Beautiful Burn(45)

I checked an alert on my phone after class on Friday. Expecting Auburn, I was about to tell her I just needed to head home and grab my bag and then I was headed out, when Mel’s picture flashed on my screen. I winced.

I need your help. Can you stop by?

“Fuck,” I lifted my head to see if anyone had heard me.

Why? I replied.

Just for a quick minute. I promise.

I knew if I refused she would throw another fit, and I didn't want to rock the boat, not before I had time to sign the papers, anyway.

Sure. I typed and hit send, grinding my teeth in frustration. I changed my clothes and tossed my overnight bag in the car before heading out of town and towards my old house.

I put the Blazer in park ten minutes later and ambled up the steps to the front door. I knocked once before finding it unlocked. “Mel?” I called as I took in the pristine living room we once shared.

“Back here!” Mel's voice echoed down the hallway. “This better be quick,” I murmured under my breath, anxious to get on the road and to Auburn. I turned the corner and stepped into the master bedroom to find Mel bent over the bed, ass in the air, wearing a school girl uniform.

“What the fuck, Mel?”

“Come fuck me.” She purred over her shoulder, wiggling her ass in the too-short skirt.

“You've got to be kidding me.” I ran a hand through my hair.

“I can satisfy your school girl fantasy.” She arched her back more with a smile.

“Get dressed.” I tossed a throw blanket over her and walked out the door.

“Seriously, Reed?” She scurried after me, throw wrapped around her body as she followed me into the kitchen.

“You're better than this.” My hand twisted the door knob just as she reached me.

“Reed, don't leave. Please, I'm so fucked up over this. Daddy told me you met with a lawyer last week. Don't leave me, baby, I can be better. I've been doing a lot of thinking, maybe this summer you just had a tough time, I can forgive. We can go back to how we were.” She smoothed a hand down my chest, her eyes pleading.

“Mel.” I groaned.

“Please?” She murmured.

This soft side was something I'd never seen out of her before. She wasn't fooling me. “No.” I shook my head and twisted the knob again.

“If you leave I'll kill myself,” she said in a hurry as she pulled a knife from the block and held it to her wrist. I watched the sharp blade pressing against her skin, the pinpoint of creamy flesh turning white with the pressure.

“Mel, don't do this.” I took long strides to reach her, then stood frozen. The look in her eye was angry, unpredictable, wild.

“What have I got to lose?” She shrugged and applied more pressure.

“Everything! You have everything to lose! What about your parents? Your brother?”

“I have nothing! You were my everything and you left. I lived for you!” She spit as angry tears filled her eyes.

“You've only ever cared about yourself! We were too young, Mel. We thought we had the world figured out, but we're not good together.”

“But I love you,” she simpered. That familiar seductive look used to drive me crazy with desire, now it turned my stomach. How could I have been so foolish to fall for her over-glossed lips and carefully rehearsed lines?

“We fought every day for the last two years! Why would you want to live like that?!” My brain short-circuited and all I could think about was ending this, pulling off the metaphorical band-aid and cutting all ties with Mel. “These vindictive games have to stop, Mel.” I ended softly as I took the knife from her hand.

Her face fell before she padded around me in bare feet and curled up on a corner of the couch. “Will you stay? I need someone to talk to. I don't have anyone, Reed.” She sobbed into the soft cashmere throw.

“I can't, I have a thing tonight.”

“Please, I need you. Just one last night. I just need to talk about this, I know you want a divorce, I know we've been fighting so much, but when I lost you, I couldn’t think straight. All I could think about was getting you back.”

“That's not going to happen, Mel.” I sat on the couch next to her.

“Why?” She squeaked through a sob.

“It's just not.” I said quietly. She didn't answer, only tucking herself in my lap. I froze, before relaxing and giving her the closure I knew we both needed. It'd been a long time coming.





twenty-two


An hour later and I was still rubbing Mel's back as she slept quietly¸ partially sprawled across my lap. I grit my teeth as the sun fell in the sky and afternoon turned to evening. I fished my phone out of my pocket and opened a message for Auburn and typed: Bad news. Can we talk?