holy grail / liam payne

iv.

four

"Mel, I have so much news for you," was the first thing Meah said when she got in the car.

"Spill," Mel said, keeping her eyes on the road as she pulled off.

The sun wasn't beating down as bright as usual today, a breeze floating through Tampa.

"Okay so first, I have a fucking lead in this week's performance!"

"What!" Mel exclaimed, finally facing Meah with a gaping mouth.

"I know right! Drew said it's because I've been working extra hard and staying after but that's hardly even the good part. I have a fucking date with the gym hunk.. and he boxes."

"Shut the hell up!" Mel exclaimed, bouncing in her seat excitedly, "You got a date with Liam, this is important shit! When is this going down?"

"This weekend. Sunday of course since my performance is on Saturday."

"Damn girl, get it," Mel smirked.

"I am 'getting it', but now it's your turn. Now, we're going to the shop so you can get with Zaynieee," Meah sang, "It's only fair, and you better not protest."

Mel threw her head back and groaned at the thought of having to ask Zayn out. Not that she was complaining about who but over the fact that she would have to step up and be the one to ask.

"Hey, eyes on the road. You aren't about to kill us before you ask Zayn out."

"He better ask me first or I'm gonna shove him into that power saw," Mel said, gripping the wheel. "You're lucky your vanilla isn't only into vanillas."

"What?" Meah said, laughing at her words as they neared the shop.

"Look, my point is, I'm praying that Zayn is actually gonna be interested in me so I won't look completely stupid."

"Mel, you're hot and he's not gonna reject you. Just flirt a little and maybe he'll be the first to ask," Meah reassured.

Mel sighed, as she pulled into the parking lot and they both stepped out of the car and into the shop. Meah didn't bother to confront the woman at the desk and walked straight down to the last garage where Zayn stood, bent over the hood. He straightened up and turned around at the sound of Mel's shoes clicking against the concrete.

"Oh, Meah, how are you?" he said, surprised at their presence.

"Great, just checking up on my baby. How is she?"

"She's comin' along great. Might even go home early," he grinned patting the side of the car.

"If it was me I would be going home late," Mel whispered to Meah.

"Hello Mel, how are you holding up?"

Mel froze at the mention of her name and she smiled nervously, peeking out from behind Meah.

"Hi Zayn, I'm great. And yourself?"

"I'm gonna run out for some fresh air," Meah interrupted, using the lamest and most obvious excuse to leave. She gave a sly grin at a scowling Mel when she turned around and headed out of the door.

She stepped out into the heat that immediately began tanning her caramel skin. She was used to the Florida heat by now. A part of her regretted not giving Liam her number, now being a great time to shoot him a text but she knew holding off on it was a better way to reel him in. Her thoughts travelled to her recital this weekend, knowing that her spotlight time gave her a chance to finally be noticed by any officials that happen to show up. Meah knew she had the ability somewhere in her to make a profession out of her dancing. Dale's wouldn't always pay the bills and she was very convinced that Mel would be the only one getting a callback from Mr. Alderson.

Just then, Mel busted through the front doors of the shop, her smile growing impossibly wider when she spotted Meah.

"Friday at eight o'clock, possibly getting laid the first night," Mel rushed, stepping toward Meah.

"Mel, really? I doubt he's that desperate," Meah said, smiling a little.

"Hold up, I called the shots, are you calling me desperate?"

"No," Meah laughed, "of course not my beloved. Just be safe," she joked patting Mel's cheek and proceeding to the car. When Mel got inside the vehicle she glanced over at Meah, her shoulders slumping when she saw a frown on her face as she stared out of the window.

"Mimi, what's wrong," Mel comforted, leaning toward her friend.

"It's just," Meah started with a sigh," I'm just nervous that if my dancing doesn't take me far enough, what will? I'm pretty sure Mr. Alderson took me as a joke and I can't be a waitress at Dale's for the rest of my life."

"Hey," Mel said with furrowed eyebrows, shifting in her seat, "where's all this coming from?"

"I don't know. It's just been in the back of my mind and I just really took the time to think about it. What if I do end up like Mrs. Widow Peep? But without the husband part."

Mel broke the mood, suddenly erupting in laughter at the image of her friend with gray hair, surrounded by smelly felines.

"Meah, you will not end up like Mrs. Dean. And if you just so happen to start taking that path, I promise I will smack some sense and a hunky chorizo back into your life," Mel laughed.

Meah finally have a light smile at Mel's words, turning to look at her whose eyebrow was risen at her own words. Meah laughed a little at her friends words before giving a small nod.

"Now, let's head over to ma's for some nice and hot soul food, Melanie Pearson is a hungry bitch," she said, starting the car and opening the sunroof.

The drive to the Pearson home wasn't too long and Mel was quite happy to see her humble abode, still the exact same way as it had always been. She was the first to the door, incessantly ringing the doorbell until Meah joined her on the porch. The door opened, revealing the familiar old face of Ms. Janet Pearson with a hand perched on her round hips. She pushed open the screen door, allowing the two girls inside with a furrowed brow that doomed turned into a warm smile when Mel quickly wrapped her in a tight embrace.

"Mama I've missed you!" Mel exclaimed slapping a kiss to her cheek.

Two kids came running down the steps, nearly tripping over one another as they skipped steps at a time. They had grown since Meah last saw them and were now blooming into teenagers.

"Melly!" they shouted in unison.

The two kids ran to hug Mel and Meah watched on as she squeezed the darker kids in her arms. Mel was her mother's first child, adopted at age two due to Mrs. Pearson being infertile. Then boom, six years later James Pearson was born- otherwise known as the Miracle Baby. Mel was eight and going through your typical 'replaced by the baby' phase and then boom, another two years later and Jaden Pearson was born, a little light skinned, hazel-eyed surprise when Ms. Janet got frisky with an Italian man. Janet made the choice to make all of her children Pearsons to string on the legacy that was her father, a famous jazz player 'back in the day'. Mel was ten, the same year around when her and Meah met in grade school and stuck by each other since then, all the way until now. Mel twenty-one, James thirteen and Jaden, now eleven and under-grown compared to his fellow classmates. Meah always loved Mel's family, humble and determined in everything. Also, her mother, a lovely cook that bakes an apple pie, specially made when Meah comes over for her to take home.

"Well if it isn't Meah Cooper," Janet said, stepping back and placing both hands on her hips this time.

"Hey, ma," Meah smiled, pulling her in for a hug.

"I hope you've been well. Now all of you come into the kitchen for some good 'ol broccoli cheese chicken!"

Meah laughed at the children who cheered at the mention of food. She was content with everything right now. Being at a welcoming home with steamy, tasty food would surely keep everything off her mind for tonight.

***

this chapter was kinda weak lmao, I'll make the next one better xx also I didn't proofread so sorry for mistakes

- jai.