The Grabber's Daughter (A TBP Fanfic)

Chapter Seven: The Park

The walk took about 45 minutes, the park much farther from her house than the school was. It was alright though, Melinda didn't mind the long walk. In the back of her mind, she was still worried about how she was going to get back into the house. She was terrified of getting punished more, but this trip would be worth it.

The park finally came into view. It wasn't a huge park, but it wasn't small either. There was a spot in the corner where there was playground equipment and two sets of swings. There were lots of sidewalks, benches, and trees and in the very center there was a small pond. It was a pretty park, but not one Melinda had ever had the pleasure to go to.

She didn't see the boys yet, but she still was at the edge of the park. She walked on one of the sidewalks, and they finally came into view. They were near the center where the pond was. Bruce was sitting on a bench, seeming to watch Finney and Robin. They were both sitting on the grass, looking to be in yet another one of their playful arguments. She walked up to them all, slightly hesitant. Even though they did invite her, she was so used to being unwanted that she couldn't help but fear that they decided they didn't want her there after all.

They didn't notice her at first, absorbed in their own thing. That seemed to happen often, especially when Robin and Finney were bickering. She walked within their field of view and they finally noticed her, all of then perking up; especially Robin. Melinda arriving seemed to quiet Robin and Finney as they focused on her.

They all gave their version of a greeting to her, Finney and Robin standing up. Melinda also greeted them all, though it was a bit awkward. She didn't really know what to say or do, but luckily Bruce saved her from having to do so.

"Hey, did you wanna all walk around? Sitting still for too long isn't my thing," Bruce asked them all. They all gave some form of an agreement, Bruce standing up as well. Finney decided to lead the way, Melinda and the other two boys trailing after him. They all conversed with each other, Melinda once again only replying occasionally. She did start talking more without being prompted though.

They walked for a while, just having fun talking to each other. Melinda started to speak up more the longer they talked, much to the other boy's delight. She was starting to show a more playful, sassy side of her; something she never had displayed in the past. It fit in well with the other boy's dynamic, much better than her quietness did.

It encouraged her in a sense. These boys seemed to like when she would have a sarcastic, sassy remark to something they had said. She wasn't used to it, her father always wanted her to be quiet, meek, submissive. It was what she was forced to be, so she never showed anything different. The boys brought this out of her somehow, and it suited her.

"Finney and Robin fight like an old married couple," she says to Bruce while rolling her eyes. Finney had instigated another bickering match between the two of them. Bruce chuckled at her statement and Finney and Robin shut up, looking offended at what she said.

"You wound me, Mel."

We do not!" Came two separate replies. She rolled her eyes, gesturing that they were proving her point as they went back to bickering. They were nearing the pond, and Melinda looked over at it. Her eyes widened, and she saw that Finney had seen it too when his bickering with Robin died down and he had a matching expression.

Ducks. There were ducks on the edge of the pond, six in total. Melinda had always loved animals, she was just never given the chance to be around them. Without looking back to the other boys, she hurriedly made her way over to them, Finney hot on her heels.

"I love ducks!" Finney exclaimed. Melinda stopped about two yards away, she didn't want to startle them away. She noticed that they were eating at the grass and had an idea. She bent down, picking some of the grass off the ground. She gathered a small handful, and slowly and quietly got closer to the small group of ducks, taking some of the grass she had gathered and holding it out to them. Finney saw what she was doing, and started copying her with a grin.