Piper Rose Hart's schedule was slowly becoming mind-numbingly boring.
Ever since her brother had disabled his contacts about two months ago, she'd had no one to inquire about or really talk to. Ever since her brother's friend Charlotte had disabled her contacts about two months ago, she'd had no one to gossip with. Ever since her brother's dumb friend Jasper had disabled his contacts about two months ago, she'd had no one to make fun of.
She could recite the repetitive day ritual in her sleep at this point.
Wake up, brush her teeth, get dressed and pack school equipment. Eat breakfast at the cafe and check socials before first lecture. Go to class, make notes and pay attention. Go to lunch, revise notes and complete unfinished homework. Go to 3 classes. Go to gym between 5-9pm. Come home, shower and ensure social media popularity while eating dinner. Call/ text someone. Charge phone and pear-pods. Sleep.
The call/ text someone section had (for some odd, unknown reason) transferred to Henry's girlfriend of all people, who had also been ghosted as of late. She won't blame her brother, because business is business. That was a universal law for Piper.
She's now doing undeniably better at that self-proclaimed law.
Although Melanie shared connections with Henry that Piper clearly never would, they did relate to things on some level. Their relationship had stemmed from a simple similar few qualities they could compare about Henry, sharing their different perspectives. Those tiny little comparisons had grown into the sharing of stories, sometimes barely related to the root of their connection. Eventually, they became friends and would often call each other, spreading the latest gossip.
Melanie also shared qualities of her own life with Piper's life, which is quite strange.
It is, in itself, quite peculiar.
Considering the differences beyond appearances, the abnormality subsides not as much as one might think. Both the girls are tied to crime, (which should be suspected of Melanie anyway, she lives in Dystopia for heaven's sake- does she ever listen to Henry-) and both of them are underestimated by appearances and false accusations. Even the social media fame is relatable to some extent, which is uncommon for Piper to deem someone worthy of comparing themselves to her reputation. The abnormalities are weighing up rather quickly.
However, that doesn't mean Piper likes her.
No, the youngest of the Hart children hates her like no other, and would gleefully spit on the woman's grave any day of the week. Maybe she's like one of those children from the cliché cartoons who try to ruin their divorced parent's and new partner's relationship out of jealousy. But Piper would hardly name the feeling that way, her hatred steadily flowing from a simple instinct of suspicion.
That's right, Piper Hart is suspicious of her newly found 'friend' Melanie Franklins.
It started just from hearing about her from her brother, him having her mentioned her passively in conversation and Piper choosing to interrogate him about the woman. He'd stammered on, explaining vaguely how they met. Piper remembers every word of his embarrassingly quiet stuttering.
'So, uh… she met me, I guess. Charlotte and Jasper got into an argument about something I couldn't really figure out, and I thought leaving them to it would make 'em figure it out. I was wrong. An hour later, Char texted me to say that she was leaving, and I freaked out. Like, properly.'
'How has this got anything to do with Melanie?'
'I'm getting to it! So I was upset, and kinda got wasted at the bar… don't tell anyone that, though. I did set a country-wide record, though, so-'
'Get on with it!'
'Alright! Alright! She found me when I couldn't even remember my name, and I guess she somehow thought I was coherent enough to remember where I was supposed to be. She took me to her place, and Jasper said he found her hitting on me non-stop. He dragged me off, but somewhere in between that whole mess I'd given her my number. Then she called me, and now… yeah.'
Her story was, in itself, quite peculiar.
Her dumb brother was oblivious to how sketchy it was, her having dragged some insanely drunk guy to her apartment behind closed doors. It was even sketchier how she'd gotten his number, considering he couldn't even remember his name. She's no expert, but if you can't remember a single word you've been familiar with ever since you've been able to coherently think, numbers would become a whole other language.
She hadn't told her brother of her suspicions, mostly because she didn't want to ruin what had the possibility to be innocent. Also, she'd look pretty pathetic accusing his girlfriend with no evidence. Piper has a reputation to keep up here, come on.
As time went on, and Piper had coaxed Melanie into revealing stories about herself, she found the small sixth-sense of instinctual suspicion to be true. Like how she supposedly was an inexperienced store clerk, but she'd mentioned multiple previous jobs in factories, businesses and restaurants. How she'd never given a distinct age to herself. How all the expensive gifts Henry had mentioned giving to her never stayed around all too long.
The list goes on.
And on.
And on.
Jasper's contact had came back to genuine existence before her brother's or Charlotte's, so she'd naturally latched onto him for insight. Naturally. Also, despite the dumb idiot being closer to Henry than herself, she knows he wouldn't break a promise to Henry he'd made with her. A firm bond.
Piper: JASPER
Jasper: what
Piper: ops on Henry's girlfriend
Jasper: shes weird
Piper: IKR. SUSPICIOUS!
Jasper: I agree
Piper: can you spy for me
Jasper: why
Piper: I'm the only one out of you sickos confident enough to break news to the guy
Jasper: not true
Piper: yeah but who's he gonna trust more
Piper: jealous friend or sister on the other side of the world with interrogation time
Jasper: fine. I'll text you updates
Piper: THANK YOU
If this lady is trying to take advantage of her warrior of a brother, she isn't just going to stand by and watch.
She sighs exhaustedly, leaning back in her plastic chair with a wet-eyed glare. She misses the days when she could've gone on some crazy adventure with Jasper to figure something out about her brother.
But she can't do that anymore. Not when he's thousands of miles away. Not in Dystopia.
Allow me to sincerely apologise for my incrimination of Melanie. It's just I didn't want to go out of my way to create some seemingly rubbish character to only use in passing when Nickelodeon had already done it for me.