Chapter 1

Melody Howlett was a new student at New Markton High…and she loathed it already. She had only been there for two days and she already hated it. She’d just moved to San Francisco from New York City. The school was large, about 1200 kids in the entire school. Melody had gone to a private school in the city for voice and theatre. Since her father had gotten a new job in the area, Melody, her mother, and three of her four siblings were forced to move with him.

Raulin, Melody’s older half brother, was in his early 20’s and married so he didn’t need to follow his family since he had one of his own. Melody was jealous of Raulin; she didn’t want to move away from New York, she’d had so many friends there.

Melody was shot back into reality when someone bumped into her, pushing her halfway into her locker. She groaned and pulled herself out, rubbing her right shoulder. She scowled at the person who’d pushed her, rolling her eyes. He hadn’t even apologized. How rude could you possibly guess, she asked herself as she pulled her math book from the locker.

The bell rang and Melody got lost in the gust of teens that flew around her, rushing to their classes. Doors slammed and then there was silent. Melody sighed as she looked down at her things that were scattered across the floor.

“Great, just great,” she mumbled under her breath. She reached out to grab her biology book when someone else touched it.

“You okay?” Melody looked up and standing in front of her was Aiden. Melody knew Aiden a bit, he was her biology partner and he was also the guy who did the lights for the school plays. She’d spoken to him in the lunch line the day before…he seemed like an okay guy.

“Yeah, thanks. Nice to see some people at this school care.” Aiden passed her the biology book and helped her stand up, smiling.

“Eh, they’re okay…once you get to know them.”

“That’s what I heard about the jocks…so far, they are still jerk-offs.” The two of them laughed.

“Come on, I’ll walk you to your next class. What have you got?” Aiden took Melody schedule from her hand and unfolded it, reading it over. “Theatre…awesome! I’ve got it too.” Aiden helped her put her things away and carried her bag for her.

“You really don’t have to help me.” She liked to be a loner most of the time…she didn’t like strangers helping her.

“It’s no problem, really. We’re going to the same place anyhow…might as well show you the way.” He peered down at Melody, smirking. Aiden was about almost six feet tall and his shaggy sandy blonde hair brushed in front of his face. Melody laughed as he tried to push it aside with his upper arm.

“Let me get that,” she said as she helped push the strands of hair from his face. Aiden stopped suddenly and looked down at her, his beautiful deep blue eyes glistening brightly, making Melody freeze in her place.

“Melody, I-”

“Mr. Markus and Ms. Howlett, care to join us for class?” Melody and Aiden turned to their teacher, Mr. Frankford. Melody blushed and looked up at Aiden.

“Tell me later, okay?” She took her things from Aiden and ran down the rest of the hallway to their class, Aiden following close behind.

Chapter 2

Aiden and Melody stood beside each other in the sound booth above the stage, watching as people auditioned for the school’s musical.

“That’s Amber, she always gets the lead. I’d like to see her not get it…for once.” Aiden turned to Melody, giving an adorable smirk. “Hey, you sing?”

Melody shook her head. “No…well…yeah…but I’d never try out.”

“Melody, you should try! Come on…try. For the sake of the school and new girls every where…try!” Melody frowned as Mr. Frankford clapped for Amber and spoke out.

“Is that all?” Mr. Frankford looked around at all the students.

“Melody wanted to try,” Aiden called out. Melody moved to stop him, but it was too late. Aiden grabbed her hand and guided her down the stairs that lead backstage.

“I ever tell you how much you suck?” Aiden brushed a piece of hair back from Melody’s face, smiling.

“You love me.” Aiden gave her a bright smile and pulled her close. He whispered in her ear softly. “This scene, you need to pretend you are in love.”

Melody moved her lips to tell him not to, but before she could say a rebuttal, Aiden’s lips were pressed to hers. He broke the kiss and pushed her on stage.

“Ms. Howlett, when you’re ready.” Mr. Frankford sat at the piano and waited to Melody to nod. Melody took a deep breath and nodded.

The piano began and Melody licked her lips, preparing them for what was to come next. She parted her lips and the most magnificent voice escaped those lips.

The words glided across her tongue and escaped, ringing through the entire theatre. People who were chattering in their seats stopped and stared in awe. Even Amber froze in mid-sentence and stared at Melody.

Melody got a standing ovation when she stopped. She looked around to see that the room was filled with people, students and teachers alike. Melody showed off a beautifully bright smile.

“Melody Howlett, ladies and gentleman! I would like you all to meet our Belle!” Melody’s mouth gaped as Mr. Frankford announced her as a lead for the musical.

Amber was clearly furious with the decision. She ran onto stage, pushing Melody aside. “What about me, Mr. Frankford?!”

Mr. Frankford looked up at Amber. “You’ll be Mrs. Potts, of course, Amber. Don’t worry.” Amber let out a furious scream and stormed off stage. Aiden ran from back stage and threw his arms around Melody.

“That was amazing, Mel!” The two held hands, laughing and jumping up and down. Melody had just gotten the lead in the school’s musical, Beauty and the Beast. Melody couldn’t wait to go home and tell her twin sister, Harmony.

Chapter 3

When Melody got home, she was jumped on by CJ and Angel, her two younger siblings. CJ and Angel were only seven years old, but they some times acted younger. They were twins, but Angel looked like her father and CJ looked more like his mother.

“Melody! I just got the call from school!” Melody’s mother, a thin figure whom was only five feet tall, ran over to Melody, hugged him. “You got the lead!” The two laughed and danced around. CJ and Angel held hands and skipped off. Melody laughed, watching the twins.

“Where is daddy? I want to tell him!” Melody walked up the stairs to her father’s art studio. The door flew open.

“Raulin!” Melody screamed and jumped into her older brother’s arms. Raulin looked almost exactly like his father. He had deep set emerald green eyes and long jet black hair, where his father had short, spiky hair.

“Hey, Mel-Mel!” Raulin twirled Melody around, laughing and kissing her forehead. “Dad and I were just talking about the awesome news! You got Belle in Beauty and the Beast! I’m so excited for you!”

“I know, I am too! Where is dad?” She peered into the art studio; it was empty except for an easel and a few buckets of paint.

“He went out to grab some pizza for everyone for dinner.”

“What about Marie?” Marie was Raulin’s wife, she was six months pregnant, and so Melody figured that she wanted to stay home…Raulin informed her that she was correct.

Melody and Raulin spoke for a few minutes until Melody heard the front door open.

“I’m home, you guys!” Melody knew the voice all too well…it was Harmony, her twin sister. Harmony was a full figure, she had breasts like all men wanted and a big behind…and Melody envied her twin. Harmony had long, beautiful dark brown hair and beautiful emerald green eyes like Raulin and Angel had. But Melody enjoyed looking like her mother…with her long auburn hair and crystal blue eyes. Her mother was beautiful, and she wouldn’t have minded at all if she grew up to be exactly like her. With a record deal and such, Melody couldn’t have been more pleased if you’d paid her millions of dollars.

“Harmony, Harmony, Harmony! I got the lead at school!” Melody ran down the stairs and ran over to her sister, throwing her arms around her. The girls went to two different schools. Melody went to New Markton High, a public school, and Harmony went to Elton High, a private school for teens who wanted to pursue their dreams in music.

“That is totally cool, Melody! What play?!”

“Beauty and the Beast…I play Belle!” The twins screamed and embraced just as their father walked in. Ethan growled and sighed. Ethan must have been six and a half feet tall. Melody and Harmony, when they’d been little, enjoyed making fun of their parents when they would hug or kiss. It was funny to watch a six and a half foot tall man hugging a five foot tall woman.

“Congrats about the lead, Melody.” Ethan bent down and kissed Melody’s forehead, then went into the kitchen with the two pizza boxes. “Dinner time, everyone!”

Chapter 4

Melody sat quietly on the stage in the auditorium, reading over her lines for the musical.

“Hey, Mel,” Melody lifted her gaze to see Aiden. He looked so handsome, with his long hair falling gently into his face. She looked him up and down, nothing unusual, just a pair of jeans and a black hoodie.

“Good morning, Aiden,” Melody said, then went back to studying her lines. She could hear Aiden’s footsteps drawing closer. She couldn’t help but blush. She lowered her head, her black, old fashioned, newspaper boy cap hiding her eyes from him.

“Do you need some help? With the lines, I mean.” He hopped up on the stage and scooted towards her. He leaned towards her, looking over her shoulder.

“No, thanks,” she peered up at him with her crystal blue eyes. She then began to notice how close his face was to her own.

“Melody, m-may I….may I kiss you?” Seeing that Melody nodded, he leaned in. The door burst open.

“Aiden!” Aiden quickly looked to the doors and frowned when he saw Amber. “I need your help with my lines!”

“He can’t help you right now. I asked him for help,” Melody smiled up at Aiden, “Right, Aiden?”

“She’s right, Amber. I’m sorry…maybe another time.” Amber stormed out, mumbling cruel things under her breathe. Aiden and Melody began to laugh.

“Thanks for the save, Mel.”

“What are friends for?” She felt Aiden move an arm around her waist.

“Well…I was hoping we could be a bit more of friends.” He laughed at the site of Melody’s eyes going wide.

“Aiden, are you asking me on a date or something?” She seemed to be glowing with excitement.

“I’m asking more then that, Mel.” He leaned in to kiss her, but she slipped off the stage, grinning.

“I’ll think about it…I’ll think about it, Aiden.” She pulled her bag off of the stage and walked down the isle of the auditorium. She opened the doors and left, smiling.

Chapter 5

The next day at school Melody saw Amber leaning against her locker, clearly waiting for someone…or something. Melody’s jaw gapped when she saw Aiden walk over to Amber with what looked like a dozen roses. Amber took the roses, threw them into her locker and hugged Aiden.

“Oh, thank you for the roses, Aiden!” Amber gave this horrible grin towards Melody.

Melody felt heat in her eyes and just as the bell rang, she ran towards down the west hallway, hoping to get away before Amber knew that she had gotten to her.

In the library, Melody sat in a back corner with a box of tissues to her left and a bunch of rolled up tissues in her lap.

“Mel, hey, are you alright?” Melody didn’t look up, she knew it was Aiden.

“Yeah, I’ll be fine,” she said in a soft voice as she took a clean tissue and wiped a few of her tears away.

“Melody, come on, don’t lie to me. I know you better than anyone in this school.” Aiden knelt down, taking the tissue from her hand and moved to wipe some more of her tears away.

“No, Aiden, you don’t. That’s the thing, you just don’t,” with her harsh words, she pushed his hand away, “I was actually going to say ‘yes’ to you asking me out but…but now…seeing you with Amber, it makes me realize what a jerk you actually are!” She stood up, all her tissues falling to the floor. “Now, if you’d be so kind to move, I can go to the nurse’s office and go home!”

“Wait, me, with Amber?” Aiden began to laugh, his laughter making Melody furious, “I don’t like the girl one bit, Mel,” he stood and wrapped his arms around her waist, drawing her close, “you’re the girl I like.” He leaned down to steal her lips in a kiss, and she almost let him.

“No, Aiden, I will not fall for you any more.” With her words, she shoved him away and rushed off, forgetting her purse.

“Melody,” he called after her, “if you’re talking about the flowers, Amber ordered flowers from my parents shop! I delivered them to her! Honest!” He let out a heavy sigh and walked off in the other direction.

Melody had heard him, and would forgive him, but she still went to the nurse’s office and pretended to be sick. She wanted to go home, she wanted to relax and calm down. When in the nurse’s office, the nurse walked off to check on another student, Melody took the thermometer from her mouth and placed the tip of it against the lap’s light bulb that rested beside it. When hearing the nurse coming back, she popped the thermometer back into her mouth. The nurse took it from her mouth, gasping.

“My goodness! A fever of 103.5?!” The nurse rushed over to the phone and called Melody’s parents.

Chapter 6

Melody was laying in the living room watching TV and eating some cookies and ice cream when she heard the doorbell ring. She was about to call out for someone else to answer the door, but than she recalled that she was at home, completely alone. The doorbell rang again as she was getting up.

“I’m coming! Chill out!” She grabbed a few cookies and walked over to the door. She looked through the peephole but saw no one there. Slowly opening the door, something fell in. It was her purse! She picked it up and opened the screen door.

“Aiden?!” Melody felt a light blush rising in her cheek, “What are you doing here?!”

Aiden was getting into his black Jetta when he heard Melody call his name. He quickly turned around, smiling. “Hey, there you are! You’d left your purse in the library and I wanted to make sure you got it back right away.”

Melody blushed a deeper red as she held the screen door open more.

“Do…um…do you wanna come in? I’ve got some ice cream and cookies.”

Aiden grinned and closed his car door, the alarm going off. Melody laughed hysterically as Aiden fiddled around, trying to get it off. He gave her an evil grin when he turned it off. He rushed over to her, placing his hands on her waist. Her breath drew in as he bent down to give her a soft kiss.

“I’d love to. Just…no more laughing at me. It hurts my feelings.” He gave her a little childish pout.

“But laughing at you is so fun.” Melody let out a scream of laughter as Aiden lifted her up into his arms, tickling her.

“Really? Huh? Huh? Huh?!” Aiden closed the door with his foot. He stopped tickling her once he set her down on the couch.

Melody looked up at him, blushing still. Then, Aiden leaned over the arm of the couch and began to kiss her.

Chapter 7

The week went by calm and cool. Friday night would be the musical, and Melody was ready. By the time Thursday rolled around, Melody and Aiden were completely inseparable. It was clear that Amber was not exactly accepting of Melody and the part she got, let alone getting Aiden.

“You just don’t like anyone that gets the lead. And you think, by buying yourself flowers from Aiden’s family’s flower shop that you can get me jealous. All so I could quit the part.” Melody was furious as she called Amber out. She turned and stormed off before Amber could respond. Waiting outside of the girl’s bathroom was Aiden.

“About time. You tell her off?” Aiden slipped an arm around Melody’s shoulder, grinning.

“Of course,” the two laughed and skipped off, hand in hand, towards Aiden’s car.

“Need a ride home?” Aiden held the door open for Melody and she slid right in.

“I thought you’d never ask,” she responded, giggling. Aiden closed her door for her and got in on the other side, smiling.

Aiden started the car and placed a hand on Melody’s leg. “Melody, I really love spending so much time with you.”

“But…?” Melody could feel a ‘but’ in there, but he just shook.

“No ‘but’, not a single one. I love being with you and I’m really proud of you.”

“For what, Aiden?” Melody was confused.

“For being yourself. For trying new things, and for showing people, and yourself, that it’s actually okay to be yourself. I couldn’t be prouder.”

And that was when Melody knew that things would be okay, everything was just perfect, and nothing could possibly get better. She was happy and so was Aiden, and she knew that, no matter how hard things get, they’d always be there for each other…to the very end.