Chapter 5

I woke up slowly, seeing fuzzy faces all around me all looking worried, I smiled, "Good morning guys! Why you guys so sad, huh?" I sat up- or tried to. My arms were numb- with sleep I told myself- and I had a horrible headache. My vision cleared and I realized I didn't recognize the room I was in, but the headache was getting worse by the second, drowning out and fuzzing any coherant thoughts.

"Melanie?" Matt was leaning over my, I was on the ground, I realized. Did they drop me? For some reason that was funny, I started to giggle. My arms felt fine now so I sat up and saw everyone else that was with me. "What are we doing?" It came out slurred and I froze. Something... something I had to remember... But then my mind went to a new thought. "Are we having a party?" I laughed some more, "Why do I feel like I had too many beers? Someone take me home now." I swayed over to my left and then my weight pitched my towards the ground, Matt caught me just in time.

"Well thank you knight in shining armor." I smiled, "I shall reward you with a kiss for saving the pretty princess." I laughed and Matt had shock all over his face as I took it in my hands and planted a sloppy, but long kiss on his mouth. He didn't pull away, he was kissing me back, hands gripping my sides. Brendyn slapped him and my head almost fell to the ground again but Ryan caught it. He pulled me swiftly off Matt as he jumped up and turned to face Brendyn, who was already standing. "What was that for?" He strode towards Brendyn with deadly menace that I never saw in him before.

"You don't take advantage of her like that, Matt. She's drugged. Anything you do to her is just using her." Their words didn't register with me as I was sprawled out on Ryan, he was leaning back on his hands so I could lean against his chest, watching the commotion. "My back hurts." I moaned as the two guys glared daggers at each other. Ryan sat up a little and absentmindedly moved his fingers in circles around my back. Matt finally spoke again, "Your just jealous because it wasn't you." His smile was big, "Did I hit the mark?"

"You know, I never thought this would happen. Here I am, trapped in a room with three cute guys, one is holding me and the other two are fighting over me." I smiled, "It's like a dream come true. But I don't think any of you guys really like me, I mean, come on. It's Melanie Nichols." Tears welled up as I continued blurting out things, "I'm not pretty or brave or any of those things every girl gets. I don't know what went wrong with me, but I seem to be able to be special at nothing." They spilled over.

All of them had stopped to look at me, Matt's face had an expression I couldn't read, Brendyn's face was disbelief and passion and Ryan was behind me so I couldn't see him. Brendyn was the first one to speak, "You really think that?" I stared at him through my tears, then bent my head to look at the floor. Then I fell asleep for the millionth time that day. I woke up, frustrated. Someone was shaking me, I opened my eyes, my mind was still fuzzy. Ryan was shaking my shoulders and his eyes were bugged out of his head. "What's wrong?" I asked, confused.

He pointed a shaking finger in the other direction and darted to the other side of room, joining Brendyn. I swirled around, I was in the middle of the room, alone and Matt was standing in front of me. His face looked contorted in rage, he was fuming and there were several holes in the white walls on what was clearly his side of the room. I sobered a little, "Ryan what's wrong with him?" He was still in the corner.
"The guy appariently slipped everyone a drug when we werent looking. We are all going to react differently, and right now... well obviously, he's mad."

I swirled back to look at Matt, who was yanking me off the floor by my shirt. He held me a few feet above the ground, the room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. I could hear his labored breathing, then I was in the air. My haze was started to go away and I felt like I could think clearly now, the drug was wearing off! My back hit the wall and my head snapped back and then foward. I scrambled up, using the wall for support. I never realized how strong Matt was before. My back hurt, and I had a growing headache. Matt was striding quickly across the room like a predator, hunger in his eyes.

He steps were light for his size and I darted a look over to see Brendyn and Ryan still cowering in the corner. I gave a grim laugh and turned back- and jumped. He was quick. His face was inches from mine and he was breathing very hard now. My brain flahed ideas at me and I reacted fast, "Why are you mad at me Matt?" I stalled.
"I'm mad at everyone." He leaned in farther, pulling a knife from your pocket. I could even hear myself gasping.
"Where did you get that?" I asked, trying for calm, but coming out shaky.
"I always carry it with me to take care of annoying people like you." I could feel fresh tears brimming my eyes and I let them spill over as another distraction. He looked shocked for a moment, but the his face contorted again.
"Crying is for the weak."

I pulled in a ragged breath and shot one last look at Ryan and Brendyn, "What else can I do? Nothing is working!"
Brendyn shrugged and Matt held the knife to my throat. I swallowed, then one last idea came to me. He was already close enough that our breath was mingling. If I could just lean foward a little... I grimaced at the pain of the knife digging into my neck, but it worked. My lips touched his and I heard the clatter of the knife hitting the floor as Matt's arms snaked around my waist with animal-like passion.

I tried not to reject him as his mouth forced mine open and his hands dug into my sides. I held still like a statue, after a couple of seconds, Matt must have caught on because he squeezed my waist tighter and pushed me harder against the wall, leaning all his weight on me and moving his lips to my ear. "You can do better than that, do you want to live?" I gave an involuntary shudder as is lips grazed my ear and moved back to my lips.

I slid my arms around his neck and kissed him back for all I was worth, I let him be the one to part with me, catching his breath and I pulled away. I slid my back down the wall and put my head in my hands, pulling my knees to my chest and shook. I looked up at Matt and the contortion in his face was gone, he seemed to sway a little, then he passed out. "Wow..." I observed, "there's been alot of passing out today." Doors appeared on the wall and I sighed and shakily stood up.