Stepping into the unknown.

Melody.

My eyes clattered open and once again I had fallen asleep over a book. It was open on the page for some mermaid like creature called beschattet. They held tails if in salt water and they wanted to have them. I believed that they were the most human like thing that had two states. They had beautiful faces and felt dazzling skin, when in their first state they had webs between their fingers and they could hold their breath for hours. I wasn't stupid and so I knew that Luciana was a mermaid.

"Boo." I twisted around so quickly I might have hurt myself and after a second I found a squeal escape the lips that had just scared me. After a second my eyes realised who it was and in one swift movement I closed the book and turned around. Giving Mel the largest hug to have ever been.

"I was a little confused why I woke with such a start. How did you get in?" She looked sheepish and I saw my window wide open. Mel was so easily excited for life that she tended to do stupid things like that and I loved her for it.

"Now, where is Neil. I see he finally took my advice and got you to stop wearing long sleeved turtlenecks all the time. Quite the opposite. I am surprised that he hasn't taken you to bed in this little number." My eyes filled with tears for a second before I could finally reply.

"I want to hear about Mr Lover first." She took in a deep breath and then began.

"We met at uni as you know. Studying the very same course. Love at first site for him. It took me a long old minute but I did too. At graduation things got a little heated and we fell in love. He is gorgeous to look at so no touching I am afraid. His smile could cure the world of all illness and his voice could turn the whole of England on. I wish that you had been there. If I am honest I was a little more than just angry when you didn't respond to me. Even my letters. Andy is still quite upset and since I am being honest, I didn't want you to come to my house in case he said something to make you leave again. You up and left me. Mum and dad pulled what was left of their hair out trying to figure out if they had done something wrong. I told them that it wasn't them. Was it?"

"No, Neil and I. Well, it wasn't long until my wedding and he said that he had posted the invites and that he called to follow up but you all refused to come to it. I bought my dress with Lucy. She was the only one there. I tried calling you but it didn't even ring. To be honest I was angry with all of you. Neil had told me that you didn't like me and every time I saw or even mentioned someone that wasn't him he would tell me so. You may know Lucy, we met at uni as well, we studied the same subject. Her dad was going to walk me down the isle. Neil told me that she didn't like me but I was so desperate that I had to pretend not to know. I needed someone there. Neil never told me to stop wearing those tops. Mel, he is the reason why I had to wear them. He said that you wouldn't be able to understand that his love was so strong and good that he was willing to hurt me if I was wrong." I could see Mel become a little more nervous. Glances up to our room and I began to doubt if he really was lying to me.

"He isn't here is he? I just, if he sees me he might kill you or something. Look, Enyo I love you but you have to know by now that him hurting you is not a greater love. It is abuse. We need to go. Quick, grab that creepy ass book. You seem to like it and we will go. I know that you know law. I know that you have rights. Come on. We need to go now." I smiled and felt tears of pride fill my eyes. She had been raised so well.

"No, it's fine." She stood up and began to pull me and also hold a finger up to her lips. Telling me to silence myself.

"If you have any kids grab them. I can hold some. We need to go." She was whispering and glances moved up the steps as she tried to pull me.

"Mel, he died." Instantly her hands fell and she then moved back to sit down. Hands on her lap before she pulled me into a hug. It was tight and yet also gentle. I felt safer with her than I did with anyone else and I knew that she wasn't lying to me. We really did tell one another everything.

"Did, did you kill him? What a plot twist. Where is the body? I can help cover it up if needed." Smiling and letting out a laugh we both began to chuckle into the morning.

"No. It was an accident. A couple months before we were due to be married he got in a crash. Really bad and after a few weeks, I realised what he had been up to. That was when I changed things up in my life but I still believed that you didn't like me." Her arms wrapped around me again before finally she pulled away and rested her head on my lap. Her eyes met me and I pulled on my glasses. I only wore them if it complemented my outfit or if my contacts had run out but I had learnt to love them.

"It wasn't an accident. It was karma. Now, I want to hear what you changed? Any boys on the scene?" I shook my head and began to play with her hair just like I did before leaving.

"I wrote rules. I actually had a date. It was set up by his sister, a friend and I didn't see it going anywhere. An emotional rebound for him after a 10 year failed engagement. I made rules not to start relationships." Her eyes went wide and she looked at me closely.

"You left to study at uni here. You said that you have been sexless since Neil. That was like four or five years ago. Have you joined nuns anonymous?" She laughed but sounded genuinely upset.
"You aren't broken and you are loved." It was just what I had needed to hear.

"It isn't that I haven't had offers. I mean, my date was more than up for it but I turned him down. Things get complicated with sex. One person takes it too far. Mr Link. The one I had to hang up on you for, is was my boss until five this morning as we are now on the same level. He was actually here to tell me that he liked me. I sent him on his way and told him that I have rules. Not a happy bean and don't get me wrong I often dream of jumping him but you see, it wouldn't work out. Some maths equations should be one sided. 1=1." She pinched me and I was about to react when my alarm went off.

After I got ready Mel stood at the door. She had the looks of the family. Boys always wanted her and no matter how many times she rejected them they came back to be hurt again.
"You're beautiful." I commented but as I left so did she and Mel even took my keys, locking my door as we left and then she jumped in the car with me.

"I want to meet all of your friends, Mr Link and also your work is close to the centre so it is less of a stretch to walk. Also, you do realise that you call me beautiful but you were literally voted the prom queen and prettiest female in your year.  I wasn't so lucky." I smiled and started the engine. The day was going to be a long one.

"Oh, before we get there. I found out that my friend who literally knew everything, including the small puff of weed I had at 16, something you didn't know well I found out she was keeping a massive secret from me. I would tell you but you would call me the craziest person alive and well, we only just got back together. Thing 1 and Thing 2 can't break up now." She smiled but was clearly hoping to know.

"Look, even if you did stupidly believe me you will want to tell Andy." She shook her head.

"I told him before I left that somethings are best kept between sisters. He also doesn't know that we would escape at night and get the dogs or pillows to lay in our beds. He accepts that things happen. There are loads of things that I have kept just us and I don't see it being any different. I mean, I can keep that Neil is dead from him. I know secrets aren't good but as long as we don't get ourselves killed we should be as good as new." I couldn't believe how loyal she had been. I also kept my time with my sister a secret. It did mean that Luciana struggled sometimes but that was life. Sisters had to have secrets.

"That book I had on my lap holds a lot of facts and if I show them to you then you will call me crazy but you have to trust me. I have seen some of it. I may have let someone use me as a certain thing and it got me off. But, no sex don't worry and don't mention this to anyone." She was so confused and I knew that she would be until I could fully explain.
"Look, when we get there a man sits to my right. All I ask is that you ask him to go to a conference room and then ask him to show you his first state. Also, he won't hurt you. Remember that. I can go in with you but you would have to wait as I have an hour of training in the morning. I figure, you have to wait for me anyway why not?" She nodded looking to be scared but then she smiled.

"If you say that he won't hurt me then I know he will not." I smiled and felt pride at her words.
"This is also why you have to trust me. If this Mr Link was willing to tell you he liked you then go for it. He put his heart on his sleeve. I don't know these rules but forget them or you will die alone and you don't want that. Besides, having a relationship with me is still as dangerous as a relationship with him." She had a point that friends and more could hurt me all the same. He might be better than I had thought him to be.