Within The Shadows.✅ (WLW)

7 | Happy

It's late and most people have left by now. Except... you guessed it, the Larson's. Lizzy did leave though. Thank God for that, I don't think I could have handled any more Barbie tonight.

I excused myself to go shower, Nate had already headed up to bed by now.

Finally getting the dress off, with a mission. I step out of my heels. Into the relaxing shower.

After washing my hair and eventually getting all the hairspray and makeup off. I step outside.

My music still playing.

"I see you still listen to music while you shower." I always listen to music when I shower, it keeps the shower thoughts away.

"Shit Ava, you want to give me a heart attack at the age of 23?" I jumped so much; that I almost dropped my towel.

I turn around and she looks me up and down, not even being discreet about it. Before she looks at the bed frowning.

"Where is Mr. Fiancé?" Of course. As you know Nate and I don't sleep in the same room.

"Not that it's any of your concern, but Nate and I sleep in separate rooms. So, if you don't mind, I'd like to get dressed now." I stare at her hoping she'll get the hint and leave.

"Oh, I don't mind. It's not like it's something I haven't seen before. " Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I lost my virginity to Ava in high school. If I must say, it was the best damn sex I had so far. Not that I can compare to anyone else but her, but hay.

Huffing, I take my clothes off my bed and walk into my walk-in closet to get dressed.

"You know I was just wondering...how come Nate is in a different room when his beautiful fiancé is right here." I hear her coming closer. I can't help but feel the heat forming from my neck up. Fuck, why am I blushing?

The moment I'm fully dressed. She stops at the door. Just looking at me.

"I Uhm...my mom...you know." Great Mel, just fucking great. Why don't you just tell her how her words affect you? I mentally facepalm myself.

She just smirks. Standing there looking sexy as fuck.

"Shouldn't you be... you know, downstairs?" I ask but get no response. "With your parents?" I continue.

"Nah I enjoy it more here." Is she... flirting with me?

"Oh, okay cool." Melanie, you're going with that.

A few moments pass, and what feels like hours. We are just standing in my closet, staring at each other. You can cut the tension with a knife.

"You know, I thought that dress would look better on the floor, I was just hoping you wouldn't be dressed at all." And there go my checks again. Red as a tomato. Trying to hide my face I look down at where the dress is.

Jup flirting. When I feel my face cooling off a bit I look up and see Ava walking up to me. I step back till my back is against my cupboard. Fuck. Trapped and with a person I'm highly attracted to.

"Are you really happy Mel?" She asks tucking my hair behind my ear.

"W... why wouldn't I be I'm getting married." I stutter. Fuck why does she have to have this effect on me?

"Shit, I'm getting married." I come to realize how close I am to her, and I'm engaged. I can't be this close to her.

So, I move, bumping her out of the way.

"So, you said. But that's not what I asked Mel." She stays in my closet, while I freeze at the door. Keeping my back to her.

I slowly turn around. "Why wouldn't I be happy? I have a man that loves me, cares about me, and treats me right. A man that my parents approve of." With that, I can see the hurt crossing her face. Maybe it's for the better, I need her to hate me. Otherwise, I don't know what would happen.

Without saying a word, she walks past me. Stopping at my bedroom door.

"I'm happy for you Mel. I am." And with that, she closes my door and heads back downstairs.

I let out a breath, I didn't even know I was holding, falling onto my bed.

You did the right thing, Mel.

I know I did, but why do I feel like shit about it? I know Ava can't help how my parents feel. Yet I tried to blame her even when it wasn't her to blame.

But I worked 5 years to rebuild my relationship with my parents, I'm not going to throw it all away again. Maybe we can still be friends though?

I realized they had left because I heard my parents going to their room.

Me

Hey, I got your number from your mum the other night after dinner.

I was wondering if you would like to maybe have breakfast tomorrow.

P.S. It's Melanie.