Young Melodrama

act 3 + 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑠𝑜 𝑔𝑜𝑙𝑑𝑒𝑛 𝑠𝑖𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑓𝑙𝑎𝑔𝑠

_____• ° ○ ✦ • ʏᴏᴜɴɢ ᴍᴇʟᴏᴅʀᴀᴍᴀ • ✦ ○ ° •_____

I stare at the blank page of a new email in front of me. I'm worried. He hasn't said anything in days and I can't help but think about it because it hasn't happened before. I go back and scroll down his old messages and realize an odd pattern. They were short and formal. That's unlike him. Hope you're okay. I write and send it to him. I hope he's fine. He has to be.

Mom is going to be here soon. She's gonna come in with full rage. She's definitely gonna kill me. I hurry back to the bed, away from my dad's laptop. I pack my bag as thoughts of her banging on the door storms into my mind. Shit! I didn't think of an excuse. Does it even matter? She's gonna yell, anyway. I pace around the room, looking for something I can't put my finger on.

"Um..." My eyes dart around the room. I don't find anything I need for school. "Fuck it," I mutter. I grab my bag and don't bother arranging the room. I can do that later. I just want to get out of this house and go to school so I can avoid her face this morning.

I run into the kitchen, praying there are some chips or any snacks in the cabinet. Now I'm regretting the fact that I stuff my mouth with snacks while watching tv even though I'm not hungry. I see a bag of chips tied inside a black nylon. That means it's opened before. It's not like I have a choice. I can't start cooking oats. Once she arrives, I'm sure I will lose my appetite. I grab the chips and some biscuits. I approach the fridge and open it. As I stuff two bottles of orange juice in my bag, I quickly glance at the door. Let me take one more.

I walk out of the kitchen while trying to close my bag. When I hear a knock on the door, my heart sinks. I freeze with my gaze on the door. I swallow. Should I run to my room instead and go out through the window? But the door is open. I slowly drop my bag on the floor and a shudder rush down my spine. She's gonna keep knocking until I answer. Or barge in instead, since she has a key. I sigh and go to the door. I can't avoid her forever. It's better to face her with no one around than in public. Worse, in school.

I clear my throat and pull the door knob. The door opens and I begin to blurt out every excuse that comes to mind. "I wanted to come, but it's-" The Mayor? I freeze at the sight of him. What is he doing here?

"Morning, Mel." He smiles at me.

I snap myself out of it. "Good-Good morning, sir. My mom, she's not here." He's not here for her, is he?

Hugh looks like his father except he doesn't wear different colors of suits every day. Today's green. "Oh, I was looking for you."

God, no.

He continues. "Are you ready for school?"

Say no and he will invite himself to discuss the same thing as always. "Yes. I'm about to head out." I answer, still wearing a forced smile.

"Great. I was hoping to give you a ride."

Fuck. Me.

I try to keep the smile broad, even though my face wants to melt in frustration and agony. "What?"

"You don't want a ride?" He raises an eyebrow.

The thing is that you can't say no to the Mayor. You can't say no to a Grayson even. Their presence is intimidating. "I'll grab my bag," I tell him and turn around. "Fuck!" I mouth to myself. Exhaling, I get my bag.

"Let's go then." He smiles.

The worst thing is not just being in the car with him, but also with Hugh. The silence between us he wouldn't let be, instead he would interfere with pretence that makes him seem like he cares. I want to crawl out of my skin and run at the thought of sitting with him, but I hold up a grateful smile. It's like getting kidnapped by your own will.