Always There

First Dates and Bad Movies

The girls spent the morning together, talking about everything from school work to boys. By noon Melody and Kayla decided it was time to head home, Kayla had to practice her cello and Melody wanted to be home on the off chance that Neal decided to call. Melody stood on the curb outside her house staring at her door. She had no idea how she would be greeted when she came inside. If Nick would be there, or how angry her father would be. She took a deep breath and braced herself for whatever would come her way upon entering her home.

She walked inside and it was quiet. Almost eerily quiet. Then she heard the dampened sound of RUSH blaring from her brother's room with the door closed. She smiled and ran to his room, opening the door slightly to peak her head in.

"Hey ass hole, turn it down." She greeted him with a smile.

Nick opened his eyes and sat up from where he was laying on the ground. He smiled at his little sister. "Well hey there, you ray of sun shine you." He greeted sarcastically.

"Ha ha, very funny. Seriously though, good to have you home." She was happy to see him.

"Hey." She went to leave but stopped at his words. "Look, dad told me what you said. And well, just.. thanks ok? I appreciate it. That took some real balls."

"Well someone had to say it." she smirked at him. "Was he mad?" She asked coming into the room.

"Not no, not yes? He's dad you know, there's always just a pretty strong base level of anger. But I think whatever specifically you said got to him because he seemed as sorry as dad can get." He replied turning his music down so they could talk.

"So on a scale of 1-10 how much do you think I'm going to get yelled at?" She asked simply.

"Right now? Probably a 7. If you wait him out though probably only a 4 if you piss him off. Just don't approach him independently."

"Noted." She laughed.

"Hey, by the way, a boy called for you this morning." He teased her. She perked up at this news smiling a little too excited. "Ooo, Melody's got a boyfriend." he said in a sing songy voice.

"Shut up!" She laughed throwing pillow at his head.

"And she's not denying it," He teased again.

"Okay.. maybe I do." She smiled widely. It felt nice to say.

"Really? Who is it?" He asked now intrigued. They never talked like this, it was nice to hear his sister actually tell him about her life.

"I don't if I sh-"

"Come on, you gotta tell me now." He looked at her excitedly.

"Alright," She rolled her eyes smiling at him. He was such a goof. "You know Neal Schweiber?" she asked hesitantly. He looked at her confused obviously drawing a blank on the name. "He's one of Sam's friends." She elaborated, but the name Sam obviously didn't mean anything to him either. "Lindsey's brother. Sam who you just lived at his house all week." She raised her eyebrows as she looked at him shocked. This was a new level of slow, even for him.

"Ohhhh, right." He said a moment later when it hit him. He was obviously already baked out of his mind. Then he thought for a moment obviously trying to remember Sam's friends. "Is Neal the mouth breather or the midget?" he laughed as he imagine them.

She looked at him offended. "He's not that short!" She replied defensively. Nick just laughed at her and she couldn't help but smile in return. "Ok, he's pretty short." She laughed with her brother. "But I don't care, he's sweet. And he makes me laugh. So don't call him a midget."

Nick raised his hands in surrender. "Hey if you're happy I'm happy." He laughed in his sweet Nick Andopolis goof ball way.

"What'd he say when he called?"