It's Never Just The Elders

Melodie's phone is "magically" fixed? Intense... This chapter is very intense. Luke has serious issues. Melodie and Alex are evil people...

               

I walked to my window and pulled back the curtain slowly, just to annoy him. He was in the tree, about to fall off. My eyes grew wide.

            “What are you doing Cameron?” I whispered urgently.

            “I came to bust you out, come on.” Cameron answered. He jerked his head without thinking and fell backwards out of the tree. I leaned against the window sill and giggled, watching him get up grimacing.

            “What are you laughing at?” Cameron asked, angrily. I shrugged still smiling.

            “Great, I break you out and you laugh when I fall out of your tree. Thanks, thanks a lot.” Cameron said.

            “Sorry, but it was hilarious.” I smiled.

            “Fine, I’ll just leave you.” Cameron threatened.

            “Wait! How exactly do you plan to do that?” I asked.

            “I’m going to distract your brother and you sneak out the back door.” Cameron explained.

            “Are you kidding?” I asked.

            “Oh yeah right, Alex.” Cameron sighed.

            “I have an idea.” I stated so he would know to read my mind. Sometimes the whole mind reading thing comes in handy when you don’t want to reveal the tears in your voice. A downside to that is that he would already know you’re crying but whatever.

            “That’s great, but where are we going to get the hail machine?” Cameron asked, still in the bluish backyard.

            “You mean you don’t have some weird weather changing friend?” I inquired, urgent.

            “That’s what I mean. I actually wanted to ask one of the Elders about that but he…he um…he’s not with us anymore.” Cameron answered, his voice quivering as if he were about to cry.

            “Calm down Cam, it’s just the Elders.” I stated.

            “Just the… Never mind, I’m not going to make my precious one uncomfortable.”  Cameron yelled, regretfully.

            “Yeah, I know, but how are we going to get someone to create hail?” I asked.

            “I know! Why don’t you just jump out of the window and I’ll catch you and then you lock your door…” He started.

            “You’re going out of order.” I interrupted. He groaned and ignored me.

            “And I’ll get Trevor to tell you when he’s checking up on you so we can run back to your house.” He hypothesized

            “I have no door, just a ladder.” I reminded him.

            “That’s where Trevor comes in handy.” Cameron smiled.

            “Trevor comes in handy…I know, I know. But what if you don’t catch me?” I wondered.

            “If you get hurt the tribe will kill me. I’ll try to be as safe as possible.” Cameron told me, moving over the tree trunk as if to catch me immediately.

            “Cameron, I’m afraid of falling!” I complained.

            “Melodie, don’t you trust me at all?” Cameron asked, sounding almost heartbroken.

            “No! I’ll figure something out.” I sighed, unhappily.

            “I’ll figure it out sooner or later. I won’t let you waste your Christmas break being grounded.” Cameron told me.

            “Thanks.” I replied, running over to my ladder. I climbed down and ran downstairs where I knew Luke would be in case my brother and I decide to sneak out.

            “I knew it!” Luke exclaimed not looking up from his basketball game. He was a real basketball fan and knew which team would win occasionally. I knew the second game would be coming on right after. I just ducked under behind the big screen TV and snuck my way over to the door. He really needs to start caring about the people he grounds because we get out too much.

            “Nice try Mel.” I heard when I shut the door quietly behind me.

            “What do you mean nice try? You’re grounded too. If you don’t…” I started to make a deal as I stood up in the snow next to him.

            “I meant you trying to go to that training thing without me.” Alex smiled. I could hardly see his smile in the dark 9 o’clock night. He put his arm around my shoulder as he saw Cameron emerge from the backyard. I glared up at Alex, hoping he would move his arm. Cameron looked at me strangely.

            “He’s going to find something to get me in trouble about if he comes and if he doesn’t he’ll tell on me for sneaking out! I know my family is a family of tattle tails but we have to find a way to-” I thought towards Cameron until my thoughts were interrupted. I heard Cameron’s feet crunching in the snow when the front door swung open revealing an angry Luke.

            “You disobeyed again! What is with you two?” Luke yelled. I used my telepathy to push him in and slam the door in his face, locking it. He yelled unhappily and tried to open the door while I held it closed. Cameron chuckled behind me while Alex had no idea about what was happening.

            “What are you doing?” Alex asked his eyes wide with worry.

            “I’m magic.” I smiled, losing my focus and causing Luke to win the battle.

            “You’re grounded until you move out! Both of you!” Luke yelled, with a red face.

            “What?” Alex and I shrieked in unison.

            “You guys are being total children!” He yelled.

            “Because we are, we are children! We go to school, we’re 13 and 16!” I argued. Alex flinched while Cameron moved closer to me protectively.

            “You’ve been disobeying me all day!” Luke exploded, stepping out onto the porch. Cameron put his hand on my waist and pulled me closer to him, again, protectively. I didn’t mind much, it’s better than him almost crushing my arm being protective.

            “You wanted me to be dead bored on my Christmas break!” I shrieked.

            “Don’t mess with him.” Cameron whispered in my ear.

            “Right now you don’t have one! You’ve been grounded.” Luke reminded me. I bit my lip, obeying Cameron’s warning.

            “And get away from my sister.” Luke ordered Cameron. Cameron ignored him, still glaring at him.

            “Get inside now.” Luke demanded. We were all frozen in the yard.

            “Now!” He growled.

            “Don’t talk to the precious one like that.” Cameron blurted.

            “What?” Luke hissed.

            “The precious one must be treated like what she is. Not like garbage.” Cameron defended. Out of fear, I pushed myself closer to Cameron’s warm body.

            “She’s my sister; don’t tell me what to do. Both of you get inside now before you’re not welcome anymore.” Luke threatened. Alex walked slowly over to the door, regretfully. I looked up at Cameron, hoping he’d save my life from being grounded until I’m twenty. He bit his lip, concentrating on either Luke’s mind, or Trevor’s.

            “Let’s go. “ Cameron hissed.

            “You’re really going with him?” Luke squeaked, quietly.

            “No. I’m going to get my stuff first.” I mumbled. Luke was silenced as I passed him in the doorway. I ran up to my room, fighting the urge to start crying again. I threw a bag out of my closet along with a stack of clothes without even looking at what I had chosen. I heard the sound a person climbing up my ladder.

            “What?” I asked while I went over and grabbed my little rusted green box. I had the box since I was a small child. I threw it in the bag along with my special locket I received when I was born.

            “You don’t have to do this.” The voice said. It was Alex’s voice that was suddenly behind me. Cameron wouldn’t be allowed in with Luke’s rage.

            “What do you mean?” I asked, turning around to get hair accessories and undergarments to throw in the bag I left on my bed.

            “You don’t have to go with him, he’s not anything special.” Alex smiled.

            “Ok, what’s the other option?” I asked bitterly.

            “You could stay here!” Alex begged. I groaned and zipped up the bag I had filled. I tossed in my life savings in the bag’s outside pocket. Alex hugged me surprisingly. I looked at the bag on my bed and moved it to the window with my mind.

            “Let me go.” I muttered. He loosened his grip while I struggled to pull away, letting the bag drop out of the window.

            “You can’t seriously be doing this.” He hoped.

            “Well I am! Ok, Alex, I’m going with Cameron and you can’t stop me!” I exclaimed. He grabbed my arm as I attempted to walk over to my ladder. I turned to face him.

            “After 8 years?” He asked, desperation seeping into his voice. I bit my lip and nodded.

            “Good bye.” I told him. It felt like I was breaking up with a boyfriend and not leaving my brother. I jerked my arm away from him and jumped down the ladder. I heard him slide down a wall and sigh unhappily. I darted down the stairs as fast as I possibly could. Luke stopped me in the doorway.

            “You’re not leaving.” He ordered.

            “You said if I don’t get inside I wasn’t welcome. I disobeyed. I’m not welcome anymore.” I answered.

            “You’ll always be welcome. I was just…I wasn’t being rational.” Luke apologized. I rolled my eyes. I knew his scheme. He would make sound like he regretted it. Like he wanted to say something else but he was angry and didn’t know what to think. I knew he didn’t really regret it and in a matter weeks he’d explode again. Christmas breaks are supposed to be fun; mine was full of anger and weird events.

            “I have to go. Cameron’s waiting for me.” I murmured. He didn’t move from his position blocking the front door. I ran to the hallway leading to the back door. I bit my lip and grabbed the handle.

            “Melodie!” Luke begged. I ignored him and slung open the door and ran off into the night.

            “He’s right. You don’t have to do this.” Cameron told me when I met him at the sidewalk.

            “I know. But I want to.” I told him, not really knowing what the words sounded like to an outsider.

            “Are you sure?” Cameron asked me.

            “Positive.” I smiled.

            “It’s ok. You can go back.” Cameron told me. I shook my head.

            “Cameron, I’m following my heart…now, Cameron, carry me.” I told him. He pulled me on onto his back into a piggyback position.

            “I thought you hated being lifted.” Cameron teased. I rolled my eyes.

            “This is a treat for you.” I smiled.

            “Sure it is.” He said sarcastically.

            “Cameron? Do you think I’m doing the wrong thing?” I asked, sweetly.

            “You? No, I don’t think you did the wrong thing. I just don’t think you did the right thing.” Cameron admitted.

            “What do you mean?” I inquired.

            “I mean you could’ve done a bit gentler. Like, you should’ve heard what Alex and Luke were thinking.” He answered.

            “No, I really don’t want to know.” I sighed. I didn’t notice the fact that we were moving until I saw that we were half way there.

            “There are noises in the forest.” I mumbled, listening to the crackling.

            “There are not. It’s just a storm brewing.” He explained.

            “Did you see that?” I asked.

            “Well I saw it in your mind. Where was it at again?” He asked. I pointed to the northwest.

            “It’s probably just your imagination. No one ever goes over there, too dangerous.” He chuckled. I buried my face in his shoulder, trying to keep serious so I could ask my following question.

            “Dangerous?” I interrogated.

            “Yes, dangerous. There’s always this sound in the background that is unexplained so you run and run out of the darkness. Once you get to the light part you’re either at the very edge of a cliff or off the cliff.” He told me.

            “Yeah, that’s healthy. Maybe it’s the explanation to the sound.” I suggested. Cameron chuckled. Cameron let me slide off his back when we got to the entrance of the village.

            “Why is everyone so normal around here anyway?” I asked.

            “You are so curious.” Cameron smiled as he led me to the leader I saw before.

            “You brought the precious one back at 10 at night in the middle of a hail storm?” Timothy asked.

            “She had family issues, I decided to let her stay here, is that ok?” Cameron asked.

            “Are you sure you want to do this Cameron?” Timothy asked.

            “Yes Timothy, I noticed the vacant hut by the training field and I know she likes decorating, we can fix it up.” Cameron begged. Timothy nodded in agreement.

            “Thank you.” Cameron smiled. I rolled my eyes at Cameron when he took me out of the hut.

            “You never did answer my question.” I commented.

            “Wow, you’re persistent.” Cameron laughed.

            “Wow, you’ll do anything not to answer a question.” I replied.

            “Melodie, we all have to go to school.” Cameron commented.

            “What does that have to do with anything?” I shrieked.

            “The government won’t allow us to build a school out here because they don’t think we’re a big enough group, so we all have to go to work and school sometimes.”

            “Oh good, it’s not like the old style tribes with the tribal wear and such…though this place is like that except we wear normal clothes.”

            “You are so weird.”

            “So are you.” I replied. By that time we were at the edge of the small village facing a hut. The hut was much larger than the huts we had seen before.

            “This is my room?” I asked, shocked.

            “Yeah, sorry it’s not up to a precious one’s standards but this-” He started.

            “It’s like a hut mansion!” I squealed. Cameron’s smile spread across his face like a plague. That plague made its way all through his body and before I knew he was hugging me. I shot back from his body as fast as I could.

            “Don’t hug me.” I replied bitterly.

            “Why can’t I?” Cameron inquired.

            “I don’t really like affection.” I smiled as I pushed him playfully.

            “Fine.” He smirked. I rolled my eyes. I pushed open the door, it fell in.

            “Yeah Cameron, this place is so not precious one worthy.” I smiled. I let my eyes travel along the inside walls. The walls were made out of hard brown bamboo. The door was a few pieces of scrap metal, designed to magnify the sound of a knock or crash on it. The floor consisted of hay and plants secured by pieces of tires thrown on the dirt underneath. There was a gaping hole in the bamboo in one of the corners, different from the windows. The windows had pine wood to cover the sharp edges in the bamboo. It was loaded with bamboo furniture but they were either broken or too small.

            “The last time we had a precious one she was from Japan, and she was eight.” Cameron explained, reading my mind about the destroyed room.

            “And so we have to trick this place out?” I asked. Cameron nodded.

            “What an adventure.” I replied, in sarcasm.

            “Yeah, I’ll have to fix the walls and door but then we can trick this place out. In the mean time I guess you could go make clothes with Maxine.” Cameron suggested.

            “Maxine?” I choked on the word. He knew exactly how much Maxine hated me. He had experienced the rage in her mind.

            “Duck!” He explained.

            “What where?” I asked. By that time he was on his stomach in the dirt. He yanked my ankles so I would fall, and just as he did 20 flaming arrows pierced the hut. I screamed, forgetting that Yin and Yang were still in attack mode.

            “We’re going to have some problems. Maybe you should just go back-” Cameron started.

            “I’m not going home.” I persisted. He sighed.

            “Fine, you sleep my hut and I’ll rebuild the pact with Gerard, it’ll only take a minute.” Cameron explained. A single flaming arrow shot the side of the hut, causing me to yelp while Cameron stayed completely calm.

            “What is their problem anyway? Why would they want to harm their precious one?” I asked Cameron.

            “They’re sick, flagitious, nefarious, heinous losers. They believe in tough love, but to Yin and Yang it’s just following orders.” Cameron replied. I knew he had just said a bunch of words he didn’t expect me to know, but I did. He said evil three times in a row.

            “Then go restore the pact before I become a shish-kabob!” I exclaimed, directly after three more aflame arrows sliced a hole in the walls of my supposed-to-be bedroom. Cameron chuckled and rose up slowly. I realized at that moment that it’s never just the Elders that die; it’s the precious ones too. The precious ones must give up everything they have just so they can save people. Even if they don’t want to do it, they do. It makes them die on the inside. It’s never just the Elders, never.

            I curled up into a ball next to the flaming wall, for warmth. I hoped the fire wouldn’t spread to me, burning me in my sleep. I dozed off, waiting for Cameron to come back. I woke up suddenly hot, expecting the worst. I had searing pain on my hand, but the fire had burnt itself out. I began to believe Maxine had a midnight revenge run. I used my telepathy to kick open the doors of the huts in my line of sight. Maxine was out cold in her bed, looking as if she had been that way for a while. I lost suspicion. I lied in the snow to numb my in-pain body, while still waiting for Cameron. I fell asleep again, but when I woke up I was in a hut.

            “You fell asleep in the snow. You had to get somewhere warm, that’s when I found the burn on your hand, and you were so dumb!” I heard Cameron exclaim. I had a terrible headache and his ranting was not making it any better.

            “Thanks, Cameron; I really like your encouragement.” I groaned.

            “Just because you’re dumb, it doesn’t mean you’re not unique. The burn is shaped like a star. Maxine had a burn shaped like a heart when she got burnt with a toaster once and the next day she burnt down a tree because she was angry and that’s when she discovered she was a flamethrower.” Cameron rambled.

            “Enough with the run-on sentences Cameron!” I yelped.

            “Someone’s a grammar snob.” Cameron mumbled.

            “Where am I anyway? Did you restore the pact? Is Luke freaking out? Did he call the police, file a missing child report?” I asked.

            “Quit with the interrogation. You’re in the medicine man’s hut. Yes, I restored the pact, Gerard was being insecure. Luke is trying to be strong, but he’s sulking. Alex is freaking out hardcore though.” He answered, quickly. He was speaking loudly and it really made my headache worse. I groaned.

            “Would you let me sleep? You’re like a freaking answering machine! You never stop talking!” I screeched, out of the blue.

            “It’s 7 in the morning!” He exclaimed, angrily.

            “Oh yeah, and what does that make it? 3 hours of sleep?” I shot back.

            “Whose fault would that be exactly?” He asked.

            “It would be yours! You’re the one that woke me up with all your yapping!” I yelled.

            “You guys are like husband and wife, always fighting.” A gruff voice commented quietly. I assumed he was the medicine man, observing our conversation. It was silent after that, possibly due to Cameron’s embarrassment. I finally got to sleep for a few hours, before I was rudely awoken by Cameron.

            “Wake up, time to start training.” He growled.

            “Ok, what the hell is your problem?” I hissed back.

            “Wow, oh my gosh, I’m so sorry!” He pleaded. It was very random, I guess my harshness made him realize I was the precious one and he was treating me just as Luke had.

            “What are you talking about?” I asked, harsh still.

            “I’m so sorry, I’m being bad, and I know I’m not supposed to be like this.” Cameron pleaded. I scoffed.

            “Then why are you doing this?”

            “I forgot, you just, you are so stubborn and I’m just so tired and-”

            “And I’m not?”

            “No, that’s not what I meant. I mean, I’ve gotten so used to you I forget that you’re not my sister.”

            “You have a sister?”

            “I used to, she was 12, and she ran away a while ago…” He let his words trail off like he was having a flashback. I rolled my eyes.

            “Well, I’m not, so don’t treat me like that.” I countered.

            “Let’s just go.” He sighed.

            “Why must you make everything so complicated?” I asked.

            “I’m just in a bad mood okay Melodie?” He replied. I rolled my eyes but said nothing, because soon we were on the ice coated dirt inside the brown cattle fence. Maxine glared at me with her evil eyes of fury. Jasmine was sitting on the ground, her hair in a wild ponytail.

            “Well welcome back Miss Melodie.” Leo smiled. Trevor mouthed “wow” to me which made me laugh. Leo, on the other hand, did not get how funny Trevor made it.

            “Hi Leo.” I smiled when I stopped.

            “So on with practice, Mel, try fire this time, since conveniently you were stupid enough to get burnt in the middle of the night.” Cameron growled. Maxine clapped.

            “Good work, you smart little cookie.” She laughed. I rolled my eyes, mad on the inside.

            “What next, break your arm?” Maxine laughed. I growled at her.

            “Aw, the little girl is mad.” She mocked, loudly. Uncontrollably, I shot fire out of the star in the palm of my hand at her head.

            “Wow, maybe we shouldn’t get her mad.” Samantha laughed. I turned my head for an instant, and when I did I found myself dodging a HUGE fireball aimed at my head.

            “Maxine, would you calm your little burnt head? You should be happy a member of your tribe has enough guts to beat you at your own game.” Jasmine laughed. Cameron was behind me chuckling.

            “You think this is funny? Now I can’t go to prom because my hair is burnt off!” Maxine yelled.

            “It’s not like you had a date anyway.” I mumbled quietly. Maxine lost control then. She pounced at me, only to be pulled back by Leo.

            “Let go of me, you big, fat, idiot!” Maxine screamed.

            “Shut up baldy.” Leo said simply.

            “Well, I see this practice session has gone down hill, I think I’ll just go into town and-” I started.

            “No Starbucks Melodie, you’re too young.” Timothy blurted from the side of the corral.

            “Why is he watching us? And how do you know what I’m thinking!?!” I yelped.

            “Mel, relax, he’s a telepath too.” Trevor told me.

            “Ok then, I’m changing my week here to two days, how does that work for you?” I asked Cameron. He smiled and shook his head. I started to pout.

            “Cameron, may I please give up this training adventure?” I asked flatly.

            “No Melodie, you may not.” He replied. In my stomach I felt guilt, and homesickness. I missed being normal, living in a normal house with semi-normal people. I knew it was wrong to leave them like that, I knew I should’ve sucked it up. Luke may not have been the best brother in the world but he was like a father. I really needed to get back home as soon as possible.

            “Cam, I really need to go.” I whispered. I knew by leaving I was probably killing thousands of people by abandoning them in their time of need. All I really wanted is to feel secure in knowing that I lived with Luke again. Knowing I had a bed, clothes and food, not here.

            “Mel, you made your decision, we need you here right now.” Cameron stated. Trevor was frowning because he knew he had failed the group by not seeing this coming.

            “I know, but you said if I ever feel like I need to go back, then I could.” I countered.

            “I said no such thing. I just asked if you wanted to go back.” Cameron lied.

            “I’m sorry, but I have to go. I’ll be back for practices and stuff.” I replied, running out of the practice ring.

            “Aw, is the little baby scared of a little work?” I heard Maxine teased when I was half way through the small village. I kept running. Finally, I tripped over the curve in the sidewalk outside my house. I was home once again. I couldn’t last a day in the wilderness with such a heavy heart. Luke’s car wasn’t in the driveway. I knew Alex would be at school because it was 1. I figured I would surprise him when he got home that day. I pulled the house key out of the pocket of my jacket and turned the lock. To my room I went to put all my stuff back. It was 2:30 by the time I was finished. I took a quick shower then waited for my brother in the middle of the staircase. It was almost four when he finally came in the front door, throwing his book bag down on the couch angrily. He sat on the couch and stared out the window as if expecting me to come home. I crawled stealthily over to the back of the couch. Then I simply sat beside him.

            “What’s up bro?” I asked.

            “Nothing just worried about Melodie and oh my God.” He said in a rush. When he realized it was me he crushed me in a hug. What was with people and the hugging?

            “Would you get off of me?” I asked. He laughed and held my shoulders.

            “I wasn’t thinking about it but you can’t last an hour in the wilderness, you city girl.” He smiled. 

            “Exactly, so please let go of me. I don’t know what got you so worried in the first place.” I teased. I rested on his shoulder, worn out from lack of sleep still.

            “Hmm, could it be your dramatic exit?” He laughed.

            “Possibly, or could it have been the fact that you busted me about 7 times yesterday and I was a touch of furious at you?” I asked. He ruffled my hair, which looked awkward from pulling the hair tie out.

            “So Luke gets home at 5, right?” I asked.

            “As always Melodie, what time did you think? Midnight?” He smiled. I rolled my eyes. All guilt had magically disappeared.

            “Yes, yes that is exactly what I was thinking.” I replied.

            “Why did you go exactly?” He asked. Great, just like him to turn a perfectly happy moment into Total Drama Island.

            “Because…well actually, I have no idea.” I replied.

            “Because you were dumb on a stick?” Alex teased.

            “No, I’m dumb in a bowl, thank you very much.” I smiled.

            “True, so true.”

            “Cameron told me that Luke was sulking and you were and I quote ‘hardcore worried.’ ”

            “Yeah, I was more hardcore worried than a band of kittens.”

            “Yeah, you can’t get much more hardcore than that.”

            “I know right?”

            “How do you want to surprise Luke then?”

            “Why do I have to surprise him?”

            “Because you surprised me and that wouldn’t be all that fair now would it?”

            “Nah, I think it’s pretty fair all right.” I replied. Before I knew it, it was almost five.

            “Crap, Luke’s going to be home any minute, quick, go to my room.” Alex told me.

            “I thought the rule was-” I started.

            “Ignore the dumb rule for once in your life Mel!” Alex demanded. I laughed.

            “I’m good, thank you; I’ll just wait in your room until the time is right. Do not say a word that I’m here.” I replied.

            “Mel, I hate to break it to you but that was the original plan.” He replied. I heard a car door slam loudly.

            “Oh and by the way, he’s home.” Alex said.

            “Nah, really?” I asked, sarcastically. I bolted up the stairs and into Alex’s room like I was running from the law.

            “I’m home.” Luke said, depressed. I heard his keys clank on the kitchen counter.

            “I know Luke; you’re standing right in front of me.” Alex replied.

            “Oh yeah, I guess. She hasn’t come back has she?” Luke asked.

            “I only wish.” Alex sighed. Luke sighed.

            “Me too bro, me too.” Luke replied.

            “Why don’t you go take a nap, maybe you’ll feel better.” Alex said.

            “I guess I should, I’ll be in my room.” Luke told him. Luke’s room was downstairs so I didn’t hear him go to his room. But I sure did hear him snoring 10 minutes later.

            “Wow, he sure was tired.” Alex laughed as he walked in his room.

            “I know, he’s never passed out that quick before.” I replied. I was lying on Alex’s bed when he came in the room, holding a soda.

            “Ready to go trick him?” Alex asked.

            “I’ve been ready since the day I was born.” I answered. Alex smiled and motioned me downstairs. I didn’t really need the motion considering he did it when I was leaving. I ran down the stairs as quietly as possible and to my brother’s room. I nudged him awake and when his eyes finally opened I smiled at him.

            “Hey Luke, guess what?” I asked in a voice that sounded like a child’s.

            “Mel, Mel, what Mel?” He asked, still thinking he was dreaming.

            “You can’t catch me, you can’t catch me!” I taunted, and then ran out the room. I heard him get up and start running after me. I dashed up the stairs and back to Alex’s room before Luke could see where I went.

            “I give you a ten.” Alex smiled when I ran in and snuck in his closet. Then Luke opened Alex’s bedroom door.

            “Did you see Melodie around here anywhere?” Luke asked.

            “Sorry bro, I think you’re seeing things.” Alex answered.

            “No, but I swear I saw her, she told me I couldn’t catch her. She’s somewhere, I know she is.” Luke explained.

            “Luke, seriously, maybe you just need an ice pack or something because I promise you, Melodie is not here.” Alex lied.

            “Good idea, but this time I think you should come with me, just in case she comes back.” Luke suggested.

            “Whatever floats your boat, dude.” Alex replied. Luke ran down first with Alex walking behind him. After a while I snuck down, because Alex had come back up.

            “Yeah, maybe I’ve just been working too hard.” Luke muttered to himself. He was sitting on the couch watching TV, holding a bag of ice to his forehead. I plopped down next to him.

            “Whatcha watchin’?” I asked him.

            “George Lopez, I haven’t seen this one before…oh crap.” He stated.

            “ALEX!!!” Luke yelled. Alex came rushing down the stairs again.

            “What is it this time Luke?” Alex asked, annoyed.

            “Well don’t you see her? She’s sitting here watching George Lopez with me!” Luke exclaimed, pointing at me.

            “Luke, seriously, go back to sleep. Now I know you’re seeing things.” Alex commented.

            “But Alex, she’s right here!” Luke yelped. Alex guided Luke to his bedroom.

            “Now, just relax. Melodie is not here anymore, she is long gone, never coming back to you, just get a fish and move on!” Alex coaxed.

            “You’re a big ball of sunshine.” Luke mumbled, in his bed again. Alex ran back upstairs, after placing my book on the kitchen counter. After ten minutes, again, I heard Luke’s loud, obnoxious snoring. I walked back in his room and shook him awake.

            “Hey, hey, Luke!” I exclaimed, again in my little kid voice.

            “Melodie, Mel…” He said drowsily.

            “Hey Luke, you can’t catch me, you can’t catch me!” I taunted again. He started to get up, so I ran like the wind into the kitchen and sat on the counter, reading my book. Luke rushed in the kitchen and saw me.

            “ALEX!!” Luke yelled. Alex came running down.