The beginning of senior year
1351 Words
Madrigal Mansion
Mel walked into the mansion, greeted by the familiar sight of her brother Miles sitting in the living room, sipping a glass of scotch.
"Hey, sis," Miles said, setting his glass down. "Welcome back. How was your summer most of it at Lilah's place."
Miles raised an eyebrow. "Lilah's place, huh? You two must have had a blast."
Mel nodded, trying to sound nonchalant. "Yeah, we did. We hung out, went to the beach, the usual."
Miles' eyes narrowed slightly. "I see. Well, I'm glad you had a good time. You deserve it after everything you've been through."
Mel smiled, feeling a twinge of guilt for lying to her brother. But she knew she couldn't tell him the truth - not yet, anyway.
Pride High
The next day, Mel rode her bike onto the school campus, wearing baggy jeans, a crop top, and a face cap. She looked like a completely different person from the Melody Madrigal that everyone knew.
As she locked her bike to a rack, Mel noticed a group of students staring at her. She ignored them and walked towards the entrance of the school.
Just as she was about to walk through the doors, a voice cut through the noise.
"Well, well, well. Look what we have here. The queen of Pride High has returned."
Mel turned to see Milly, the school bully, standing in front of her, a sneer on her face.
"What do you want, Milly?" Mel asked, pulling down her face cap.
Milly took a step closer, her voice dripping with venom. "I want to know why you stole my boyfriend. You think you're so special, don't you? Playing with boys' hearts like they're toys."
Mel shrugged, unfazed. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Milly's face turned red with rage. "Don't lie to me! Everyone knows you're a heartbreaker. But you're not going to get away with it this time."
Mel smiled sweetly. "Oh, I'm shaking in my boots."
The scene was interrupted by the sound of the bell, signaling the start of class. Mel turned and walked away, leaving Milly fuming behind her.
While in the classroom
As the students settled into their seats, they realized that their teacher was absent, giving them a free period. Everyone knew that this was no coincidence, but rather the work of Skylar, the class clown and notorious prankster.
Skylar, a tall and lean figure with a mischievous grin, walked into the classroom, a bottle of alcohol in hand. His eyes scanned the room, locking onto Mel, who was sitting in the back, her face cap pulled low.
"Ah, Melody Luciana Madrigal," Skylar said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I've been waiting for this moment for a long time."
Skylar approached Mel, the bottle of alcohol at the ready. "You see, Mel, I've been wanting to return the favor for that little prank you played on me before summer break."
Without warning, Skylar dumped the contents of the bottle onto Mel's head, soaking her hair and clothes. The classroom erupted into chaos as Mel's eyes flashed with anger.
The inner beast in Mel was triggered, and she launched herself at Skylar, tackling him to the ground. The two of them crashed into desks and chairs, sending books and papers flying.
Skylar's minions, a group of burly jocks, tried to intervene, but Mel was unstoppable. She took down each of them with ease, her fists flying and her feet kicking.
In the end, Skylar lay motionless on the ground, his spine broken. Mel stood over him, her chest heaving with exertion, her eyes blazing with fury.
The classroom was silent, the only sound the heavy breathing of the students. Mel's eyes scanned the room, daring anyone to come near her.
But no one did.
Instead, the principal's voice came over the intercom, summoning Mel to his office.
As Mel walked out of the classroom, she knew that she was in trouble. But she didn't care. She had protected herself, and that's all that mattered.
Placid mansion
Meanwhile, in a dark and sleek office, Lucas sat behind his desk, a look of intensity on his face. He had received a lead on the girl he was looking for, a girl who attended Pride High.
Alex, his loyal informant, had told him that the girl was a senior, and Lucas had sent a spy to each of the senior classes to find out who she was.
Lucas's eyes narrowed as he thought about the girl. He had to find her, no matter what it took.
And he would stop at nothing to make sure that she was his.
The principals office
Mel sat in the principal's office, her eyes fixed on the floor as Principal Bradford lectured her on her behavior.
"Melody, I'm extremely disappointed in you," Principal Bradford said, his voice firm but controlled. "Fighting is never an acceptable solution, and what you did to Skylar and his friends is unacceptable."
Mel didn't respond, knowing that she had gone too far.
Just then, the door opened, and Miles, Mel's elder brother, walked in. He was dressed in a tailored suit, his expression stern.
"Ah, Miles, thank you for coming," Principal Bradford said, nodding at him. "I'm afraid your sister has gotten herself into a bit of trouble."
Miles's eyes narrowed as he looked at Mel. "What happened?" he asked, his voice firm.
Principal Bradford filled Miles in on the details of the fight, and Miles's expression grew increasingly stern.
"I'm afraid Melody's behavior is becoming a concern, moreover this is senior year where everything in crucial," Principal Bradford said. "I think it would be best if she underwent some therapy to deal with her anger issues if she doesn't want to have issues like this on her record."
Miles nodded in agreement. "I agree. Melody's behavior has been erratic for some time now. I'll make sure she gets the help she needs."
Mel felt a surge of resentment at being talked about like she wasn't even in the room. But she knew better than to argue with her brother and the principal.
"I'm afraid this incident will have to go on your record, Melody," Principal Bradford said, his expression serious. "And if there are any more incidents like this, there will be consequences."
Mel nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. She knew she had gone too far, and she was willing to do whatever it took to make things right but Bella's death still has an impact on her.
But as she left the principal's office with Miles, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was in for a lot more trouble than she had bargained for.
As Mel and Miles left the principal's office, one of the students in the hallway, a quiet and unassuming boy, watched them with interest. He quickly pulled out his phone and dialed a number.
"Sir, it's me," the boy said, his voice low. "I have some information about the girl you're looking for."
Lucas's voice came over the line, his tone sharp. "What is it?"
The boy hesitated before speaking. "I think I found her, sir. She's a student here at Pride High. Her name is Melody Madrigal."
Lucas's expression changed from calm to shocked. "Melody Madrigal?" he repeated. "Miles Madrigals sister?"
The boy nodded, even though Lucas couldn't see him. "Yes, sir. That's the one."
Lucas's mind was racing. Miles and I go way back,why had he never mentioned a sister. Lucas felt a surge of anger and betrayal. Why had Miles kept this from him?
But as he thought about Melody's behavior, he couldn't help but feel a sense of curiosity. The way she had reacted to the alcohol, the way she had fought Skylar and his friends... it all seemed so familiar.
And then it hit him. The maid who had left his mansion, the one who had reacted so violently to the alcohol... it was the same behavior.
Lucas's eyes narrowed. He had to know more about Melody Madrigal. He had to know if she was the one he was looking for.
- Writer
