Chapter five- Do you have a suit?

Sunday morning I wake up with a smile still plastered to my face from last night, I decide to give my sister April a quick text to ask her to meet with me at the coffee shop, it's time I stop shutting everyone out, if my mother and Hannah are anything to go by, meeting with April should be completely fine. I quickly brush my teeth, get changed and run a brush through my hair, then I head out to the coffee shop.

I get here before April, which doesn't surprise me with how quick I got ready, I go to the counter to order our drinks and find a table to sit at. A few minutes go by and I'm worried about April's drink is getting cold and then I worry that she may not even show up, I never did get a text back. As if to put me out of my internal misery April walks through the door, she spots me and walks over to me, she sits quietly, she has an expression on her face that I don't recognise instantly as it's very rare April is wearing this expression.

"What do you want, Melanie?" April glowers at me, ah that's the expression. Anger.

"I just wanted to talk, everyone has been trying to get into contact with me and I've been a bit MIA." I say with a shrug and a slight smile.

"Well I haven't tried to get into contact with you." She glares at me, I've never seen April this angry before. I guess I didn't even notice she wasn't one of my missed calls.

"April, what's wrong?" I ask genuinely.

"What's wrong? You just go and leave dads company? You are so selfish Melanie, with you gone, now what? Dad will ask me to work there. He won't bother asking Hannah because, let's be honest, she's not the brightest, now you're gone, I am going to be forced to work there." She tries to keep calm but fails miserably.

"You can say no, April." I suggest.

"No I can't, you more than anyone knows I can't. I can't even believe you would leave, you must have made him so mad, why would you test him like that? You know what his temper is like." April says, looking at me as if I have gone insane.

"Look April, I'm not some little girl who is going to do as Daddy asks anymore, it's about time I get some independence and go after what I want, whatever the cost." I say, proudly.

"Yeah, well it's your funeral. I don't want you contacting me Melanie, you've put me in this position, you knew you would, so I am done with you." Before I could respond, April has gotten up and left through the door she came in, leaving her untouched inevitably cold coffee behind. I quickly decided to leave the coffee shop also as it appeared I had a audience because of April's outburst. I decide on going back to my apartment and doing some of my assignments for college.

It's Monday morning and I am running late because I forgot to set my alarm, I run into my Psychology class, out of breath and everyone is staring at me, including Brody, who is smirking at me, quite enjoying my breathlessness.

"Take a seat, Melanie." Dr Jameson says, hands on her hips.

After class Brody offers to take me for some lunch.

"So, do anything fun for the rest of your weekend?" He asks as he intertwined his hand with mine, making me smile.

"Erm... I had coffee with my sister. She's angry at me for leaving my dads company to do college, she thinks she'll have to join the company now." I say with a shrug.

"Your dad would make her join the company?" He ask, furrowing his eyebrows.

"He would... try, he can be a scary man, when he wants to be." I say looking down.

As if he knows he should, Brody dropped the subject and talked about his course, while we walked hand in hand to get some food. After we ate, I invited Brody back to my apartment to hang out. As we sit on the sofa I decide to get to know Brody more.

"So why did you chose to study Psychology?" I ask. Brody thinks for a moment before answering.

"My mother studied Psychology and she talked about how much she enjoyed it and used to tell me stories about how it changed her life in a positive way. How about you? Why Psychology for you?"

"I find it really interesting. I'd also really like to be able to help people in the future, maybe become a therapist, I haven't thought that far ahead yet." I smile "So does your mom work in something involving psychology?" I ask. Brody pauses and looks down.

"...She did. She was a therapist." He says.

"Oh, how come she isn't now?" The moment I say it, I instantly regret it. Hurt floods Brody's eyes.

"She...erm...She died." He manages, still not looking up.

I kneel in front of Brody and lift his face so he is looking at me.

"I'm so sorry Brody, I had no idea." I say, my voice cracking.

"It's okay." He breathes and wraps his arms around me and I cling onto him.

"If you ever need to talk you know you can right?" I say.

"I know, Melanie but not yet, not yet." I decide not to press the subject anymore.

We spent the rest of the night watching rubbish TV and just enjoying being together, before my phone ringing disrupted the peace we were having. I answer the phone as its my mom.

"Hi mom." I say.

"Melanie, Hi, now hear me out before you say no." My mother begs.

"Go on." I ask intrigued.

"Your father is having a company party on Saturday and I want the whole family there, now I know you and your dad aren't on speaking terms right now but it would mean a lot to me and him if you would come, Olivia is invited of course and you can even bring someone else, someone from your college maybe?" I think for a little while considering my options before responding.

"Okay, I'll be there." I say.

"Oh, Melanie! Really? That's fantastic! See you Saturday, dress nice." And with that the call ends. I turn to Brody.

"Do you have a suit?"