All the wrong shades of us

Untitled Episode

Melody’s POV

“It’s nice to meet you.” The words sound foreign on my tongue, because it doesn’t feel like I have just met him. He feels like an old wound, but the type you oddly want to leave festering. The one that doesn’t bring pain, but you know you’ll have to let go of.“Come on!” Mallory laughs, tugging my hand gently. “Why are you so cold tonight?” And then, she turns to Christian. “And what’s up with you, too?

”He raises his hand to scratch the side of his head. I notice when he takes a breath, when his lips move.

“I just had a busy day,” he murmured, his lips stretching into a smile. “The hotel was hectic. Remember, the final construction of the new branch was today.”“s**t!” Mallory curses for the second time tonight. “I totally forgot about that. I should have been there for you. How did it go?” Christian shrugs. His eyes meet mine for a fleeting second before they return to my sister. “It was fine,” he says. “I just have a little issue choosing the perfect artwork. You know, I always wanted it to be painted in real time while we have guests come around. That growth…”“Yeah,” Mallory nods.

“You have been going on about it for so long.”

But then, she stops suddenly, her eyes narrowing as her head jerks in my direction. “Right!” She starts, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

“My sister is going to be in New York for a while. Right, Melody?”I don’t think I like the sound of that, or the look of whatever thought is brewing in her mind. Still, I find myself nodding, wanting to know how I can be of help to something I have no idea of. “You can do it then.”I swallow. “Do what?”“Christian needs someone to paint something in the lobby of his new hotel, and I know you would love the opportunity. Do you know he just got on the Forbes list?

”I nod. It is all she has been able to talk about this past week.“How would you love to be a part of this story?” Mallory continues, oblivious to the trap she is creating. I should just say no. Cook up an excuse about needing to be back in Paris on the next flight. Still, I stay put, watching the picture come alive in her eyes and knowing that there is a high chance it will burn us all. “It sounds….” A knot works its way to my throat, and I pause, pushing it down. “Lovely.”“Great then!” She hits her palms together in glee. “I’ll just send you the details.”“Mallory…” His voice is thicker now, like he just rolled out of bed. My eyes jerk towards his, just as he looks at me for the umpteenth time tonight. This time, his gaze lingers. I feel the whole world stop when they drop onto my lips. My chest tightens. I need to leave this room.“Christian, Melody won’t be a bother, I promise,” my sister urges. “And besides, I think it is going to be a great opportunity for you two to bond. I don’t know when she’ll be in New York once she travels.”I don’t think I’m going back, but Mallory doesn’t know that yet. I moved to tell her, but the words died on my tongue as she looked at the entrance, at the man who had just walked in. Something flickers in her eyes suddenly. Something that resembles panic as they widen and narrow all at the same time. They remain that way as she plants a peck on Christian’s cheeks before pulling away.“I’ll be back for the toast,” she calls over her shoulder as she moves into the crowd. “There is something I have to take care of.”

From the corner of her eyes, I watched as she reached the man who had just walked in. Nothing passes between them other than lips set in a grim line, surprise etched in their features, and the sudden tension it seems they have been thrown into. She grabs his hands and leads him up the stairs, but I don’t watch them for much longer as Christian moves suddenly. “It’s nice … erm… meeting you, Melody.”I nod, unable to get my tongue to work. He stretches out a hand, and I slide my drink onto the counter beside me before taking it. It starts again, that thrum against my skin, the heat searing through it. Electricity jolts up my hand, and I let go of him. Christian lingers only for one more second before pulling away, blending with the crowd. I don’t follow him. Instead, I grab my drink and gulp down a healthy amount. Having my heart broken by Daniel is making me sick.I should go home.“So, you’re her sister,” the bartender murmurs behind me. “Mallory will probably kill me if she sees us talking.”I turn around. This is the distraction I need. “My sister doesn’t police me around,” I breathe, allowing my words to simmer. I can still feel him watching. I know that if I turn my back, I’ll catch him leaning on a wall across the room, staring. But I don’t.“What are you doing tomorrow night?” he asks casually, cleaning out a wine glass. “There is a movie showing. I was wondering if you’d love to see some sappy romance.”I should be steering towards horror after Daniel, but I nodded, knowing Christian is still watching. “Tomorrow sounds fine. Pick me up at 7?” He grins. “Thank you.” Someone comes to settle beside me suddenly. Her dark auburn hair stands out, but so does her striking red floor-length dress. I wait for her to say something, and when she doesn’t, I nod to myself. Now, I’m beginning to imagine things.I wave my fingers to the bartender and make to walk out when she breathes, the soft sound doing nothing to the music in the air. Still, I stop, because when she looks at me, I know that she knows. And yet, the words manage to bug me. “I know what you are thinking. Stop it.”