3B. My Name Is Melanie Scott

Genres: Young Adult, Coming of Age, Light Romance

I’ll become everyone’s poster child, even if it’s a lie.

But I hold all the cards. Cameron will be none the wiser.

“Are you still up, Melanie?”

“Barely, since you’ve taken away my phone.”

“That letter you were writing. Is it a letter of forgiveness?”

“Why would you ask that?”

“I thought maybe you felt something — finally — perhaps a tad of guilt?”

“Ugh, what do I have to feel guilty for?” I call out to her.

Silence.

“That’s what I thought,” I mutter.

“You know, Melanie, if you don’t know, then there is no point in me telling you.”

My mouth drops open and I’m about to snap back, but I can hear her footsteps marching down the hall away from me.

I put my face into Diamond, my giant, and obnoxiously pink unicorn stuffed toy, and bite down. Fake fur and the stuffing underneath its skin fills my mouth. I scream through gritted teeth. Once, loud, but less loud thanks to Diamond.

Jumping out of bed I leave Diamond for a moment, only to come back and tuck her in. It’s the least you can do when you use something as a punching sack — just for biting and screaming.

I sit down at my desk and pull the letter back out, smoothing it flat. I add one line.

“P.S. Email me back. Letters are slow. [email protected]. And if you make fun of my email address-”

Oops, I was about to get violent. What would a poster girl threaten someone with? I guess maybe nothing? Whoops… too late now. I’ve already started the sentence.

I finished it:

“-then I’ll cry.”

Ugh. Weak!

I fold the letter up anyway and slide it back in the envelope, then I stick it into the front pocket of my school bag.

The landline starts ringing. One of the handsets is just outside my door, it’s weird that it’s ringing at this hour!

“I’ve got it!”

I yell out as I jump up from by school bag on the floor and race out the door.

I grab the handset from the cradle on the wall in the hallway, just as I realise mum is in the shower anyway. She wouldn’t have heard me, or the phone!

Well, I’m just the best daughter aren’t I?

What would she do without me honestly?

I lift the phone to my ear and say, “Hello?”

I stay on the floor, fiddling with my schoolbag. One of my art journals is nearly finished and I need to make sure I put a spare in.

Ring ring.

The phone is just outside in the hallway — but I’m not allowed any phones. Isn’t that right, mum? So, there. Your daughter is doing her duty by staying in her room.

Ring ring.

Ugh, just answer the phone already mum!