Songs for the chapter:

Melody

After Carson left, I went back to work on my painting, determined not to come up for air until it was finished. As I worked, I couldn't help but think about how hard February would be. Though my mom had passed away at the beginning of the month, it always seemed like a dark cloud settled over my household and didn't let up until March.

My dad would throw himself into his work, barely saying more than two words to anyone. He would sleep in his home office, change and then go to his actual office. It would then throw Margot for a loop, as she didn't seem to know how to function if my father didn't sleep in their bed. She would start taking long baths, which left upstairs foggy from the heat, and then down some sleeping pills every night. She was usually crankier and ruder to me, and even sometimes Mia. Then Mia would just lock herself in her room and try to avoid everyone.

The loud sound of sirens blew past in the distance, and my heart dropped, meeting my feet on the floor. What if that siren was for him? My brain seemed to get stuck on the thought. I swallowed hard and tried to move beyond it.

Is he okay?

Why is it taking so long?

February; a dark and heavy month. It brought up all the feelings that I tried to tuck away to the rest of the year. I was just trying to keep it together, which is probably why I fell apart when Carson tried to leave. The thought of him hitting an icy patch on Sound View Drive made my chest hurt.

Is he there yet?

Is he okay?

Why hasn't he texted yet?

My hands trembled as they worked in a pattern, gluing and then adding broken glass to the painting. The bright red, mixed with the dark red was startling, angry, and pain filled. I wondered what my mother felt in those last moments. Did she see red? Did she feel the broken glass? I glued the last piece of glass onto the canvas and wiped a tear away with the back of my hand.

Got there safely.

Call you later.

Carson White; 8:28pm

I felt like I could breathe properly once again. It was scary to care this much about someone. Something I never planned. I didn't want to ever care about anyone again after my mother, and while I loved my dad, he didn't seem to care too much about me. It was easy to pretend that I was on my own. But Carson made it hard to think that way and now I wanted him safe. I needed him safe. I needed to know that he was always going to be here. I couldn't lose him.

***

The next day, Carson picked me up around noon and we went over to his house. As we walked inside, he turned to me and smiled.

"So, we will study, but I have a fun little surprise," he said. "So, close your eyes and I'll lead you."

"Okay," I said dragging out the word. "You better not–"

"Let you fall," Carson finished cutting me off. I stuck my tongue out at him and closed my eyes. Carson took my hand and began leading me down the foyer hallway. "Watch your step," he said as we took a corner. Then we began descending.

"Where are we going?" I asked as my foot went down a step.

"Patience young grasshopper," Carson laughed. When we stopped, he let go of my hand, and said, "Okay, open your eyes!"

When I did, I saw a plastic sheet spread out across the wooden floor, with a little table in the middle. It too had plastic on top, and two white mugs with paint brushes and water.

"A paint your own mug day? This is amazing!" I said grinning. I threw my arms around Carson who laughed and hugged me back. "Thank you."

"Of course," he said kissing my forehead. I squeezed his torso one last time before running over to the table. He pulled out his phone and held it up as he sat across from me. "What do you want to listen to?"

I wrinkled my nose as I thought about it. While we had already established that I wasn't picky, but leaned towards softer music, but I felt in the mood for something a bit more upbeat than the songs I usually liked.

"Something fun," I said with a smile. Carson typed in something into his phone and then pressed play.

"A fun indie playlist," he grinned. "This one is called, Chateau, by a group called Angus & Julia Stone." The light opening tune was soon accompanied by a beat. "I dig it."

I grinned. "Me too."

I picked up a paintbrush and dipped it into the light blue paint. Carson grabbed some royal blue paint for his, which wasn't a surprise. After all, he did tell me it was his favourite colour. Painting like this, felt different than last night. It felt happier. Lighter. I didn't feel like I was pouring emotions into it. It was more something to do while I talked to Carson.

"How are you designing your mug?" Carson asked.

"I don't know," I said. "I'm turning my brain off and letting the colours take me somewhere pretty." Carson smiled, but his eyes told me he was watching me, reading me. "What about you?" I asked quickly, hoping to distract him.

"Blue and yellow. Golden State Warriors colours," Carson wiggled his eyebrows. He held the mug's handle and brushed paint across its white surface. "Favourite board game?"

"Pictionary," I answered without hesitation. Carson grinned. "If you became a master at woodworking, what would you make?" I asked, feeling like I already knew the answer.

"The sickest tree-house on the face of the planet. It would be a tree castle... probably," Carson said, trying to be nonchalant. I grinned, dipping my paintbrush in purple paint.

"Have you been watching Bridge to Terabithia again?" I teased. Carson made a face at me and then laughed.

"Sunrise or sunset?" Carson asked, reaching for the yellow paint.

"Sunset. One of the few things I remember about living in Boston is watching the sunsets on the water with my parents." I smiled at the memory and blinked it away quickly. "Craziest thing you got in trouble for?" I asked, swiping my paintbrush across my mug.

"Hmm..." Carson thought for a moment. Chloe, Connor, and I were playing one day, when we were supposed to be getting ready for bed and we were play fighting and tickling each other – stupid kid stuff. Anyways, Chloe hid behind a door, and Connor and I started pushing it, while she's dying of laughter behind it. All of a sudden, the door came flying off its hinges and well, a week of grounding for everyone."

"You ripped a door off the hinges?" I asked, incredulously. Carson nodded and I burst into laughter. "Sounds like a great time." The image of Carson and his siblings as mini versions of themselves, doing something like that made me smile.

"When's your birthday?" Carson asked, rotating his mug.

"April fourth... when's yours?" I replied.

"January thirty-first," Carson said with a smile.

"What?" I almost yelled. As I looked up, I realized that I splattered Carson with pink paint. My mouth fell open in shock. "I'm so, so sorry," I said trying not to laugh.

"That's okay, I'll just... make it even," Carson said painting my nose with his brush. If it was possible, my jaw fell further before a wicked grin spread across my face.

"Well, I'll just do this then," I said, smearing a line from one cheek to the other.

"Oh, you've done it now!" Carson exclaimed dripping his brush in blue. I squealed and got up, but Carson caught me and painted my cheek to my chin. I reached for the pink and managed to rub it across more of Carson's face and neck.

"You look so pretty in pink!" I giggled, dropping the paintbrush onto the plastic and running away.

"You look better in blue," he replied, dropping his brush and dashing after me. Carson chased me around the basement, before managing to corner me. "Come here baby, we're going to make purple."

I burst into laughter and wrapped my arms around his neck, drawing him towards me. Carson gently pressed me against the wall for as our lips mixed pink and blue better than any paintbrush could. When we pulled away, breathless I smiled at him.

"I'm still can't believe you didn't tell me your birthday was in four days," I said, poking Carson's nose. He shrugged sheepishly. "I'm going to make sure it's amazing."

"As long as you're with me, it will be," Carson said kissing me. "You know why?" he mumbled against my lips.

"Why?" I asked, leaning forward, only to be surprised he moved away. He turned up the music suddenly and glanced over at me.

"Because... You're the fire and the flood," he began lip-syncing. "And I'll always feel you in my blood. Everything is fine, when your hand is resting next to mine, next to mine. You're the fire and the flood."

I stood against the wall, grinning like a moron. I had heard the song before on the radio but didn't expect to have the world's sweetest and handsomest guy lip-syncing it to me. It made me feel like my heart was doing a jump rope contest in my chest. Carson danced towards me and pulled my hands.

"You're such a goof," I giggled. I was content to stand back and watch him. The jump rope contest could continue.

"Since we met, I feel a lightness in my step – I know you know this song. Vance Joy," he said pulling me. "Anywhere I go there you are! Come on Mellie."

I wrinkled my nose but let him drag me away from the wall. Before I knew it, we were both jumping around like idiots to the upbeat, song. Carson twirled me in a circle and caught me once again and I laughed.

I always did around Carson. He was the only person who could hold me while I cried like the world was burning around me and still make me feel as everything would be okay. He was the only person who could make my cheeks feel like they would break from smiling so hard and my stomach burn from laughter.

And it scared me. It scared me, because Carson was so amazing. So truly and wonderfully amazing. And I fell for him as if he was gravity, itself. I didn't stand a chance from the moment we crossed paths. He pulled me towards him.

But what if I wasn't good enough for him?

_____________

Author's Note: Hello there friends! I had waaay too much fun writing this chapter.... for some reason you all thought I was going to kill Carson or something?! I'm evil, but not thaaaat evil haha! I did think I'd drag out the fear a bit ;) But! At least I followed up with some really cute cuteness!

I hope you liked this And I hope you liked the music! 

Tell me your thoughts! What do you think Melody is going to do for Carson?

Special shout outs this chapter go to: dark_soul484, Fadingsmile33, Imtrashhbu, Wondxous, innershadows, and aliana_jacqueline for voting! And of course, everyone else who votes, comments, and continues to read and support this book!

Melody's painting!

(I made it myself lol I hope you like it!)