508An Accidental Collision
"I'm not doing it!" I shrieked and slammed the door to my bedroom.
"Melissa Simati, get downstairs right now!" Mum yelled from the kitchen.
"No way," I shouted. "I am not going to serve food to some egotistical jerk whose head looks like a bloody swan!"
There was silence before my Mum, Dad and Derek burst into maniacal laughter in the downstairs kitchen.
Great. Just great. I have insensitive aliens for a family.
Oh well. If I have to go through the torture, I might as well dress up for it a little instead of wearing my usual sweatshirt and jeans. Besides, I realised I was looking forward to seeing Stacy. We used to be best friends three years ago. Before they moved.
Sighing, I swapped my jeans for a mini skirt – making sure it was the longest one I had since I didn't want Matt getting any ideas – and pulled on a summer blouse, before tying my unruly brown hair back into a tight ponytail.
Just as I had finished applying face cream and eyeliner, the doorbell rang and I froze, horrified. They were here already? Damn them!
"Melissa honey," Derek said sweetly, imitating Mum. "The guests have arrived."
"Arrived, my ass," I muttered darkly and descended the stairs, suddenly feeling self conscious as I remembered the mornings' encounter. Had I really shoved Matt and then slammed the door in his face? Oh god.
I entered the dining room with a frown, my arms folded severely, to see Mr and Mrs Aaron sitting at the table with Stacy. Matt wasn't anywhere in sight.
I relished the moment and sent a quick prayer of thanks to God. The monkey wasn't here! I was saved!
Mr and Mrs Aaron stood up when they saw me, and I broke into a smile. All the familiar feelings of love and shared memories resurfaced and I embraced them, a grin playing on my features.
"Oh my God Mel!" Stacy shrieked and hugged me fiercely.
I laughed and said, as we drew back, "You haven't changed a bit Stacy, apart from the weight loss."
"Thanks," she said, looking pleased. "You've changed loads though Mel." She eyed me neutrally before saying, "You've been swimming, haven't you? Your whole body is so toned!"
I couldn't help but blush, especially because Mr and Mrs Aaron were staring at us like we were nuts, commenting on each other's bodies.
"So how are you, Mr and Mrs Aaron?" I asked politely knowing by the Look Mum sent me that I was expected to make polite conversation and play the role of lovely hostess while she went into the kitchen.
"We're fine honey, and yourself?" Mrs Aaron replied, clasping my hand in a motherly fashion.
"I'm great, thanks," I beamed and continued to carefully question them.
From our conversation, I gleaned that they were staying for good as Mr Aaron's' job had been transferred, which could only mean one thing… Matt was going to be here every frigging morning I woke up!
"He'll probably be attending your school Mel," Stacy added, oblivious to my absolute loathing of her brother.
She must have noticed me freeze, because she observed, "You don't look thrilled about that."
I shook my head reassuringly and forced a cranky smile at her.
What? My school was going to be infested with Matt-a-titis? Oh my God, why me?
"Where is he anyway?" my Dad asked after a beat. I was wondering the same thing…
"He might not make it today," Mr Aaron replied, adjusting his glasses. "Apparently he's got some football match he just had to see."
At the word 'football', Derek sat up from his bored, slouching position and informed us, "The Tigers are playing against Liverpool today. That's probably the match he went to see."
I sighed in relief and got up to help my Mum in the kitchen as a football discussion started.
"Here Mel, pour the drinks," Mum said, thrusting a tray towards me. I sighed and traipsed back into the room, before pouring everyone a glass.
"Melissa, tell your Mum not to trouble herself too much. She knows we've still got to finish unpacking," Mrs Aaron said. I nodded and relayed the message to my Mum, who instructed me to tell Mrs Aaron it was no trouble at all, and to call Derek.
I sighed. What do they think I am? Some kind of messenger?
I went back into the room and relayed the messages before going back into the kitchen for the starters, including some home-baked biscuits and a jug of squash. Mum sent Derek to the corner shop for milk and handed me the tray.
But just as I exited the kitchen, someone came barrelling into me and we both fell, the biscuits and starters falling all over the place and the glass jug breaking, spilling squash over us both.
Thinking it was Mrs Aaron, I began to apologise profusely, when I realised from a pair of familiar green eyes looking at me from under thick lashes, that it was in fact, the same person who broke my heart three years ago. Matt.
For a moment, I forgot about that and I caught my breath at the intensity of his gaze, but then his lips pulled into a smirk and I stood up quickly, smoothing out my wet blouse and miniskirt.
"What are you doing here?" I asked as everyone piled into the hallway to see what the commotion was about.
He was about to reply, but Mrs Aaron started scolding him, and my Mum glared at me furiously.
"Oh Melissa!" she said, exasperated, before ordering me, "Take Matt into your room and get him a change of clothes from Derek's wardrobe." She observed my now-transparent apparel before shaking her head resignedly and stating, "Get changed yourself too."
I was furious. I didn't want to take this arrogant jerk into my bedroom! But just as I was about to protest, she sent me a final glare and stalked back into the kitchen.
Absolutely outraged, I stomped up the stairs as quickly as I could and waited for Matt to enter it before going to look for some clothes that would fit him. For some reason beyond me, I felt a fluttering in my stomach that I hadn't felt for the last three years as I looked through Derek's clothes for something decent for Matt to wear. I kept imagining Matt trying the jeans on…
Ugh! I cannot believe I just thought that!
Pinching myself fiercely, I re-entered my room to find Matt standing shirtless in front of the full-length mirror, examining a cut on his hand. He turned around as I entered and I froze, my heart speeding up at the sudden view of a completely different perfectly sculpted body than the one I remembered. He seemed oblivious to the guilt gnawing away at my brain as I looked at the cut. It was pretty deep.
"Like what you see Mel?" he asked suddenly and I blinked, before glaring at him.
"No," I replied defiantly and then instantly slapped myself in my mind. Great retort girl.
"No?" he repeated and walked the distance towards me. I didn't move, my whole body tensing.
He still smelled the same. A kind of soapy smell that brought memories rushing to my mind.
But his face had changed. There was a hard edge to those green eyes, and he had a squarer jaw with the beginnings of stubble. A lock of black hair lay over his right eye.
"It's great to see you again Mel," he said softly and I flinched, before thrusting the clothes at him and stepping back.
Just as I turned to go, he grabbed my wrist.
"Hey wait," he protested and I turned to face him again. "What's the matter? Why are you acting like this?"
"Acting like what?" I asked defensively.
"As if you're pissed off with me," he replied, his familiar eyes searching mine. "Aren't you glad to see me?"
I shrugged as nonchalantly as possible and tugged at my wrist. "Let me go."
"Not until you tell me what's the matter," he insisted, stepping closer to me.
I caught my breath. No. Not now. I couldn't lose it now.
"Mel?" he said softly and smoothed my brown hair back.
… the same voice I heard for months afterwards in my dreams… the same voice that would promise me that I was the only one he ever loved… the same voice I would listen to again and again in my head…
I allowed myself a brief moment where I closed my eyes and leaned against him, breathing in his familiar, comforting smell, but then I remembered where I was and broke away.
Stop it, I told my fluttering ribcage and forced a smile at Matt.
"Nothings wrong. It just feels weird that you're back."
"Yeah, it's bound to," he said with a nod and smiled back.
I felt my breath catch again, and before he could say anything, I grabbed my jeans and a T-shirt from my wardrobe and said, "Well, I'll see you downstairs then."
"Sure," he replied, an all too familiar smirk in place.
Rolling my eyes, I got changed in the bathroom before looking at myself in the mirror.
"You hate him. You hate him," I muttered to myself, suddenly feeling quite alone. "You hate him like hell. Don't forget what he did to you all those years ago. Don't forgive him. Ever."
A/N: Thank you to all my reviewers! I would love any ideas on the plot that anyone has. Just drop me a message and I'll get back to you. Also, please note that I shall be placing polls with regards to this story on my profile. If you have a moment, please do vote. Thanks again :)