Touching Melody

22

Maddie

This is About a Boy





I sit up with a start. The sun is beating through the windows. Birds are chirping, their nests built on the tiny ledge along the side of our building. For a split second I think I’m late for class. Then I remember it’s Saturday. The clock on the nightstand says nine sixteen.

Gina is asleep in her bed, her hands tucked under her face.

She’s at peace, I think, noticing how soft her features are without all the stress and worry etched in them.

I pick up my shower bag and quietly go into the bathroom. Leaning against the sink, I stare at my reflection. I expect to see blood everywhere, but my face is clean. I glance down and realize I’m in my sweatpants and a tee.

There are two other girls in the bathroom, standing at other sinks, so I don’t freak out. I can’t help wondering how I got out of my blood stained clothes. Then I notice something dried in my hair. I’m guessing its blood.

I go to an empty shower stall and turn on the water. I wash my hair twice, then once more for good measure, just to make sure I get out all the blood.

“Maddie! Maddie!” Gina screams.

I poke my head out. “What’s wrong?”

She heaves a sigh of relief. “You scared the shit out of me. I woke and you were gone. Why aren’t you still asleep?”

The other two girls getting ready suddenly decide they’re finished and bolt. One glances at Gina.

“What are you looking at? Cunt.”

The other girl lets out an offended huff.

I stifle a giggle. “I’m almost done. Be out in a sec.” I let the water cascade over my body.

“Fine. Just hurry. I’m hungry.”

“For cafeteria food? Or Perky’s?” I can’t help sticking my head outside the shower curtain. Gina rarely eats—ever. Especially not breakfast. When she does eat, it’s usually pastries from the coffee shop, Perky’s, in The Mall. I don’t think she’s ever eaten in the cafeteria.

She seems to understand my curiosity. “It’s not like I have anything against cafeteria food.”

“So, cafeteria then?”

“Why not?” She shrugs. “It could be fun.”

There’s something going on. I can’t believe she’s suddenly okay with eating in there, unless…

“This is about a boy,” I say, turning off the water and throwing on my bathrobe.

She gasps and her eyes get wide. “No it isn’t.”

But I’ve caught her. And I know I’m right. “What’s his name?”

She heads into a bathroom stall to pee. I walk over to a sink. Apply some face lotion, take a towel and rub it through my hair. Wipe the mascara residue out from under my eyes. Apply some lip balm. Gina comes out of the bathroom and washes her hands. I walk over and catch her eyes in the mirror’s reflection.

“Fine. His name is Collin. I met him last night. We were dancing.”

“Oh, yeah. I saw him.” I run my fingers over my eyebrows. They are everywhere. “So, you gonna meet him in the cafeteria?”

She flicks me in the face with water. “Not if you don’t get your ass dressed.” She pushes open the bathroom door. I follow.





The cafeteria is packed. I get a bagel, some cream cheese, and orange juice. Gina gets water and a chocolate muffin. We sit at the little table in the corner. The same one I sat at the first day of class. Gina is nervous. Antsy.

“See him yet?” I can’t help but be amused. She’s usually so laid back, uncaring. This boy has her flustered. It’s funny.

Gina shakes her head.

“I’m going to go get some bacon. Want anything?”

“No.”

I cover my mouth, hiding my shock.

The bacon is in the same area as the eggs, waffles, pancakes, and hash browns. The line is long, but I don’t mind waiting. It gives me the opportunity to think about what happened last night. The way I freaked out.

Kyle seems to care. He seems like a good person. And I know he didn’t kill my parents. My brain comprehends that, but I can’t seem to convince my heart.

“It’s Maddie, right?” Someone taps me on the shoulder.

I turn and am face to face with the two girls who came into the cafeteria with Kyle that first day. They are wearing matching outfits again—cheerleader uniforms. I think that explains a lot.

“Yep.” The line is moving.

Twin One whispers, “Did he take you into his special room?”

“Chain you naked and spread eagle to the bed?” asks Twin Two.

My face scorches with mortification, and I’m not even sure why. “No,” I whisper, keeping my eyes down.

They both giggle. “I think he did.” Twin One laughs. It sounds more like a cackle.

“And she liked it.”

I look up, ignoring the rapid beating of my heart. It isn’t that I’m afraid of these girls. Hardly. It’s only that they are confirming Kyle does things, likes things—sexually—that I don’t understand. “It’s none of your business,” I say, swallowing down some of my irritation.

“Okay,” Twin One says with a shrug.

“But if you ever feel like talking, I’m Beth and this is Baby.” She smacks Twin One on the ass.

“Got it.” Beth and Baby. I won’t forget their names even if I want to.

I finally reach the bacon, but it’s gone. Not wanting to leave empty handed, I put a waffle on my plate. Pour syrup over it and head back to the table.

Collin, the boy Gina is gaga about, is sitting with her. They seem to be deep in conversation. He’s holding her hand, stroking it with his thumb.

Awwwww, I think, knowing I can’t interrupt them. I search the crowded cafeteria looking for a place to sit. Everything is full. I don’t know anyone. The cheerleaders are sitting at the long table with a bunch of people. They keep glancing my way and whispering.

“Come on. You can sit with me.” It’s Kyle. I’ve got mixed feelings about seeing him. He heads over to another small table. Two guys are already sitting there. When they see Kyle, they grab their trays and bolt. Kyle sits and then waves me over.

As I’m sitting, he says, “Glad to see you all cleaned up.”

“Was it you?” Did you wash my face?”

He nods. “Yeah, Gina helped though.”

“And my clothes?”

“Gina’s idea too.” He holds his hands up in surrender. “I swear I didn’t look. Not even a peek.” His lips are curved up and I know he’s trying not to smile. I shouldn’t be paranoid. He took off my shirt the other night. He’s seen me. It’s just weird to think it happened without my knowledge.

He touches my hand. “So what happened?”

I knew he would ask me this, so I’m prepared. “I think it was seeing all the blood. It freaked me out.”

He nods, takes a bite of toast. Then his face gets serious. “I get the feeling there’s more going on. There’s something you aren’t telling me.”

It’s true. But I can’t tell him about his dad. What I saw. Even if I wanted to, I can’t make myself say the words. But I need to tell him something. “I-I saw my parents. When they died. I saw all the blood. They were laying in it.” Saying the words aloud makes me sick. But I’ve told him the truth. As much as I can.

He squeezes my hand. “That makes sense. I’m so sorry. About your parents and last night. I lost my temper. Stuart Morris knows exactly how to push my buttons and I let him. Usually I’m more prepared. But when I saw him mauling you, I lost it.”

I squeeze back. “He’s awful. Him and his six hundred dollar shirts can suck it for all I care.”

Kyle laughs. “Agreed.”

We eat in silence a few minutes. I haven’t had a waffle in a long time. It’s good. When I’m finished I look up. Kyle is watching me, and I wonder how long he’s been doing it.

“What?”

“Nothing. Just admiring the view.”

“Thanks,” I say, embarrassed. “You’re not so bad yourself.”

He leans back in his chair. His face is unreadable. “What did Beth and Baby have to say?”

My face bushes red hot. I can’t help it. “N-Nothing.”

Kyle crosses his arms. “That you know their names and are blushing a beautiful shade of red tells me that isn’t true.”

I look away, spinning the fork in the syrup still on my plate. There’s no way in hell I’m telling him what those girls said. I’d sooner die a horrible death than repeat it.

He rests his chest against the table. I feel it give slightly under his weight. “Your silence speaks volumes, Maddie.”

I glance at him through my lashes. His ice blue eyes stake me through the heart. He licks his bottom lip, and runs a hand through his hair. He’s beautiful. Sexy. Twin One and Twin Two said he tied them to a bed. Then what? I can’t help but think of myself tied to a bed. My legs spread apart. Naked. Nothing but the scented air touching places I’ve never touched. Am I tied so I can’t move? It seems so dirty.

My face flushes hotter.

“Talk to me,” he whispers, playing with my hand.

I want to. I want to look him in the eyes and tell him everything. But not here. “Can we go somewhere? Want to practice our duet?” My “go to” place.

He smiles. “It’s Saturday.”

“And?”

He shrugs. “Sure. Let’s go.” We stand together. Take our trays and drop them off.

I glace at the table where Gina and I sat. She isn’t there, and neither is Collin. I pull out my phone to text her, and see she’s already texted me.

You and Kinky Kyle. Nice! =) I’m spending the day with Collin. Catch you later.

Be safe.

Don’t worry, VTG.

I shake my head.

“What?” Kyle asks, glancing over my shoulder.

“Gina. She’s started calling me,” I pause and pull him down so that I can whisper in his ear, “VTG.”

He gives me a confused look.

“It stands for Virgin Tattooed Girl. She finds it hilarious that I’ve got tattoos but haven’t...” I can’t finish.

Kyle chuckles, wraps his arms around my waist.

Twin One says, “Get a room.”

I feel Kyle’s body tense.

“Let’s get out of here,” I say and wink, hoping that’ll relax him. I think it works because he takes my hand and we walk out of the cafeteria together.