Chapter 3: Question

A/N: Hiii! I am so, so sorry I didn't update on Thursday and Sunday. I had a lot going on my life and I was too distraught after reading the DnDL update on Wattpad! And I didn't get my two reviews. (pouts). Anyway, enjoy the chapter, people, and review because reviews make my day. Enjoy J x

If you ever look up the meaning of 'questions' in the dictionary, here is what you will probably find.

Question |noun|:

1. A sentence worded or expressed so as to elicit information

2. A doubt about the truth or validity of something

(verb) with obj.

1. The act of asking questions

2. Feel or express doubts about

How could she do this? Why would she do this? This isn't supposed to be like this. Sharon is supposed to be on our side. Why was she talking to that man? Could she have asked the man to kidnap her? If so, then why? Who is my stalker? How does he know me?

These were the thoughts that haunted Melanie day and night. She was beginning to have nightmare about everything. She couldn't sleep at night and when she did, nightmares crashed upon her the way waves crash upon the shore. She was the shore, she couldn't stop the waves, they ebbed for a moment and then crashed on the shore again, as forceful as ever. The minute questions arouse in us, we don't seem to trust anyone to whom the questions are about or anyone related to that someone. Our distrust and suspicion of them grows every second.

She had solved the Stalker problem herself by blocking him so, that really wasn't a problem.

Melanie Stryder wasn't one who could be broken easily. She was energetic, lively and maybe a little bit violent and weird but all these things made her who she was. And now, even though the problems had nothing to do with her, she just felt…drained. She couldn't find pleasure in the things she used to. She woke up and she found nothing to look forward to. Not even Ian.

She tried to cover up things with a smile and she had convinced her father that she was okay, but her mother saw right through her. Melanie had told her mother about everything that had happened and that she needed space, which her Mom was giving her. But everyone was concerned about her. The gloominess that radiated from her had affected the whole house.

Ian was constantly trying to cheer her up and that was the only thing that worked, just for a second, but it did. But it just wasn't enough. She had drowned herself in music which kind of numbed her but at least it helped calm her down.

And right now, she was in her bedroom, listening to music.

"Kiss me where I lay down, my hands pressed to your cheeks…A long way from the play ground…" She sang softly along with the calming voice of the singer. And just like that she fell asleep.

"Melanie." Ian nudged her in order to get her attention as they walked in the boisterous school corridor. "What are you thinking?"

She smiled weakly. "Nothing." She could feel his glare but she chose to ignore it. She checked her watch. Three hours left of school.

"It's your free period right?" He asked. She nodded.

"Okay, you know what, I'm done." He snapped.

What is he talking about? She finally looked at him. "What do you mean?" Her voice was soft, but at least it wasn't the monotone that Ian was allergic to.

"Melanie, I know, the past week hasn't been really good for you but the least you could do, is to let go."

"Let go?" Now, Melanie's voice rose. Ian managed to keep his expression angry but on the inside he wanted jiggle around a bonfire. Finally, she was actually showing emotion and even though her eyes were blazing with rage, it was better than the empty, glossy ones Ian could not get used to.

"I am trying to let go, Ian! You, of all people, should understand!"

You idiot, of course, I understand. He wanted to say but out loud he said, "You're not."

Her expression grew exasperated and then back to angry again. She flared her nostrils and looked like she was going to slap someone but fortunately for Ian's cheeks, she didn't.

Ian held her gaze for a while and saw her battling her own demons. He knew her that well. Then, Melanie Joy Stryder did something that she had not done since five years. She actually cried. She began to sob, her hands covering her mouth as she tried to be as quiet as possible.

"Oh, Melly." He said as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders, leading her to an empty classroom, making her sit down on a chair. She didn't try to fight his grip but instead she clung to him, sobs breaking out of her.

"Let it out." He patted her back and then pulled out a packet of tissues from his pocket. She took one out and blew her nose. She kept on crying for a few more minutes till she finally quieted down. She took a deep breath and then she actually grinned.

"Guess, I really needed to get that out." She said.

"Yeah, you needed to." Ian agreed. "Oh! Damn, I forgot!"

"What?" Melanie asked.

"I have to ask Cassandra out!" He jumped to his feet.

"Oh, so you have guts?"

"Shut up, will you?"

She rolled her eyes. "Go, go." She pointed towards the floor, laughing.

He squared his shoulders and literally marched out of the room. "Ian, you're not going to war, you're going to ask her out!" Melanie shouted. He didn't reply.

She closed her eyes. Ian was right; she really had needed to cry. And the one thing she had learnt from the whole experience was that crying never meant a person was weak. It just meant that they had been strong for too long. It was as if the emptiness inside of her that had been taking over had just been an illusion.

She checked her watch; she still had ten minutes before Geography. And for some reason, Paramore's Decode was running round her head.

For a girl who was up to date with everything, Melanie listened to old bands like Backstreet Boys, One Direction, The 1975 and Coldplay, Paramore. Gabrielle Aplin, Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez, Tove Lo were one of her favorite solo artists.

"What kind of a man you are…if you're a man at all but you won't take away my pride, no not this tiiiiime…" She sang in her soft voice, her eyes still closed.

"You've got a nice voice, angel."

The voice snapped her out of her trance and she jumped to her feet in surprise. Her eyes flew open. It was that brown haired, caramel eyed boy who was in her Math class. His eye brows were raised, his lips pushed forward to form a playful pot. He was wearing a brown Cardigan over a black cotton t shirt and ripped skinny jeans which really didn't go with is outfit but Melanie decided to not voice her opinions. A red scarf was wrapped around his neck. He was quite beautiful, actually.

"Hi."

She smiled. "Hi."

"Do you mind if I sit here?"

She shook her head. "Not at all, you can keep me company."

Confusion swept over his features for a second but then he shrugged and took the seat next to her. "So, what is one of the school's most popular girl even doing here?"

Melanie groaned. Yes, she threw parties and invited the whole town but that automatically labeled her as one of the 'popular people' when she didn't even hang out with anyone except Ian. Ian and her were like partners in everything; partners in crime, partners in business (Melanie and Ian worked at the same place but they were on a leave for a week because of reasons they had made up), partners in games. And they didn't like to share their partners with anyone else excluding the love interests.

"Yep. That would me." Melanie said sarcastically, igniting a chuckle from him.

"You didn't answer my question."

Melanie raised her eyebrows. "Hun, I don't even know you. Maybe, I'm here because I want to be."

He nodded slowly.

"Why are you here?" Melanie fired the question at him.

He grinned. "Hun, I don't even know you. Maybe, I'm here because I want to be."

Her eyes narrowed. "Copycat."

He shrugged, his grin growing wider. "I couldn't think of a comeback." He laughed.

Is he always smiling?

Somehow, it felt good to be around someone who was like that; cheesy, grinning and just so…sunshiny (is that even a word, Melanie asked herself)!

"I should go." He said.

Wow, he just sat for ten seconds and already he's escaping. Maybe, it was just to have a conversation with me. Of course, everyone would want to know about the popular girl who hung out with only one person twenty four seven.

"Get lost." Melanie muttered in a playful way.

"I am." He said, chuckling. Okay, he's always smiling like a creep and now it's bothering me. She thought.

Melanie watched him walk out of the room.

"Bye." She whispered.

Melanie pushed the main door of her house out of the way, fatigue plaguing her body. All she wanted to do was take a nice, long nap…

Of course, her plans were ruined when she saw Sharon sitting on the couch of her living room, a cloth in her hand. Her eyes still had silver rings behind them and that's not what bothered her. What bothered her was how…alive they looked.

She was suddenly afraid, her eyes widening, her heart racing. She wanted to run from this woman who was sitting on a couch. Melanie's instinct was telling her that this was danger. Sharon was dangerous.

Of course not. Why am I thinking that way? Her rational side thought.

She didn't know how, she didn't know why but she felt as if this was not Sharon. This was something else, someone else.

"Hello, Melanie." Her voice sent chills running down Melanie's spine. She shivered, all of a sudden feeling cold.

"Hi." Melanie choked. She mentally face-palmed herself. You have to seem to be confident and fearless, not an afraid little chicken.

"Can we talk?" Sharon asked, smiling nervously.

Why is she speaking so softly? "Um, sure." Melanie sat down on her couch, as far as she could be from Sharon.

"I never thanked you…for…saving me. Thank you." Her voice was smooth.

Sharon would never thank me this way. What is happening? "No problem."

"About yesterday…I'm sure you have a lot of questions regarding as to why I was talking to the man who tried to abduct me."

Mel nodded. Her fear and suspicion were too great for her to be angry right now. "Yes."

Sharon nodded. "He came to me. He wanted to ask me, uh," she ran her hand through her hair, "no, no, I wanted to ask him."

She paused and cleared her throat. "I wanted to ask him about why he chose to kidnap me of all people. He didn't answer and told me that I was lucky that I…survived."

Throughout the whole time Sharon had been telling her story, she had been fidgeting constantly and she was running her hand through her hair, something Sharon never did unless she was lying. Melanie didn't push her though. She didn't know this Sharon.

Mel nodded, forcing a smile on her face. "I think you should go ."

Sharon nodded. "Say hi to Mrs. Stryder for me, Mel." She smiled sweetly before heading out of he living room towards the exit.

Melanie was sure of one thing; Sharon had changed for unknown reasons.

Either that or maybe Melanie was insane.

She had begun to question her sanity now.

Do you guys think it was too early to introduce Jared? Do tell me because we can make him disappear for a few chapters he he