AN: Thanks everyone for your great reviews. I'm happy to present the next installment to Miracle or Curse? Hmm... what do you think? Anyway, you know the usual... X-men are not mine. Yet I have the honor of saying Angel Arden, Aunt Maggie, Melody Jameson, Daveand Dean are trully my own. Enjoy. R&R.
Chapter 4
Finding Melody
A high pitched whistle sounded through the house as the kettle signalled the water had been boiled. Maggie took it off the stove, adding the hot water to her cup creating herself some tea. It was mid-day. All was quiet. Tranquility resided in the house for the moment. Aunt Maggie took her place in her chair within the living room. The woman watched her niece lay on the carpeted floor, surrounded by colourful wax crayons. The child's face was focused, concentrating on shading the colourless sky in her colouring book violet.
"Would you like to see my gift?" Angel asked plainly, out of thin air. The word "gift" was said in the most common way as if she was asking for a book to read. It was their little code word that they used in public whenever they stumbled on the matter. Naturally, Angel just stuck with using the word over and over again.
"Sure, honey," her aunt attempted to hide the utmost surprise she was experiencing in her mind. Aunt Maggie felt shocked and excited all at the same time that Angel was finally ready to share with her the power she possessed.
Standing up, the little girl headed over to the plant on the table. Touching it, the greenery wilted, changing to a black colour. She placed a hand on it, yet again, transforming the plant to a lush green, which made it better looking than it had ever been before. A flower blossomed, opening up showing off its decorative petals and complementary leaves.
Turning around to face her aunt, Angel proclaimed, "I have the power to make things worse in health or cure them by a touch of the hand."
Her aunt sat there speechlessly trying to process the information she had seen. Angel merely went back to the pages of her colouring book and started colouring again. The quietness washed over them as they just provided themselves company.
The ten year old girl had grown up on the inside but as she grew older, both inside and out had begun to match. Several years had passed and Angel was now thirteen years of age. She just woke up from her deep sleep, stretching out under the comfortable warm sheets. Getting out of bed, she searched through her closet for the day's outfit. Today was the first day of school; she was heading into the eighth grade. Angel didn't really have any friends. She only knew the people; they acted more like acquaintances. There wasn't really anyone she felt close to or had a strong bond with.
The teenage girl got her clothes on and quickly brushed her hair into a simple ponytail. She wasn't out to impress anyone. Over the years, she had the habit of just blending into the background so nothing would draw attention to her.
Angel grabbed her bag, walking out of her room and into the kitchen. Her aunt was there, having her breakfast in her cosy pink robe.
"Good morning, dear," Aunt Maggie greeted her.
"Mornin'"
"Ready for school?"
"Ready as I'll ever be," Angel said as she had her head in the fridge, reaching for a bottle of orange juice.
"Well, Angel, I want you to at least try to make some friends this year. You can't go on being alone forever." Her aunt spoke in a more serious tone.
"Yah, yah, but I'm not promising you anything," she said, as she grabbed a breakfast bar then headed for the door with her ready-to-go morning meal.
"Don't break any hearts, kiddo!" Maggie smirked.
Angel rolled her eyes as she walked out of the door, the screen door slamming shut behind her. Walking down the three steps of the house, she made her way on the side of the street with her bag on her back and munching on her breakfast bar.
"No! Stop!" A voice called out.
Angel looked up, seeing two figures up ahead, one bullying the other. The blonde started to go at a faster pace, picking up her feet. Now running, she entered the scene.
"I'd leave that girl alone if I were you," Angel called out.
"And what if I…" The male bully turned to face Angel, clearly a foot taller than her.
"Why hello there, Dave." She said this with confidence, a small smirk curling at the corners of her lips.
"Ah. Hi Angel. I…I…" he stuttered, "didn't know you were there."
"Well, here I am. Now, will you stop what you were doing because to be quite clear, I don't like it."
"Ah, sure." Dave hesitated for a moment but picked up his bag, scurrying away as if he had a tail between his legs.
Angel smiled and turned back to the girl. "You don't have to worry about him anymore." Both of them started to walk together towards school. "Funny story, last year, he was trying to bully me too, but I ended up giving him a black eye." She gave a short laugh. "Anyway, he won't pull anything as long as I don't embarrass him again. You know its one of those things where a guy thinks he's are stronger than a girl." Angel paused, offering her a hand. "I'm Angel by the way."
The other girl took the hand and shook it. Her short brown hair bounced as they walked on. "Melody Jameson." Her eyes of green sparkled with joy. They both smiled at each other as they reached the school grounds.
Angel and Melody entered through the doors as the chatter rung in their ears from the many students. The bell went off, signalling for everyone to disperse the halls and head for their classrooms.
In no time, noon had approached. It was lunchtime. The cafetorium filled up quickly with students. They ate, drank and caught up with friends on how the day went so far, Angel walked in the crowded space, looking over the sea of heads. Then, something caught her eye. It was the girl from early that morning. The brown haired girl had her head lowered, sitting alone. Angel sighed, going over.
"Hey there."
"Oh, hi," Melody said, a smile forming.
"Want to get out of here?"
"What?" Melody was shocked by the words.
"Don't worry. It will still be on the grounds. Just follow me."
The girls left, travelling outdoors onto the grassy land. Angel guided Melody to a single tree. Its branches reached up to the sky and intertwined with each other.
"C'mon," Angel encouraged, as she climbed up, taking a seat on a branch and patted a place next to her.
"Ahh. I don't think so."
"Why not?"
"What if I fall out?"
"Don't worry, Mel. I'll be here."
Angel won her over by giving her a nickname, making Melody feel quite special. Soon enough, the pair was sitting contently on the branch, eating their lunch.
"I never saw you in the neighbourhood before. Did you just move here?"
"Yup," Melody replied, "Arrived here only a week ago."
"Oh. Well, I'm sure you'll like it here," Angel told her.
"I think I will. I was mostly scared I wouldn't find anyone willing to be my friend. But I'm glad I met you."
Angel's heart leaped in her chest. The word "friend" made her excited and overjoyed mixed into one. It was a different feeling, something she never felt before, it was new. She never had a real friend before. It had sunk in, she finally had someone to call "friend".
Lunch had ended. Melody and Angel strode back to the entrance of the school. As they were about to go to class, the blonde turned to face her new champion. "Hey, are you free? You know, if you wanted to hang out. Maybe, a sleepover at my house?"
Melody's face lit up. "I'd love to! Of course, I'd have to ask my parents first but I know they'll say yes!"
"Alright. Meet me here and we'll walk home. We can get your stuff on the way."
"Okay! It's a plan!"
The bell rang and the girls departed.
Finally, the last bell rang to announce the school day had ended. Melody sat on the school steps, waiting. Angel arrived shortly.
"Hey. Wait long?"
"No, not at all." Melody stood up, brushing herself off.
The two friends walked away from the school. Angel directed Melody to her own private short cut. A railway track came into view and they walked upon it. From a distance, a bridge was behind them and grey smoke swirled into the dark blue sky. The area was deserted, there was no one except them. Angel raised her arms in the air, stretching.
"You sure your parents won't mind me suddenly showing up at your house?" Melody asked innocently.
Angel was taken back a little, not expecting a question like this. "Um…" She gathered her thoughts. "My parents died a few years ago. I live with my aunt." She said this plainly but then lightened up a little more. "She doesn't mind. She'll be gone to work all night anyway. She doesn't really care what I do. She pretty much trusts me. She sees herself as a free spirit, allowing me to grow up in my own way or so she says. Anyway, she's pretty cool and laid back." Angel reassured Melody.
"Oh." Melody said simply, thinking how hard it would be to live without her own parents.
In no time, the girls were on their street and at the doorstep of Melody's house. Angel waited as Melody went into her own house to get her things. While, the blue eyed girl stood there, she looked out onto the road, seeing Dave walk by. He seemed to see her too as his eyes went wide in surprise. Then he walked faster. Angel laughed under her breath.
"What's so funny?" Melody asked as she exited her house.
"Oh nothing, Just saw a scaredy cat." Angel smirked. "You ready?" She questioned, as she took one of Melody's bags.
"Yup." Melody confirmed as they travelled over to Angel's house.
"Race you," Angel declared. Melody smiled and then they both were off running, as they let the wind hit their faces. They laughed as they both reached Angel's door. Both of them went in, going through the hallway, passing the curtains of beads and into Angel's room. They placed the bags down on the floor. Taking a seat on the bed, they both sighed at the same time. Exploding into laughter, they teased each other of the moment's similarity.
Night fell, casting its dark sky over all and stars appeared emitting their small delicate lights from above. From Angel's window, a variety of blue hues cascaded down into the room. Shadows swam in the darkness of the room, playing upon the corners of the walls, while Angel and Melody laid on their backs on the floor, looking up at the ceiling. Angel rolled over to herself side to face Melody.
"Mel, you hungry?"
"Yes."
"Alright. I'll order some pizza."
"Mmm…" Melody hummed, rubbing her belly.
Angel laughed as she grabbed the phone. It rung a couple of times before someone actually picked it up.
"Oh, hey, Aunt Maggie. Didn't expect you to be answering the phone tonight."
"Well, tonight's busy. So I'm all over the place. Anyway, I'm sure you aren't calling to just talk with me. So what would you like, missy?"
Angel laughed. "The usual but make it a large. I got a guest here."
"Oh? A boy?"
"No." Angel couldn't help but grin at the silly game her aunt likes to play, as if it were twenty questions.
"It's a girl from school." Angel put the phone close to Melody. "Mel, say hi."
"Hi…" She laughed at the craziness of the conversation.
"Wow. I'm so proud of you, Angel," Aunt Maggie said as her niece placed the phone back to her ear.
"Ah, yes, sound the alarms," the blonde sarcastically answered. "So you mind placing an order in and having one of the boys bring it over?"
"Alright. Will do, my dear."
"Bye, Maggie," Angel said before hanging up. She smiled.
"She seems cool," Melody said cheerfully.
"Yah, pretty much," Angel paused, "Want to make some popcorn while we are waiting?"
"Sure!"
The girls went over to the kitchen, retrieving a bag of popcorn and threw it into the microwave. Angel sat on the counter as her friend leaned on the opposite side of her. Popping sounds had begun, as the heat grew hotter in the machine, the bag slowly became larger.
"Favourite ice cream flavour?" Angel asked.
"Rocky Road. Favourite sport?" Melody joined in on the little game.
"Soccer. Favourite cereal?"
"Lucky charms. Favourite colour?"
"Blue. Favourite holiday?"
"Christmas. Favourite season?"
"Fall. Fav…"
The microwave beeped when the popcorn was ready. As well, it signalled; times up, game over. Angel went over and placed the hot popcorn into a bowl and brought it back into her room as she and Melody sat back down. The girls threw the tiny pieces of popcorn into their mouths.
"Truth or Dare, Miss Mel?" Angel went ahead and started.
"Hmm…. I think I'll be daring and choose dare."
"Oh! I got the perfect thing." Angel clapped, "I dare you to ask whoever delivers the pizza for his number!"
"Oh boy…" Melody said, slightly thinking what she got herself into. But on cue, the doorbell rang. Angel and Melody headed for the door.
"Hey Dean," Angel greeted, opening the door. On the front porch stood a young man five years older than the girls. He wore slightly ripped jeans and a black T-shirt. His dark hair peaked out from under his baseball cap.
"Hey Ange." A deep voice answered.
"I hear it's a busy night."
"Totally." The delivering boy handed her the pizza.
"Well nice of you to be taking a break from your busy schedule to come honour us with your presence." Angel said in a cocky manner. She left Melody there and Dean in the doorway as she went to put the pizza down and get the money.
Meanwhile, Melody stood there awkwardly, knowing what she had to do. She took a deep breath and stepped forward. "Hi, I know you don't know me but do you think you could give me your number?"
Dean, the delivery boy, hesitated but then reached into his back pocket and got a pad of paper. "Ah sure," He wrote down seven numbers. "There you go." He handed Melody a sheet of paper as she lowered her head, trying to hide how red her face was.
Angel came back with the money and paid Dean. She looked at Melody beside her and tried to hide a devious smile. "Nice to see you Dean. Thanks for the pizza."
"No problem, Ange. Anything for you." He smirked, heading back to his car. Midway he stopped and turned. "Truth or Dare, right?" Dean said, looking from Melody to Angel. Both girls burst out into laughter. Dean shook his head side to side lightly, grinning as he left.
Angel closed the door then went to the kitchen, Melody followed closely behind.
"Oh my, he was gorgeous!" Melody said out loud, followed by giggles.
Angel smiled. "I guess."
"You guess? Geeze. I wish I had that much confidence to talk to anyone."
"Hey, don't doubt yourself too quickly. You asked him for his number, right?"
"Yah, but that was different. It was on a dare."
"But you still did it."
"Hmm… yah. Point taken." Melody couldn't help but realise Angel was right. "How do you know him?"
"I know everyone at my aunt's work." Angel simply said as she handed Mel a slice of pizza on a plate. Afterwards, she served herself one.
The teenage girls partied their little hearts out. Angel turned on some music as they finished the pizza and leftover popcorn. Both girls shared stories and laughs through the night. Eventually, they retired back to Angel's room, resting in sleeping bags and blankets, yet they were still awake for now. They laid on their backs, looking up at the crystallised light on the ceiling.
"Angel?" Melody said quietly.
"Yes?" Angel answered back.
"Why are you so confident and strong?"
"Oh, I don't know. I guess I try not to care about what people really think of me. I live the way I want. As corny as it may sound, my aunt taught me a lot. She basically told me to be proud of myself, don't always confine myself to the sad side of life because that energy should be focused on happier thoughts. Aunt Maggie told me something I've always kept in mind and I quote, 'Live each day as if tomorrow was the end of the world. Make sure you have no regrets because soon enough they'll catch up to you and haunt you.'"
"Hmm… Words to live by, most definitely." Melody nodded.
Angel then asked, "What is it like to have your parents?"
"Annoying. Always on my back," Melody was quick to answer then paused, thinking it probably wasn't the type of answer Angel had wanted.
"It's ok. I'm sure a lot of teens feel that way. I'd probably feel the same way… But I guess I grew up differently with living with my aunt." She explained.
"But I think we can both agree that Mr. Pizza guy was cute!" Melody giggled.
Angel laughed.
Settling down, the girls merely enjoyed each other's company until they slowly closed their eyes, finally falling asleep.
Morning sunshine leaked through the glass window and into the room. It created warmth, the habitants within the space sun bathed. Aunt Maggie walked into the room, kicking Angel's foot with a boot.
"Wake-up, sleepy head."
Angel squirmed, slowly opening her eyes and got up. She looked over at her side and noticed Melody already fully awake. The blonde looked grumpy as Aunt Maggie smiled back and then left the room. In no time, the girls got dressed and Angel helped Melody pack up. The pair got a bite to eat. An hour had passed and it was time for Melody to leave. Melody stood on the porch with her two bags on each side of her, Angel leaned on the doorframe. Melody reached into her pocket and retrieved an object, placing it into Angel's hand.
"This is for you," Melody said. Angel opened her palm and saw a small colourful braided object. "It's a friendship bracelet." Melody smiled.
"Thanks," Angel smiled back.
Melody waved, then picked up her bags. She headed back home. "Thanks for having me. Bye, Angel!" She called out.
"See ya, Mel!" Angel said, as she fastened the bracelet to her wrist. She watched her friend walk down the road while she crossed her arms, with her back still against the doorframe.
Aunt Maggie stood next to her. "I see you now have a new friend…"
Angel looked down at her new bracelet around her wrist. "No," she shook her head. "She's my new best friend."