The Bad Boy’s Melody

Chapter Two: Melon drop.

THE FIGHT wasn't the only thing that people were talking about at lunch.

Although, my friends were the only people not gossiping about it, which may be because the two people everyone else was talking about were sitting at their table. Austin Cole and Me.

Caleb had informed me on a couple of things about him during the classes we had together. Austin didn't show up to school much, but when he did he didn't stay around too long.

He knew Freddie a little, hence why he was sitting here, at our table. Although, according to Caleb he was better friends with Madison and her group. He looked like he'd fit in there, all black clothing and arrogant.

"Staring is rude."

My eyes widened as the smirk grew on Austin's face. He leaned back on his chair, his eyes on me. Great, what am I even supposed to say? That I wasn't staring at him when I clearly was?

"Strawberries look better than they taste. There I said it, now leave me alone," Thomas exclaimed, pushing Lee's box of strawberries away from him. I relaxed a little, feeling the attention turn off me and onto the two of them.

Lee laughed, his bangs falling over his eyes. He managed to keep his undercut, yet never cuts his bangs. I smiled as Caleb sat down beside me. He had something to do during lunch for the football team. Being Quarterback, he had a lot on his plate.

"Any news on the game?" Freddie asked him, he wasn't into football that much. He just played it because all the guys did. That didn't mean he wasn't good at it though, he was one of the best on the team.

Caleb shook his head, "Coach said he'd talk about it at practice tomorrow. I don't think it'll be a tough game."

"Sure," I heard Austin mutter before his chair scraped off the floor. Caleb tensed beside me and I looked at the stranger that was standing up.

He slung his bag over his shoulder, looking at Caleb with a look on his face that I couldn't decipher. It was like he was frustrated, but I didn't know why. What was he even talking about? Caleb didn't say anything to him.

Thomas and Lee looked as lost as I did, while Freddie just let out a low whistle. He probably knew more than he was letting on to.

Caleb looked up at him, his jaw dropped in shock, as if he didn't know how Austin knew. Maybe Austin was just talking for the sake of it, but I doubted it. He didn't talk all lunch other than when he caught me staring at him.

Austin shook his head, "You're not slick about it." His eyes met mine and I stared at him trying to figure out what the hell he was talking about. He wasn't being rude to Caleb, because his tone sounded bored, not condescending or annoyed.

He smirked a little. "Didn't I already tell you staring is rude? Is it just not clicking or..."

"It's also rude to steal," I countered back. It sounded much better in my head though, out loud it made me cringe. Damnit, where is all the witty comebacks I had prepared for this?

Austin shrugged, "guess we're not that different then, Melody."

"My name isn't–"

"I know what your name is."

He broke eye-contact first and I took it as a win. Although, he was points ahead of me, but who's counting? He nodded at Freddie. "I'll see you later."

Freddie nodded back and leaned back on his chair as Austin walked away. I glanced at Thomas and Lee to see they were confused too. Caleb looked upset while Freddie was unbothered by everything that just happened. I had a feeling he and Austin were closer than he was making them out to be.

"Pay up," Freddie stated as he held out his hand.

Lee and Thomas both sighed loudly, handing him ten bucks each. I stared at the three of them, they had a bet placed? I didn't know why I was so surprised, they placed bets on the weirdest things. I just thought Austin wasn't one of them, but I was beginning to see that he was a big deal around here. How did I not notice him before?

"He was doing so well until a couple of minutes ago," Lee grumbled. He looked at Caleb and I, "You two had to ruin it, didn't you?"

I blinked at him, "ruin what?"

"We had a bet that he stayed here till lunch was over and Freddie didn't think he would. We would've won if you two didn't..." he trailed off, "what did you two even do?"

I rolled my eyes at him, he was just angry he lost ten bucks. "I fell this morning, someone was running down the corridor and bumped into me. My bag was open and things spilled out."

The three of them nodded. Caleb, on the other hand, was on his phone texting someone. He already knew this story, so I guess it didn't matter. "Austin came into Mrs Brennan's classroom and gave me bag my notebook. He ripped a song from it. I tried to get it back."

"You're probably not going to get it back."

"This is very bad."

"Wait, that's like your diary, right?"

I nodded at Thomas. It was like a diary to me and they haven't seen much of it, but they knew about it. I looked at Freddie, "Why would he even want it anyway? It's not like he wants revenge on me or blackmail. I didn't even know of the guy till today."

"You didn't know of the Austin Cole till today?" Lee sounded very surprised which only confirmed my theory more.

Austin was a big deal around here, but I didn't know why exactly. Maybe, it was his good looks, but I doubted that was it. Even the straight guys were talking about him and they didn't talk about guys.

He was mysterious and a trouble maker, but them two things contradicted each other. A trouble maker wasn't mysterious. They gloated their victories, especially high-school troublemakers. Everyone knew about what they did, who they were whereas Austin Cole was a mystery. All people knew were rumours or things picked up over the years.

"Yeah, I found out about him today. I don't know everyone in this school," I told him.

Thomas shook his head. "Everyone knows about Austin, or so I thought. I guess he doesn't know you either though. What did he call you...Melon drop?"

"Melody," I told him, as Lee slapped the back of his head.

"Where did you even get Melon drop from?" He muttered.

I looked at Freddie in hope that he could help me. He was the only person I knew that actually knew Austin Cole. He sighed, leaning forward, resting his and on the table. "I'll try to get it back, but I doubt I will. Don't get your hopes up," he told me.

I grinned at him. My hopes already shooting up for the sky. I knew Freddie would help me. "Thank you," I smiled.

He shook his head, "Thank me when I get it back."

"What did you do?" Lee asked Caleb, who was now no longer on his phone.

Caleb sighed, rubbing his temple with his fingers. Was he having a headache? He only got them when he was stressed though. This wasn't good. "He was being a d**k that's all," he muttered, picking up his half-eaten sandwich.

I glanced at the guys, we all knew not to push it. Caleb would talk when he wanted to. If we pushed him too hard he'd shut us out. Caleb was our friend. Whatever was going on between Austin and him, we'd figure it out. It just wouldn't be today.

-

"I wanna sit on his face."

Aunt Helena was here. She was the only family member that kept in touch since dad left, well her and grandma. Everyone else left us in the dark. I didn't even try to contact anyone. They all knew he left. They should be contacting us and anyway, it wasn't like I had time.

Mom was heartbroken when Dad left and I spent all my time when I wasn't in school comforting her. I slept beside her, helped her out of bed and spent countless hours re-watching episodes of friends with her. That's all she would do for weeks.

Helena helped me out and so did her daughter, Bailey. Helena would sit with mom and comfort her while I went shopping or caught up on work.

Bailey was a year younger than me, but we've gotten really close with her. Closer than we were before everything happened. It's safe to say I owed Helena and Bailey a lot after the last couple of weeks.

Mom was getting better though. She was beginning to see that this was our new normal, without him and she was working with it. She even offered to cook dinner tonight, but I knew with the company that offer was gone. It was a good sign though. I was proud of her.

"I really don't know how you stand watching friends let alone them two saying all the things they would do to Joey."

I looked at the living room door, Bailey had knocked me from my thoughts. I smiled at her. Madison dropped me home like always after school when Caleb has practice. She didn't mind it though because my house was on the way to her house. I was saving for a car, but with dad being gone and mom taking a much-needed break from work, I was taking from the savings a lot these days.

"You get used to it." I didn't bother to take off my coat or shoes. I was hungry and Bailey must've come here straight from her school too. Takeaway seemed very appealing. "How does a McDonald's sound?"

Bailey grinned, "Amazing. I'll go ask the two horndogs what they want."

I was grateful that the television was turned up so loudly so they couldn't hear that. We've all gotten close, but not that close.

I walked upstairs and into my room, placing my bag on my desk. I took my notebook out of it and sighed. I didn't see Austin after lunch to ask him about my song, I just hoped Freddie could get it for me. I knew he'd try.

Madison didn't mention him in the car, like I thought she would. Caleb told me they were friends so I was kinda expecting her to say something, but she didn't.

She mentioned the fight, but not Austin. She just said some guys were fighting. Maybe her group and Austin had a falling out. It would make sense seeing as she didn't talk about him and he didn't sit with them at lunch.

I sighed, opening my jar of money that I kept underneath my desk. It was more empty than full. I bit my lip taking out sixty dollars. I didn't know how much the four meals would cost, but I wasn't going over sixty. I needed to start looking into part-time jobs.

"Jess!"

I placed the jar under the desk again and ran out of my room, to see Bailey standing outside the living room with her hands shoved in her jacket's pockets. "You ready?"

"Patience is a virtue," I told her as I walked down the stairs.

She rolled her eyes at me. "Shut up. I was patient. I waited a couple of seconds and was planing on waiting more, but then I heard that cursed line."

"We were on a break."

Bailey nodded and covered her ears as if it could save her from the words that came out of my mouth. I laughed at her as I opened the front door. The nearest McDonald's was a couple of blocks away. It wouldn't be that long of a walk.

"How come Caleb didn't come in?" Bailey asked me, as we walked down the short driveway. We lived in an estate. It was nice, everyone knew everyone.

"He has practice. Madison dropped me home," I told her, smiling at Ms White and her three kids playing outside. Maybe I could babysit as a part-time job. People were always asking for people to mind their children and I knew everyone around her. It seemed like a nice part-time job.

She scoffed. Bailey and Madison didn't get on well. I always thought that they would because they are so similar and had much in common, but they act like they hate each other.

"I bet her car smells like w**d and the seats are stained with cum..." she trailed off as she saw the kids. Her brown eyes widened in alarm. "Coming to the tree," she tried to cover it up.

I shook my head at her. She wasn't wrong about Madison's car though. I didn't dare sit in the back seat, but she always drove with the windows open so I didn't notice the smell that much. I was just grateful that she gave me a ride home. I didn't care about the state her car was. It was her car.

"Jesus Christ, why didn't you tell me there were kids," Bailey exclaimed, shoving me slightly. She groaned, covering her face with her hands. "I'm never showing my face around here again. I just ruined their innocence."

I smiled at her. At least she felt sorry about it, I doubt Madison would care. "I doubt they heard you. Anyway, how was I supposed to know you didn't see them?"

Bailey ran her fingers through her hair. I always wished I was blonde like her. I even used to be jealous of it, but now I liked my dark hair. It was like mom'. Dad's was light. I think I would've shaved it off by now if I got my hair colour from him.

"You know, I've been talking to this guy."

I did a double-take. "What? No, come on," I whined, "you gotta let me get a boyfriend before you do. I'll never hear the end of it." I had guy friends, but I didn't like any of them like that. I never even thought about them like that.

Bailey rolled her eyes, "just say you're dating Caleb or something. Anyway, I don't think I can turn this guy down for years until you find a guy that can stand you. You're very annoying."

"Shut up," I grumbled, pissed that she had a boyfriend before me. I wasn't looking for one right now, because I don't think my heart could handle it. At least nothing serious. Although, that wasn't going to stop Aunt Helena and mom rubbing it in my face that Bailey got a boyfriend before me.

"Who is he anyway?" I asked her, wanting to know if I knew him. I doubted it. If I didn't know Austin Cole, I doubted I would know someone from her school.

Bailey took her phone out of her pocket and handed it to me. I took it from her, looking at the photo on it. He was cute. He looked familiar though. "I don't think I'll tell mom yet though. She'll probably freak him out."

"Yeah. Just don't bring up Matt LeBlanc around her when he's there. He's cute though. Well done." I handed her phone back to her, a smile on my face.

"Well done," she mocked. "I'd like to see what you come home with."

I glared at her. "Not funny," I muttered. She was referring to the only guy that I knew had a crush on me. Quinton Dawson. He was a grade-A asshat and everyone knew that. He didn't even ask me out, he just stared at me. Although, according to the guys he now has a girlfriend. He was also in the fight with Austin today. It didn't surprise me.

We walked into McDonald's and a guy held open the door for us. A grin on his face and a happy meal in his hands. He looked around my age. Dirty blonde hair, hazel eyes. "Enjoy your meals, ladies," He told us before walking over to an expensive-looking car with tinted windows. Not suspicious at all.

"I'd rather eat him," Bailey muttered under her breath.

My eyes widened and I hit her arm, looking to see if anyone heard her. She can't be saying that in public, didn't she learn from her mistakes a couple of minutes ago?

Bailey laughed, grabbing my wrist. "Come on, lets just order and get back before them two think we've been kidn*pped by axe murders or something," she smiled, obviously joking as we walked towards the till.

-

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