Nine.

DAMIEN BROOKS.

It was cold.

It was windy.

He was infuriated.

He didn't know why he did that.

"Dude,would you stop brooding?" Tyler said as he bounced the ball on the pavement.

"I think I should talk to her" Damien said

"She deserved that,but after what her brother did to you.. I don't think there's any need to apologize"

Damien chuckled as he walked.

"I deserved that," he said. "It's very unlike me to hurt a girl. It doesn't have to be physical,and from all I've heard,MM is pretty emotional. I don't know the damage I've caused-"

"MM?" Tyler laughed.

"Yeah," Damien smiled. "Melanie Martins"

"Why are you smiling like that?" Tyler asked.

"I don't know" he chuckled.

"Damn"

"Oh,shut up," Damien rolled his eyes. "Do you think I should talk to her?"

"You can if you're willing to get hit again by her bodyguard.... I mean, look at your eye"

"It's fine. The bruise will eventually fade off"

"Did you give him any?" Tyler asked.

"Out of self-defense," Damien said. "Yeah,but it wasn't too brutal"

**** ****

MELANIE MARTINS

"It's time for dinner!" Her mom yelled,and Mel only made her way to the dining table.

She sat in her wheelchair as she waited for the rest of the family to join.

Hudson came down the stairs,and even though Melanie was giving him the silent treatment,she couldn't help but feel bad that he had that bruise on his jaw.

"Mel?" He said

She ignored him as their mom set the food on the table.

"Could you please talk to me" he pleaded as he sat next to her.

"Melanie, what's wrong?" Her mom asked as Mr Martins sat down.

"She's not talking to me because of some guy at school" Hudson said as he finally sat down.

"What guy?" Mr Martins asked with a cocked brow.

"There's this guy-" Hudson started.

"It's nothing,dad" Melanie said as she put some food in her plate.

"Oh so now you talk" Hudson rolled his eyes.

"I don't think you had to be that violent" Melanie sighed as she picked up some food with her fork and put it in her mouth.

"You know I don't like it when people hurt you" Hudson said.

"Wait,so-" her dad started,but was interrupted.

"Honey,this is a twin stuff so let them handle it" Mrs Martins said to her husband.

"I told you,I can stand up for myself!"

Hudson stared at her with a look. A look that said more than what he probably intended to pass on.

"No, Hudson. That was mean!" Their mom yelled.

"I didn't say anything" he said and ran his hand through his hair.

Melanie just sighed as she wheeled away from the table.

"Mel! Come back" their dad said.

"I totally get it," she said. "Please help me to my room" she told her dad.

"Mel, please eat-"

"Just help me to my room!"

,,,

Melanie got into her room,and as soon as her dad wheeled her in,he left.

She sighed and stared out her window.

That was very mean of Hudson to insinuate.

He was probably trying to lighten the mood,but all he did was insult her.

There was a knock on her door,

She didn't reply until her door creaked open.

She continued to stare out her window till she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Hey," Hudson chuckled. "I didn't mean what you think I-"

"I know," she chuckled. "You were trying to crack a joke,but please don't attack my defect in the process"

"What defect? You don't have a defect" Hudson said.

Melanie just shook her head.

"You said you couldn't stand up for yourself,and I didn't wanna say anything. I don't know-"

"It's fine, Hudson. I just need some time alone" she said

"I understand," Hudson said and sucked in a breath. "Call me if you need anything"

"Sure"

"And please,if you're not turning on the air conditioner," he said and walked to her window. "Open the window" he chuckled.

"Fine" she laughed. "I'll turn it on when I'm about to sleep"

After Hudson left,Mel wheeled closer to the window,and just stared at Amelia's window.

The lights were off,and there was no moving figure so Amelia was obviously not home.

She stared outside until she heard some footsteps.

What in tarnation.....?

Damien's face popped in front of her as he grunted, trying to jump in.

She gasped as he stood in front of her.

"Hey" he smiled at her,and she wheeled backwards a bit.

"What are you doing here?"

"Your window was open" he said as he walked a bit closer to her.

She couldn't help but stare at the bruise on his eye.

"Look,I'm sorry" they said at the same time.

Damien chuckled,and Melanie found herself staring at him.

The sound that just escaped his mouth sounded so soft and appealing.

"MM," Damien chuckled. "I'll go first"

"My name is Melanie,I'm not some chocolate"

"Chocolate?" Damien asked.

"Yeah, m&m. The chocolate" Melanie replied

Damien laughed,and she pouted.

"You're MM. Melanie Martins" Damien chuckled.

Melanie didn't say anything because she didn't know what to say.

"Alright," He said. "I'm sorry for acting like that in front of the whole class..... I just didn't appreciate the fact that you couldn't even say thank you. I mean,I did the work of both of us for both of us,and I know I probably overreacted,but I'm sorry. Sincerely"

"It's alright," Melanie chuckled. "Yeah,I cried a lot,but I get that you didn't like how I acted"

"Can I....sit?" Damien asked

"Sure" she said, . "You can sit on that chair" she said pointing to a chair in her room by her study area.

"So umm,I also wanna apologize for what Hudson did," Melanie said. "That was really..bad of him"

"Don't worry about that," Damien chuckled. "It's our issue..... And besides,I understand that he was just fighting for his twin"

Melanie nodded as she watched Damien stare around her room.

"Nice room"

"Thank you"

"I hope you don't mind that I'm here"

"I do,but you're not too close to me,and that's fine. The personal space is reasonable" Mel replied as she grabbed her novel from her nightstand.

"Is that After by Anna Todd?," Damien asked and scoffed. Melanie nodded. "I guess you're not so innocent after all" he smirked.

"Innocent? When you say that,.. I really don't know in what perspective you're-" she started,but Damien interrupted.

"Just let it slide,MM" He said.

"Let what slide?," She asked and scratched her head. "What does that even mean?"

"How are you so smart,yet so clueless?," He asked and sighed. "It means to just let it go. Act like it never happened,you know"

"I guess" Melanie shrugged as she focused on her book again.

Thank you so so so so so so so so so so much for reading. LY