nate wineford
the cold metal handcuffs were tightened against my sensitive skin. apparently, i was accused of murdering minnie because i was the last person to see her and she left abruptly. regret of letting her leave hit as the cops pushed me into the backseat. i sat quietly in the seat as the cop started driving to the police station.
"you bastard," he snickered. i looked at the floor. "minnie was a model citizen and you had to fucking kill her! that is why we go into schools and tell children to stay in schools and say no to drugs."
"i didn't kill her," i mumbled.
"the jury didn't buy it, sorry kid," he smiled.
"there is no evidence that she was even mur- nevermind," i spoke.
"welcome to your new home," the cop didn't pull into the police station, but the cherry parks correctional facility.
melody mcanderson
it was three in the morning on a saturday, and i was sharing cheese balls out of a huge jar with michael. we were starting to become more inseparable and i was starting to develop feelings with him, which i had to deny to avoid awkwardness.
"okay let's play 10 questions," michael said and shoved more cheese balls into his mouth like a chipmunk.
"why 10 and not 20?" i asked.
"i'm kinda tired," he whined.
"okay. what's your favorite color?" i asked.
"green because i associate it with luck, and that's what i need," he chuckled at his own joke.
"i like red-- i don't associate it with any superstition," i smiled.
"why not?"
"was that your question?" i asked him sassily.
"whatever. my question is--," michael pondered for a bit. "what is your favorite book?"
"paper towns by john green," i stated.
"the great gatsby," he smiled.
"damnit! i chose a teen novel and you chose one of the greatest books ever written."
"why does it matter?" michael asked.
"whatever. who was your first kiss?" shit.
"my friend lola was," he shrugged. "we were like what- - 11."
"i was 15 and his name was nate, it was extremely awkward," i laughed.
"Okay, what was the real reason you left?" he questioned. i couldn't blame him for asking me this question-- i guess because he would eventually find out.
"my name isn't melody-- it's minnie. i left my old town abruptly and i guess they thought that nate murdered me. please just don't tell anyone that i'm here," i rambled.
"you're safe with me, " he smiled.
"i needed to escape my problems and they were bad back home," i rolled up a little bit of my striped sweater to show him my bruises from nate. "and everything was just awful."
"melody," michael mumbled in sympathy.
"just keep quiet because i can't go back there," i sighed.
"i promise you," michael hugged me.
