Say It Softly, Quiet

2

“Get out of the car, Melody,” Brett orders me with an exasperated tone, though I keep myself in a ball on the floor in the back seat.

“Melody isn’t here anymore. Please try again later.” I respond to him doing my best to sound like the mechanical voice of the recorded phone operator.

“Don’t make me come back there.” He says his voice sounding stern though I can hear the slight humor in it that he finds in this situation.

Because my extensive fear of starting a new high school is just hilarious.

“Don’t worry, I won’t! You can stay right where you’re at. Honestly, you can even go home. Just hit that gas pedal and lead the way. I think that would be the most educated thing to do at the moment. I mean college? Who even needs that? Not me! So go on now, I’ll just tag along for the ride. We can even-” I’m cut off by the door to my right being pulled open and my ball of a form being transferred out of the car.

Damn Brett.

“Hey! Put me down! This is illegal! I’m going to have to report you, you know. Guess we’ll just have to get back in that car and drive our way down to the station. What a shame, I was actually looking forward to going to college, too bad I-” Brett’s obnoxiously loud laugh causes me to come to a halt, making sure to shoot him a glare as he sets me down on the ground to support his shaking form by placing his hands on his knees.

Eventually, he sobers up from his laughter, and brings himself back up to his full height, a broad smile still painted on his face. I do my best to keep my eyes narrow and my face firm, but it prevails to be an unruly task as my smile peeks through in response to his bright smile.

My brother never fails to cheer me up.

“You are absolutely ridiculous Melody Rose.” Brett informs me with his bright smile still perched on his lips, “Now look at me.” He orders, but just to piss him off I placed my focus not on him, but above him. “Melody I swear from the heavens to hell if you don’t look at me right this second I will indeed pummel you to the very ground you currently stand on.” He responds to my defiance, but I can hear the thick tone of amusement in his voice as he speaks.

“Brett? Brett where are you? Wait I know! You’re in the car, ready to take me back home this instant. Ah, that’s right. I’m on my way back over to you right this second Brett, don’t worry. I’ll-” As I speak I hear Brett’s overdramatic, exasperated sigh cut through the air.

He throws his hands up into in surrender, “Why? What did I do that was so horrid to have the heavens think it was feasible to place such a curse of a being in my life!” He calls out obtaining an odd look from what appears to be a staff member passing by as he does so, as well as gaining my full attention as I shoot him daggers.

“Hey!” I all but screech at his words ready to lunge at him, though he just pulses with laughter ignoring threatening gaze deadlocked on him. “That’s not very nice.” I pout, crossing my arms over my chest and glaring holes in Brett’s body.

“Okay, I take it back. I take it back.” He states, and I can’t help but give in to the contagious smile he was sporting.

I punch his arms lightly, which he reacts to by overdramatically rubbing the- spot that I hit and calling out that I, ‘brought him to the brink of death’, with my, ‘mighty assault’.

“Really though Melody. You know I hate to see you like this, but you’ve got to get inside. You’re already late as it is and it’s your first day. May as well get it over with rather than dread it for a long while beforehand, or more so banter with me for hours until I drag you in.” Brett tells me with his tone soft yet serious, and a small pout finds its way to my lips.

We stay in silence for a bit, him looking at me as I let my eyes wander from his face to the ground. “I don’t want to go.” I break the silent spell between us.

I hear Brett sigh knowingly at my words, and soon feel a pair of arms wrap around my shoulders and pull me into them. I reciprocate the embrace, placing my arms around his waist and squeezing him tightly, while he places his chin on my head. I bury my head in his chest, hoping I can somehow convince him to let me go home with me.

I am terrified to go inside. Absolutely terrified.

“I’m afraid.” I voice my thoughts to him with my tone at a whisper level, though the way he holds me tighter after I’ve spoken let me know he’s heard me.

His hands rub my upper back in soft circles, a method he’s used to calm me own since we were children. “You’ll be alright, I know it.” He says to me gently and I try to believe him, though I can’t bring myself to believe his words in my own mind.

“Please don’t make me go.” I murmur, though I know it is to no use.

Can’t blame me for trying, right?

“Mellie,” Brett starts, pulling back just a bit so he can glance down at me. “I know you’ve had a rough few years, but you’ve got to do this. You can do this. I believe in you yeah? This college is nothing like your last alright? You’ll do just fine here. I wouldn’t allow mum and dad to send you somewhere I thought would replicate what happened last time.” He tells me and I just nod along at his words, not believing them in the slightest. “You trust me don’t you?” He asks me, and I feel my heart pull at that statement. It’s such a simple question that everyone asks each other that these days. It doesn’t hold much meaning to most people anymore, trust.

Brett and I aren’t most people.

After me deliberately lying to him for almost a year, we’ve definitely had our issues with the trait. That whole situation has left a gaping hole in the wall of our relationship with the sign ‘trust issues’ hanging over it. I almost feel like the word is mocking me everytime it gets brought up.

“Of course I do,” I say to him, and do my best to cover up my hesitation cause by my train of thoughts by hugging him tighter and placing my head back against his chest.

I hear him let out what I believe is a breath of relief, which causes me to be more at ease. “Good. Then trust me when I say that you’ll fit right in here.” Brett says and I can’t help but laugh at his pathetic truth.

“Oh for sure,” I state, sarcasm dripping in my voice causing my brother to shove me away from him playfully. “Hey! I was hugging you!” I said, fake exertion slipping into my tone.

“I’m sorry, I don’t hug pessimistic, college hating humans like you.” He states, his chin held obnoxiously high as he looks down upon me like a child scolding a parent.

“Oh, hush up won’t you?” I say to him and shove him as he did to me minutes ago, and a smile breaks it’s a way onto my face as I recognize he’s back to his playful mood.

For a second I thought I was going to have to deal with an angry Brett.

Let me tell you now, an angry Brett is not a Brett you want to see.

“Alright fun’s over, let’s get on with it.” He states, and I begrudgingly agree with him, and we slowly make our way to my awaiting demise.

Or college, as Brett calls it.

“Fine, fine.” I mutter, and he just throws his arm over my shoulder and smiles animatedly at me as we walk.

“Now that’s the spirit.” Brett states, poking fun at my obvious disliking of heading inside the cursed building. “I mean hey, it can’t be half bad if I’m going to be there with you some of the days.” He says, and I almost snap my neck with how fast I turn to him.

“What!” I practically shout, hoping I didn’t disturb anyone too much with how loud my reaction was. My brother laughs at my reaction and I just slap his arm that isn’t around me, begging him with my eyes to answer my question.

“Wellborn’s the coach for the boy’s football team and asked me to help him out with training the teams, as well as handling the kids that cause riots. I have a special way of controlling them, he told me.” Brett says, and I can’t help but laugh at Mr.Wellbourns nice way of wording Brett’s ‘skills’ with keeping kids under control.

“That’s only because you’re just as rubbish as they are at following rules. You promise them that you’ll help them cheat on tests and pull tricks on teachers if they settle down at practice for you!” I exclaim, and Brett just shakes his head at me as we approach the door I have no interest in opening.

“Now now, that’s just not true Melody. Why would you infer I would do such absurd things?” He says to me, trying to make himself as posh as he can but ultimately failing. I just shake my head at his antics, yet I feel my smile literally flip upside down as he reaches for the door handle.

“Don’t you dare open that door.” I say to him, but he ignores me as he places his hand on the forbidden handle.

“Do you hear something? Because I do.” He mocks me blatantly, “Oh wait! It’s the sound of the door opening!” He continues on, which earns him the glare previously focused on the door to be sharply turned in his direction.

Stupid brother.

“Alright, now we’ll be at the front desk in just a second, so be prepared to act like your over the moon about being here. They love me and I can’t have you putting a damper to my name.” He whispers to me, and I elbow him in the stomach lightly at his comment. “I was just taking the piss!” He says, but I ignore him as we continue our way, well Brett continues his way through the premise with me following in step.

“Brett!” I hear a lady’s voice exclaim as soon as he opens a glass door to my left, and I turn to see a woman around her sixties smiling from behind a desk.

“Angela!” Brett repeats back in the same tone as hers, causing both of them to laugh while I stand awkwardly to the side.

“I didn’t know you got held back a year. I would’ve warned the professors to run while they can.” She teases, and Brett just laughs louder at her comment.

“Oh come on, I wasn’t that much of a trouble maker.” He states, earning him a glare from the sweet old lady as he kept a wide smile plastered on his face. “Although I just wish I could be back in college, that’s not the case. I’m actually here to bring my younger sister in for her first day. She transferred over the summer.” He says and steps aside to my dismay, revealing me to Angela.

“Well hello there! I’m Angela, as you’ve probably picked up on. It’s nice to meet you, darling.” She speaks to me with a warm smile on my face, and I feel one greet a small one to mine as well.

“Uhm, hi.” I say shyly, feeling a little nervous as it starts to sink in that my first day is really beginning.

“My apologies, she’s not usually this shy.” Brett says on my behalf, and I furrow my eyebrows at his false statement and turn to him.

“Shut up. Yes, I am.” I hear a laugh from the side of me and soon remember that there is another person in the room along with me, causing my cheeks to instantly heat up when it dawns on me what I just said with an audience watching. “I’m so sorry. I completely forgot you were here.” I turn and say to her, but she just waves me off in return.

“Wow, way to be attentive and show interest Melody. I did not raise you to be disrespectful.” Brett scolds me in what he calls his “really f*****g cool” father tone.

“I didn’t mean it like that and you know it. Stop taking the piss at me today!” I exclaim, and glare holes into my brother standing a few feet in front of me.

“Stop taking the piss at me today” Brett literally mocks me, bringing his hand up to fake flick hair over his shoulder.

“You’re asking me to hit you, aren’t you!” I raise my voice, but can’t help but smile at Brett’s absurd expression as he impersonates a...constipated penguin?

Kidding, it’s his sassy twelve-year-old girl face.

“Go on, assault me. Angela’s right there and will be used as my witness when I sue you for it.” He informs me with a raised eyebrow, causing me to shoot a hand up to cover my mouth in the reminder that Angela is indeed still in the room with us.

“I am so sorry, again. I don’t mean to be a bother to you or be so childish. I’m normally more composed.” I state while turning to her, completely embarrassed at the banter taking place between me and my wicked brother.

He always finds a way to embarrass me!

“Stop acting like you’re mature, Melody. You were literally singing along to Peppa Pig when I walked into your room a few nights ago. If anyone’s mature here it’s me.” Brett states I feel my face turn beet red at his mortifying declaration.

“Shut up.” I say sheepishly, all defenses knocked down by his blindsiding verbal exposure. I hear a burst of laughter come from Angela, that she seemed to have been attempting to contain. “I was feeling nostalgic!” I say to my defense, but the damage is already done and we all know it.

“The both of you are funny then the comedy shows on my telly!” She states causing Brett to laugh and me to smile through my embarrassment. “No matter how much I’d love to observe the two of you banter all day, it’s approaching the end of form period and you must get off to your first lecture. You’ll need the head start here, trust me.” Angela tells me, and I just nod recapturing my runaway focus and training it on her.

“Alright,” I say simply, and feel myself retreating back into my shell as I prepare myself to take on my day here.

“Now, I’ve printed your schedule here. I’ve got your college laptop as well, and you can set that all up later. Your first lecture is in the D hall, which isn’t too far from here, but it’s best you start heading over now. It’s nine on the dot now, and it starts at nine ten. There’s a map of the campus on the back of the schedule. If you’ve got any questions, feel free to come back here and speak with me, or ask a professor. We’re all more than happy to be of help.” She lays out, and I just nod at her words, not wanting to speak as I feel bile rise up in my throat when I realize I’ll be walking around this college all alone.

“Thank you, Angela, We’ll be going now.” I hear Brett say as he picks up on my anxious state, but his voice seems far away as I focus on breathing properly. I feel his guiding hand on my waist as he leads me to god knows where just out of the room.

Everyone’s going to hate me. I mean how couldn’t they? I’m dressed horribly, why did I let Brett change my mind about my clothing choice? I’m going to make a fool of myself! I should’ve just stayed at my last school, it would be much easier than starting off at a completely new one for my last second year. I can already feel that I’m just going to find a way to wreck my day and my image. Goodness, why do I have to be so-

“Stop doing that. Stop overthinking.” He says to me, and I slowly bring my face to glance at his and realize as well that we’ve come to a halt.

“I’m not thinking.” I whisper softly to him.

I’m totally lying, I was definitely overthinking.

“Oh, hush. I know an anxious Melody when I see one. There’s no getting past me.” Brett teases me playfully, but all I can manage to do is give him a weak smile in return. “Come on now. You’re going to be just fine, alright? You’re too hard on yourself. You look beautiful, you won’t mess everything up, people will love you, you’re not a freak. You’re perfect just how you are and you’re going to fit in perfectly at this school, yeah?” He states, and I can’t help but feel a little warm in my chest when I realize how much my brother really cares about me. Of course, he loves to joke around with me, but he always knows when and how to say the right things.

“Okay.” I say quietly, and he smiles at his feat in getting me to agree with him finally this morning.

“Would you like me to walk you to class?” He asks me but I decline his offer with a small shake of my head. “Are you sure?” Brett continues on, which I speak up to this time.

“I’ll be fine.” I murmur even though I don’t believe it myself.

“Okay then. Like I told you this morning, chin up and forget the fuckers that made you feel shitty. I’ll be one call away to beat anyone up who tries to lay a hand on you, yeah?” Brett reassures me and I can’t help but laugh a bit at his overdramatic reaction.

“Yeah? What if they’re a girl?” I challenge him, curious to see what he’ll come up with last time in rebut to my statement.

“I’ll hire a girl to kick their ass then.” He states simply with a casual shrug of his shoulders. My eyes widen at this response and I slap him lightly on the shoulder. “I kid, I kid.” He says through his laughs as he brings me in for a hug.

We stand in silently, both of us knowing I need this embrace a lot more than I would ever claim to. “Thank you, Brett.” I say softly into his shirt.

“Of course Mellie.” He talks into my hair while I do my best to focus on him and not my thoughts. “You know I love you right?” My brother asks me, and I feel myself tearing up at how sentimental this morning has been for the two of us.

I really don’t know what I would do without my brother in my life.

“I love you too.” I say back, and Brett pulls back to look down at me before he speaks.

“I know that, but I want to make sure you know I love you. I’ll always be here for you. I know I’ve said everything will be alright, but it’s okay to not be okay. If things go wrong you tell me right away yeah? There are always other options, and I don’t want you to feel like your trapped here or not worth enough to take measures to leave another college. You’re not baggage to me or any of that rubbish you think about yourself. Mum and Dad care about you too, so much, and I hate that they work so much because it makes it seem like they don’t. They really do, they’re coming home tomorrow night even, they said they want to be here for you in case things go wrong again. I want you to know that.” He tells me, and I have to force myself not to burst into tears at his words.

“I don’t know what I’d do without you.” I blurt out honestly, and Brett just laughs at my overwhelmed expression.

“I don’t know what I’d do without me either.” He teases, and I just roll my eyes before leaning back into the hug, knowing I’ll have to let go too soon for my liking and head in. “Alright, I’ve taken up to much of your time as it is. You better head in now.” He tells me, squeezing me tight one last time before he steps away causing me to pout and him to chuckle.

“I’ll see you after my last lecture?” I ask him in a way to calm my nerves by being reassured I’ll be out of this hell and back home soon enough.

“Yeah, yeah. Go on now. Wouldn’t want you to be late to your first lecture.” Brett waves me off, giving me a quick kiss on the top of my head before he pushes me towards the back exit of the building that I’m guessing leads to the campus of the school.

“Alright, alright. I’m going.” I say to him, “There’s still time to turn around and take me home!” I call out before I let the door close behind me and I see Brett roll his eyes.

“Oh get on with it!” He shouts back at me before he walks back towards the room we were in before, likely going to speak with Angela.”

I turn and face the campus I have just entered, looking down at my map in hopes to be able to figure it out in the slightest in order to make it to hall D on time for my lecture on a subject I haven’t even checked about yet. Yet when I observe the map and see a bunch of random arrows, twists, turns, circles, and too many other characteristics to it that make no sense in my logical brain, I begin to feel that it will be no use to me. I flip the paper over to check my schedule and confirm I should be heading to god knows where the D hall is, and then begin my aimless wandering in hopes to somehow find my way there within the next few minutes.

I make a turn once I pass a large fountain, heading down a corridor that is lined with doors and closed windows that I am guessing hold classes behind them. I try to find any signs indicating what passage I’m in, but I seem to get a little to distracted by this when I feel myself run into something, most likely a wall. I groan when I feel myself hit the floor, closing my eyes to regain my breath as the air has been knocked out of me based on my shallow breathing.

“You’ve got to be f*****g joking.” I hear a deep voice spit roughly, and I snap my eyes up to have them lay on the most attractive man I have ever witnessed in my entire life.

Definitely wasn’t a wall I ran into then.

Nice going, Melody!

I hear the bell ring interrupting my thoughts, and inwardly cringe realizing that I am indeed late to my first lecture.

What a way to start the day, right?