(A/n – Thank you for all the recent reviews, they're what encourage me to continue this story so thank you!)

Chapter 19: A turn for the worse

(Mel's POV)

I sat on a stool at the bar in the diner to give Wanda and Ian privacy in our usual booth – I swear they have not stepped five feet away from each other since I came home from school. Not that I'm complaining, it's great to see them both so happy, especially Wanda – she barely even glanced at the homework I gave her from today which is especially un-Wanda.

Jared came by to speak to me every now and again as he worked, but the place was packed and he was rushing around trying to take people's orders and buss tables. I'm glad that I can basically see him any time by just coming in here, but I rarely get to see him just one on one…we've been out a grand total of three times (if you count the cinema double-date we all went on, and the football day).

The only times we've ever been alone is that one afternoon in the back room of the diner, and one time we just hung out after his shift for a while. I know he's busy with everything, but it makes a girl wonder if I'm just wasting my time…

'What you thinking about?' Jared caught his breath as he leaned on the diner bar next to me, his face red from running around and being in the hot kitchen.

'Nothing much, just that I wish I saw you more.' I shrugged and stared down at my drink, using the straw to attack the ice cubes floating in my ice tea. I glanced over at Wanda and Ian, they were smiling and laughing – I felt a stab of jealousy at them.

'I know…how about tonight? Oh…but I said I'd stay late here. Tomorrow?' He smiled and looked at me with hope-filled eyes.

'Sure' I smiled back, hoping he wouldn't see my jealousy at Wanda…I was happy. But I wanted that to be me sitting over there with Jared.

Jared nudged my shoulder and walked back off to the kitchen to pick up the next lot of orders, while I went back to sipping my drink and glancing over at the two lovebirds in the corner.

'This seat taken?' I turned around to see none other than Burns standing next to me, smiling at me like the creep he was.

'Yes.' I replied curtly and turned my back on him. He had missed the obvious message of 'go away' because he sat down anyway.

'Hey now, I thought we were getting along okay? I saw that Wanda was a bit tied up…so I thought I'd come talk to you, no big deal' god, could he get any more stalker-y.

'Why are you even here Burns?' I couldn't keep the annoyance from my voice, this guy just needed to learn to stay the hell away. I anxiously looked around to try and spot Jared to come and save me but he was nowhere to be seen.

'Like I said, I came to see Wanda, but she's occupied with him over there.' I still hadn't turned to look him in the face, it's a shame he wasn't as ugly as he was on the inside. Wanda had only told me what he tried to do in the stadium corridor, but I knew there was more. I knew something is definitely off about this boy.

'Him is together with Wanda, so just back off okay, I know what you're trying to do and it won't work.' I turned and shot daggers at him with my eyes, he was basically grinning from ear to ear which just made me hate him more.

He held his hands up as if to surrender, 'Hey! You should tell that to her then, I wouldn't be trying if I thought I was wasting my time, she's been giving me all kinds of signals too!'

'Ugh, you're pathetic.'

I grabbed my jacket and walked over to Wanda and Ian, 'guys I'm going, and I suggest you do too before jackass comes over and ruins your day.'

Ian turned his head towards the bar and his hands and jaw instantly clench.

'Ian…let's just go' Wanda's small voice tried to sooth him but it did little, his eyes never left Burns as he picked up his things to leave. Wanda definitely isn't telling me everything…

Wanda tactfully looped her arm through Ian's so she would be between him and Burns when they left. I could see Burns' grin as we were headed towards the door, god what is his problem.

As I reached the exit I realised I hadn't said goodbye to Jared…great girlfriend I am.

I walked back towards the kitchen door to try and find him. After speaking to a couple of the kitchen staff they suggested the back room but he wasn't there either.

'Mel. Look. Wanda's into me I know it.' I turned to see Burns closing the door behind him in the small meeting room, oh god, he turned the lock on the door so we were truly alone and no one else could join us in this secluded space. That's the only way out too. I tried to look around for something to defend myself with if I needed to, but all I could see was some paperwork on the desk which would be useless.

I stared at him with wide eyes praying that this wasn't going to be some creepy murder scene out of a horror film.

'She wouldn't always come up to me and talk to me and end up being in the same classes with me if she wasn't in to me.' He ran a hand through his hair as he stared aimlessly around the room, can't he see how scared and uncomfortable I am!?

'Just talk to her for me, tell her I'd be better than that Ian person.' His words were full of venom as he said Ian's name, what did he have against Ian anyway?

'…Burns, there's nothing I can say to Wanda…she just has to figure it out on her own I guess. If Ian's the person she wants to be with than-'

'HE'S NOT RIGHT FOR HER!' I was stunned and scared to silence at his outburst. Oh god, please just let me get out of this room…I hope someone heard his shouting at least.

'Just talk to her‼ JEEZ! How hard is it to talk to convince someone they should be with someone else?! SHE SHOULD BE WITH ME! HOW DOES SHE NOT SEE THAT HE'S WRONG FOR HER. SHE BELONGS WITH ME!'

He was edging closer towards me with every word, I shuffled back as far as I could but there wasn't much space for me to move in - I was almost up against the back wall already. Curse this room for being so small and only having one door…I steadied myself against the wall, feeling like I was going to pass out, all of the blood in my body felt like it was pumping inside my head.

'Okay, erm, I'll talk to her okay?' I tried to make my voice sound caring and sympathetic but it just came out as false and scared, I just want to leave!

Burns was two steps in front of me now, I could feel the heat radiating off of him in his anger. His brows were furrowed and his cheeks were red as he spat his words at me.

'You better bitch. If I find out you haven't I guess we'll just have to have another little talk…' Taking another step forward he lifted his hand and traced a finger down the side of my face, I cringed at the contact, 'we wouldn't want that now would we…' His grin made me shudder.

'N-no…I'll talk to her.' He simply nodded, took his hand away and walked out of the room. As soon as he was gone I sank down to sit on the floor with my head in my hands, god he needs to be in a mental ward not a high-school. Oh god, what am I going to do?! I can't speak to Wanda about this she'd just worry! What if she confronts him and he goes crazy on her too? She wants to be with Ian anyway! How can he not see that?!

'Mel?' I cringed into the corner of the room, my head still in my hands on the floor. Has he come back? Oh god oh god.

'Mel, what's wrong?' I felt familiar arms go around me and looked up to see Jared staring down at me;I practically pounced on him – knocking him back so he was sitting on the floor too instead of crouching. I wrapped my arms around him so we were pressed together - I don't know where it came from or why, but I started crying – not the cute kind, the harsh sobbing kind that sends shakes through my body…this is all so weird, why is Burns even this interested, why is he threatening me! What am I going to do?

(A/n – Bit of a twist, do you like it? Let me know what you think! Sorry for any mistakes, I haven't had a lot of time to go over it)