POISON - Billy Hargrove

- Five -

 Nancy adored Melanie's idea of dressing as Madonna for Halloween.

"I wish I had thought of that first," she said, when Mel first told her.

Nancy Wheeler was a truly beautiful girl. Her wavy, brown hair framed her sculpted facial features wonderfully. It was no wonder Steve was so infatuated with her.

The sun set slowly on Saturday evening, officially beginning the Halloween festivities. Melanie excitedly put on her costume. First, a cropped, black tank top that exposed most of her toned stomach, and a matching black pair of leather pants. Over the tank top was a black, frayed mesh, off the shoulder top. She tucked the fishnet-mesh top into her leather jeans and layered on accessories. She piled on layered beads, chunky, studded bracelets, and a thick belt before heading upstairs and banging on the bathroom door.

"Dustin!" she shouted. "Let me in! My makeup is in there!"

The bathroom door creaked open just enough for Dustin to stick his hand out. In it was Melanie's red makeup bag. She went back to her bedroom and applied a signature Madonna makeup look. It smelled a bit of mildew down there, considering it was the basement, but Melanie didn't mind. She often lit candles to lessen its intensity, and enjoyed having the large space to herself.

The faux-wood alarm clock beside her bed showed the time. Steve and Nancy would be at her doorstep any moment, and they were rarely late.

Melanie waited on the doorstep, the cold air nipping at her skin. The front door opened loudly.

"Mom, I'm leaving!" Dustin shouted. Lately, his voice tended to squeak when he raised it.

Dustin was dressed in full, khaki Ghostbusters gear. According to him, he and the boys had been working on the props to go along with their costumes for weeks. It was honestly impressive, considering their age.

"Looking good, kiddo," Melanie chuckled, turning her head to face him.

He gave her a wide grin before nodding up towards the driveway. "I think that's your ride."

"You would be correct," she replied, rising from her seat on the porch steps. "You be safe, yeah? Make good choices."

"Yep!" he called back, running down the steps past her. "Make bad choices and talk to strangers!"

"Goddamn it, Dustin," Melanie cackled, following him towards the driveway but turning towards Steve's car.

"Look at you, Lady Henderson," Steve smirked, peering at me through the rearview mirror. He started his car and backed out of the Henderson's driveway, quickly heading down the road.

"St. James," Melanie corrected him for what had to be the millionth time.

"He still calls you Henderson?" Nancy asked, turning around in the passenger to look at me. "Holy shit, you look hot, Mel."

"Yeah?" Melanie asked, blushing at the compliments from both Nancy and Steve.

While flattered nonetheless, Melanie didn't really need her friends to tell her she looked hot. She knew it. She'd never admit it or brag, of course, but she was well aware that this look complimented every aspect of her hair, face, and body. She lucked out in the genetics department, being built awfully small in the waist but with enough of a chest and behind to give her a small hourglass shape.

By the time the three arrived at Tina's party, the sun had gone completely down. Thumps of music and dancing rang from the large home; they were definitely on the rich side of town. After being handed cups filled with fruit juice and cheap vodka, Nancy and Steve soon took off. Melanie finished hers quickly, moving deeper into the teen-filled house. Not wanting to be completely alone, she found a few familiar faces, refilled her drink and began to dance.

Two and a half hours in and everyone was surely plastered, including Melanie. Van Halen's "You Really Got Me" blared through the house so loudly that you could feel it shake the floor. Three vodka juices and four shots in, Melanie found herself dancing with a stranger. He wore a leather jacket, bare chest underneath, and smelled of alcohol, cologne, and cigarette. One of his hands pulled roughly at her hips, the other holding a bottle of liquor. He held her waist in place, forcing her ass to stay pressed against his body. She pushed into him, sloppily dancing and singing along to the song as it picked up. The heat between the two was intense, and Melanie's eyes were closed, a big drunken smile plastered across her face. As the song reached its climax, he spun her and roughly grabbed her jaw, squeezing the bottom of her face as he tilted her head upwards and forced her mouth to open. He held it, raised the bottle in his spare hand and poured a shot directly into her mouth. As she took it, he dropped the bottle and hungrily crashed his mouth to hers, her jaw still tightly in his hand. He growled into the kiss, pulling her bottom lip between his teeth, causing Melanie to let out a small giggle. She pressed her hands to his chest as he dropped her jaw and pulled away. It was glistening with sweat and alcohol.

"Give me just a sec," she spoke in his ear, standing on her tiptoes slightly to reach it. An earring dangled against her nose as she did so, making her giggle again.

Beginning to realize just how drunk she was, Melanie stepped away from the stranger and made her way outside. Bumps rose from her skin as she stepped out into the cold Halloween air.