A Silent Melody

Shiver

Melody and Joey were at school by themselves, Matty resting at home with a cold. He'd jumped into the community pool late at night despite his parents telling him not to. He'd told Melody and Joey to jump in with him, but they refused, feeling it was too cold. Matty was now paying the price.

Melody and Joey rarely spent any time alone without Matty; he was usually with them. They weren't as talkative when he wasn't around. It was more comfortable for them to talk when Matty was around.

They'd walked quietly to school that morning, listening to the chirping of birds and the sound of cars passing by.

They'd spent recess walking around the dirt field talking about Matty and his antics and laughing whenever they remembered a new one. Joey talked about Francis and Sarah, how he liked spending time with them, and how they were always eager to see him each summer. He explained that Sarah was really quiet and lonely at school. She'd tell Joey about how she didn't have any friends and was always excited when Joey came around. He was the only person she felt comfortable talking to, he explained.

They lived an hour away, he said, so he could only visit them during summer when his parents were too busy to watch over him during what were typically school hours. He liked staying with them a while, he explained, but he assured Melody that he much preferred being here with her and Matty.

Recess ended and they headed back to class, their younger schoolmates running around laughing and screaming on their way back to class. Melody and Joey quickly traversed the halls of the school before making it back to class in time.

It was arts and crafts hour, and Ms. Lyon brought out the huge container she kept in storage with all the materials. The students took turns grabbing their materials, Melody and Joey walking up together and rummaging through the container for a few moments before they found what they wanted. They returned to their tiny seats, Joey turning to Melody.

"Do you think I can work on my project alone?" he asked, turning rosy pink, an innocent smile plastered on his face. "I have a surprise for you."

"What is it?" Melody asked, curious.

"You'll see," he said, smiling at her before running to a corner of the room without further consulting her.

Melody sat alone, practicing her drawing and attempting to recreate a bunny, occasionally turning her gaze towards Joey, who sat meticulously staring at something on the small desk he was working on. She continued drawing, finishing the bunny's ears, before looking up to see Joey similarly finishing what he was working on, holding it up his eyes to inspect it. She couldn't make out what it was, only distinguishing its circular shape. She watched as Joey brought it to his lips and quickly kissed it, as if giving it his seal of approval, before looking around to make sure that no one had seen him. Melody quickly turned her head down so as to not attract his attention. Seeing no one had noticed him, Joey threw his project in his pocket and stood, walking excitedly back towards Melody.

"What'd you make?" Melody asked curiously as Joey sat down across her, a slight smile on his face.

"I'll show you during lunch," he said, looking downwards, still smiling. Melody nodded in understanding.

Ms. Lyon ended arts and crafts hour, with everyone returning their remaining materials to the container before starting history. Melody sat at a table next to Joey, turning to him occasionally, watching him smile and clasp his small project in his hand out of her sight.

Class let out for lunch. Melody and Joey grabbed their lunchboxes from their assigned cubbies before heading out to the lunch court. They sat down at a table by themselves, the other students yelling and screaming around them. They didn't hear them. They were cut off from the world around them.

They sat, eating their lunch in silence, their little legs dangling from the table below them. Joey'd brought a homemade sandwich and apple juice, eating them hurriedly before waiting for Melody to finish her lunch, looking at her shyly. Melody had brought a thermos with steamed rice and veggies, eating patiently before finishing and putting the containers away in her lunchbox.

Melody turned towards Joey, who leaned forward in anticipation, his hands clasped on the table before him.

"What was the surprise you had for me?" Melody asked, smiling.

Joey grinned and quickly reached into his pocket to grab his project, handing it over to Melody. She took it, running it through her hands, trying to make out what it was.

It was a small bracelet made of beads, with MELODY spelled out in the center, surrounded by two beads in the shape of hearts.

Melody smiled, turning it over in her hands, before putting it on her right wrist.

"It's a friendship bracelet," Joey said, blushing, "I hope you think of me whenever you see it."

"I will," Melody said, leaning over and giving him a quick hug. "It's so pretty. Thank you so much! I promise I'll wear it every day."

Joey looked up at her surprised. He'd expected her to keep it locked away in her room or throw it in the trash.

The bell rang before he could say anything, and they stood, walking quietly back to class.

The rest of the day passed quickly. School ended, and they walked back to Joey's house talking and laughing.

They stopped outside of his empty house, the two of them facing each other. Joey gulped, not knowing what to say. Melody waited for him to speak.

"Do you want to hang out at my house today?" he asked, his face turned up.

"I can't," Melody said apologetically, "I need to check in on Matty. He's probably waiting for me. Do you want to come with?"

"No, I'm good, I'm feeling a little tired," Joey said, looking down and shifting his feet around, "But tell Matty I said 'hi,' and that I hope he feels better soon!"

"I will," Melody said, smiling, "I need to go. Thank you for the friendship bracelet! It's really pretty." She held her arm up for him to see.

"I'm glad you like it," Joey said, blushing.

"I do, I promise I'll wear it every day. But I guess I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Yeah, see you tomorrow!"

Melody gave him a quick hug before turning the other way, taking off towards Matty's house. Joey watched her running away into the distance, his eyes following his bracelet on her arm, before disappearing around the corner. Joey watched the spot where she'd stood with melancholy.