Chapter 19
After class, Melody and I walked through the dimly lit hallways. My feet ached from all the standing and sitting we”d done today, but I couldn”t help but feel a twinge of excitement for what lay ahead.
”Hey, Harper,” Melody”s voice was as sweet and soft as cotton candy. ”Just wanted to let you know that I have different classes tomorrow. But I”ll see you at breakfast and lunch anyways, so you can give me the lowdown on how they go.”
”Sounds good,” I replied, tucking a stray strand of my long black hair behind my ear.
”Do you want to have dinner together?” Melody asked, ”We can either go to the dining hall or order something for the room.”
”I had no idea we could order food to the room!” I exclaimed in shock. ”What do you feel like doing?” I asked.
”Whatever you prefer,” she said with a shrug of her petite shoulders. The gesture reminded me of a dainty bird flapping its wings - delicate yet graceful.
”Let”s order in,” I decided, my stomach growling at the thought of food. It had been a long day and I didn”t have the energy to face another sea of supernatural creatures.
”Perfect,” Melody agreed with a warm smile, her short blonde hair framing her face like a halo. She seemed to radiate kindness, which was a welcome change from the people I”d known in my past.
As we continued down the hallway, I couldn”t help but feel grateful for her guidance in this strange, new world. It wasn”t every day that someone like me - a girl with a messed-up past and an alcoholic mother - found herself surrounded by supernaturals and their customs.
”Thanks for helping me out today, Mel,” I murmured as we approached my room. The door loomed large and heavy in front of us, a symbol of the unknown that now consumed my life.
”Of course,” she said, squeezing my hand gently. ”That”s what friends are for, right?”
”Right,” I agreed, my heart swelling with appreciation. It was nice to have someone on my side for once.
”See you at dinner, Harper,” Melody said before disappearing down the hall.
”See you then,” I called after her, my voice echoing through the empty corridor. With a deep breath, I pushed open the door to my room and entered the sanctuary that awaited me.
As soon as I shut the door, I heard the distinct click of Melody”s bedroom door closing. It was impossible not to feel envious of her knack for fitting into this world of supernatural beings so seamlessly. If only I had grown up with some sort of understanding, maybe I wouldn”t feel like such a foreigner among them.
With a sigh, grabbing my old, faded pyjamas from the hook on the door, I turn towards the bathroom and make my way inside. The warm steam envelops me as I step into the shower, and I can feel my muscles start to relax. As the water cascades down my body, I can”t help but think about how amazing a bath would have been, but with Melody coming back soon, I don”t want to keep her waiting. Lathering up my hair with the shampoo and conditioner provided, I take a moment to appreciate the luxurious products and wonder who pays for all of this. It”s a question I”ll have to ask Melody when she returns.
Stepping out of the shower, I quickly towel off and get dressed before settling onto the end of the bed to wait for Melody”s arrival. As I sit there, my mind wanders to my growing pile of dirty clothes and how desperately I need to do laundry. Especially since I”m running low on underwear, I might need to hand-wash the 3 I brought.
”Knock, knock,” came Melody”s voice from the doorway just as my thoughts began to wander too far. She stood there, freshly showered and wearing the fluffiest purple pyjamas I”d ever seen. Her wet hair clung to her cheeks, giving her an innocent, almost ethereal look. ”Ready for pizza?” Melody said holding the menu in her hand.
”Definitely,” I grinned, my stomach growling at the thought of food. We ticked a large pepperoni pizza, extra cheese, and some garlic knots for good measure. I watched as the menu turned into our food, I sprawled out on the floor, letting the cool carpet soothe my aching muscles. The delicious smell of melted cheese and pepperoni filled the room, making my mouth water.
”Damn, that was one hell of a day,” I muttered, staring up at the ceiling.
”The first day is always the hardest,” Melody agreed, lying down beside me. ”But hey, you survived, right?”
”Yep,” I sighed, my mind still reeling from the whirlwind of emotions and events. It felt like I had been thrown headfirst into another dimension, and I wasn”t quite sure how to navigate it all yet.
”Your life is about to change forever, Harper,” Melody said softly, her eyes locked on mine. ”But don”t worry, I”ll be here to help you through it.”
”Thanks, Mel,” I smiled, my heart swelling with gratitude. It was comforting to know that I had someone in my corner while facing this new world.
”Anytime, girl,” she winked before diving into a conversation about our favourite movies and TV shows. I lost track of time as we laughed and talked, temporarily forgetting about the supernatural chaos that surrounded me. And for a moment, I felt almost normal again.
”Here”s to surviving your first day at Oakland Harbour,” Melody raised her soda can, clinking it against mine.
”Cheers,” I grinned, taking a swig before diving back into our greasy feast. As I took another bite of pizza, my mind wandered to the extravagant school life I had been thrust into. My eyes drifted towards the beautifully carved oak wardrobe that housed the uniforms I was now expected to wear.
”Hey, Mel,” I said between bites, ”how does all this get paid for? The room, the food, the uniforms?”
Melody took a moment to swallow her food before answering. ”Well, Oakland Harbour covers everything for you, Of course, you”ll have to pay it back once you start working after graduation.”
”Shit, really?” I frowned, thinking about the small amount of savings I had stashed away. It wouldn”t be anywhere near enough to cover the costs of the school.
”Yep,” Melody replied, popping the ”p” with a grin. ”But don”t worry too much about it. Most people here end up with pretty well-paying jobs after they graduate, so you”ll be able to pay it off easily.”
I sighed, relieved by her words but still feeling the burden of debt weighing on me. ”You know, in all those fantasies I had about going to college and living the high life, never did I think it would come with such a price tag.”
”Welcome to the real world, babe,” Melody chuckled, tossing her blonde hair back. ”Nothing”s ever as simple as it seems.”
”Tell me about it,” I muttered, taking another swig of soda. In the span of just two days, I”d gone from being a clueless human to a supernatural student in a world filled with magic.
”Can I ask you something?” I ventured, picking at a loose thread on the carpet. ”What”s the deal with those three guys? You know, the ones who can never seem to decide whether they like me or hate me?”
”Ah, the infamous trio,” Melody sighed, her eyes sparkling with mischief. ”Well, it”s not exactly them being hot and cold—it”s more about power.”
”Power?” I frowned, trying to wrap my head around what she was saying.
”See, when you have three or more powers, finding a match in the supernatural world is... complicated.” Melody shifted closer, her blonde hair brushing against my arm. ”You can”t bond with someone if your powers are greater than theirs. It would just kill them when you share your powers during the bond.”
”Wait, so if I bonded with someone less powerful, I”d be like some sort of human power-sucking vampire?” I couldn”t help but laugh at the absurdity of it all.
”Kinda, yeah,” Melody giggled. ”But there”s a catch—if you”re the central figure in a group, you share all your powers with everyone. And in this case, those boys come as a pack deal, searching for their central.”
My laughter died down, replaced by a heavy feeling in my gut as I thought about Jessica, Yasmin, and Olivia—the three girls constantly hanging around the boys. ”Central, huh? Sounds like a fancy way of saying ”getting more than one”,” I said bitterly. A pang of jealousy pulsed through me, wondering what it was that made those girls so special to always be surrounded by the boys. ”What”s the deal with those girls that follow them like puppies?” I asked, not really wanting to know the answer but unable to stop myself from asking. A feeling of resentment simmered inside me, knowing that I would never have that kind of attention from anyone.
Melody”s frown deepened as she spoke, her voice tinged with frustration. ”It”s ridiculous how obsessed they”ve been with the boys since they arrived,” she said. ”But it”s clear that the boys have only been interested in fucking them.” Her words were laced with humour. ”I haven”t seen any of them allow for anything more meaningful or genuine.”
”So, they”ve been trying to snag the central position since day one, even though they only have two powers?” I ask confused.
”Yep,” Melody confirmed. ”They”d die if they bonded, but that hasn”t stopped them from trying.”
”Ugh, why am I not surprised?” I shook my head, trying to ignore the knot forming in my stomach.
”Anyway,” Melody continued, ”about mates—you might meet someone and just know they”re meant for you. It”s like a predestined bond, stronger than anything else. Mates usually stick together because of the intense pull between them.”
”Right, so if I was mated with those guys, would I still kill them?” I asked, genuinely curious.
”Maybe, maybe not,” Melody shrugged. ”If it”s predestined, there”s a chance you won”t. But there”s also the possibility that their combined strength as a group could help them withstand the power exchange.”
”Great, so I”m destined to be alone until I find another four-power freak like myself?” I couldn”t help the bitterness that crept into my voice.
”Unfortunately, that”s the way our world works,” Melody replied with a sad smile.
”Hey, how come you”re not with anyone?” I asked, suddenly concerned for my friend.
”Truth is, I like girls, and there aren”t any at my level.” Melody looked away, a touch of sadness in her eyes.
”Fuck it, then” I declared, holding out my pinkie finger. ”Let”s be crazy cat ladies together.”
”Meow,” Melody agreed, wrapping her pinkie around mine. Our laughter echoed through the room, sealing our pact and deepening the friendship.