Stargazing

Chapter 1- Mel

"Turns out toilet paper is not an effective way to clean up blood." Addie's laugh echos over the phone, sending the high pitch sound into the bathroom.

"Are you sure you don't need my help? Sounds like a nasty fall."  I look down at my leg, blood still dripping down my leg, leaving a trail of red behind. The bathroom smelt of cleaning alcohol, mom's nice new baby blue wash cloths stained red and soaked toilet paper thrown about.

"I think I'm good." Another laugh and I can her trying to catch her breath. "Bikes and rocks don't go together very well." The gash on my leg was mostly covered with purple and blue bandages and layers of gauze soaking up blood.

"Mel, you sure you don't need my help? I can cover your shift at the Snow Shack. Dec won't mind." I glanced down at my leg again and tired to stand on it. Wincing, I sat back down and grabbed my phone, changing the call from speaker phone.

"I'm good Addie. A little pain never hurt anyone, right?" More muffled laughter and I could tell she was outside in the wind.

"Okay, if you say so. Gotta go Mel. Feel bet-" The call ended and I stood up again, enduring through the pain. I glanced around the bathroom. The counters were covered in bandages and creams, blood and toilet paper that I had used to patch myself up. I scooped up the first aid stuff and dumped it back into its little tote nicely labeled first aid. I grabbed the blue washcloth and soaked it in warm water and soap, hoping it wouldn't stain. My phone buzzed from my pocket and I pulled it out.

Dec: Are you coming in for work? Addie texted me about your fall...

Of course Addie texted Dec. they had only been dating for the last six months, and luckily, that lead to my summer job. The number one worker at the town's local Snow Shack.

Me: Yeah, of course. No bump or bruise will keep me away.

I slipped my phone into my back pocket and started out of the house. As I raced out the front door, I grabbed my Snow Shack uniform which included a hat and apron. They were matching, bright green with a smiling snow cone. Ugly, but it pays well. Pays for the trip to Europe Addie and I were going to take next summer, after graduation. Just us and the world. At least I hoped it would be. Addie had a tendency to invite unwanted guests on our adventures. 6th grade, we decided to go to summer camp. Just the two of us. When Addie decided to invite her "boyfriend", I had no choice but to be happy and welcome him along. That ended up being the worst idea ever. He ended up cheating on Addie with some short-short, crop top wearing, blonde girl. Addie was miserable the rest of the summer, watching her ex play around with some girl. This seemed to happen every summer. We plan a big trip, Addie invites along some dude, the dude cheats on Addie and Addie makes the rest of the summer awful. This year when our plans were cut short, she decided to extend your school year boyfriend and assign him the slot of summer boyfriend.

Dec wasn't an awful person like every other boyfriend Addie had had. He's tall, 6'2, towering over Addie and I even when we wear heels. His brown hair is cut above his ears and is always gelled down just so.

I figured the bike wouldn't be the best idea to get to work. The leather handle bars were worn down from years of use, the back tire flat from the crash. I pulled out my phone and sent mom a text.

Me: Taking the car to work. Luv u!

I stepped back inside and grabbed the keys. The keys had several key chains including a little Mickey Mouse head and a Yellowstone keychain, all of which we've  collected on family road trips. I threw the driver's door open to our beaten up white truck and hopped in. 

As I pulled up to the small brown shack on the corner, I spotted Dec and Addie behind the shack, probably kissing. I parked next to the shack, slipped the apron over my head and put the hat on before swinging open my door and limping to the shack. As a approached, the two lovers must have spotted me because Addie broke free from Dec, and ran towards me. She grabbed me and threw her arms around me.

"Mel!" I hugged her back and I watched Dec approached us both. He waved at me and I nodded.

"You don't look too beaten up." Dec smirked and I kicked forward my leg covered in bandages. 

"Not at all." We all shared a laugh and Dec grasped at Addie's hand. Addie glanced back at him and smiled. I let go of Addie and pushed her towards him. He whisked her into a kiss and her cheeks went bright red.

"I'm just gonna open the shack." Dec nodded and waved me away. I turned, opening the only door into the shack. I stepped in and shut the door behind me, giving the two their privacy.
I was happy for Addie and Dec. They were cute together, but so was every other boy Addie found. It felt kinda cruel of Addie to do this again. Find a boy, ruin my summer for her enjoyment. Every single summer. It wasn't fair. She had boys frantically stopping her in the halls, asking if the boyfriend slot had opened up. I was the boring sidekick who cheered her on from the sideline. I tried once, the whole boyfriend thing. Mason Winger; captain of the swim team. He was cute and all. Tall, blonde hair, blue eyes. The whole kit and kaboodle. He took me on cute dates and for awhile I thought it would work out. Boy, was I wrong. No more than two months after we had started dating, he dumped me; the night of homecoming. Addie of course went without me, with her current boyfriend Josh, the captain of the football team, saying sorry and that she wished I would just come. But, I stayed home and finished the book I was reading along with two tubs of ice cream. And then I vowed to myself not to let people hurt me. Especially boys. But I always wished someone would ask me for my number or stare at me. Isn't that what every teenage girl secretly wants. That confirmation that they were pretty to someone other than their family and best friend.

"One "Blue Attack" please with a shot of cream." My daydream bubble was popped and I was welcomed back into reality by an unhappy looking girl pushing her money towards me.

"What? Sorry, I missed that." She rolled her eyes.

"Blue Attack" She set the money on the counter and looked up. "Chop chop." I grabbed the money, shoved the money in the cash register, and she walked away. As I turned away towards the snow cone maker, I mimicked her. I started the machine up and started crushing the ice. Addie knocked on the door and the proceeded to open it, Dec not far behind.

"Hey Mel. I'm heading out. Call me if you need anything." I nodded.

"Will do Addie." Addie's concerned look spread across her face. First her smile disappeared. Then it reached her eyes. She started playing with her Amber colored hair and pacing back and forth. "Addie I'll be fine. Trust me. I'm under the watchful eye of your beloved." I shot a glare towards Dec and he just smirked.

"I can't help my attractiveness." Addie laughed and I finished the snow cone off with a blue sugary mix on top. I turned towards the window.

"One Blue Attack." There was only a single group sitting outside, but calling out was part of the job. The girl got up and grabbed the snow cone and several spoons off the counter. When I turned back to look at Addie and say goodbye, Dec and Addie were at it again outside. "See ya Addie!" She looked up, cheeks red and kissed Dec one more time on the cheek and headed towards her car. Declan stuck his thumbs in his pockets and strolled towards me.

"Why aren't you working?" He said sarcastically. I rolled my eyes and sat down on one of the blue plastic lawn chairs. Dec grabbed one and pulled it closer.

"How's your leg?" He gestured to my bandages that matched the shack. I shrugged.

"It's not that bad."

"Addie told me about the fall. Sounds pretty bad."

"I mean there was a lot of blood." He glanced down at my leg. The red streaks still stained my leg. I let out a laugh. "Blood stains easily. I swear I didn't kill anyone." Dec smiled and caught my eye. His eyes were bright green, shimmering in the sunlight.

"I am one lucky dude." He broke the gaze and stood up, pushing the chair back and putting it back into place.

"Yeah. Addie's pretty hot. You're... Ehh." I laughed and Dec kicked my un bandaged leg.
"Dude!" I pushed him forward.

"Hey, Addie and I are going out tomorrow night. My good friend is single. You're single." He stop and rubbed the back of his head and tilted it. "What do you think?"

"A date?" I haven't been on a date in forever.

"Yeah I guess you can call it that. I swear Lewis isn't some creep. He's really nice." I shrugged. What's the big deal? One date wasn't going to hurt anyone... Right?