Merlin & Meli by M.J. Garrett & Meli J. Nightly (free ebook reader txt) 📖

or not. Because of him, she didn’t get to see her sister. Before she even made it to the bus stop, her mother spotted her walking down the street and brought her back home. Which, in turn, got her grounded...again. She wouldn’t have had that problem if he hadn’t been such a jerk and just took her like she had asked. The call went to voicemail. She was somewhat relieved that she didn’t answer, but before she could put the phone away the ringtone blared once more as his name popped up one more time.

Merlin watched her, wondering who it was that was calling and why it had her in such deep thought. Was it someone she cared about? A boyfriend? Or worse a girlfriend?

Meli finally answered. Merlin did his best to discretel listen to the voice on the other end.

“Hi Love. Please...”

It was definitely a guy. Merlin heard his voice when he called her ‘Love’. Some guy with a Harry Potter accent. The sound of his voice made his heart sink into the bottom of an endless void.

“What do you want, Jason?” She replied in a harsh tone. At this Merlin perked right up. “I have nothing else to talk to you about!"

Merlin silently wished to himself that she would just hang up on whoever was the owner of that fancy accent. He didn’t know him yet, but he already knew that he didn’t like him.

“Alright... alright, I’ll be right out since you’re here anyway.” Meli hung up the phone and turned to Merlin. “I have to go; someone is giving me a ride.”

“Your dad is here?” He questioned, knowing that it was definitely not him.

“No, it’s someone else.” Without explaining anything else she began to walk away as he followed.

“Your dad specifically asked ME to take you home.” he quickly informed her as he continued to try and keep up with her pace.

She rolled her eyes in annoyance. “Look, I’ll tell him you took me home, okay?”

“No!” He grabbed her by the hand as an impulse. Meli took notice and looked surprised by this. He knew she was bound to slap him or do something worse, but he didn’t care; she was his responsibility. “If something were to happen to you I would be responsible.”

“You’re being over-dramatic,” she argued. The girl pulled her hand from his and continued to walk out of the library. “Thanks, but I can take care of myself.”

“Mel-” His words were cut short at the sight of the most ridiculously handsome guy leaning back with his arms arroganty crossed across his chest and leaning against the most ridiculously expensive car he had ever seen. The guy removed his shades and smiled brightly at the sight of Meli as she shuffled her way down the library steps. All he could say was... “Shit.”


Chapter 5

So many inner thoughts filled his head. He thought about the moment he reached out and grabbed her hand. He thought about the way she jerked her hand away and looked at him as if he was a stranger. He even thought about how there were these little moments where he could see the best of her. Her humor, her playful side, her protective nature, even how quickly she could pick up academics when she put her mind to it. He thought about how his courage left him, just as quick as she pulled her hand away.

The walk home was nowhere near as close to his house as it was to hers. The long walk home after a possible speechless moment alone with her was really all he expected. He embraced the fact that he would probably be too shy to speak with her, but after her antics in the library, he didn't think the silence would be so awkward. But if it was, the fact that he would be close enough to touch her was good enough for him.

With the sun setting and the shadows of the trees and houses stretching larger on the ground in front of him, he toted his backpack on one shoulder and his skateboard on the other. The long walk was filled with sharp feelings of painful regret. Beating himself up for stuttering and stumbling over his thoughts, like a scared little boy facing his biggest fear. He knew that she caught him staring at her. He knew that she caught him drawing her like an obsessive weirdo. To act like a child getting caught with his hand in the cookie jar was not on the list of ways to react when getting caught being a stalkerish loser.

No matter how he acted, he made peace with the fact that he was so shy and childish. The part about her choosing Harry Potter over him was the part that stung the most. What if she didn't make it home in time? He wondered how much trouble he could be in because he didn't take her home like he had promised; he even bowed with honor.

All in all, there were moments when he could see her for the amazing she displayed. He didn't know who this other guy was, but he didn't trust him as much as she did. Besides, the longer that he is in the picture, there is no way that she could see him for the amazing that he displayed.

**

Walking into his house, he could hear the beeping of the microwave and smell the familiar scent of his favorite TV dinner. He could hear his mother clanking dishes and silverware, ready to set the table for their nightly ritual.

"What's wrong, Honey?"

"Nothing", he replied with his voice low and discouraged.

"Want to talk about it?" she asked him as she picked the stack of plates up from the counter top. "So, who is she?" she asked knowing that only a girl can bring such a frown to a young man's face.

Not really knowing how to respond, he fired back at her in his not-so-typical fashion. "Mom, why do you keep setting the table for four? They aren't coming back! No one is going to be here. It's just you and me! No dad! No brother! Just us!" He quickly ran up stairs to drown himself in his headphones to hide from the shame of letting her see him so weak.

Stunned by his emotion lashout, she sat the dishes down on the cabinet and slowly walked herself into the dining room. "You'll have to forgive him. I know he would never act like this if he knew you were here. So, your name is Meli?"


**

Meli slowly made her way up the stairs toward his bedroom, engaged with carefully looking at the pictures of Merlin and his family. She smiled at how much fun they seemed to have when taking pictures. Seeing Merlin as a baby, being held by what looked to be his brother. At first, she thought it was Merlin. Meli reached up and touched the face of the baby, smiling as she missed the times when she was held by her family. Slowly taking one step at a time, she took the time to see every picture. Moments in the park, the love and laughter didn't seem to be as rehearsed as it was in the pictures that hung in her house.

"You know," his mother's voice softly spoke at the bottom of the stairs, "he was a surprise to us all." She walked up the stairs and took a spot beside her as she turned and smiled at the picture she saw Meli's hand touch so gingerly. "This was taken just before the accident."

"What happened?" Meli asked her as she looked into the eyes of the delicate baby boy.

"Well, Marty, Merlin's brother, had just graduated high school. He and his girlfriend were on their last road trip before he left for college." She paused for a moment to keep herself from crying. She struggled to talk, as Meli put her hand on his mother's shoulder.

"You don't have to tell me, in your own time." Meli spoke softly to his mother. She turned to look at Meli and gently placed her hand on top of hers.

"It's okay, I need to tell you." She paused for a moment, taking a deep breath and then continued. "While on their road trip, I received a knock on the door. When I opened the door, there were two soldiers standing there with their hat in their hand a one with a folded flag under her arm. When you are in the military family, you don't need anyone to explain what this meeting is about."

"You don't have to say..."
"No, Meli, it's okay." Taking a deep breath, she sunk back into her thoughts and continued. "When I called to inform Marty, he and his girlfriend quickly turned around to come home to be with the family. That's when he lost control of his motorcycle, killing both himself and Shelly. I lost 3 of the most important people in my life in a matter of an hour. Four if you include myself. I have never been the same. I couldn't get over things and I have put way too much pressure on Merlin." Tears began to swell in her eyes as she squeezed her lips together to keep from bursting into sobs.

His mother stood there, lost in a gaze and gathering her bearing, looking at their smiling faces trapped on a 6x9 glossy photo stuck in a timeless pause. It was a perfect picture of how things should have been. She continued, "Merlin was only 2 years old. He never really knew them. The hardest part for me, every day I have to relive the pain when I look into Merlin's eyes. He looks exactly like them." She smiled at Meli and put her arm around her back and pulled Meli into her, embracing her in a warm hug that Meli hasn't felt in years. "Don't hurt him, Meli. Please, don't hurt him."

"Don't worry, I won't." They looked into each other's eyes and smiled with the comfort of knowing that their intentions were for the best.

**

Meli quietly knocked on his door as she slowly pushed the door open. "Merlin? Are you okay?" He lay on his bed with his arms folded over his face. The quiet sound of guitars and drums leaked through his headphones as he squeezed his jaw tense. She slowly walked into his room and looked at drawings that seemed to be everywhere. Pictures of dreamy girly eyes, hands, and faces where pinned and taped to the walls. Pictures of different cartoons and people were stacked on his desk and dressers. Meli took the room in with awe as she slowly turned in a circle looking at the hidden talent that Merlin has been hiding from her and the rest of the world.

There it was, sitting on the floor beside his bed. The notebook that he spent so much time in.