A Second Chance • A.F. {#wattys2018}

Chapter 24

Andy

7 hours and 4 clubs later and we were finally on our way back to Mel's place.

She was completely drunk while I was only slightly drunk, I wanted to enjoy the night and that's exactly what I did.

The taxi pulled up to the flats, the boys and Lydia headed up to the flat while I paid for the journey, Mel had fallen asleep on my shoulder so I carried her bridal style to her open front door.

Luke and Kyle has already made it back here and were helping everyone get sorted with their beds and blankets.

I placed melody on the sofa and headed to her room to grab her some pj's and her makeup wipes since she was incapable of doing it herself in such a state.

After making sure everyone was settled, I climbed into the space behind Melody, I watched as her chest rose up and down, the small breaths leaving her body and I fell asleep that night feeling like the luckiest guy in the world.

Rye

I was in a deep sleep until I heard a loud scream in my ear causing me to bolt upright, my eyes were wide as I realised it was Mel thrashing around having an episode.

I grabbed her waist and pulled her into my lap, I attempted to hold her arms still so she wasn't a danger to herself but she still persisted to move and scream.

Everyone else has woken up due to the loud screams, Lydia ran to grab Mel's pills and Kyle ran to grab a cold flannel. Andy and the rest of the boys stood there in shock, scared to move or say anything. Scared of what they were witnessing.

Kyle came back and sat next to me while putting the cold flannel on Mel's head and stroking her hair. "Mel, hey it's me Kyle, you're okaii, you need to wake up"

The screams got louder and her actions were more violent, but I still managed to keep a grip on her arms.

"NO LET GO OF ME, I JUST WANT THE PAIN TO END, PLEASE LET IT END"

Tears streamed down Mel's face but also down Kyle, Luke and Lydia's faces, and I'm sure they were rolling down mine too.

"Mel sweetie please this happened years ago. Wake up. You need to open your eyes" Lydia's smooth voice somehow managed to get through to Melody and her eyes shot open, looking around the room until she finally collapsed into my chest, tears marking my shirt.

"Rye come bring her into bed, I'll stay with her for the night"

I followed Lydia into the familiar room and placed a shaken up Mel into her bed, Lydia smiled and mouthed a thank you.

As I was about to walk away from the bed I felt something grabbed my wrist, I looked down to see Mel's hand, but her eyes were staring blankly ahead.

"Thank you Rye" her voice was small and hoarse, I was scared to speak incase tears fell so instead I just placed a small kiss on her forehead and headed back towards the living room where Luke and Kyle were making warm drinks.

"Wanna tell me what the fuck that was Rye?" I placed myself at the table as Andy sat across from me, a questioning look on her face.

"She had an episode Andy, I was here for the last one but it wasn't as bad as this one" I rubbed the bridge of my nose as Kyle joined us while Luke made sure the others were okaii.

"Some are more intense than others. Most of her episodes are about things in her past that are quite traumatic for her, she takes tablets to stabilised the violent actions and reality of it all but they seem to be wearing off. Most of the time her episodes consist of her reliving the events, she feels every bit of pain she did on that exact day. It's sad to see her like this but we're always here for them, to help her. Except for when Rye was here, what was it about then?" Kyle stated as he looked at me.

I looked from Kyle to Andy, back to Kyle, hesitating on if I should tell.

"It was about Andy. She was screaming for him to get off of her but that was it because I managed to wake her up. I never really asked her why it was Andy" I looked over to Andy to see a pale expression on his face as he rested his forehead in the palm of his hands.

"It was when I would go to revolution to sing, we had gained attraction towards each other but one night I had a bit too much to drink and ended up making out with some random girl. Mel saw and she was completely heartbroken, I tried to explain but she kept walking away, finding excuses to keep her busy. So I grabbed her wrist but it was a little too tight and she started to get scared, I had let go as soon as I noticed but she didn't want to speak to me. It all happened the night before I left for X-Factor".

Andy had an unreadable expression on his face, it was a mix of sadness, tiredness and guilt.

Andy

Flashback

Another night in the revolution, it had started to become a tradition but tonight is different. Tonight is the last night of singing here before I go to X- Factor, I plan on celebrating with Melody and telling her the news.

After finishing my set I noticed a girl walk up to me, she handed me a shot and insisted on taking it, so I did. But it turned into 5 shots and the girl was all over me, but I was all over her too.

Her lips and waist were pressed against mine as the music blasted through the speakers, tonight was great until I saw the look on Melody's face.

She whispered something to her co-worker, grabbed her stuff and headed towards the back room. I pushed the girl away from me and ran to Mel.

"Mel, hey where are you going?"

"Away from you Andy, I don't fancy seeing you with some random girl, have a nice night"

I grabbed her wrist and turned her to look at me, her eyes were brimmed with tears but she refused to let them fall.

"Look Mel she was feeding me shots, she means nothing to me anyway. I don't even know her" my voice rose with each word I spoke, mainly due to the loud music.

"I don't even know why I care Andy. It's not like we're together, like I said have a nice night" she squirmed under my grasp and I let go.

She rubbed her wrist and walked into the room titled "STAFF ONLY" leaving me with a blank expression and a now dull mood.

I left the bar without even telling Melody about the audition, I don't want to hurt her more than I already have.

End of flashback.

"I didn't mean to hurt her" tears now fell from my eyes as Kyle placed a hand on my shoulder.

"Look, there's a lot you don't know about Mel, things that happened when you left. It's not our place to tell you but she'll tell you herself when she's ready. You have to understand that she's scared of all of this. She just let someone go that she loved dearly, someone who protected her through everything. You have to be there for her Andy. No leaving again"

I nodded at Kyles point. Things were going to be a lot harder than they seem...

Authors Note:
wow this chapter is a MESS. I have such bad writers block so enjoy this shitty chapter.