The perfect melody

chapter 4

Melody's POV

Hadley and I say our goodbyes because she has to close at work today. I go into my apartment and open the strange package that appeared on my door step. 

I open the box and inside is just a letter that says "You didn't think you could hide from me forever did you? -Elijah" 

My heart immediately drops and I let the letter fall to the floor. I back away trying to catch my breath but it feels like my entire world is caving in on its self. How did he find me? And what could he possibly want? 

I thought we went our separate ways and that It was mutual but I guess I was wrong. What if he just showed up here one day then what? My heart feels as if its about to jump out of my chest and my mind is going a mile a minute with all of the different outcomes of him coming back into my life. I sink down to the floor with my knees up attempting to calm myself but nothings working. 

I decided to start baking because that always calmed me whenever I felt out of control. 

I went with something light and easy and made chocolate chip cookies. After I finished I started cleaning up my mess. I felt a little better but I was still on edge from the fact that he knew where I lived and could show up at any moment. 

I shake that thought from my head once again and start taking out my trash. I have to hype myself up to actually bring the trash to the Shute down the hall. I'm dumping the bag down when I hear footsteps coming from the direction of the stairs. 

My heart starts racing and tears start to form as My mind runs through everything that could happen. 

"Hey. are you okay?" I hear that deep voice that I've come to grow comfortable with and instantly feel more relieved 

He walks over and puts his hand on my shoulder turning my body towards him 

"Geez. What happened?" He says considering I've been crying for about two hours now I probably look like shit. 

"You know I've never been more happy to see your stupid face" I take a deep breath trying to get ride of the lingering shivers I have 

"Do you want to talk about it?" He asks 

"Not really but I'd love the company right now." I say with my shoulder slumping and my remaining energy depleting

"Ok" he says walking back to my apartment. Now that I think about it I've never seen the inside of his apartment. 

I fall back onto the couch and take deep breaths. I feel Bailey take a seat next to me.

"Do you want to talk or would you rather sit in silence." he asks in a tone of voice that I never heard. 

"silence please" I say with my head down and fidgeting with my fingers. 

Bailey's POV

I have no clue what I just got myself into but I hope its worth it to keep her distracted. In the few days I've known her I have never seen her look so disheveled. She's always so feisty and upbeat but right now she looks broken and I'd take the feisty Melody over this one any day. 

I Notice her fidgeting with her fingers but not like the other time I've seen her do it. She did it unconsciously and I don't think she notices the fact that she's starting to dig into her skin.

 I place my hand over hers to stop her from injuring herself further. 

"You know I can't help you if I don't know whats wrong" I say while rubbing circles on her hand 

"I- I don't know how to talk about it." She says hanging her head low and refusing eye contact

"How about we start with what happened after your friend left." I say trying to keep my voice low and calming so I don't put her on edge 

Instead of saying anything she gets up and grabs a paper off of the table. She hands me the paper and sits back down on the couch. 

"You didn't think you could hide from me forever did you? -Elijah" 

"who's Elijah?" I ask unable to look away from the uneasy letter 

"My ex." She says 

"Melody I don't want to push you to talk if you don't want to but I can't help if I don't know anything" I say putting the letter down and grabbing both of her hands.

She takes a deep breath 

"Elijah was my first love and in simple terms he was crazy and abusive." she said 

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧

Three years ago

I never thought I'd be the girl crying in the bathroom covering up bruises with makeup but here we are. He loves me I thought but if he really loved me why'd he put his hands on me. Am I stupid for staying? Why do I stay? What if one day I end up dead and my family never knows what happened? 

I shake those disturbing thoughts from my head and finish getting ready for this business event that I didn't even want to go to. That doesn't matter though he wouldn't care anyways. 

Theres banging on the door 

"Are you almost done you've been in there forever" Elijah says from behind the door 

I always lock the bathroom door now.

I swing the door open with an annoyed expression 

"Wouldn't take me so long if I didn't have to cover these" I say holding up my other wrist That I hadn't yet covered 

His face immediately changes. 

He's never out of control unless hes mad. Or at least thats what I liked to tell myself. He scared the absolute shit out of me either way.

He grabs my hand and pulls me closer

"Im sorry my love" He says kissing the top of my head 

I hate to say that I am absolutely repulsed by him. I hate to even call him my fiancé he no longer deserves that title. 

"Im going to go finish getting ready" I say going back into the bathroom locking the door behind me once again. 

I hate feeling this way. I don't even feel safe in my own home and I had no way to make sure no one else got hurt in my attempt at escaping. 

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧

Present

"hey." I say turning her head so she can look at me 

"I won't let anything happen to you" I say meaning it with everything I have 

Nothing I hate more than dirtbags who put their hands on women and since it's her It bothers me even more. I may be a jerk to her but I would never in a million years lay a finger on her. She doesn't deserve that. She deserves everything good life has to offer and more. 

"Do you want me to stay?" I offer seeing as her panicked state has not gone away yet 

"Please" She says sounding as defeated as I feel in this moment 

I pull her in and stroke her hair while she lays on my chest. This isn't an idle moment but I'm glad I can at least bring her comfort when she needs it the most. And it is good to know she doesn't absolutely hate my guts considering we don't usually get along well. 

I ended up falling asleep on her couch with her laying on my chest and I hate to say it but it felt right holding her while we slept. 

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧