2. FORBIDDEN FEELINGS AND LUST

Melissa left her brother's room and leaned against the stairs parapet. She sighed and massaged her tired eyes. The last few days were too complicated. Their destiny had changed forever. The young girl was trying to be strong but actually she was shaken. It was necessary to keep all the strength. Because of her and because of Greg.

Melissa was really worried about him. Their mother's death had affected the youth more than he suspected. The scene in the arbor proved that. He had always been different: shy, weak, unable to protect himself. It was her part: to fight against life and circumstances, which were destroying them. She wouldn't last forever, soon or later both of them would separate and start their own life.

The girl wondered whether part of the fault for him being that way wasn't hers. Subconsciously or not, she was quite overprotective towards him. That was quite weird relationship, moreover, he was a year older than her and was supposed to defend his little sister from the cruel reality. But it was just the other way around. Sometimes that fact annoyed her but what else was she supposed to do? Their mother was a total wreck and couldn't think on her own in the last years of her life. Their stepfather was addicted to violence and power over all of them. Her brother couldn't bear it all and… well, he needed someone. And she was the only person who was able to help him in some way.

Melissa Henderson didn't have much choice. Obviously she was born to be perfect in everything and she realized that at very early age. It was obvious that the child had the ability to attract and keep the attention of everyone. That became clear when she started attending the kindergarten. All the children there were willing to be her friend or to play with her. Their teacher couldn't stop babbling how smart and gifted she was. That success and popularity went on in the elementary school where she was always surrounded by fans. And in a way, it grew as her habit, pride and joy to act as the star of the show. Of course, that didn't mean Melissa was one of those stuck-up bitches, suffering of obsession with greatness. She was quite understanding and permanent shoulder to cry on for all her friends and practically everyone who was in pain.

Then the boys she knew grew up enough to think of the girls not as enemies or whiny little things. That meant another red point for her. Most of them were doing anything possible to impress her.

Unfortunately, just by that time the schoolgirl started to realize the burden of her perfection. The envy, the jealousy and hatred around her struck her. After all, she was the daughter of Bryan Smith and no matter how terrible her home life was, Melissa was one of the best dressed girls at school and had more than some of them could dream of. Besides, she had top grades and was doomed to success in all her activities. The attention from the side of the male population was the last straw that broke the camel's back.

How came that most people who were supposed to admire her, were actually very bitter. It turned out that she had only a few loyal friends, who weren't with her just because they hoped to be noticed. That was fulfilling her with sadness. What was worse, everyone really thought she was that great as she seemed. Even her closest people couldn't realize she was a human being and had her little weaknesses and imperfections.

Why was that happening to her? She just wanted was to be one good thing at home so her most beloved people wouldn't suffer so much.

Melissa thought of Greg and smiled with grief. He was no exception of the people who were accepting her as an angel. And how could she blame him? In all these years she was his sister, mother, guardian and support. She was the one who was taking care of him after Bryan or the other boys at school beat the hell out of him. She was the one who was always listening to him and protecting him in front of everyone risking her social status and popularity. She was the one who found him with sliced wrists in one hot summer afternoon and then did anything to bring him to life. She was spending every free minute she had in the hospital, by his bed, to hold his hand and talk to him.

Sometimes that role of the person who takes care of everything was sickening. Why did she always have to face up everything bad and let Kayla and Greg get away with the excuse they are too weak and vulnerable. Melissa was only seventeen, after all but she had much more responsibilities than most of her mates. That frustration was often leading to hidden anger and bitterness towards her family.

And such rage wasn't appropriate for one perfect girl.

If only someone could see the demons crawling in her soul, would everyone love her so much?

That mask she was wearing was so heavy…

She sat on the stairs and rested her head on her shoulders with wearied sigh. It was getting harder than ever to pretend everything was all right when it was far from the truth. There were times when the yells were tearing her throat apart but she couldn't release them. She was smiling, enchanting, succeeding… when actually she was bleeding and couldn't stand all the falseness around her.

What did she have actually? A broken family, almost empty and lifeless house, a desperate brother and a lover who was unable to remain faithful. That led her to another question. "If I'm so perfect, then why even Richard decided to dispose of me?"

She couldn't tell anyone what was going on inside her head. No one would understand; they would decide she was just a whiny little girl who has everything and is only seeking for problems. They had no idea what her stepfather was like. Perhaps that was because no one of his family had bothered to tell the truth… But even if that happened who would believe them? Bryan was very good at persuading; he could easily turn from defendant to victim.

Melissa bit her lips and thought of Greg one more time. Yes, it was true that he wasn't strong or reliable. But anyway, she couldn't hate him for that. For some strange reason she loved him and would do anything to help him. Unfortunately that wasn't so easy because he refused to help himself. Obviously he was even more disturbed than her but she didn't know why. The weakness and sensibility was too plain explanation.

"I promised him everything would be all right." Melissa thought. "What will really happen? I want to get out of here… away…we'll have to get away from here… as far as possible. "

Something else was torturing her mind, and that was the strange feeling that transpierced her stomach when she embraced Greg. That was her oddest experience. They used to hug a lot before, when they were scared of the scandals and Bryan's shouting. It was usual reaction when you are little and frightened, when you need a shelter.

But now it seemed different. When he pressed tightly towards her, something burst out in her heart. Streams of tenderness and wish to protect, to take away all tears and sadness from him. At this moment Greg lost his age and turned into little suffering boy she wanted to keep from the cruel world.

This emotion was mixed with another one. For the first time Melissa didn't think of him as of a brother. She saw the delicate, sincere beauty in his always-sad blue eyes, the fine features, suppressed anger and humiliation. When he pronounced her name the girl didn't hear the sob and crying in his voice, just its sounding and thickness, the deep feelings in it. Her soul trembled like never before and she gasped.

Her friends and mother used to call her Melly or Lisa and very rarely with her full name. But Greg had always called her Melissa. And now it sent shivers down her spine. The girl felt like a… woman?

She realized she wanted to kiss him. It was the greatest and most embarrassing desire. Melissa needed a deep and passionate kiss, which was going to wipe away all unhappy life. It was too strong to stop it, so she got satisfied only with light touch of her lips on his skin.

Yes, that really was damaging her image of the perfect girl. And no one would love her for that.

"How could you even think about it, you, slut!" One malicious inner voice hissed in her head. "It's sinful feeling and you should never evoke it! Greg is your brother, your flesh and blood. What is wrong with you? There are so many boys, who are dying for you. If you want a consolation, you have got a great choice! You'll burn in hell for such thoughts."

Did Greg feel the same? Or he was too drawn in tears to realize what happened between them? Had he sensed the spark? May be he had understood what was going on in her head. That's why the youth was avoiding her look when she accompanied him to his room.

"Oh, no! I can't sacrifice my good relationships with Greg just because of one transient trembling."

But it wasn't this… It was deep and real. And it could turn her life into hell.

Melissa walked down the stairs and entered the living room. Bryan was sitting there with frowning look on his face. She glared at him with disgust. In the last few years Kayla was growing too old for her age. The woman wasn't even 50 years old. Her skin was so pale and wrinkly. Her marvelous red mane lost its natural color and started falling out.

And he has changed not a whit. Still so young and athletic, he hadn't got single gray hair. The girl hated him for this.

When Bryan saw her he smiled nasty and flattering. He got up and came closer trying to enchant, but it didn't affect.

"Lisa, darling, how do you feel? It must be so hard for you."

"Such a hypocrite!" She thought with loathing.

"I'm surviving." Melissa hissed sharply and didn't move. The lust on his face remained as he kept on talking.

"Would you like something stronger to drink, darling? I know you don't like alcohol but in such a situation it could be helpful."

"I'm fine." She started playing with a tress of hair, trying to miss his stare.

"You shouldn't keep your emotions, darling. It could drive you mad one day. If you have something to express, you must do that now."

"If he call me "darling" again, I swear…" The thought rushed through her mind.

"Do you know, we live together about ten years and I don't know almost anything about you. Your interests and friends, what you like and dislike. I think it's suitable time to talk as father and a daughter."

"Come on, Bryan, stop that damned theatre! You've never cared about Greg or me! All the time you were too worried to beat and torment our mother and us! So, don't pretend that you have suddenly changed and want to establish your relationships with the children! You are a damned liar and you can't fool me."

Anger ran through his eyes and Bryan went to her with rapid step. He grabbed her hand and reached her face. His breath smelled awfully of alcohol. The man dig nails in her soft skin.

"Watch your mouth, little bitch! I thought you were different than your mother, but I had lied myself. It's OK, I've got all the time in the world to change you. Be careful what you are talking to your dad because he can get offended."

"You are not my father, bastard! Let me go!" Melissa clenched through teeth and tried to set herself free.

"Oh, you don't want to think of me as of father, do you, sweetheart? May be as a passionate lover?" He laughed nastily. " Do you dream of me, Lisa? Or you prefer fucking with younger boys? As these suckling, your classmates? I bet you are really horny! But if you want a real man, who can gratify you, just open your legs."

This was too much for her. She slammed him and kicked his fork. He roared and tried to hit her, but the girl was faster. Melissa escaped upstairs like the Devil was after her.

"You'll pay for this, bitch! Sooner than you think! You can run, but you can't hide."