• tab I put some more eye liner around my red, puffy eyes. I look at my face again. A yellow bruise mocks me in the mirror. I glance around for my blush, and then apply some more to the mocking bruise. It won't happen again! I remember how he said it last night after he made me fall. I heard a loud knocking at the door. I jump up, my eyes alert. I brushed my dress nervously and run to the door. "Hey...” I murmured, making myself look up at his face. His jaw was clenched. "Why don't you come in, Scott?" I asked, my voice slightly shaking. He pushes me out of his way and storms in. Scott goes to the sofa and puts his feet on the coffee table. I slowly walk towards him. "So what are we going to do tonight?" I ask, sounding almost too hopeful we would do something in public. Scott narrows his eyes. He stands up, looking down on me. "So you think every time I come over I am going to spend all my money on you?!" I slump back. "We don't have to do anything expensive. We could go to the park or lake..." I mumbled. His hand flashed across my face. I stumbled back, my mouth agape. Scott glares at me and leaves.
    tab I sit up in my bed, the room still dark. I swing my legs over to the edge and walk over to my mirror. A red handprint shined out on my right cheek. Tears spring to my eyes. I get dressed and go back to my makeup kit, trying to make all my bruises go away. An hour later, everything looks a little better. I sigh, and walk out my door. A crisp wind blows against my little house. I start walking, hoping to get somewhere. A small crowd stands in a driving lot. Farmer's market is printed on a sign. I smile slightly and sprint over to the market. I stop dead as I saw a guy with dark brown hair and fare green eyes. I find myself walking towards him. He turns around and smiles a dazzling smile. "Hello, I'm John." He says. I grow red, brushing my cheek. "I'm Melody." I murmured. He smiles again, and stares at my cheek in horror.
    tab I shifted, starting to feel uncomfortable. John’s eyes clouded in worry and confusion. “Are you okay? What happened?” He demanded. My throat started to clench as I wiped my eyes. “I fell…” I whimpered, looking away from the John’s face. “You fell.” John repeated. He laughed with no humor in his laugh and looked up at the azure sky. Unable to help myself, I giggled. I looked shyly into John soft green eyes. He slightly smiled and put an arm around my shoulder. “Tell me what happened.” He said, leading me away from the crowd. And I told him. Everything.

    ~


    tab “So you have a boyfriend named Scott?” He asked, making sure he had gotten everything right. “Yes.” I sighed, flinching at his name. We stood on a bridge watching the sun set. I looked around for my jacket. “I’m going to be meeting up with Scott at seven…” I murmured, glancing at my golden watch. My mouth went agape as I saw the time. 6:45. I looked up at John, my eyes full of fright. John shifted uncomfortably. “You can tell him you lost track of time.” He said hopefully. I threw him a look of disgust. “Do you want me to have a hand print off my other cheek?” I sneered, starting to walk off. John snickered. “Which one?” He managed to get out. I flipped around. “You are nasty!” I hissed and got in my car. Tears were streaming down my cheeks as I raced down the streets.

    ~


    tab Tears steadily ran down my cheeks as I glare out the windshield. I wipe my eyes, feeling pathetic and lonelier than ever. I slam on the break as I hit a red light. Sighing, I rubbed my eyes glaring up at the lights. Without helping it, I glance at my watch. 6:50. I wipe my eyes again and pressed on the gas as the light turned green. A small flicker of hope warms in me as a speed to my house. I don’t have too much to do when I get home… I think to myself, nearly aloud.
    tab I approach my small house in a matter of minutes. Sprinting up the stairs, I grabbed eye liner in one hand and blush in the other. I sat down quickly and applied some blush to my dull cheeks. I flip around to my clock by my bed. I sighed to myself and turned back to the mirror. My usually bright hazel eyes where a dull blue gray. I turned to grab more makeup when I heard the doorbell ring. I jump in my seat as my heart started to race. I take a quick breath, throwing my makeup its basket. I pause for a second to smooth out my faded blue jeans and sprint back down the stars. “Come in!” I called to Scott, who had already opened the door. “Sorry I’m late.” He grumbled, wrapping his arms around me into a hug. I melted into his firm grasped, remembering this was why I loved him. As fast as the hug began, it ended. I softly smile, looking into Scott’s blue eyes. My cheeks turn crimson as I glance down. Scott narrows his eyes, watching me carefully. “Something is wrong.” Scott accused softly. I look up into his eyes again. I manage not to narrow my eyes. Of course there is something wrong! I thought harshly. I carefully controlled my face reactions and keep my face smooth. “You think so?” I asked, slightly tilting my head. Scott twitched his lip and shrugged. I was tempted to ask him if he got therapy, but I bit my tongue. Last time I brought up the subject, it didn’t go well. We talked for about two hours with nothing big happening to interrupt us. Scott finally sighed and stood up. “I better get going.” He froze and looked at me with a sheepish smile. “Do you mind if I come over tomorrow?” I smiled and gave him a hug. Scott grimaced to my touched, and then hugged me back. “Of course that’s okay.” I murmured, looking into his eyes. He kissed me on the cheek and walked out the door. I quickly wash off my makeup and fell asleep the second my head hit the pillow.

    ~


    tab The sun shone brightly in my face. Talkative birds sat in a nearby tree, chattering away. I stood up, feeling better than I have in days. A contented sigh escaped my lips as I sprinted into the kitchen.

    .:Scott’s POV:.

    tab I glanced at the clock. 8:15. Smiling to myself, I grab my keys and head out the door. I drove for a few blocks and pulled into her driveway. “Scott!” Natalie cried. “Come in, babe!” She purred, giving him a quick kiss. “It’s nice to see you again.” He purred back. Natalie stepped back, inviting him in.

    :Melody’s POV:.

    tab I sat down on a chair, waiting for Scott. With a pang, I realized Scott didn’t tell me when he was coming. I sigh to myself, resting my head on my arm. Over two hours pasted until I heard someone at the door. I perk up, running to the door. Scott stood at the door. “Hey Melody.” He said as he walked in. “Hi.” I murmur, smiling. I smiled as I watched him talk. The door flung open, interrupting Scott in mid-sentence. “Melody!” It was John, standing in my door way. “How did you find me?” I hissed. Scott shot me a look with narrowed eyes. “Who is this?!” Scott growled, blocking my view of John. “I met him at the farmers market yesterday.” I choked out. Scott pushed me back. “Stop lying.” He growled me. John ran in and got in between us. “Melody is telling the truth.” John insisted, looking at Scott with wide eyes. “I wouldn’t do that to you!” I whimpered to Scott. He narrowed his eyes, pushing John easily out of the way. John stood next to me, whipping the brush off my cheek. Scott’s handprint shone for everyone to see. He ran for John first, punching him square in the face. “Scott!” I cried. “Stop!” Tears trickled in my eyes. While John tried to get over the punch, Scott padded towards me. I stepped back, one hand stayed protectively by my head and the other out in front of me. “Please…” I whispered as a tear soared down my cheek. Scott’s eyes softened for a second, but went back to how it was and charged at me. Panic-stricken, I tripped over my own two feet and fell on one of my candles with a glass case. Everything seemed to go in slow motion when I fell; John standing up, trying to save me from my fall or even possibly from Scott. The glass shattered under me, cutting under my eyes. I struggled to stand up, to help John. I caught sight of myself in one of my mirrors as I tried to stand up. Blood flowed down my cheeks like tears, leaving a red tint to my skin. “Melody…” John whispered his eyes wide. I blinked my eyes, starting to feel faint. “How could you do this?!” John roared to Scott. When Scott didn’t answer, he ran to my side. “Are you alright?” John asked his voice soft. Everything started to get blurry, and then went back.

    ~


    tab I woke up in a clean white room with machinery on a few sides of the wall. How did I get here? I tried to think of what had possibly happened to make me wake up in a hospital. Memories of the past day flooded my head. I sighed, starting to get a migraine. A nurse in pink scrubs came in. “Hello, Melody. How are you feeling, Hun?” How do you think I feel? I just got beat up by my boyfriend to the point I’m in the hospital?! I manage a smile. “Alright.” I managed. “Well, there is a boy waiting to talk to you.” She said. “He is mighty fine.” She added with a grin. I blushed slightly and glanced at my heart rate. “You should be out soon.” The nurse told me, and then added again with a grin. “By the way, my name is Carla.” I nodded and thanked the nurse, then laid on my side. “Hey Melody.” Someone said. I glanced over my shoulder. My eyes brightened to my expense. “Hey John. My nurse said I will be able to leave soon. I don’t get why you had to take me to the hospital though.” I threw a dirty look to John, but there wasn’t any humor in his eyes. I glance away, looking at one of the tubes on my hand. “What about you? Why aren’t you in tied up in a bed? ” I asked, still refusing not to look into his eyes. “I’m fine. I wasn’t the one crying blood.” I cringed into the pillow at his words. I looked into his eyes, finding them tender. John smiled, padding next to my bed. “After you passed out, they took Scott away.” He told me, slightly smiling. I groaned, looking away. John’s eyes clouded with confusion. “What’s the matter?”
    “Everything.”
    “That’s can’t be.” I glare into John’s eyes. I opened my mouth to say something, but nothing came out. I sighed, a little too deeply, and stare out into the hall. “I just want everything to go back to normal.” I whisper. John narrowed his eyes. “You want to go back to having Scott beat you?”
    “Only if it would mean everything goes back to normal.” I look back at John’s face to see his reaction. This time, he sighs and sits on the end of the bed. “I knew you were something when I first met you…” He grumbled. I chuckled, turning to look at him. “I knew you were something too.” I murmured. John grinned to me as I sheepishly smile back. “So you and Scott are done?” John asked, eyeing me. I shrugged, thinking about it. “You said he is locked up.” I said matter-of-factly. John laughed lightly. “I guess I did.” He murmured. We sat in silence for a few minutes, enjoying each other’s company. John broke the silence with a sigh and looked into my eyes. “Do you want to press charges on Scott?” He asked his voice serious. I blinked my eyes in surprise. “Should I?” I wondered. John smiled warmly. “Only if you feel that it is necessary.” I smile back. “I don’t think that it is too necessary,” I told him. John looked like he was about to reject, but I gave him a stern look, “but he should be put behind bars.” Without helping myself, I grin. John rolls his eyes at me. “Whatever you say…” Carla walked back into the room. “Hey ho-“ She stopped, and then grinned over to John. Carla padded over to us, glancing at us both. “You need to get some rest, dear.” Carla told me, looking at John the whole time. “You can come with me.” She purred, meaning for John. He shoots me a panic-stricken look. I giggle back. “Alright…” I murmured as the nurse gave me some drugs that put me into a deep, dreamless sleep.

    Light danced on my eyelids, waking me up from my peaceful sleep. I heard murmuring outside of my door as she sat up in the hospital bed. Another nurse walked in. “Hello, Melody.” She smiled. “I hope we didn’t wake you.” She added shyly. I smiled, happy to have John visit me this morning. The nurse stepped aside, reviling Scott. I twitched nervously as he came in. His eyes were solemn as he approached the bed. “I’m so sorry.” He whispered. “I didn’t know what has gotten over me.” Scott’s finger brushed lightly across one of the scars under my eyes. “They will heal.” I mutter, glancing out of window. Scott sat down next to me. “I will never really mean to hurt you.” He murmured into my ear. He pulls me into a kiss; which really surprised me. My eyes flash open, and then close, enjoying his kindness. The door opens suddenly as Scott pulls back and narrows his eyes at the newcomer.