Author's Note: Sorry it took so long to update! xxxx
Melody sighed heavily when she realized school started the next day; it was two weeks ago that she and Alex had been on their first date. They were officially a couple and Jack kept a very close eye on Alex and Melody. Ian had left for Wales a few days after their date and they had heard nothing from him. Melody was sitting cross-legged out in the front yard waiting for Alex to get back from soccer practice. The season had already started so Melody had practice every day at six and Alex had practice at three, right after school. She saw Alex riding back and stood up as he put his bike away.
"How was practice?" Melody asked Alex as he quickly kissed her cheek.
"It went well, I suppose. Let me take a shower and then we can get to orientation," Alex told her making her nod.
Melody followed Alex inside but sat on the couch by Jack. Jack glanced at her, "Alex taking a shower?"
"Yeah... then we're going to orientation," Melody told Jack.
"Oh! I have to go to that!" Jack exclaimed laughing.
"Oh! Yeah, you do! 'Cause I'm new and you're my legal guardian," Melody laughed.
"Thank you, Captain Obvious!" Jack teased.
Melody really enjoyed staying with Jack and Alex. They were very nice and accepting of her. She sighed as Alex came down the stairs and sat next to her.
"Ready?" Melody asked Alex interlacing their fingers.
"Yes," Alex replied standing up and pulled Melody with her.
Jack stood up and they climbed in the car slowly. Melody rested her head on Alex's shoulder. He smiled lightly as Jack pulled in the parking lot. They clambered out and walked into the gym, following Alex. They stopped at the first table which was for uniforms.
"Melody Starbright," Melody told the teacher.
"Here you are, Melody!" the woman replied cheerfully handing her a box stamped with the school emblem.
"Alex Rider," Alex told the same woman.
"Here ya go!" the woman replied handing Alex a box like Melody's.
The two found the scheduling table and got their schedule's before finding the table where they got their books.
"Melody Starbright," Melody told the man.
"Here are the books you need; Pre-Calculus, World History, Chemistry, Health, and English 2. For religious studies you will need to bring your own Bible," the man told her handing her the five books.
"Alex Rider," Alex told him.
"Here; Pre-Calculus, World History, Chemistry, Health, and English 2!" Alex was handed his five books.
"Rider!" Tom screeched jumping on Alex's back.
Alex caught his legs dropping his books and uniform, "What?"
"Hi," Tom replied stupidly making Alex drop his legs and gather his things.
The two boys compared schedules before looking at Melody's; the trio had every class together. This was their schedule:
1st BLACK Pre-Calculus
2nd GOLD World History
3rd BLACK Chemistry
4th GOLD Phys. Ed
5th BLACK Health
6th GOLD Religious Studies
7th BLACK English 2
Study Hall GOLD
Melody stared blankly at the schedule, "What is 'black and gold'?"
"It's called block scheduling; tomorrow is a black day so we go to the classes labeled 'black'. The next day is gold, the next day is black, and so on. We'll help you out," Alex promised.
"Thanks," Melody replied as Jack unlocked the car so she and Alex could shove their junk in the car.
It was exactly one week from the anniversary of Nine-Eleven; the anniversary of her parents death. For that reason she was always kind of out of it a week before and a week after but Alex had been keeping her plenty happy. Melody wasn't sure why she started thinking about this but she did and it made her obviously unhappy.
"You okay?" Alex asked resting his chin on her shoulder.
"Of course," Melody replied but Alex saw right past it.
"Hey guys? I'm gonna start home so I can start dinner," Jack told Alex and Melody.
They nodded and Tom and Alex pulled Melody into the soccer fields.
"Come on, Mel. What's wrong?" Alex asked her softly.
Tom added, "We care, I promise."
"Well..." Melody trailed off trying to compose herself.
"Oh, Mel. Your parents?" Melody nodded quickly making Alex wrap her in a hug.
Melody was trying not to cry because she knew Alex was in the same boat perhaps a bit better off; if you're gonna lose your parents you wouldn't want to be attached. Tom rested a hand on the small of her back and she realized how lucky she was. She had bene in England for over a month and three great friends.
"Tom, you wanna stay over tonight so we can all go together tomorrow?" Alex asked Tom quietly.
"Sure," Tom replied.
"You can see my room," Melody replied smiling.
"Is it all pink and girly?" Tom asked his face contorting into grimace.
"Uh, no," Melody replied in a disgusted tone.
"We need to get home," Alex murmured.
"Yes! I have practice," Melody thought aloud.
"Okay... I need clothes," Tom replied making Alex shake his head.
"You can use mine," Alex replied making Tom nod.
The three teens walked to Alex and Melody's house together and Jack was sitting in the kitchen stirring sauce for spagetti.
"Tom staying the night?" Jack asked as they entered the kitchen.
"If it's okay," Alex replied.
"Of course." Tom was calling his mom while Melody ran upstairs to change.
She changed into her Under Armour undergarments, her blue and green Nike shorts, and her soccer practice jersey. She tied her blue and green Nike cliets on and ran downstairs. Alex and Tom were sitting on the barstools and Melody slid next to Alex. Jack served them each a plate and they began eating. Melody had to leave in ten minutes so she ate very fast. She washed her plate quickly and grabbed her duffel bag.
"I'll be back at eight," Melody shouted hurrying off to practice.
She arrived on time and her coach smiled.
"Starbright! I have your game uniform!" Coach Kelvers shouted.
Melody hurried over and Coach Kelvers handed her a bag with her entire uniform; jersey, shorts, socks, shin guards, cliets, and Under Armour.
"Thanks, Coach," Melody replied thinking about their first game which was tomorrow after school.
"So, do I come here after school in uniform?" Melody asked quietly.
"Go to the locker rooms to dress and then, yes report here. We have pictures on Friday at six so be in your game uniform," Coach explained.
The other girls were starting to show so Melody put her uniform in her bag. Their team colors were green and white this year so the jersey was green with white lettering and the Under Armour was white. She got her ball out and they began drills. They ran laps and played a mock game before Coach handed out the rest of the uniforms. They were dismissed and Melody walked home slowly. She arrived home at eight as she told Jack and Alex and Tom were outside.
"How was practice?" Alex asked passing a soccer ball to Tom.
"Okay, I suppose," Melody replied dropping her duffel.
"We should probably get to bed," Alex murmured.
"Nah." Melody sat down on the ground and Tom and Alex sat next to her.
Melody laid with her head in Alex's lap and he kissed her forehead. She smiled and Tom gagged.
"Shut up!" Alex blushed furiously.
"Aw, did I embarrass you?" Tom teased making Alex elbow him in the ribs.
"OW!" Tom's yelp made Jack come outside, "Come on guys, you have school tomorrow. Melody, get a shower and all three of you pack your book bags."
"Aw crap! I need to run to my house! My mom took my books home!" Tom exclaimed.
"I'll drive you," Jack sighed going to get her keys.
Melody went inside and dropped her duffel bag where it belonged and went to take a shower. She showered and dressed in pjs before going downstairs to find Alex setting up an area for the three of them to sleep. Melody smiled and began helping him. Jack and Tome came back and Tom set his duffel and book bag by Melody and Alex's duffels. melody grabbed her book bag that the strap crossed her chest and put her binder and books in it. Alex set the alarm on his phone for five in the morning and set it on the side tabel. Tom, Alex, and Melody laid down and started talking.
"I have a school map taped to the inside of my binder and my schedule taped inside of my planner but I'm so nervous..." Melody murmured.
Tom took Melody's hand to support her, "It's pretty scary the first day but you have Alex and I. I almost cried the first day because I had no friend support and I'm obviously small. I was bullied for two years before Alex came along and beat the holy living crap out of the bullies."
Alex wrapped an arm around Melody, "Yeah, Mel. We're here for you."
Jack snapped a picture of the trio; Tom was holding Melody's hand and Alex had his arm around her. She logged into her facebook and posted the picture. She wrote a subtitle, 'My trio: Tom, Melody, and Alex. Wish Ian could see his nephew... I love these kids with all my heart and I don't know what I'd do without them. Mel, you're my niece and my sister by adoption. You're like a daughter to me; I love you. Alex, you're like a son to me. You are so headstrong but I love you. Tom, you're amazing. You're like a son to me and I love you.' She smiled and shut her laptop. Jack set her alarm for five and climbed in bed.
Melody jumped when the alarm went off and all three of them got up. Melody went up to her room and dressed in her school uniform; a blue and red plaid knee length skirt, a long sleeve white button up white shirt, a blue blazer with a red school emblem on it, white socks, and black dress shoes. She pulled her hair into a tight ponytail and went downstairs. She made sure her soccer stuff was packed carefully in her duffel bag before entering the kitchen. Tom and Alex were dressed and eating eggs so she sat down and Jack handed her a plate. She started eating and looked at Alex and Tom. Melody was scared, and was trying to hide it.
"Hey," Alex murmured touching Melody's cheek.
"I'm fine, Alex," Melody replied.
"Yeah, right," ALex replied lacing their fingers together.
Melody smiled and the three grabbed their bags. They were ready to face a new school year.