Baby Clifford

Practice

Danny peddled to Melody's house, there wasn't any cars there and he knocked on the door. He watched the inside from the window beside the door. He saw Melody come out of the hallway with a messy wet bun, toothbrush in the side of her mouth, and wearing a Falling in Reverse The Drug in Me is You shirt and black jeans. He waved at her with a bright smile. She spat in the sink before rinsing her mouth before going to the door. "Good morning beauty. Sleep well?" He happily greeted her. "I slept fine." Melody grumbled before going back to the bathroom.

He sat on at the table and waited for her. She returned with eyeliner on and grabbed a Pepsi from the fridge. "Did you have any dreams?" Danny asked. She shook her head. "Where's your dad?" He questioned. "Work. Not here." Melody bitterly replied. "Does he st-" "Still play rockstar and leave for months? Yeah. The fandom always comes first. Always has, always will. Oh well. Let's go." Melody explained with a grim look.

They went to the stage and listened to Mr. Jacobs, who was telling them what was expected of them and the parts they were working on today. Which was the first two senses.

Melody and the other Pink Ladies and T-Birds stood on the side stage. Melody couldn't help but feel jealous as she watch Danny "kiss" the girl played Sandy. She knew it was fake and just wonderful acting, but something in her ticked. She crossed her arms and bit her lip. "Calm down, he's acting." One of the guys slapped her shoulder. "I'm in character, stupid." She sassed.

Melody shared her lines, her favorite line after Sandy said the guy she met was something special and she had to reply with, "There's no such thing," before starting Summer Nights, which Melody found a little too much joy in pretending to kick the girl who played Sandy.

Then later she showed Danny to Sandy. "I have a surprise for you." She sassed, slightly smiling as Danny pretended to pretend that he never met her. Just before the girls go to Frenchy's house, Mr. Jacobs let them have a drink. "Melody, come over here." Melody grabbed her lemonade. She sat across from his piano bench. "Have you told your family about the play? " Melody shook her head, "They were all too busy talking about a squeal of a documentary they made years ago." Melody explained. "I could call them." He offered. She shook her head. "I'll tell Dad tonight." Melody spoke. "Melody, I can tell you improve to impress. Don't deny it. Now in this next part, I want you to be a sass queen. And nothing less." Melody smiled and nodded, "I'm sure I can do that." He chuckled, "Wonderful. Now remember head up, eyes open-" "Smile on, " Melody finished the phase that he always says. "Hey Melody, try nit to drink pop, I could hear your voice be different. Judges frown on that." He mentioned before turning to the rest of the cast.

"Every one back on stage! Frenchy's house, with the song of Sandra Dee!" Mr. Jacobs announced and they all went back on stage. A few times the girls screwed up on their lines, but Mr. Jacobs shrugged it off and continued through the song, where Melody did exactly as he said. They ended the scene there, which meant the end of practice.

"Wonderful everyone! Now we'll just have to edit lines and attitudes for the parts we worked on today. We'll be going over the dancing with the dance director and edit and polish that. And then go over the next part that we didn't get to today. Then we'll edit the lines and attitudes again and the same with dancing. Now don't go doing anything that will effect your performance of the play, such as drinking and drugs. Also avoid drinking pop, it'll mess with your voice. Nothing good comes from that! Now go have fun and do good in school!" Mr. Jacobs explained and then let his studentms dispersed in their different ways.

Melody grabbed her bag and slung it over her shoulders before heading to the class she had first period. She felt an arm go around her shoulders as she walked up the steps. "Never leave me alone with Vince again! I only said one joke and I almost went in the garbage! Only one joke!" It was Ryan. "Hi Ryan. Good morning to you too. I slept fine. I'm sorry for what Vince did to you." Melody scarcassticly mentioned. "Why is everyone pissy today! I think we all have to take fucking happy pills!" Some of the teachers glared at him for swearing. "Where's Danny, maybe he's in a good mood today. Or is he pissy too?" Ryan inquired. Melody shrugged. "I suppose he's happy." She went to her locker and unlocked it, putting her bag away. "Okay, what happened?" Ryan asked, leaning on the next door locker. "Nothing. I just haven't seen him since practice." She mentioned. "Okay then, come to me when you're in a better mood." Ryan sassed then walked away.

She didn't see much of her friends that day.

*When she's back home*

"Da-" She cut herself off as she saw her dad on the phone with management or John most likely. Melody's heart dropped, knowing what Mr. Jacobs said earlier was true. She bypassed Michael and went to the bathroom. She began to strip and turned the water on as hot as it could. She sat down in the shower. Soon after a few minutes she couldn't tell what was tears or the water running down her face. She looked at the razor. It became friendly everyday. She looked down at her innocent wrists then back at the razor. Melody hesitated then grabbed it.

"Melody!" Michael called and Melody dropped the razor. "Yeah?" She asked. "I'm going to Uncle Luke's soon, do you want to go with?" Michael asked. "No, I'm fine." Melody answered. "Okay, I'll probably be back around eleven." Michael told her. "Alright." She stated. "I love you!" Michael called. "Love you too." Melody said, bitter taste on her tongue.

She sighed and put the razor back to it's spot on the tub wall. Melody washed quickly before having a cold rinse on her body. She turned off the water and rinsed her hair out before wrapping her body in the towel. Melody peeked outside of the bathroom making sure no one was there. All good and clear. She gently stepped out and into her bedroom, changing into basketball shorts and an oversized grey t-shirt.

Melody sighed and took a seat on her bed, wondering what she could do until eleven at night, if not passed. She couldn't have pop, since it messes with her voice.

Melody got up and went to the living room, putting in Jersey Boys the movie. She heard the play was way better, but she never got the chance to see it. Melody laid on the couch and sang along with it.

When that movie was over, she put in the first Percy Jackson movie, so she could yell at the TV, since the book and movie were completely different. *I do this.* She got up almost halfway through, grabbing a piece of paper while yawning. Melody wrote a note saying, "Dad, if I'm asleep wake me up. It's IMPORTANT!" Melody had a great feeling that she was going to fall asleep and placed it on the kitchen table. She grabbed a blanket and laid down on the couch, not taking fifteen minutes to fall asleep.

As Michael came home, he took off his leather jacket and put it on the old music clef hook where he used to Melody's backpack when she was younger. He gave a confused look at the sleeping Melody on the couch. She never slept out in the living room. He looked at the note and back at her, not understanding why but feeling guilty.

The single father walked over to her and gently rubbed her shoulder. "Melody, Melody wakey, wakey." He whispered. Melody groaned and slowly stretched. "Hey, what's going on? What's so important?" His voice was soft, his green eyes into hers, which barely stayed opened. She rubbed her eyes then looked at him with a dazed look. "What is important?" Michael asked again. "I-I'm in Grease, the play. I'm Rizzel in it. It's the twentieth and twenty-first. I really want to be there. Pl-please." She could feel the tears. "It's very important to me. I-I n-never did anything li-like it before. Mr. Jacobs says I-I could be getting a r-reward by how good I am. Please, Dad. Be there. As my dad too, not Michael Clifford. Pl-please." She stuttered and looked at him with pleading eyes. "I'll be there baby girl. I promise." Michael replied and Melody quickly pulled him into a hug. "Thank you, so much Daddy." She whispered and hugged him tighter. "You're welcome, baby girl now go to bed." He said. She nodded and let go. Michael smiled and was internally celebrating before heading to bed himself.

*Right now I can't stand my aunt, she got me a booster seat (basically) for when I'm driving and getting fucking peddle extensions! Setting me up to get bullied basically. Way to raise my self-esteem* :'(