted the urge to laugh; more important than Malik?
"Who's that?"
Melody suddenly felt bad. How was she to tell a little girl that her father had sent her a love letter, even if it wasn't true? "Hmm… I can't tell you but… you can read it later…"
Virginia nodded. Melody sighed inwardly. She wanted to help Leehalt but tricking poor Virginia like that… She didn't understand how he could expect her to do such a thing. It was mean. And yet she would do it, she knew she would. She had come too far to back down. Melody walked towards the door. "Come on let's go see if the party started." Maybe she could get some beer, which always helped her feel better.
************************************************************************
Melody could tell was Leehalt in a good mood. He stood by the entrance smiling and looking smug. As Melody got closer she could see that he was chatting happily with a man. He didn't look familiar, no wait he did…
Melody froze. Virginia, who didn't realize that the woman had stopped, bumped right into her. "Hey, Auntie what's wrong? 'Cause you were walking and then you stopped," asked Virginia.
Melody didn't answer. Instead she pointed a quivering finger at the man in front of her. "It's you… why are you here!?"
Leehalt looked at her strangely. To him his companion was just your average green haired man… but Melody knew better, it was no other than Clive Winslet.
Clive laughed. "Is that anyway to greet your old friend?"
"Don't even start with me Clive…"
She was interrupted as Leehalt coughed loudly. "Umm… Melody can I speak to you for a moment." Melody nodded and allowed herself to be led about two feet away from Clive.
"Melody what do you think you're doing," he whispered. Melody was about to answer but he continued. "Mr. Winslet is Berlitz's son in law… Berlitz is an esteemed scientist, esteemed Melody, esteemed, he's an esteemed…"
"I get the point," yelled Melody. "But I will not be nice to him… I'll just keep clear of him." Melody looked around to find Virginia. She found the little girl talking to Clive.
"And my daddy said that I could come and visit, so I did, and we're having a party…" mumbled Virginia speaking rapidly. "I like your hair Mr. Clive… it's green."
Clive laughed. "I like your hair too Virginia, you take after your father, right?"
Virginia nodded and opened her mouth to tell another story. However, Melody grabbed her hand and began to lead her away gently. "I don't wanna go, I wanna talk to Clive." Virginia pulled away.
"No, no, no Virginia let's go," begged Melody. Virginia seemed thoughtful.
"Okay, but can we go talk to Malik… he's funny…"
"No, not him either."
Clive raised an eyebrow. "What did you get into a fight with him too?" he asked.
"That's none of your business…" replied Melody.
"Fighting is bad; my mommy says that I shouldn't fight even if all the boys are big meanies," chided Virginia as she walked up to Clive. "Do you fight Clive?"
"Sometimes," he admitted in a confidential tone as he leaned towards Virginia. "But I never start fights." He looked up at Melody.
"Are you saying that I started the fight with Malik?" shouted Melody angrily.
"Yes, I know that you did," replied Clive.
Virginia gasped. "Auntie… did you beat Malik up? Is he bleeding? Did you hurt him?" she asked anxiously.
"No I didn't hurt him, at least not physically," mumbled Melody.
"What does phy-sia umm…physicall-lee mean?" Virginia looked confused.
Melody sighed. "Oh never mind; I didn't hurt him."
"But you just said you did," whined Virginia.
"What she means is that she didn't hit him but she might of hurt his feelings…" explained Clive. "Isn't that right Melody?"
Melody nodded. "Yes it is but it wasn't my fault… he hurt my feelings too…" Melody paused. Why was she explaining herself to him?
"Ah, I see so you're feeling upset too…" mused Clive thoughtfully. "So what are you going to do?"
"Ugh… why do I have to do everything? Why can't he do anything? Why should I take the initiative?" complained Melody.
Virginia frowned. "I don't know what intia-tive means but…. you're lying. Malik does a lot of things. He always gives you stuff… and he talks to you… and he gets you your coffee… and he's nice." Virginia sniffled slightly. "And one time I saw you kick him for no reason…" At this point Virginia burst into tears. Clive picked her up and glared at Melody.
"It's okay Virginia," soothed Clive, still shooting death stares at Melody. He looked around for anyone to take Virginia off his hands. No, he didn't want to rid of himself of the crying child; he just wanted to find someone who could comfort her better. "Virginia would you like to go with Leehalt?" Clive apparently was a bad judge of character.
Virginia rubbed her eyes and nodded. Clive set her down. Melody watched as Virginia walked up to Leehalt.
"Leehalt, Melody is being mean. Will you play with me?" asked Virginia wiping away some of her tears.
Leehalt looked at her with disgust. He never did like the child… yet she did have a little bit of Ekatrina in her… But he still didn't want to be near her, much less play with her. Suddenly an evil glint flickered in his eyes. "Aww…" began Leehalt trying to sound compassionate, "Don't worry, how'd you like to read Melody's special letter?"
"I would like that very much," answered Virginia.
"Come with me then," stated Leehalt as he led Virginia away. As he was leaving he looked up at Melody. The woman caught his gaze… he would take care of it all. Good, Melody thought, less work for me.
"Melody, I'm speaking to you…" Melody was suddenly snapped out of her thoughts by Clive's voice.
"Oh okay speak…" mumbled Melody.
"What I asked you was: How do you feel about making a little girl cry?"
"I feel like Melody Vilente."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Next chapter is sad… I think. Anyway please review.