Chapter Text
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I noticed him first at a party, the space between us like an ocean. I daren’t cross it. He was over by the bar, slipping sneaky scoops of the alcoholic punch into his glass, even though I was sure he wasn’t old enough. His quick eyes would glance warily around the room. He would shuffle down to the soft drinks and seemingly put some of that into his glass. I chuckled to myself. Knowing he had got away with that minor forgery, he would then lean against the table with a somewhat smug expression, eyes wandering aimlessly around the room. He was by himself, although whenever the caterer lady appeared to top up drinks and food, she would go and talk to him. I presumed that the caterer must be his sister or aunt as she looked too young to be his mother.
I noticed he kept looking at a group of girls who were standing a little way down from me, but he made no attempt to move. I didn’t blame him, from where I was standing, or, sitting (sipping a lonely glass of non alcoholic drink) they weren’t talking about anything vaguely interesting at all.
I had to admit he was very, very attractive. Perhaps, if I were so bold as to say, the most attractive guy I had ever seen. True, his shirt and loose fitting trousers weren’t really doing much for him, nor his hair being slicked back (probably by his mother to try and make him look smart). But this didn’t matter, as a few strands of stubborn hair fell lose and hung down on his cheekbones anyway, in a silent rebellion.
He had a beautifully pouty face which was somewhat squished; his little nose and mouth were pushed down to his firm jaw line by his eyes which dominated his face.
I couldn’t see what colour they were, but from my lonely seat across the room, I was sure they were gorgeous.
He had an unimpressed, moody expression most of the time,
but on a very rare occasion,
if someone did something amusing,
he might glance up through his stray hair and
flash this
smile
which made me
cry internally.
As time ticked on and the adults got drunk and my glass emptied boredom really began to kick in. I was please that the girls began to move (as how many boyfriends and kisses they’d had wasn’t entertaining at all) and giggle their way across the room. I wasn’t pleased though that they were going over to him. I watched his face as they approached, and it was safe to say that he looked terrified. He tried to cover that of course with a smile but it was not a real one. They stood around him, four girls backing up the poor lad against the table. I obviously couldn’t hear what they said, but after half an hour or so one girl had taken his hand and was walking him towards the glass doors which lead into the Palace Gardens.
I stood at this point, standing on my tiptoes to try and see past everybody. They had gone.
Upset but immensely curious, I decided I must find out what was going on.
I nipped up the stairs (careful that mum and dad didn’t notice), went through my bedroom window and accessed the garden that way.
I crept behind the bushes, listening out for voices. I couldn’t hear anything. Disappointed, I kept low, jogging across any open spaces so not to be noticed. A little further down I saw them.
He was slowly stepping backwards, glancing around anxiously as she walked further towards him. I realised that soon he would be backed up against the wall and trapped there. What was it with girls and backing the poor guy up? I could just about make out what they were saying.
She was trying to get him to kiss her!
I looked on in shock, as I could see that he wanted no part in this. When he was backed fully against the wall he made a quick dart away from her, but instead of running back to the hall (which I was rooting for him to do) he turned back to her, yet still slowly moved away. I sighed, he was being a gent I guessed.
She was getting angry and embarrassed that he didn’t fancy her and was asking him why over and over and over and over again. He was being really friendly, saying that she was very pretty but he just didn’t like her.
Eventually, she snapped.
She burst into tears and ran back to the hall, shoving him over as she went. He fell back onto the grass, but didn’t move until she had gone. I could not see his face, as his back was to me, but his shoulders were rising and falling quickly. After a time he slowly got up, brushed himself off and started to go back to the hall.
As he passed me it was as if he could feel eyes on him as he abruptly looked over to where I was hidden. He frowned slightly and started to move towards my hiding place. I, wide eyed at being found, shuffled back until I was leaning against the wall. I squeezed my eyes shut (as if that would help me) and waited to be screamed at.
It didn’t happen though.
Instead I heard his footsteps disappear up the path into the hall.
I let out my breath that I had been holding. I then rubbed my eyes. What a scene!
Gathering my nerve again I went back to my window, climbed up my roses and snuck back into the hall.
On entering I straight away noticed the girls all huddled together, the one from outside still crying. I nonchalantly wandered near enough to be able to hear what they were saying… as the looks they were shooting towards the boy, who was back by the bar, would’ve killed him if he had turned around.
I was stunned when I heard the crying girl sob: ‘Jim’ (so that’s his name. Jim. Jimmy, Jimbo) ‘*sob* made me *sob* kiss him *sob*. He made me *double sob* … do things !’ Then she burst into an uncontrollable flood of tears.
I was pretty blatantly staring at them by this point, completely and utterly taken aback by the girls shocking accusation. One of them noticed me and shrieked a harsh what are you looking at? I shook my head in defence, quickly turning my attention elsewhere.
He had noticed their huddle by this point and looked uncomfortably around the room before speed walking, head lowered, into the kitchen area where the woman was.
“Melody.” I glanced up. It was mother. Red hair flowing in fire waves down her shoulders. It was a mystery to everyone how her hair was always so pristine. It was a mystery to me too! She smiled at me, resting a hand on my shoulder. “You should get an early night.” My jaw dropped.
“Seriously?” I asked, disbelieving. I was almost 12 and was still being ferreted off to bed!
“You have a big day next week.” Mum smiled. I gave her my best unimpressed look before wandering to the stairs. I glanced back, to see if Jim had come back in the room.
Just as I looked at the kitchen door, he came back inside, arms crossed and eyes alert. No pout. No smile. He glanced once at the girls, but they shot him cruel looks so he looked feebly away, going to the buffet. I, two steps up the flight of stairs- walked down one step, looking (rather unsubtly) at him. Mum caught my eye though, as she was staring at me, gesturing for me to continue up the stairs. How long had she been staring for? I pulled a face, but obediently turned away, hoisting my dress up and waddling up the stairs. Just before I went out of the view though, I glanced back at him one last time. At that moment he turned away from the food and glanced up the stairs.
…
…
For a couple of seconds Melody experienced what it felt like for your heart to stop. For the world to stop. She felt completely absorbed in this moment, in his face, in his eyes that held her own. . But then Jim looked away, a shadow of sadness on him. Melody looked on at him sadly but then gathered herself up, shaking her head. She continued up the stairs and went out of sight.
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