Author's Note: A lot of positive reviews! Thank you for that. So now that I put Jelanie complication out of the way, time for some sisterly bonding between Melanie and Wanda. Hope you enjoy!

Okay, next chapter is going to be when they're in school, I promise. I was just having a little fun with my writing... sorry for that. But at least you guys get another chapter today. Sorry for the short chapter.

Disclaimer: I'm not Stephenie Meyer, therefore do no own the Host.

I'm Here No Matter What, Wanda

Melanie sighed as she logged off her laptop. For the first time since she had chatted with no1ladiesman, she had lied to him. She just didn't want him to think that she was pathetic to be in love with the most popular jock at school. Wanda came in the room that instant.

"Hey," she said as she sat down on Melanie's bed as Melanie hugged her legs. "Are you okay?"

Melanie shook her head as tears spilled over her cheeks. "I'm stuck between them." she answered her cousin.

Wanda sat next to Melanie. "What do you mean, Mel? What happened? Did he say something during your chat?"

Melanie nodded. "He asked what I thought about Jared." Melanie sniffed.

Wanda hugged her cousin. "Oh, Mel. What did you say?"

"I lied. I told him I didn't like him." Melanie said as she leaned on Wanda. This should be the other way around, Melanie thought. Isn't she supposed to help Wanda get over what happened in Arizona. I guess having Wanda here by my side for the rest of our high school lives has taken a toll on me, she thought. Melanie had always been so strong. Never letting anyone see her cry and dealing with things by herself. She couldn't hold the pain inside any longer.

"It's alright, Mel." Wanda soothed. "Don't take it the wrong way. He might have said something if you told him the truth." Wanda reasoned and Melanie smiled.

"What am I doing?" she asked herself. "I'm supposed to be helping you get over what happened in Arizona but I'm here crying my eyes out." Melanie exclaimed, making Wanda laugh.

"Maybe because you've hidden your pain inside for so long that it was time to let it all out." Wanda suggested and Melanie nodded.

"Thank Wanda."

"You're Welcome." Wanda smiled.

"So, about Kyle and Ian." Melanie started and Wanda groaned as she lay on her cousin's bed. "What?"

"Mel, I don't want to talk about it." Wanda said as she looked frustrated.

"Hey, sweetheart, you have to tell me what's in your head so I can help you with your choices. Come on. Aren't I your favourite cousin?" Melanie asked and Wanda gave in.

"Okay, fine. But before we start, let me just tell you how sweet Kyle was when he told me he felt sorry for using you." Wanda started and Melanie nodded. "Seriously, Melanie, you should have seen his face. He really did look sorry."

Melanie sighed. "Okay, I got it. Nice Kyle said he was sorry for using me. Can we move on." Wanda nodded.

"Okay. I can't choose. Kyle is this bad boy that I've been drooling over the whole day while Ian is just so sweet and nice. He carried my books and walked me everywhere. And I told him what I wanted to be when I left school. And, oh, god, he plays the guitar. And I... I can't stop thinking about him." Wanda said as she buries her head in her hands.

Melanie sighed. "Okay, this is gonna be hard. But Wanda," Melanie held her cousin's hand. "Think about it. Who would you like to be with or get to know better? Who do you think will treat you like you want to be treated? Who will be there for you when I'm not there? I'm not saying I'm not gonna be there for you but in case I'm not."

Wanda let Melanie's words sink in. Who? Who? But every time Melanie's words repeated in Wanda's head, she could only picture one face. One brother. And it wasn't the bad boy Kyle. "Ian." Wanda smiled as she said his name.

Melanie raised her eyebrows. "Really?" she asked. "Are you sure, Wanda? Are you sure that Ian's the guy for you? I mean, you've only met him today and-"

"Mel, I'm sure. When I digested what you told me, all I could picture was Ian. I think Ian's the one." Wanda said. She looked like she was in another world as she thought about Ian. Melanie sighed.

"Earth to Wanda. Earth to Wanda!" Melanie called, shaking off her cousin.

"Huh? What?" she asked.

"You're day dreaming about him." Wanda grinned. "You know, I thought you'd pick Kyle since he was the one you mentioned first." Wanda shrugged. "Okay, so what about your date with Kyle?"

Wanda looked at Melanie. "What date?" she asked, confused.

"You said something about going to his house tomorrow." Melanie remembered.

Wanda thought for a minute and then it dawns her. "Oh, yeah, I'm baby sitting his little sister tomorrow. I forgot."

"Yeah, the problem is, what if he asks you out. I heard that he broke up with his girlfriend today." Melanie said.

Wanda's eyes widened. "He's single?" she asked and Melanie nodded. And as she did, Wanda squealed.

"Wanda, I thought you were all into Ian." Melanie reminded her.

Wanda frowned. "Oh, dammit!" Melanie sighed.

"Wait, Wanda, before we get off topic. We're supposed to be talking about what happened in Arizona. Are you still having those nightmares?" Melanie asked and Wanda saddened as the subject changed into the one she was trying not to talk about.

"Yeah. Every night it gets more longer. I mean, it gets more realistic and horrifying. And I was still crying all over. He kept touching me so much. It was hurting. Every thing was hurting. I...I couldn't move. It was like I was rock solid or something and-" Wanda burst into tears remembering the nightmare.

"Hey, I didn't say describe it. Come here." Melanie said as Wanda buried her face into Melanie's shoulder. "Don't worry, Wanda, I'm here for you no matter what. I'll get you to become yourself again and I'm not letting anyone touch you like he did. I'm not ever going to leave your side."

"Mel, you don't know how thankful I am that you're here for me." Wanda sobbed.

"Don't worry, right now, we both need each other for the few months to come." Melanie said as she hugged her cousin tighter. Although she didn't know how to tell no1ladiesman the truth about what she thought about Jared, she did know that her cousin could be fixed. It had been a few weeks ago since Trevor attacked Wanda but she still felt like she was re-living the horrible scene. And if Ian did care about Wanda, he'd be willing to know what happened before she moved here. Melanie wished she wasn't the one to tell him about what happened.