Melody x Joseph Quinn

Chapter 3

***TW ABUSE MENTIONED***

I enter the building through the back of stage 3, as I walk in I quietly start to make my way around up to where filming is taking place. I walk by familiar faces and as I smile I put my finger up to my mouth so they know that me being here is a secret. I finally made it up towards the front and caught the last couple of minutes of the scene.

I saw two of my best friends, Keery and Maya, up on stage filming alongside a guy I haven't seen or met before. I wasn't completely sure if I knew his name, but he looked awfully familiar. The new guy was going on a banter during this scene while talking to Joe- although technically Steve. Then I saw Maya come up behind Joe and start talking to the new guy.

"Uh Eddie. I'm not sure I love the idea of you driving"

"Oh I'm starting this sucker, Harrington's got her. Don't ya big boy"

Hearing that last line and seeing Joe's face made me giggle. Clearly that was not part of the script as I see other people laughing beside me. They continued to film the last couple lines from the scene and then I heard someone that sounded a lot like Matty yell, "CUT! That's a wrap for today, you all did amazing!" but when I turn to look for him I don't see him. Oh well, I'll see him later. I started to look for the new guy but he disappeared after filming ended. Weird.

When I heard that and got the okay from the camera man, I walked up onto the stage and said loud enough for Maya to hear, "I sure hope that you're fine with me driving". She turned to look at who had said that, and then she saw me.

"ALLIE!" Maya screamed as she ran up to me grabbing me into a bear hug. Next thing I realize is that I am getting lifted and spun in the air by Joe and him telling Maya to share. I winced in pain because Joe was squeezing my stomach a little too hard while spinning me. Joe seemed to notice but I was hoping he shrugged it off. "Where the hell have you been Allie?" Joe asked as he set me back down on my feet again and we started to walk back to Maya and Joe's dressing rooms.

"Well I was forced to spend the past week with Frank, so I wanted to actually enjoy myself for the rest of the transition between summer and fall semester" I said beaming at him and Maya. "Was Laura at least there?" Joe asked. "Yeah for a little bit, but she had to work a lot of double shifts since the hospital let more people go," I responded.

"Did he- you know?" Maya said as she looked at me worried. "Not really-" I started as Joe cut me off. "Allie there is no "not really", that means yes, that he did hurt you" he said as he rushed me into his dressing room locking the door behind him as soon as Maya walked through. Before I could say anything else Joe started to take off my jacket for me, "Uh, Joe? What are you doing?" Maya asked. He continued to struggle with my jacket as I was trying to fight him. "Woah! Joe at least take me on a date first" I said jokingly as he stared at me. His eyes said he was not in the mood for jokes and I stopped trying to fight him. Once he got my jacket off he saw that I had on a long sleeve shirt. "Take it off," he said emotionlessly. I looked back and forth between him and Maya and eventually Maya said "Allie just do it".

I slowly started to take off my shirt as I knew what Joe's reaction would be. When I got my shirt just above my bra line, my skin revealed large, deep, blue-purple, and green bruises all over my stomach area, ranging all the way to my back.

"Oh my god" Maya whispered, barely audible. I looked over to Joe and saw his eyes fill with rage and anger at the sight of me. Not towards me, more specifically the bruises ON me, that Frank caused.

"Maya, out. Now." Joe stated, half yelling, clearly meant to intimidate Maya to make her listen because he knew she wouldn't listen any other way.

Maya slowly unlocked the door and walked out blowing a kiss to me as she shut the door. Tears started to make their way into the corner of my eyes and I was trying the best that I could to hold them back. I took a couple minutes to compose myself and hide my tears and turned to face Joe.

Joe just looked at me and sighed, asking "Allison, why didn't you tell me," he only says my full name in serious situations and it's obvious he's hurt that I hid this from him. I have always gone to him every other time this has happened. "Because Joe, you have been filming Season 4 and I know how important this season is. I came up with most of the plot for it and I also didn't want to bother my friend with my drama-filled life" I replied, unable to hold back my tears as they started rolling down my cheeks. Joe reached over and wiped them away.

"Allie you would never bother me if you come to me with this. No matter what I'm going through, what you're going through, even if we are fighting, you can always come to me with this. Anything for that matter. I am always here for you always," Joe said as he put his hand on my shoulder and smiled at me. "Thank you Joe," I said while leaning in for a hug, "I couldn't ask for a better friend", "I know. I'm pretty fucking amazing" Joe said as we stood hugging each other and laughing.

"Okay it's getting hot in here, let's go, Maya is probably waiting"

"After you m'lady" Joe said smirking. "Oh hey Allie..."

"Yeah Joe?" I said turning around to face him with my hand on the door knob, "You might want to put your shirt and stuff back on before you open the door so no one gets the wrong idea about us"

"Oh shit, yeah you're right" I responded laughing, "And we don't want Matt and Ross after you either" I looked over and he was smiling, "Yeah I would also like to keep my job" Joe said laughing.

I put my shirt on and looked over to Joe, seeing he turned away on his phone so he wasn't looking at me changing. He's the sweetest person ever. He's already seen me shirtless many times before when he helped take care of my other cuts and bruises, but he always turns around so he isn't looking at me longer than he has to.

I giggled to myself, "I'm ready mom"

"Okay, let's go shithead"