Chapter Five. Daytime New York
Melody and Bridgett got off the plane and claimed Bridgett's things, since Melody didn't have any.
Melody turned around and saw a familiar woman, "Mom," she shrieked.
Haley turned around and came over to them. They did their usual greeting, a kiss on each cheek and the a quick tight hug.
"Mom, Bridgett, Bridgett, Mom," Melody reintroduced them, she wanted to hug her but Bridgett just stuck her hand out to be shook. "Mom can we go? I need to pack, how are my friends, how have you been? OMG I haven't seen you in forever."
"Greta, everything's great, let's go."
They walked outside the airport and got in a taxi.
"North Fifth Street and Parks Avenue," Melody said to the driver. She loved New York. The taxi started going.
"Mommy, so did that swimsuit come in? I sent you which one I wanted. Did it come in, but I still need it fitted."
"Yes it did, and I think it's beautiful."
"That's great, and let me guess, Kenny's at home waiting to see his 'girlfriend'."
"You know him too well."
"Who's Kenny?"
"My girlfriend," Melody smiled.
"What?"
"Kenny, he's my best friend, and nothing more, not that either wants more, I mean, we both like guys."
"Oh, he's gay."
"In a number of words, yes."
"Oh."
"Mommy, is Uncle Luke waiting too, I e-mailed him and he said he wouldn't miss me coming home."
"Yes, he's there, and he brought Michelle and Jennifer."
"Ah, I haven't seen them in so long."
"I know, what about Aunt Brooke?"
"Yes, she was decorating at five a.m., next time you invite her to a party, don't." Haley said shaking her head.
"Uncle Luke, I know him, he comes on random days of the year, and Michelle and Jennifer, and Aunt Brooke. You should see dad when she's around. They both get drunk beyond drunk, that they don't stay very long and dad continues drinking, until he's throwing up in the toilet all night long and I'm watching Charlotte when he knows good and well we both have school in the morning. He doesn't need to drown his problems in alcohol."
"Wow, how come you never told me this?" Melody questioned.
"Didn't seem important, most of the time he's either drunk or hung over. He's probably sobering up right now, so I won't know he's been drinking the whole time."
"Wow, Bridgett, that's really harsh."
"It's a harsh world."
"Can I just cut in a minute, who's Charlotte?" Haley said.
"My little sister," Bridgett replied.
Haley started mumbling under her breath. Everyone was pretty much silent the rest of the way home.
Melody was the first out of the car when they got there, running into her well known house.
"Uncle Luke!" Melody screamed running into the house, hugging him.
"How did you know I was here?"
"Because nothing gets past me."
"Right you are, so how's school?"
"Its wonderful, I love it."
"That's great."
"I need to go make my rounds, but I'll be back."
Melody dragged Bridgett to meet Kenny.
"Kenny, this is Bridgett, my blood, Bridgett, this is Kenny, my bestest girlfriend." Bridgett stuck out her hand for Kenny to shake it, but Kenny gave her a big hug. "Come on, let me show you my room," she said dragging her.
Melody's room had a high ceiling and was pastel colors. Lots of light and softness, curves, not strait.
"Kenny and I did it before we knew I was going to school. He designed most of it, actually and we totally did it, well with help, mostly with help, but I love it," Melody flopped down on her bed.
"It's great," Bridgett said looking around.
"You can look around, I've nothing to hide, open drawers, closet, look under the bed, mi casa es tu casa."
Bridgett walked around and looked at the room, she noticed some peculiar tapes sitting by a tape player.
She picked one up," what's this?"
"A cassette tape."
"Odd."
"Wanna listen?"
"You know how to play it?"
"Yea, it's mine here," Melody got up and put the tape in the tape player. She pushed play and the sounds of Haley's and her duets filled the room.
"Who is that?" Bridgett asked, referring to the music, "It's good."
"Thanks, and its me and mom."
"You're kidding."
"Nope, go ask her."
"Wow, I like this."
"I can make you a copy."
"Thanks, could you put it on CD or on my MP3 player?"
"Tape, I do tapes."
"Fine, I'll get dad to fix it."
"Okay, I'll tell mom at dinner, she'll be happy to."
"Thanks."
"Anything else?"
"Hmm?"
"There's more than just the one, there's all them there."
"A copy of each, if you can."
"Consider it done." Bridgett smiled.
"It's nice here, but I could never live like this, too perfect, to clean."
"Well, I grew up this way, so, yea."
"Yea, I grew up on junk food and messes."
"Interesting."
"Yea, I need to get ready for dinner," she smiled, "don't you?"
"Ready for dinner?"
"Yea."
"Um, yea, where's the bathroom."
"Down the hall, second door on your left."
"Thanks." Bridgett left and Melody changed into a green dress, it was a tube top and went down to just below her knee. She put on black sandals and did her hair up in a elegant bun. She walked out to dinner where everyone was waiting. Bridgett looked out of place in jeans and a t-shirt with everyone else dressed up, but nobody said anything.
"Mmm, mommy, this is so good, you made my favorites too."
"Yes, just for you."
A perfect world and a perfect family with an intruder from the outside.
