Chapter 4: Jealousy

The next morning, Melody woke up with a sigh. The heat had slowly settled into her room. Her stiff legs protested with a groan as she swung her legs over the side of her bed. Melody pulled on a pair of flip-flops she only used for leisure. She quickly tied her pink hair up into a loose ponytail and snatched Herbal Remedies from her elegant bedside table. Shoving it hastily into her maroon sundress's pocket, she slid down the smooth banister, landing soundlessly on the tile floor like a feline. Melody walked into the kitchen and grabbed a bite to eat, a plate of rice balls she cooked a couple of days ago. She wolfed all the rice balls down and chased it all down with a glass of cold, fresh milk. Then, she placed her plate and glass into the sink and impatiently scrubbed them with a bar of soap. After Melody finished cleaning the dishes, she bolted out the door. Her footsteps echoed softly on the cobblestones. Finally, she reached the sign that read, Beach to the right. Melody slowed down to take off her flip-flops as the ground slowly softened into warm sand. The foamy waves crashed down onto the shore where Melody stood. She giggled as the water and sand rushed between her toes. Melody shivered at the ice-cold water that cooled her entire body. Suddenly, tan arms wrapped around Melody's thin waist and pulled her off her feet. She squealed with surprise.

"Guess who?" a playful voice whispered in her ear. Melody smiled hugely.

"Oh, I don't know," Melody joked. "Hmmm….is it…Raguna?"

Zavier's arms drooped but he still placed her lightly back on the ground. He turned away from Melody's smiling face.

"What's wrong, Zavier? I was just kidding," Melody explained, worry evident in her voice. She grabbed his broad shoulders and turned him back to her. Zavier looked down at his feet.

"What does Raguna have that I don't?" Zavier asked her, his hazel eyes desperately searching Melody's concerned face for a hidden answer. Melody laughed and then said more seriously, "Nothing! You're perfect the way you are. You have no reason to be jealous of Raguna just because Mist likes him. He's a great guy." Then she took Zavier's hand. "Plus, Mist is kinda spacey."

Zavier grinned at Melody. "You're telling me not to be jealous?" Zavier teased gently. "Sounds like you're a little jealous yourself." Melody blushed but didn't say anything. Zavier flipped Melody's ponytail. "Oh, you look different today," Zavier commented, twirling it with his finger.

Melody smiled and said, "Yep. It's my first time wearing something other than my witch's clothes outside in public."

Suddenly, she felt self-conscious and shy. "Do you like it?" she asked Zavier quietly.

Zavier flashed his giant grin. "You look lovely. It would be too stuffy with your cloak and boots on a day like this anyways."

Melody glowed with pride at Zavier's compliment. "Why, thank you."

Zavier's hand tightened around Melody's. "C'mon," he whispered in her ear as he tugged her hand and started walking. "Where are we going?" Melody asked.

"Let's go swimming!" he answered in a mischievous tone as he swept her up in his arms.

Melody started to protest, but was silenced by Zavier's finger to her lips. "You have to have fun once in a while, Melody."

"But…but this is a new dress!" she protested feebly.

"You can just wash it," Zavier assured her. "And if it gets ruined, I'll buy you a new one."

He ran over to the dock with Melody in his arms and placed her gently on the worn wood. Then, he pulled off his aviator cap, his tousled sandy blond hair blowing in the morning breeze. When Zavier took his shirt off, Melody couldn't help but stare at his tan, perfectly chiseled chest. She slid off her flip-flops and placed her book on the dock. Then, Zavier reached for Melody's thin hand. He pulled her up lightly but Melody still had to put her hand on Zavier's bare chest to steady herself.

Melody looked down in embarrassment and mumbled, "Oops. Sorry!"

Zavier smiled and said, "Ready?"

"Ready as I'll ever be," she replied hesitantly. Zavier's smooth arms scooped her up again and they approached the end of the dock. His cool breath tickled her ear as he said, "1…2…3…" Melody watched as the ocean came up to meet her. The last second before she plunged underwater, Melody glanced back at Zavier, who was grinning hugely. He winked at her and said, "Hold your breath!" Melody almost laughed out loud. She was oblivious to the world around her when she looked at Zavier. Hastily, she sucked in as much air as possible. Almost forgetting to hold my breath before going underwater, dreaming about Zavier-what's happening to me? she thought.

The freezing water drove all thoughts out of her head. For a few seconds, Melody's entire body went numb and she floated, suspended underwater. Then, warmth seeped back into her bones, starting in her hand. Startled, she opened her eyes to see Zavier's face in front of her, lit up by sunlight filtering through the water into the depths of the ocean, his blond hair spreading around his face like a halo. He was pulling her up to the surface. Once Melody's head broke the surface, she gasped for air. Zavier had one hand on her back to support her.

"Are you ok?" Zavier asked, concern written all over his face. Melody gave him a reassuring smile and said, "Yeah, I'm fine. The water was just a little colder than I expected. Thanks for caring about me, though."

Zavier sighed. "You just scared me, that's all," he said defensively, his cheeks flushing a light pink.

"Yeah, that feeling is called caring," Melody teased him gently, putting her chilly hand on his hot cheek. "Well, I'm going to bring you to shore," Zavier replied, ignoring the fact that Melody was right.

Melody just laughed as Zavier put on a poker face and lifted her up out of the water. She slung her arms around Zavier's neck and rested her head on his chest. The steady rhythm of his heartbeat and breathing lulled her to sleep. When Melody woke up, she was in her bed with Zavier's vest on over her nightgown. Melody's face instantly reddened. Did Zavier change me? she wondered. All of the sudden, her bedroom door swung open silently and Zavier's head poked in through the crack in the doorway.

"Oh, sorry. Did I wake you?" Zavier asked taking in Melody's flushed cheeks.

Melody rubbed her head and said, "No, I woke up a couple of minutes ago. Did you carry me all the way here?"

"Yep," Zavier answered proudly. "It was tough, since you were wet and asleep, but I did it."

"Thanks," Melody replied. Then, she looked down at her clothes once more. Zavier blushed and scratched his head. "Uh...well, since you were asleep, I… uh…didn't want to get your bed wet with your clothes…so…I…yeah," Zavier stammered. "I'm really sorry, but I didn't look, I swear."

She started to laugh. "It's okay, Zavier. You did the right thing. I'm not mad, but if my bed was wet, I would be."

Zavier let out a sigh. "Phew! I thought you were going to be mad. But I was just trying to help."

"I know you had good intentions. It's ok," said Melody, giggling at Zavier's relieved face. "Well, don't just stand there. Come in."

Zavier hesitated. "Are you sure?"

Melody got up with an exaggerated sigh and grabbed the sleeve of Zavier's shirt, pulling him closer to her. Now that Zavier was so close, she noticed he was a few inches taller than her and that Zavier had to look down to meet her gaze.

"Wow," she whispered. "You've grown so much, Zavier."

Zavier laughed warmly. "You've just noticed it now?" he asked incredulously, his soft eyes twinkling with humor.

Melody giggled quietly into Zavier's chest. "Actually, yes," she admitted with a smile as she glanced down quickly to fix Zavier's rolled-up sleeve. Zavier reached to interlace his fingers with Melody's. Melody looked up to see Zavier grinning at her.

"When I used to look at you, I saw the stubborn little boy I met when I was seven," Melody said sadly, putting her free hand on Zavier's muscular chest.

Melody smiled warmly, and then went back to fixing his sleeve. Suddenly, Zavier's hand lifted up Melody's face to his. He closed his eyes and began to lean in. Melody's heart pounded as Zavier's face got closer and closer. Then, Tori's quiet gasp filled the room. Zavier and Melody whirled around to see Tori's shocked face.

"Oh, I'm sorry if I interrupted something," mumbled Tori, her entire face blushing. "Zavier told me you fell asleep, so I came to check on you."

Zavier's cheeks reddened and he took a step back. Melody pulled her hand off of Zavier's chest slowly and giggled, her cheeks turning a light shade of pink.

"No, it's okay. We were just talking," Zavier explained hastily. Melody covered up her mouth to stop herself from laughing at Zavier's poorly-disguised lie.

Tori gave Melody a conspiratorial wink and said, "I'll talk to you later, Melody, ok?"

Melody grinned and nodded. "You should come tonight to the Hot Springs. It will be on the house, don't worry."

Tori put her hand on the side of her face and said, "Are you sure, Mel? You don't have to do that."

Melody silenced her with a soft giggle. "No, no, I insist," she said firmly.

. "Ok. Have it your way," Tori replied with a sigh. She turned to go, and then appeared to remember something. "Oh, Zavier. Mom told me to tell you to take a bath while you were at Melody's."

Zavier made a face but didn't say anything as Tori closed the door with a bang.

"Oh, come on. Baths aren't that bad," Melody teased, nudging Zavier in the ribs softly with her elbow. "They're actually quite relaxing."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," muttered Zavier. "I care more about my mom nagging me than anything. I wish she'd leave me alone once in a while."

Instantly, Zavier's face softened. "I'm sorry, Melody… "

Melody's whole body became rigid with pain. Her eyes, full of despair, lightened instantly as Zavier took her hand.

Zavier had come to notice that every time someone mentioned their mother or brother, Melody went into a sort of trance, as if she was remembering something very horrifying. No one knew where Melody came from, or who her parents were. She just showed up on the Inn's doorstep one rainy day, her clothes muddy and torn and sobbing. Lady Ann took her in and treated her like one of her own children. Zavier thought back to that very day…