Chapter 1
I will not cry. I will not cry.
I will not cry.
I’m too fucking angry to cry. Although, angry tears are always a possibility.
We aren’t in high school anymore damn it!
I look down at my shirt and my spaghetti splattered against it as I grab the bottom of my shirt to shake off the noodles sticking there. Rage roars inside me as a million dangerous thoughts race through my mind, all of them involve hurting or possibly murdering the bitch in front of me. I’ve never been good at controlling my anger but I needed to be here and I couldn’t chance it.
I was hoping by going to this school assholes like Carmen from high school wouldn’t follow me and continue making my life a living hell. Especially since it was local and I remember her talking about going to school in a different state with her friends. Unfortunately, they’re all here.
“Oops, I’m so sorry Mallory,” Carmen sneers, the triumph all over her smug little face tells me she isn’t sorry one fucking bit.
We’ve been in school together since we were kids and I know she knows my name but does she ever actually use it? Nope.
“It’s Melody,” I spit through my clenched teeth.
“Hm, are you sure? I always thought your name was Mallory.” My fists clench at my sides, the food on the floor almost forgotten. God, I wish like hell I could wipe that smug grin off her face. I can’t afford to get in trouble and lose my scholarship though.
I step closer to her without realizing I’m doing it. “I think I know my own name.”
“What’s going on?” I have to fight the groan that’s threatening to slip past my lips. Fucking fantastic.
I turn my head to look beside Carmen at Asher Bishop, another nightmare from high school. He never actually did anything to me. He laughed along with all his stupid little friends whenever they made fun of someone but as far as I know he never actually started crap with people. Did he ever physically touch me or torment me in specific? No. He didn’t go out of his way to make my life a living hell like his girlfriend Carmen.
He’d be hot if he didn’t automatically turn me off with the arrogance that oozes from his persona and every time he opens his damn mouth to agree with his idiot brigade. His dark hair was short, shorter on the sides but with a little more on top, looking like he just rolled out of bed. His electric blue eyes taking in the scene before him, curiosity shining through as he crossed his arms in front of his chest, making the muscles in his arm more pronounced. It wasn’t hard to look away, I was already mortified as it is.
Carmen touches his arm, looking hurt, even though I know it’s all an act. He’s probably stupid enough to believe her shit.
“Mallory bumped into me and almost got her food all over me,” she whines.
I snort, not able to hold my tongue. “Whatever, you’re the one who slapped my tray into my chest.” I look down at the stain before looking up to glare at her. “Thanks for that by the way. And it’s Mel-oh-dee,” I say it slowly, sounding out how to say my name like she was a two year old who needed help with pronunciation.
She sniffs, tears pooling in her eyes as I call her on her bullshit. “I don’t know what you mean. I didn’t do that.”
Asher’s eyes are squeezed shut, like he can’t believe this was seriously happening.
Me too jackhole, me too.
“Can the bullshit,” Asher snaps before opening his eyes. For a minute I think he’s talking to me until I realize he’s turning those blue eyes to look at Carmen.
She stares at him in shock. I don’t blame her. I’m sure the same look is mirrored on my face. He doesn’t usually call out her shit in front of people, if at all. I know I’ve never had the pleasure of witnessing it.
“Wh-what?” Carmen gasps.
“You heard me, Car. Knock off the crap. If you think I’m stupid enough to believe that you’re the innocent one in this shit then you really don’t know me as well as you like to tell people you do.” Honestly, I figured he’d believe her over me. Not really surprising that she thought he’d take her side.
Carmen’s tears fall over, not fake anymore. Uh oh. Trouble in paradise.
“Anyway,” I say slowly, dragging out the word and when Asher meets my gaze I back away, not bothering with my food. I’m not in the mood to eat here on campus anymore. I’ll eat at work. I’m not dealing with this shit on my day off from studying. “Bye.”
I turn and walk away, ignoring the looks I’m getting for having my food all over myself. I walk to my apartment not far from the building the cafeteria is in that my best friend’s Flora and Keegan and I share so we aren’t stuck in the dorms. It means working more shifts but I’d rather do that than deal with people.
It’s kind of ironic since I’m a waitress.
Flora doesn’t actually have to work since her dad’s more than willing to pay for everything for her but she always says she needs something to do besides shop so we all work together at Deb’s Diner, named for the owner’s late wife, where damn near everyone on campus goes when they want to go out to eat.
I walk into our three bedroom apartment, kicking my shoes off and look up when I hear a gasp in the living room next to me.
“What?” I ask.
“What the hell happened to you?” Flora asks.
“Carmen,” I answer and her eyes narrow into angry slits.
“What a bitch! Why the hell can’t she leave you alone? Ever since we were kids she’s been on you.”
“Tell me about it. It’s whatever,” I say as I start to walk toward my room with her following behind me. “I’m going to go get ready for work. You should too since we start at the same time today.”
Her mouth opens and closes like a fish when we get to my room before she finds her words. “You’re not angry. Usually you’re bitching up a storm whenever you have to deal with her.”
“My anger evaporated when Asher told off Carmen,” I say with a smirk.
Her mouth drops open. “He did what?”
“Told her to stop bullshitting.” I take my shirt and pants off. Shit. I’m going to need a shower. I look at the time on my phone, I’ve got enough time to take a quick shower to get the sauce out of my hair that had landed there while I was taking my shirt off. “He didn’t believe the story she told him about me bumping into her and told her as such. I need to shower. I’ll be back.” I grab my work clothes, makeup bag and a towel as I head to the bathroom.
I take a quick shower and get dressed before putting my makeup on. When I leave the bathroom I look at my phone and call out for Flora that we have to go. I stop short when I walk into the living room and see her standing there ready to go.
“Okay then,” I laugh. “I didn’t realize you were done already.”
She grins. “If I waited for your ass to finish getting ready I wouldn’t have had time so I used Keegan’s bathroom.”
It’s not actually Keegan’s bathroom, we just call it that because it’s in his room, since he got the master bedroom. We wrote our names down on a piece of paper and put them in one of Keegan’s baseball caps. Flora was appointed to pick the name out of the hat while Keegan held it above her head. She pulled out Keegan’s name.
We’re allowed to use it as long as Keegan doesn’t have anyone over or he’s not using it. Plus all of our girly shit is in the main bathroom next to our room.
We leave the apartment and walk to work, chatting about what we’re going to be doing over Thanksgiving break. Her dad’s taking her out of town since it’s her birthday, but she has no idea where he’s taking her since he wants to make it a surprise. I plan on going home and spending time with my mom. Hopefully she’s not working a lot at the hospital over break.
We get to Deb’s Diner with minutes to spare before our shift starts. I take in the soft lighting and the booths that are almost empty since it’s not the lunch rush yet. We walk past the hostess station and into the back, greeting Keegan as we walk past with a tray of drinks.
“When do you go to your moms?” Flora asks as we punch in.
“I think I’m going to go home tomorrow. She said she had something she wanted to tell me.”
We grab our aprons from the back, tying them around our waists, making sure the pockets have everything we need, including a buttload of extra pens for me. My pens always disappear.
“Ladies,” our boss, Bob greets us with a smile.
“Hi Bob,” we say.
“We’re a little slow today, it should pick up for lunch. I don’t think I’ll have to send anyone home, but in case I need to I wanted to let you guys know since you’re both working the same time today. I’ll be sending one of you home if it gets to that point.”
We nod our understanding before he leaves to go in his office.
“If he has to send one of us home, I’ll go,”Flora says.
I look at her and smile. “Thanks Flora.”
She grins as she starts to walk away to her tables. “I don’t need this job, I choose to work it. You need the money more than I do.”
I shake my head, chuckling to myself. I go around my section, cleaning up, grabbing the dirty dishes that haven’t been taken care of yet and bring them to the back. When I walk back out to the dining room I freeze, making Keegan bump into me.
“The hell Mel?” He asks, walking around me so I can see him. “You okay?”
I nod. “I’m fine.” I was not fine and I think he knew that. His chocolate brown eyes watch me for several seconds before shrugging.
“Alright, if you need anything, let me know.” He starts to walk away then pauses and turns back to me. “Why’d you stop like that?”
I look over his shoulder where Asher and a few of his friends were seated in a booth in my section. Yeah, so not having this conversation here.
“I’ll explain when I get home tonight,” I promise. He nods once and walks to his section, checking on his tables.
I take a deep breath, grab a pen and my order book from my pocket in my apron before sucking it up and walking to Asher’s table. My first table of the day and it has to be the asshole who wasn’t actually an asshole today.
Fabulous.
I stop at their booth smile in place and the two guys with Asher look up at me while Asher continues to study the menu.
“Hi, my name is Melody and I’ll be your server today. Can I get you guys anything to drink to get started?”
“Hello gorgeous,” the one closest to me and across from Asher says, a wide grin spreading across his face as he looks at me from head to toe.
I raise an eyebrow at him. His brown eyes are burning a hole into my skin and all I feel is uncomfortable, when I know that look has probably gotten him laid more times than I have ever dreamed of being. “I’m not a slab of meat. I’m also not interested so you can stop checking me out now and tell me what you want to drink.” This is why I can’t stand being around most people. They’re either assholes, bitches or pigs. I used to be so much better at disguising it but unfortunately for this guy, my tolerance evaporated over the summer.
The guy next to him busts out laughing and punches him in the arm. “You’re losing your touch man.”
He grins good naturedly. “Aw, but you don’t even know me, doll.”
My eyes collide with Asher’s and his lip twitches on one side as his eyes twinkle with amusement. I turn to look at his friend, still not impressed.
“I don’t want to,” I answer honestly making the guy next to him snort as he laughs hysterically. He sounds like a dying hyena. Well, a dying hyena who’s laughing to death.
I hear a snicker coming from beside me and I know it’s from Asher since no one else has come to my section yet.
“Come on babe,” he coaxes. “Let me take you out to dinner.”
It takes every ounce of strength I have not to roll my eyes. Unfortunately for him, my filter is officially gone now thanks to him running out my patience. “No thank you. What do you want to drink? If you’re not going to order you can walk your happy, arrogant ass out that door.”
His eyes widen as Asher and their other friend laugh harder. “You on the rag or somethin’?” He asks.
I cross my arms, ignoring him and turn to Asher. “What do you want to drink?”
He’s still chuckling when he says, “I’ll take a coke. Good to see you without food covering you.”
I glare at him, making him laugh again. I roll my eyes and look at the guy by the window. “You?”
“I’ll take a Dr. Pepper.” He holds his hand out to me. I raise an eyebrow at him, not reaching out to take his hand. “I’m Lance, this dumb fuck next to me is Nash. I’m guessing you know Asher.” He drops his hand but grins at me. “And, you are officially my hero.”
“Why? Because I don’t let jackasses hit on me at work?”
“Hey now,” Nash protests and the others laugh while he grumbles. “Whatever. I’ll take a coke too.”
“Alright, I’ll be back with that.” I write it down so I don’t forget, even though chances of that are slim, I’m a little flustered tonight and filled with annoyance so there’s always a possibility. Those aren’t good combinations. I walk away feeling three pairs of eyes follow me.
I’m almost out of earshot but I can still hear Lance tell the others with a snicker, “Guys, I think I’m in love.” The rest of what he was saying I couldn’t hear.
Flora meets me at the drinks dispenser while I get my table their orders and she quirks an eyebrow at me. “Talk. Why the hell were you over at Asher’s table for that long?”
“You watching me?” I ask with a smirk, quickly dropping it. “Dumbass trying to hit on me. Acting like he’s God’s gift to women.”
“Ah, that explains it. You tell him off?” She asks with a grin.
I laugh while putting the drinks on a tray. “Yeah. I think all it did was make them think I’m crazy. He actually asked me if I was on my period because I didn’t want to be propositioned at work.”
She bites her lip, attempting to stop her laughter but it was too much so she finally gave up, letting the giggles take over her body. “Oh my god, that’s awesome.”
I shake my head as I leave her to laugh so I can bring my table their drinks.
“Are you guys ready to order?” I ask after setting their drinks down.
“Yeah, I’ll have a-” Asher starts.
“There you are baby, I’ve been looking all over for you,” Carmen’s shrill voice calls from the front of the diner. We’re in the back. It’s also starting to pick up in here. Can I never catch a break?
“Jesus Christ,” Asher groans, bringing a hand up to pinch the bridge of his nose.
“What the fuck Ash, thought you guys broke up,” Lance groans.
“She can’t take the fucking hint I guess,” Asher says.
“If I can get your orders, you can go back to bitching about the queen bitch over there, who is actually on her way over here with her band of bimbos. I’d like to get far away from them as possible so hurry up please.” I added the please to try to soften the rudeness of my words but I can’t take much more today. “Or take her somewhere else to hash it out. I’d prefer that option if I’m being honest.”
Asher stares at me, his face completely unreadable. I have no idea what he’s thinking and I don’t want to know. I just know I don’t want to deal with Carmen and her bitchy friends. Already had to do that once today. Don't need to do it again.
After a long second of staring at me he and his friends place their orders quickly, I jot them down and escape to the kitchen, handing the cook my order slip.
I find Flora in the break room just beyond the kitchen looking at the schedule.
“You think it’s too early to take a break?” I ask one hundred percent serious.
“We just got here like an hour ago. Not even,” Flora points out.
I pout my lips. “Damn it.”
“Why?”
“Carmen just showed up, I’ll bet anything that since Asher’s in my section she’s going to completely disregard where Nina puts her and moves to my section next to his booth.”
She hisses. “Shit, I’m sorry.”
“I just want this work day to be over Flora.”
“I know honey.” She pauses. “We need to get out. Keegan mentioned that there’s a party tonight, we’ll both be out of work by the time it gets going.”
“No. I don’t do parties. You know that.”
“Okay, fine. It’s not a party. It’s a bonfire with beer and we’re going. You need a night off to relax and what’s more relaxing than drinking and watching a fire with your bestie?”
I stare at her for several minutes before I realize she’s not going to give on this.
“Fine,” I sigh. I’ll go, but whether she likes it or not, I’m leaving after an hour, two at most.
“Yay! It’s going to be great, I promise.”
“Mhm,” I mutter before getting back to work. Thankfully Carmen and her goons are gone when I come back out. My day at work got considerably better after that. I just hope like hell this party won’t ruin it again.