Walls Up (One Last Time #1)

Leave Everything Behind

Chapter Thirty Eight
Leave Everything Behind

---Few Days Later---

"Melody! Talia is here!" Mum calls from downstairs.

"Coming!" I fix my hair, brushing out all the tangles with my fingers. I brush away the creases in my peach lace-collared blouse and dark blue jeans. I pick up my small suitcase and phone, exiting the room.

At the bottom of the stairs everyone is there. Conrad smirks sitting on the couch as my eyes meet his. Talia rushes up to me and grabs my bag.

"Ah Melody!" She embraces me in a tight hug before pulling back and walking next to Jack. I reach out my hand to Ally, who's siting beside Conrad. "Hi, I'm Talia's cousin, Melody." She shakes my hand nodding.

"Ally, pleased to meet you." She smiles showing off her perfect white teeth. I chuckle turning around to introduce myself to Jack.

"Jack," he says the moment my mouth opens. I smile and he returns it with a small chuckle. He holds out his hand I accept it. His palm is soft, warm and I get lost in his grey -- with a hint of blue -- eyes.

"Ahem," reluctantly I release my grip on his hand, as I blush deeply. "Okay... Now that all of you guys are here I need to lay some ground rules." I groan.

"C'mon Aunty, were all 18 years old. We can fend for ourselves." Talia complains. Mum chuckles and nods.

"Fine, but if I end up bailing you out of jail, I'm not gonna." That make everyone freeze and actually take it into account that my mums serious.

Embarrassed at my mothers behaviour I Shush her and shove everyone out the door. "Thanks for scaring everyone mum."

Ally and Conrad sit in the back, and Jack sits in the drivers seat. My mum gives Talia a quick hug and tells her to be safe. I hug my mum and she whispers the se thing in my ear.

"Ahem, phone missy." Talia stops me before I walk another step towards the car. I hold my phone tighter in my hand. "No technology." She says matter of fact.

"Okay, fine. One second." I quickly send a message to Kyle telling him I'm leaving and I'll miss him and I love him. I sign off the text withtwo x's and Mel.

I dump my phone in her hand she she trots to my mother handing her it. Mum laughs and yells "be safe" before shutting the door behind me.

Talia walks to the back of the SUV and drops my bag with the others. "Do you want to sit in the front?" Talia asks me.

I look at Jack and shrug. "Sure, whatever." I open the front passenger side door and step inside. I buckle in my seatbelt and nod towards the back.

"Ready?" Jack asks through the rear view mirror. Every whoops and yells a yes. He switches the car into drive mode and exits the driveway.

---

Conrad's directly behind me, with Talia in the middle and Ally behind Jack.

Jack. Dazzling greyish blue eyes that sparkle in the sunlight, but covered by sunglasses. Perfect blonde hair that falls in his eyes and sway with his movements. I never actually spoke to him besides in French class. And I doubt he even recognises me from class.

My right hand is better now, no cast or anything. But it hurts if I strain it too much. I look in the side mirror at Conrad. He's too interested in the conversation with Talia and Ally in the backseat to notice me staring. His nose looks like it never was broken. My guess is he got it fixed.

"I've seen you around school, am I right, or am I mistaking you for someone?"

I nod, "probably French class."