M is for Melody (Old)

Chapter 3: I Sign Up for Babysitting

  Something about that guy makes me want to punch him. I'm not strong, no, but he doesn't look much better. I could probably manage to push him off a cliff or something, but there isn't anything like that in Michigan. Drowning could possibly end up in my own death as well, trying to hold him under. The best way to put an end to him would be stabbing, but that's just too messy and I don't want to deal with the charges. 

Why am I even considering that?   I suppose...I'm farther gone than I thought. 

I sit on my bed in my pajamas, legs together. On my lap is my violin, cold from sitting out without use. Nekoyasha plays a game of running-around-the-poor-owners-room-and-knocking-everything-over, his white body awkwardly placed as he tries to squeeze himself under one of my dressers. I don't know what goes on inside cats' stupid tiny brains, but they make up for their ignorance by being adorable. That's enough for me.

I smile, sticking out a foot to bat at his puffy tail that is the remainder of what I can see of Nekoyasha now. He lashes it in protest.

A crashing noise distracts me from my gazing-at-nothing routine for honing my insanity. What is that jerk doing now?

Setting my violin aside on my sheets and, poking Nekoyasha one last time, I reluctantly make it over to the kitchen, grumpy enough to resist sliding on the polished floor of the hall. "October! I am not your nanny, so please-" I can clearly see something is wrong, though not entirely in objection. He has his sleeves rolled up to reveal more red stitching and impossibly bone-thin arms. There's a drawer on the floor, the origin of the noise I heard. It's contents are scattered as if sifted through without a desire to maintain the order as it had been organized. 

He himself was sitting on the island in the middle of the room (on top of it, dear heaven), cross-legged with scissors in his hand. Is he...

...well...

"What is so amusing to have your face twisted so wickedly? I'm only trying to cut these stupid...red...strings..." Then I realize he is trying to dig the scissors underneath a stitch in his arm. And suddenly I am immersed in the bliss of context awareness, relieved to see some smidgen of sense in the scene.

He continues. "This is what I get for being the doll of a murderous five-year-old who may or may not help me with matters. So much wasted time, only to be burdened with something so trivial, marks far worse than scarring. Curse human children, their disgusting fingers ripping me to shreds. You know, that hurts." He attempts to snip the thread he captured, but the string simply bends along the blades and remains intact.

"Woe is you," I say sarcastically. I humph (believe that's how that word is used), crossing my arms. "Well I stitched you up, didn't I? It's better than having bits of...stuffing coming out of your flesh, right?" 

He turns, looks at me inquiringly. Setting down his weapon (?), he bounds off of the counter and approaches me. "Do you think I should thank you, Mellie?" October prowls, his face forming one of those grins that give me the creeps. I can't help it; I step backward against the rose-wallpapered plaster behind me. 

He's trying to be, I don't know intimidating maybe? But it really doesn't work with that whole shut-in thing he's got. Then again, I don't believe he can help it. I turn up my chin and cross my arms to this thought. "Still not affecting me, creep. The least you could do is clean up the messes you make."

He frowns to this and shakes his head, backing off. "I suppose I did make a mess." He motions lazily to the dumped out drawer behind him, weary despite the early hour. "But mind you, your personal feelings do not concern me as much as other things."

At this, he turns and crouched down to right the drawer and place the scattered contents back in their places. He's lucky my parents leave for work early.

And speaking of leaving...I glance at the kitchen clock. 6:48. I need to get to school...at least his racket woke me up on time. "October, I must go. My education awaits. What should I do with you?"

To this he looks up from his task, managing to appear offended. "I have to go as well! Do you think...that it's a good idea to leave me alone? You've made it clear about your distrust." Ah, right. I can't leave him at home. Imagining the hell that would follow makes even my imagination stutter. And I can't skip...

I face him, twirling one of my bedhead braids around one finger. I wait there for a few seconds, then remember I definitely need to get a move on. I huff again and rush around the house to collect my items. 

In my room, I pick up the pile of drawings I had done yesterday afternoon. Headphones to block out the world, on my dresser. Lucky Inuyasha keychain, on the floor. I pick it up and link it to my backpack. "Must've fallen off," I mutter. The rest of my bounty goes in.

Next, I put on a white blouse with puffy sleeves and a black and red plaid skirt with leggings. Upon second thought, I tie a red ribbon under my collar. I have to match, or else the pack of she-wolves will eat me alive. I imagine my friends' faces plastered onto sharks and walking around in the hallways. With a pfft of fitful laughter, I bound back downstairs. 

"Time to go!" I shout, leaping off the steps and landing hard on the wood floor. It's odd, how elated I am. The grey of this world just got lighter upon my visitors' coming, it seems. I shuffle into the kitchen, October staring at my passing.

One more glance at the clock and... "Holy...we have to hurry!" Pausing for a second, I lunge at the canvas doll still resting at the dining table and grab October's sleeve, pulling him out the door. I don't know what lie I'll have to come up with to get him to school with me, but there is no way he's staying home now that I think about it. 

***

"I...may have forgotten to feed Nekoyasha. And...wear appropriate shoes. And also brush my hair." I slump in the bus seat, out of breath, flip-flopped feet propped against the seat in front of me. Ellie sits in the seat across from me, and Wendy flanks him. October is behind me because he insisted on coming into contact with the least amount of people possible. All he's really doing is staring at my friends, so no harm done, but I can tell that they're getting a bit uncomfortable. 

"Melody! What have I told you about getting up on time! I'm not supposed to spoon feed you responsibility..." Wendy laughs a little, and I suppose it was called for.

Ellie is more of the smile-and-everyone-laughs kind of person. He just has so many stupid jokes that he himself has become one. Honestly, he's the most tolerable out of all humans my age. I look at him and wiggle my eyebrows, knowing that he's staring at me for a reaction to Wendy. To this, he winces and looks away, a strange smile on his face.

"Hey," Wendy mutters quietly when I don't respond. "Are you freaked out by that guy behind you too?" She grabs my hand gently. "Honey, you must speak to me. You feel...odd today." 

I blink and face her again. "I'm fine. But Oc-" I can feel his eyes on me, like glowing jack-o-lanterns warming my back. "Um...that guy is new. So be nice to him." 

Ellie looks surprised at this, maybe even...sad? He doesn't crack a joke or anything. Maybe how I worded that was strange. 

"I mean, he came from far away. A new neighbor from...um. Somewhere." I glance behind me, a bit concerned. October, however, just rolls his eyes at me. 

"Yes, hello," he says, very animated-like. 

"His name's Toby," I add. To this, he whips around and gives me a funny look.

"Is that really-" he starts to say, but I shush him. Because now we look really suspicious. Goodness, man. Take a hint.

The bus hits a bump in the road and my face thuds against the seat in front of me. It's the perfect chance to cover up for my suspiciousness, so I silently thank the road for this golden opportunity and rub my already-bruised cheek from yesterday. 

I smile at Ellie, who looks really distraught. I didn't know he was car sick.