Hellllooooo Marshians!!!
I'm so sorry the wishes are coming late, but… Merry Christmas to y'all!
Santa Marshy is bringing you a bonus chapter for Christmas, just for my amazing Marshians.
Stay tuned, y'all!
~Santa Marshy
Oh oh oh…
"Oh, dude, you got a beautiful girlfriend!"
"Yeah, man. She's damn beautiful."
Noah's ego swelled at their comments while Melanie blushed, leaning her head against his broad chest and nestling into his arms.
They were seated on a couch in the middle of the room, surrounded by friends she didn't know yet. Even Tiffany and her crew were there. The couches formed a loose circle around a small table stacked with drinks. Melanie noticed the gathering looked like it was made for the popular kids of Crestmoor. Stylish boys and girls, all dressed in the latest trends, laughing and sipping drinks.
"Gosh, Tiffany, you and your sister look alike," a blonde girl commented, tossing her hair back and smiling.
Tiffany flipped her hair and grinned. "Girl, what do you expect? We're twins. Identical and pretty twins."
"O.M.G.! Melanie, is this your boyfriend?" Susan exclaimed, her grin wide and eyes sparkling.
Melanie gave a small nod, cheeks warming.
"Oh my, you guys look so cute together! A perfect match, right, Eve?" She turned to Eve, only to find her earbuds in and fingers flying across her phone.
Susan rolled her eyes with a sigh and returned her attention to Melanie. "So… how long have you guys been together?"
Melanie glanced up at Noah and smiled.
"We've been together for, like, two years now."
"Babe, are you sure? Isn't it three years?" he asked, a playful eyebrow raised.
"No, Noah. It's two years."
The blonde girl sipping her drink nearly choked.
"Two years?!" she gasped, then huffed dramatically. "Really? Mine lasted only four months… me and Max broke up. Why can't guys learn from Noah?"
"Oh, shut up, Isa," a brown-haired guy muttered, rolling his eyes.
"Noo! Don't tell me to shut up, Jordan. Noah?! Of all people?! Stayed with his girlfriend for two years! And Max? Broke up with me after four months? Seriously?!" Isa groaned, throwing her hands in exasperation.
Matthew smirked. "Still hurt?"
Isa rolled her eyes. "No, I've moved on, dude. I'm just… amazed Noah stayed with his girlfriend for two years. That's all."
Susan giggled, her green eyes fixed on Melanie. "Anyway… Melanie, how did you guys meet?"
"We met at a party," Noah replied quickly.
"Oh, dude!" A guy groaned, loud enough to make Melanie wince. "You really got a good, sexy catch here," he said, grinning, eyes lingering on her. "Gosh, she's got the hips, man. She's got the fucking hips." He muttered, licking his lips while taking in every part of her.
Melanie shifted uncomfortably, snuggling closer to Noah, her eyes wary.
"Jackson, watch it. She's my fish. I caught her first," said Noah, grinning.
Zoey, a girl sitting nearby, darted her eyes between Jackson and Noah.
"Boys, watch it! Since when did she become a fish?!"
"Since today," Jackson shot back with a smirk.
"All girls are fish, Zoey," Donald said with a lazy smirk.
But almost immediately, Heather lifted her head from his chest, a frown creasing her forehead.
"Excuse me?"
"No, babe, it's not like that," Donald said quickly, fighting the urge to smile.
"Oh, please," Matthew scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Heather, you're a fish Donald caught, so quit acting surprised."
Heather shot him a sharp glare.
Another girl raised her hand and said, "I just want to let you all know, I'm not anybody's fish. I'm Stacy. A girl." She emphasized the word 'girl.'
The guys erupted into laughter, their deep voices booming even over the loud music.
Melanie sipped her orange juice, quietly observing everyone. She really didn't like this kind of gathering, and honestly, she wished Tiffany hadn't forced her to come. If she hadn't, she'd be on her bed right now, probably on her phone, sketching, or doing literally anything else. That was her comfort. Not parties.
Still, she tried to make the best of it. At least Noah was here. That had to count for something… right?
The group continued chatting and laughing loudly. Melanie didn't join in. She simply kept sipping her juice.
At first, some of them found it strange that she was drinking juice at a party, but that was just her. She wasn't the alcoholic type.
She was about to take another sip when her hand slipped, and the juice spilled onto her jeans, leaving a huge stain.
"Oh, shit," she cursed inwardly.
She glanced at Noah, who was busy laughing with his friends.
"Noah," she called softly. "I'm coming. I want to use the restroom."
"Okay, babe," Noah replied. "It's to the left." He pointed to the direction she should take.
Melanie nodded and stood up, while Noah turned back to the conversation.
She weaved through the crowd, carefully avoiding the wild students.
Finally, she found the restroom. She pushed the door open, only to freeze in her steps at the sight before her.
Drexter was kissing a brunette, hard, messy, and shameless. He had her lifted onto the bathroom counter, his grip tight around her waist. Their mouths were locked together, her hair tangled and wild.
The moment shattered when the door creaked open. They pulled apart instantly.
Melanie stood in the doorway, frozen in shock. Her mouth opened, but no words came out. Her eyes darted between Drexter, the girl, and the scene she had just walked into.
Drexter was shirtless, his muscular torso exposed, tattoos inked across his skin. His hair was messy, his trousers hanging low on his waist, belt undone and thrown aside.
Melanie's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.
The girl was breathing heavily, her dress half-unzipped and slipping off one shoulder. Hickeys dotted her neck.
Melanie blinked rapidly, trying, and failing, to form words. She was completely dumbfounded.
Drexter stared at her, irritation blazing in his eyes. That look snapped her out of it.
"I—I'm s-sorry," she stammered. "I w-was—"
"SHUT THE DAMN DOOR!" Drexter snapped, angrily.
"Y-yes! I will, right now," Melanie said quickly, slamming it shut, her face burning.
How could two people do such nonsense in the girls' restroom? she thought, stunned.
Her head spinning, Melanie hurried back to the group.
The girls' restroom? Seriously? This school is unbelievable!
No one noticed her return. She sat down quietly.
"What happened, babe?" Noah asked, noticing her silence.
"Nothing," she replied, forcing a small smile.
Noah didn't look convinced, but he shrugged and went back to talking.
This party is insane, Melanie screamed inwardly.
Too much was happening—things she never wanted to see. And what she had seen?
That image was already burned into her mind.