Chapter Four
1797 Words
Melanie was just about rounding up her afternoon shift as she was putting on some clothes on the mannequin, she was worried about her grades because she just got a B in Geology and her mum was not going to be happy about that
_maybe these jobs are too much_
She thought to herself because she had been missing alot classes lately and it was beginning to affect her grades
"I'll quit once I buy the Mugler body suit I'll be wearing to Greg's party on Saturday" She gave herself a satisfactory smile.
As she was about leaving the store she heard someone call her name
"Melanie!"
It was Mr handsome, oh sorry Gabriel
"Are you stalking me?"
"No,I just wanted to know if you and your boyfriend were good. Are you guys good?
"Yes, we are!"
No, they weren't but Melanie would never admit that out loud
"Good! Does he know you're working six shifts?"
"It's none of your business"
"Oh really, so he doesn't know that you're not rich"
"Leave me alone"
"Melanie Rodrigo, why are lying to everyone that you're who you're not, scratch that why are who you're not?"
"It's none of your business"
"Fine, I'll just go and tell everybody in school that you're liar and you're not really bougie as everyone thinks"
He turns around and starts walking, Melanie runs after him and drags his arm
"What do you want?"
"Simple, I just want to know why you've got this whole charade going on?"
Melanie sighs and gives him a timid glare
"Okay"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gabriel brought her some food and a drink, Melanie sat down across the table from him at Gabby's.
"One pizza cake and a strawberry smoothie like you like it and please turn that frown into a smile I didn't force you here, you came on your own free will"
"No I didn't, you blackmailed me and I want some fries today"
"No I didn't blackmail you Melanie Rodrigo"
Puts his hand on his chest
"How dare you accuse me of such? Now missy you've got me wrong. I simply said I'd tell everyone in school who you are and you begged me not to and said you'd follow me here instead"
"That's not what happened"
"So you're calling me a liar, Miss Melanie that's not good"
"You're delusional Gabriel and sick too"
He let's out a loud laughter while a waiter brings fries to the table
"Thank you Martin" Gabriel says
"You could just tip him you know"
"Not everyone is rich like you Missy"
"Don't mock me"
"I'm not, you're rich to everyone in school"
"Enjoy your fries, so start spilling"
"It started last year when I first moved to Townsville and I got into school I realized this was an opportunity to have a new identity and so I told everyone I was super rich and got popular. I had been the regular kid my whole life and I was tired of going unnoticed"
"Wow, such a sad story I might need some tissue paper to clean my eyes" he says sarcastically as he sniffs his nose.
"Shut up!"
"Calm down, everyone is trying to eat here"
Melanie gives a disgusted grin look
"Melanie I get it, you wanted to know how it was to be popular so you started with a white lie then it led to another one and that was how you started building your pyramid of lies and now your stuck inside"
"I'm not stuck"
"Yes, you are"
"No, I'm not"
"Yes you are, listen just stop arguing with me, if you're not stuck why can't you tell everyone that you're a fraud"
"Because I'm deep in and there's no way out. If I tell everyone the truth I'd never show my face in school again"
"True, but it's not too late"
"You don't get it"
"I don't actually but I'll tell you this Melanie the truth always comes out, you can hide behind your designer clothes, i********: post and all that falsehood you portray but one day sooner or later the truth will come out and you'll still face what you don't wanna face its better now than later"
Melanie starts to clap her hands
"Wow, what a heartwarming speech"
Gabriel gives a smirk stand's and bows
"Thank you"
Melanie looks unimpressed and disgusted
"Thank you for your words of advice but the show must go on, now if you don't mind me I have a 4:30 shift to catch up with"
Melanie stands up to go out
"Not too fast missy, I need one more favor from you"
Whisper's in her ear
"Before the whole Townsville high knows you're running six shifts to keep up with your i********: lifestyle"
"What is it again" Melanie spews with deep frustration.
Gabriel points towards the direction of a middle aged woman
"That's my step mum"
"Okay?"
Melanie stares with absolute confusion
"She's hosting a charity event and I want you to attend, next week Saturday "
"No way that's the same day with Greg's party"
"And?"
"It's the biggest party, I can't miss it for anything in the world, it's my major come back, if I don't go, my social status will be lowered"
"Even better the less you're seen the easier it will be to tell the truth"
"No way, something else Gabriel, anything else but I can't miss that party"
"I have given you my options, if you can't make it, the whole Townsville will know our little secret Melanie Rodrigo"
Melanie walks out angrily while Gabriel gives out an edgy smirk and folds his hands.
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The next day Melanie woke up frustrated and angry, she kept on feeling like she allowed everything to happen if she hadn't gone to Gabby's to get food this would have never have befallen her.
"Curse Gabby's good food"
"Knock, knock"
"Come in mum"
"Honey, I'm coming in late tonight so I got dinner ready just microwave it and eat"
"Sure"
For a moment Melanie paid no attention to what was happening then it hit like a bucket of water on her face?
"Mum you never cook dinner, you only do that when you feel guilty about something"
"What? Honey I'm just going to be out for a few hours I just want you to eat something besides it's been awhile you ate my food"
"Stop the gaslighting you're going on a date, aren't you?"
Melanie's mum giggles and stutters
"Mel baby, I... was going to tell you but you've been busy"
"That's a lie, you weren't going to tell me because you know I would never agree"
"Young lady, I am not asking your permission, I might be your mother but I am a woman and I have feelings too-"
"Mum cut me that, if you wanna go on your dates, you can go, you're a grown up but you won't force me to like your boyfriends just so you know"
Hugs her daughter
"I'll be back by eleven o'clock, I love you baby"
"I pray you don't like him"
"Mel"
"Bye!"
Melanie would never admit it but she loved her mum being single she had terrible experiences with her mother's boyfriends none of them ever lasted and it always made Melanie glad when they left according to her "back to the hell hole they came from" they always seemed the same and were never good enough for her mum she would never admit but she was just selfish.
Home alone, Melanie decided to call Micah she really didn't want to admit it but she was lonely. Dials Micah's number
"Hey this is Micah, I'm unavailable at the moment please leave a message"
"Great voice mail" another frustrated moment for our dear Melanie
She wants to call Brie but changes her mind after scrolling for awhile she decides to call Gabriel, yes Gabriel
"Hello, how are you?"
"Snow will fall on a hot summer morning, Melanie Rodrigo is calling me. To what do I owe this honourable act?"
Melanie let's out a giggle
"I'm bored so I decided to give my greatest tormentor a call, by the way I'm hungry and craving some pizza cakes from Gabby's with strawberry"
"In for a ride? I could pull up and we could go there together, I mean today is my day off but I could serve tables to pay for your pizza cakes, if you want to, off course"
"My mum made dinner but honestly I want them pizza cakes really bad, pick me by the gas station down my street"
"No problem"
Both Melanie and Gabriel are seated on the table eating and talking.
"My mum is so selfish, she couldn't even ask me, I mean she can do what she wants but shouldn't I know"
Gabriel who has food stuffed in his mouth groans
"Melanie, I hate to break it to you but you're the selfish one, your mum has been single for how long? And she just wants to go out and have a good time and you're whining"
"I'm not whining"
"Yes you are, she works her ass off to keep you safe and happy yet you don't want her to be happy"
"I do, I really do but since dad died it's just been me and her, I'm not sure anyone can treat her the way Dad would treat her, it's always bozo's trying to get a free meal in our house that she keeps dating"
"Well, I won't lie I wouldn't want bozo's near my mum either, if she was still alive"
A moment of silence hits Melanie she pauses then decides to speak
"Your mum is dead?"
"Yes, she is"
"I'm really sorry"
Gabriel let's out a brave smile
"It's okay, it took awhile but both I and dad moved on, it wasn't easy but my Dad found someone who tried to ease the pain"
"I know how it feels though, it's never easy to move on"
"Tell me about it"
They both laugh and then comes an awkward silence that is quickly broken when Melanie sees Anna.
"Umm I gotta go my mum is gonna be back anytime now"
"Okay I will drop you off"
They both grab their things and head out
"Don't tell me you're running away from me?" Anna asks Melanie as she tries to leave the restaurant
"That's a weird assumptions" Melanie responds
"Things don't have to be awkward between us, you know"
Anna walks away.
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"Someone looks like she had a nice time last night"
"Well, he was nice and I had a great time"
Melanie's mum smiles
"Does he remind you of Dad"
"Honey your Dad was special and everybody is different"
"I hope he treats you right, that's all I want mum, you're my jewel"
They both hugged.
- Writer
