Chapter Five - Melanie:
Every day during chores I seemed to get a lot more done. Maybe it was because I couldn't stop my streaming thoughts of rebellion. I tended to think that maybe this was why I was here, on earth. This was why I survived and met Wanda and got my body back. This was my reason for existence. To help the human race.
A constant worry in my mind was Jamie. Every day he was growing into more of a teenager than a small boy, craving independence with that aging. But how could I involve him in this? I had promised to care for him with every breath I took, the only other comfort I had was knowing that Jared would do the same. But what would happen if Jared and I died? Along with Wanda, Ian, and Jeb? Who would care for him then? I don't even think he could handle losing a single person, not after Wes and Walt.
Which was a whole other thing to worry about. We had already lost so many on random occurrences. How many more would we lose asking for the violence and attention? My stupid arrogant brain was bringing war-front to my whole family. Everyone I loved would be in danger. Shut up, Melanie! Times like these I really missed having Wanda in my head. Just then my thoughts were interrupted and I was startled.
"Hey Mel, Jared wants you to meet him in the game room." Jamie said, offering to grab my tool and take over the work.
"Hey kiddo," I said with a grin at how fast he was growing. Soon he'd be almost as tall as I was, and I was sure he'd keep growing on after that. "It's fine, you don't have to do the work."
"Jared said he'll give me his share of Cheetos if I do this." Jamie explained with a shrug. I laughed, knowing exactly what Jared had in mind, and pulled Jamie into a hug from behind, ruffling his hair and quickly kissing the top of his head before throwing my stuff on the ground and making my way towards the game room.
As soon as I stepped into the dark cave I was grabbed my a familiar set of strong arms, pulling me against that same hard core I knew so well while cupping a hand over my mouth to stifle my giggles. Jared released my mouth from his hand just long enough to capture it again with his own, eagerly exploring the softness. With every other kiss I let myself melt into his touch and let my body go back to it's natural instincts. Everything about touching Jared feels like home and I welcome it eagerly. Mine. I felt his hard stomach muscles. Mine. Tasted his hungry eager kisses. Mine. I slowly began to unbutton his shirt and pull it off. All mine.
As Jared and I hurried to get our clothes back on I couldn't help but feel a longing pain in my chest. Why did I need to question things? Why couldn't I be happy with all that I have? We had a safe place here, with a way to get food and other necessary supplies. I had Jared, and didn't I always tell myself that was all I ever needed? Besides Jamie, of course. Oh Jamie, what would he think of this plan? My thought train was interrupted when Jared took my right hand in his and brought it up to his lips where he softly kissed it. I gave him a weak smile and squeezed his hand in return.
By the time we reached the dining hall, everyone had already started lunch. We grabbed bowls and found a spot next to Uncle Jeb, as Wanda and Ian were nowhere to be found.
"Where's Wanda and Ian?" Jared asked, reading my mind. Uncle Jeb just shrugged. Jared looked to me and I gave him a look that said NO. Completely ignoring me, he went on. "Jeb, we have a plan."
Uncle Jeb raised his eyebrows at this. "A plan?" he asked.
Just before Jared could speak again, I cut in. "Yes! Wanda wants to be off laundry duty. She insists that she can do more. So, uh, we want to redivide the task schedule so one of us can always be watching her!" I blubbered out. Uncle Jeb of course didn't believe this one bit and gave us both a look that said you're going to spill this later then simply nodded.
"That can be done," he said easily.
"Great." I smiled. "So Jamie's birthday is coming up, I was thinking we should throw him a surprise birthday party." Jared gave me a narrowed look but quite honestly I didn't care. I needed to talk with Wanda before we took any further steps.
"That can probably be arranged. I'm sure Wanda'd be glad to get some party supplies with ya. You all can leave tomorrow morning." he said, before finishing his food and getting up to leave without another word.
Jared stared at me with a pissed off expression. "We can't tell him yet," I explained. "We should do it with them. Let me talk to Wanda some more. I want to make sure she is okay with this."
His jaw tensed but he nodded in acceptance. Just then I saw Wanda walk in with Ian in tow, surprise surprise. I flagged her over and she seemed to look in brighter spirits than she had been the past week.
"Wanna go for a walk with me?" I asked. I noticed her look to Ian for a second, who was talking to Jared.
"Sure," she agreed. We moved through the tunnel system and neither of us spoke until we were sure it was only us.
"Listen, I really am sorry. I don't even know if we should try to do this. It's a ridiculous idea, there are so few of us and the souls are so technologically advanced. It can only end with us dead." I said, sighing and running a hand through my hair.
"Hey, you can't think like that." Wanda said, her voice soft as velvet. "I believe in this cause too. There isn't a reason why us souls can't at least coexist with the humans. Some should understand... Some with hosts that were extraordinary like you. All of your feelings; compassion, love, lust, anger, they were all so intense. Unlike anything I have ever experienced. They will need to see what we have been doing. Ruining lives and ties that run so far into history... We will try, Melanie. I promise you that."
"What about Jamie?" I struggled to say. I saw her face fall and instantly felt bad. Sometimes I wondered if Wanda felt all of our emotions a little too much. She didn't take much with a grain of salt.
She finally mustered up a reply. "This is for Jamie. Shouldn't he get to live some of the life you did? Without the constant fear of being discovered and taken over?" She had a point. Listen to her Melanie.
"You're right..." I agreed. "We'll start planning tomorrow. We're going to go get stuff to throw Jamie a surprise birthday party." I told her with a smirk, knowing how happy this would make her. "You ready for a raid?"
The next morning we were all up before the sun rose, gathering supplies needed and getting into our more "normal" clothes. If I was being honest, Jared did look pretty good in his button-down shirt and khaki pants. I helped him do up the top buttons before kissing him chastely then headed out to meet Ian and Wanda at the van. By the time we got there they had already loaded up the large car and were waiting for us to get a move on. I had to stop myself from rolling my eyes at how they were always on schedule.
"Fun night, O'Shea?" Jared teased about Ian's messy hair.
"Better than yours," Ian retorted and I swore I saw Wanda's cheeks turn bright pink.
"If you two are done on deciding who has a bigger ego, then we should probably get on our way." I growled, already grumpy in the twilight hour.
Ian rolled his eyes and opened the back door for Wanda, climbing in after her. Jared saw this and opened the front door for me, bowing to mock his best friend's chivalry. I shoved him away and saw him laugh it off before coming around to the driver's side and starting the engine. All of us except for Wanda put on our sunglasses and the van pulled out into the vast expanse of the desert. In a way, it was sort of beautiful. Our peaceful serenity we found in this distant place. Even if anyone thought to look here, they wouldn't want to, and it was near impossible to locate the caves we lived in.
Jared, being the immature adult he was, picked up speed and floored it, looking over and grinning mischievously at me. All I could do was roll my eyes. To think, I'm spending the rest of my life with this guy. Wouldn't have it any other way. Wanda's discomfort was almost tangible and Ian's annoyance was conspicuous.
The car ride was about two hours long, as we had to be careful where we went and how often. If someone were to try and seek us out, they would find out that our soul identities were fake and we didn't technically exist.
"So, we might as well talk about this brilliant plan of yours, Mel." Ian suggested, with Wanda leaning on his shoulder looking drowsy from our early wake up call. Jared shot him a look in the rear-view mirror.
I gave a dry laugh. "Wanda is the first move. We want this to be peaceful, right? Souls listen to each other and are respectful. If Wanda can get some other souls to see to our cause, that will give us a great advantage."
"Souls aren't violent creatures either, too." she added. "If they see reason, especially a soul with great influence, we might even avoid losing any more lives."
Jared's eyes peeked over the rims of his sunglasses. "What about Seekers? How is Wanda supposed to do this without getting caught and sent to another planet?"
I nodded slowly. I had thought about this. "I was thinking that Wanda will have to spend some time back out in the world. Get to know some other souls, learn which ones might be able to be trusted. She won't start any huge public displays. No, she'll need to start small and grow bigger."
Wanda looked shell-shocked and I felt awful. She wanted to help though, and this was a way I thought seemed fit. No one else is coming up with any brilliant ideas.
"Y-you want me to live out here?" she stammered out.
"We'll find a way to keep contact. You'll be close, see you often and help you. You don't have to do this.
"No, this is crazy, Wanda's not doing this. She could get taken in a second and we'd all be dead." Ian said. Wanda stayed silent, staring at a spot on the floor of the car idly.
"It's Wanda's decision." I growled. God, talk about over-protective. I gave Jared a look, knowing he was trying to stay out of it and avoid angering Ian further.
"I'll do it."
A/N: I'm sorry it's been so long! I've been really busy with school and stuff. Stick with me! Hope you guys liked this chapter! I will ship Jelanie till the end of time itself. :') No smut though, sorry if that disappoints anyone. Not my style... I shall quote John Green... "If you liked Fifty Shades of Grey, there's tons more free on the internet!" Hahahaha. Anyways, give a review please! I love to hear from you guys. I'm also gonna stop replying to them via updates because it gets long and annoying. I'll PM you probably. Leave any comments, ideas, suggestions, or critique!