I looked nervously around the nightclub at the swaying bodies on the dance floor, praying Mitchell wasn’t here. How could he be? He was in a different city with his mom and sister having dinner. He wouldn’t see me here… I hoped. “Mels?” My heart nearly stopped at the sound of my name before realizing it was only Quin. I looked over to my curly headed friend and smiled. “Did you hear what I said?”

“No, sorry.” I smiled innocently. Quin rolled her gray eyes and placed her hand on her hip as Carrie and Amanda found us a table.

“I said,” Quin slung her arm around my shoulder and walked me to the table Amanda and Carrie had chosen. “That guy over there is clearly checking you out.” I shrugged and took a seat. “Come on, Mels! I know you have a boyfriend, but you can still look.” Not if she knew what went on when we saw each other.

“I still feel like it’s cheating.” I shrugged and looked down at the colorful menu, deciding on what to drink. “Besides, he was probably looking at you.”

“Girl, please.” Quin chuckled. She never realized how truly envious I was of her. She was absolutely gorgeous and I was so… plain.

“Seriously.” I nudged her and placed my order.

“Just talk to him!”

“No! It’s cheating, Quin!”

“Well get ready to cheat beyond words. He’s walking over here.” My head snapped up as the guy made his way over to me. He was gorgeous, I wasn’t going to lie. He had short hair that was placed perfectly in a slight Mohawk. He had tattoos perfectly placed on his forearms and an all-around beautiful figure.

“Hi, I’m Liam.” He smiled and held his hand out towards me. I timidly took it and smiled back at him.

“Melody.” I said as Quin slowly stood up.

“I’m going to pee.” She announced and walked off. I rolled my eyes as Liam casually took her seat. I could smell the alcohol coming off of him. This guy had clearly been drinking. He took both of his hands in mine and looked directly into my aqua eyes.

“I saw you walk in and wanted to know if it hurt when such a beautiful angel like you fell from Heaven.” I tried so hard to be nice, but I couldn’t help it… I laughed. Not just a chuckle, mind you; I was bent over in my seat, holding my stomach. “Wh… what did I say?”

“I’m sorry, I just…” I wiped a stray tear from under my eye. “I have never been hit on in such a cheesy way before.” His face fall as he awkwardly let go of my hands. “Don’t get me wrong, it was nice, but next time, try complimenting the girl in… a less obvious way.” I smiled sweetly at him.

“What do you mean?” Liam asked, his face mimicking a puppy’s.

“Like… compliment her dress or her shoes and just walk off.”

“Just walk off?” I nodded as his face turned serious. “I like your dress.” Liam smiled and stood up from his seat and began to walk in the opposite direction.

“Liam!” He turned to face me. “I’m wearing a t-shirt and jeans.”

“Come on… give a guy a break.” He walked back over to me and sat down. “The last girlfriend I had happened because my friend did all this for me… actually he yelled out ‘Liam likes Danielle!’ and walked out.”

“The best you’ll have to settle for is a dance.”

“That’s all I wanted.” Liam smiled and took my hand, pulling me out onto the dance floor.

~*~

After dancing with Liam for a little over an hour, Carrie and Amanda pulled me away from my new friend to cut into my cake. “I’m actually about to leave.” Liam said and reached into my leather jacket pocket and pulled out my phone. After staring at the lock screen for a second, he handed it to me. I smiled and unlocked my phone, handing it back as I took his phone from him and punching in my number. “I’ll call you, yeah?”

“Text, preferably.” I smiled, suddenly remembering I had a boyfriend back home.

“Then I’ll text you.” Liam embraced me in a warm hug and kissed my forehead. “Happy birthday, Mels.”

“Thank you.” I smiled and walked away with my friends.

“You do realize who that was, don’t you?” Amanda asked, linking arms with me as we walked back to our table.

“Liam Payne of One Direction.” I shrugged. “He told me.” I laughed at the bewilderment on their faces. I hadn’t really listened to One Direction, so I didn’t really know who he was, which he absolutely adored. “I’m so glad I finally found someone who doesn’t scream at the sight of my face or the sound of my voice. I needed a new friend.”

“Way to ruin the big reveal.” Carrie mumbled under her breath as we took a seat at the table.

“Anyway…” I looked up to see my best friend walking over to our table with a giant cake with my face on it with ‘Happy 20th Birthday, Mels’ written underneath in giant letters. I smiled and blew out my candles, making a wish that only I would know the meaning to.
I wish Mitchell wouldn’t visit me tonight.

~*~

When Quin and I walked into our dorm room, we put the change left over from tonight into our ‘apartment fund’ jar and flipped on the lights. I nearly jumped out of my skin when I saw Mitchell sitting at my desk. “You know you could get in a lot of trouble for this.” Quin crossed her arms and glared at my boyfriend. It had never been a secret that they didn’t get along.

“I was coming to surprise my girlfriend for her birthday, but noticing she wasn’t here, I decided to wait for her to return.” I quickly looked at the ground and walked across the room, fear slowly building up inside of me. “Where did you have her out tonight?”

“If you must know,” I prayed she wouldn’t tell him about the club. Mitchell may look scrawny, but he packs a mean punch. Believe me. “I took her to a movie and dinner.” I let out a sigh of relief and grabbed my pink and gray pajamas out of my dresser. “Now if you would be so kind as to leave. I have a class in the morning and have to get ready for bed.”

“Just go to the bathroom and changed.” Mitchell rolled his brown eyes and stood up behind me, placing a tender kiss on my cheek.

“No. I prefer to change in my own room. I don’t know what perverts decide to creep in the girls’ bathroom.”

“Listen, Quin, I just need to talk to Mels in private for a moment—“

“Just go, Mitch. I’m too tired to talk as it is.” I would definitely regret that statement next time I saw him. “I’m exhausted and I’ve got two classes in the morning. My history class will probably have a pop quiz and—“

“Fine I’m leaving.” Mitchell said, grabbing my wrists and pulling me in for a hug. “Don’t talk back to me again.” He said quietly enough so that only I could hear the threat in his voice. Mitchell’s lips gently kissed my cheek and he walked out of the room.

“Why do you put up with him?” Quin asked after the door shut behind Mitchell.

“He’s my boyfriend… I have to put up with him.” I joked and changed into my pajamas.

“You could just break up with him.”

“It’s not that simple, Q.”

“Why isn’t it?” She asked, crossing her arms as I crawled into my bed.

“It just isn’t.” I shrugged and pulled the covers up to my chin. “I like him too much to leave him.” And I didn’t feel like anyone else would want me.

Liam: Why hello there, Melody :)

I smiled at the text and put my phone away. I was much too tired to text anyone right now and I needed to sleep if I was going to survive any of my classes the next morning.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

I rolled over and slapped my alarm clock off. “Annoying bitch.” I muttered and sat up in bed, stretching my arms above my head and tried to tame the curly red mess that was considered to be my hair, or as Quin refers to it; the mane. “Quin, wake up.” My feet touched the cold tile ground as I slowly inched my way out of bed. “Quin.” I looked over to her bed where she was still lying on her stomach, sleeping. “Quin!” I picked up a pillow and threw it at her, hitting her head.

“Five more minutes.” She muttered and turned her head the other way.

“If you get your ass up we might actually make it to breakfast this time.” I joked and looked for my shampoo.

“Fine…” She sighed. I turned around after gathering my shower caddy and smiled at her. “Five more minutes.” I rolled my eyes and walked past her bed, pulling her covers down to her feet as I walked past. “Hey!”

“Up!” I smiled and skipped to the shower, retrieving my phone from my back pocket as it buzzed.

Liam: Good morning :)

I smiled and quickly replied with a good morning message before I chose one of the shower stalls, stripped down, and eased my way under the scalding hot water. I began to hum the tune of one of my favorite songs as I washed my hair, shaved my legs and underarms, and washed off my body. I stood under the hot water for another ten minutes before deciding it was time to get ready for breakfast.

I sighed, realizing I hadn’t brought any fresh clothes with me. I quickly wrapped a towel around myself and tiptoed back to my room where Quin no longer was sleeping. I grabbed my favorite pair of white and purple tie-dyed skinny jeans and a plain black tank-top. I decided against the tank top when I saw the black and purple spots on my arm and switched it out of a black sweater before quickly throwing my clothes on right before Quin walked into the room completely ready. “I just have to put some eyeliner on and I’ll be ready to go.” I said as I brushed out my long and tangled (and still wet) hair. Quin nodded and sat on her bed.

“So what’s the deal with you and Mitchell?” My hand froze at her question.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean you act so timid around him. It’s not like you.” She shrugged and swung her feet. I quickly finished applying my black eyeliner and put it away.

“I don’t know what you mean.” I shrugged simply and grabbed my sweater before opening the door, allowing Quin to leave the room first. She stood up off her bed and walked out of the room. I shut the door behind me and locked it before Quin linked our arms.

“I guess I’m just imagining it. You just seem scared of him lately.”

“Me? Scared of Mitchell? Yeah right.” I laughed nervously. Was it really that easy to tell I was scared of my own boyfriend? I tugged at the sleeves of my shirt nervously as we made our way to breakfast.

Liam’s POV

Melody: Good morning to you, too (:

Liam: And how are you this morning?

I smiled at the message and put my phone away after replying and the second I heard Louis ‘awe’ing me. “Someone just made Liam a happy boy.” He joked and jumped in the seat next to me, grabbing for my phone.

“Don’t even think about it.” I warned and stuck my phone in my pocket.

“Who is she?” Zayn questioned, looking away from him phone.

“Just a girl I met last night.” I shrugged and forced myself not to check the text I just received.

“A girl?” Niall’s head poked up from the couch he was sitting at. “Liam’s texting a girl!”

“Guys, it’s not that big of a deal.” I chuckled as my phone vibrated for a second time. My hand went for my pocket and all of the boys’ eyes were watching as I pulled it out of my pocket.

Melody: Very, very sleepy with an even sleepier roommate.

Melody: And how are you?

Liam: Quite annoyed with my band mates… especially the one reading over my shoulder, innit Harry?

I looked over my shoulder as Harry looked at the text confused before finally backing away and taking a seat with the other boys.

Melody: Hi boys!

“Mels said hi.” I chuckled and replied, letting her know all the boys had said hello back.

“So what’s Mels doing now?” Louis asked as the conversation continued.

“Heading to her English class.” I shrugged and put my phone away. “She’ll text me when she gets out.”

“Awe, Liam’s in love.” Louis joked and pinched my cheek. I rolled my eyes and swatted his hand away.

“You can’t say shit mister ‘I won’t shut up about Eleanor’!” I joked and put my phone in my back pocket. “Isn’t it about time for rehearsals?” I asked, checking my watch.

“Yeah, should be.” Harry shrugged and paused the game of FIFA he was playing.

Melody’s POV

Liam: Yeah, but wouldn’t it be wicked if it were?

I laughed as I sat my books down on my desk in the dorm room and replied.

Melody: Possible for dogs to have wings? Liam you’ve gone absolutely bonkers L.O.L.

“Knock, knock.” I quickly shoved my phone on the top of my bookshelf after switching it off at the sound of my boyfriend’s voice. The last thing I needed was for him to hear it go off and see I was texting another boy. “Can I come in, love?”

“Of course.” I quickly opened my English book and binder to make it look like I was busy. Mitchell walked in as I picked up my pen. “How’s your day been?” I asked and began jotting down notes from my book.

“Seeing as not a single one of my phone calls were answered, not too great.”

“I was in class, Mitch. I couldn’t answer my phone in the middle of a lecture.” I explained. “And I tried calling you back after class was over but you didn’t answer.”

“Excuses.” Mitchell waved off my answer and sat on my bed, watching me as I took notes.

“What are you working on?”

“I’m taking notes for an English essay due in a week.”

“Perfect, we’re going out tonight.” He said and jumped off my bed, standing behind me and resting his chin on my shoulder. “And I won’t take ‘no’ for an answer.”

“Mitch…” I went to protest, but he placed a hand around my upper arm and squeezed it lightly. “I… I have a test tomorrow and…” His hand slowly got tighter around my arm. “Mitchell please not now.” Mitchell’s hand gripped harder and harder until I finally gave in. “Fine! I’ll go!” As soon as his hand left my bicep I could feel the blood rushing back to where it had been cut off.

“Good.” He chuckled in my ear. “Poor girl, you can’t even stand up for yourself. Can’t even tell me ‘no’ without being scared.” I gripped my pen and tried to focus on my note taking. “That’s a good thing. It keeps you in line.”

“Honey, I’m home!” I looked up as Quin entered the room and relief instantly washed over me. “Ugh, what are you doing here?”

“I was just leaving.” Mitchell smirked and kissed my cheek. “See you tonight, babe.” As soon as he was out of the room, my hand went to my arm, rubbing the new sore spot.

“Did you hurt your arm?” Quin asked.

“Nah just slept on it wrong.” I shrugged.

“It wasn’t hurting this morning.” She raised an eyebrow at me and crossed her arms. My excuses were getting worse due to the fact that I had made up so many.

“I guess it took a while to kick in.” I tried to avoid her accusing eyes as I continued taking notes.

Quin’s POV

I placed my hand on Melody’s and stopped her from writing. She looked up at me and smiled slightly, trying to cover something up. “You know that if something’s going on, you can tell me.” She nodded and went back to note taking. “Would you tell me?” This time Melody hesitated, but still nodded in response. I sighed and went over to my side of the room. I’ve known about Melody and Mitchell for quite some time now… and I know what he’s doing to my best friend. He’s hurting her. As much as she tries to cover it up, I can see the bruises on her shoulder blades and upper arms that look too much like hands to be anything else. “Melody—“

“What do you want me to say, Q!?”

“You’ve just seemed sad lately.” I shrugged as Melody reached up on top of her bookshelf to grab her phone and earbuds. As soon as her earbuds were plugged into her phone I knew this conversation was over. I was going to get her out of this relationship if it killed me.

Notes

Soooooo first chapter is up :D I really hope you guys like it cos I really enjoy writing this one. My other account (KatieJatieBatie) won't let me log on via Twitter, so I apologize for any inconvenience that may be to anyone.
Xx