When The Seasons Change. [closed]

Melissa prided herself on being able to blend into the background of any setting with ease, especially considering just how crazy she looked to most of the people around her. During all of her school years, she was able to just slide by without having much attention from students and teachers alike. And that's how she liked it. She abhorred going to school, wasting what she felt like was an insane amount of time learning things she didn't care to know. The last thing she wanted to do was have to entertain others at the same time.

The only people who ever struck Mel's attention was a group of boys that had been deemed degenerates by seemingly the whole school. They were the guys who smoked outside of gym, were constantly interrupting class, always late, dressed in black- you get the picture. And they didn't get Mel's attention because she liked them, but rather because they got on her nerves.

She shared a few classes with a couple of them, and they always seemed to just make the day drag on longer. Zacky and Johnny had on more than a handful of occasions, made numerous teachers hold the class up because they wouldn't stop disrupting.

Not to mention they acted like the whole world owed them something.

On her walk home from school, she rolled her eyes when she saw two of them leaning up against a fence, smoking their lives away. A large cloud of smoke was rolling above their heads and the closer she got she could make out it was Zacky and Johnny. They seemed inseparable. Mel tried to just duck her head down and make her way past, like she usually did, trying to remain unnoticed.

---

Brian hunched his shoulders in relief when the school bell rang. He was hunkered down by his locker, skipping his last class, but he had been waiting for the bell because he had already been caught twice this week trying to bail out of school early, and he didn't feel like dealing with the hassle today. He looked down the hall as multiple class door opens and students just started to pour out, all of them excited to finally be going home.

His eyes scanned down the corridor until they fell on a girl with black and blue hair, Zandra was kind of hard to miss, even if she thought she managed to roll on by like she was invisible to most. Brian had always thought she was attractive, and she was his style... The opportunity just never arose for him to strike up a conversation with her,... that was until yesterday at lunch when a bunch of his friends had been talking about the shy girls of the school.

A bet had been proposed, to try and get a couple of them into their beds, and Brian was planning on starting with Zandra. He waited for her to pass his locker, before he slipped into the stream of bodies behind her, following her out of the front doors of the school.

"Hey, your name is Zandra, right?" He asked, quickening in his pace until he was right next to her. He pulled a pack of cigarettes out of his pocket and lit on up, before bringing it up to his lips. "Why are you always by yourself?" He teased her.

Zandra had always been kind of an outcast. For most of her school career she remembered trying to make friends, but once she hit high school she gave up on everyone. She didn't care around them anymore. People sucked and it was as simpled as that. Instead of trying to socialize Zandra began to focus on her school work and some art work that she did on occasion.

Zandra was so glad when she finally heard the last bell of the day. She walked to her locker, shoving what she needed into her bag before she made her way down the hallway. She weaved her way through the obnoxious people and made her way to the front door. She began putting in her headphones, but was stopped by a voice near her. She looked over seeing Brian. She knew his name, but she didn't know much about him. She just knew that he was considered the bad boy of the school and all the teachers hated his guts. She sighed when he asked why she was always alone, "Because humans are disgusting creatures." She replied as she walked down the sidewalk that led to her house. "Why do you hang out with people?" She countered. She had a feeling that he wasn't going to be going away anytime soon. Especially with the way he was walking beside of her.

---

Zacky had spent most of the day bragging to Johnny about how he was going to get with. Melissa. He stood on the sidewalk, smoking a cigarette when he seen her walking towards him. He knew she would be an easier target because she was quiet and he knew she didn't go after any guys. "Watch and learn." He said to Johnny as he put his cigarette out. He moved in front of her, "Hey. Melissa right?" He asked her. He noticed she had nobody with her, "Don't you have friends?" He asked her. He had realized that he never really seen anyone around her. "I don't mean that in a bad way. I just never see you hanging out with anyone." He said, smiling at little. "Don't you like anyone at our school?" He asked. He knew that he didn't like a lot of the people so he understood if she didn't. He looked over at Johnny who had walked away so that they were alone. He was hoping that he could get her to start talking to him, noticing the poetry book in her hand, "You like poetry?" He asked her.

@ dance macabre

Brian raised an eyebrow, a little surprised by her answer. "Well... aren't we a little cynical?" He asked, letting out a little lighthearted laugh. He just ignored her own question, knowing she probably didn't care for an answer, and also, she was probably just trying to be a smart ass anyway. Brian liked it. "C'mon now, don't be like that." He smiled, continuing to follow her down the sidewalk. He didn't care if he trailed her all the way to her house. Brian was used to walking and if he wanted a ride, all he had to do was call up one of his friends. And if he walked her home, then he'd know where she lived and he could drop by anytime he wanted to.

"I just wanted to know why I never see you talk to anyone. Everyone has to have at least one friend." He smiled as he lit his cigarette and placed it to his lips, taking a long slow drag off of it. He held the smoke in his lungs for a few seconds, before breathing it out his nose. A gray cloud blew up in front of his face as he sighed, just happy to finally be out of that hell hole of a school. "I could be your friend." He smiled down at her, as he matched her stride.

---

Melissa looked up at Zacky, and slouched her shoulders, annoyed she wasn't able to just get by him without being stopped, but now that he was asking her one hundred questions, it was even worse. She watched as his friend began to walk away and she stiffened up, wondering what this was about. "I don't want to hang out with anyone." Melissa answered, her eyes shifting back to meet Zacky's. "I don't know anyone at our school to like them and yes, I like poetry."

Melissa realized she was probably coming off a bit cold, but she was skeptical of Zacky's intentions. He had never talked to her before, so why would he be now? His reputation as a bad boy preceded him, so that was enough for Mel to be more than suspicious of him. She had always been a little intrigued by the dark, edgy bad boys that she went to school with, but that was always from a far. She didn't want to get tangled up in any of their trouble. "Why are you talking to me anyways?" She asked, chewing on the inside of her cheek.

@ Gunslinger;

Zandra sighed as he kept asking about friends. She stopped and looked at him. "Look, I don't have friends. I don't want them." She said. "If I wanted a friend, I would have one." She said as she looked up at him. "Why exactly did you decide to talk to me today?" She asked him. "Pretty sure we have went to the same school for years and you just now decided to show me some interest? That is a little odd don't you think?" She asked as she started walking again. She felt him beside her again. She knew that he wasn't going to give up. She ran her fingers through her hair as they walked and stopped when she got to a local coffee shop. She opened the door, letting him come in behind her. She walked to the counter and ordered a latte before she walked to her usual table and sat down. She looked at him as he sat in front of her, "You aren't giving up are you?" She asked him.

---

Zacky chuckled when she asked about why he was talking to her. "Well, I have been thinking about talking to you for awhile, but I just figured out what to say to you today." He said, smiling a little. "I know, I'm lame." He said, shrugging. "Who are your favorite poets?" He asked so that he could change the subject. He decided to walk with her, knowing that she was heading home. He always wondered why she didn't have friend. She seemed like a nice person from what he could see. Zacky walked with her, "I was just wondering, do you like concerts?" He asked her. Zacky knew that if he invited her to do stuff then she might start to like him a little.

@ dance macabre

Brian decided not to answer her question about it being a little odd that he all of a sudden decided to talk to her. Even though it was abrupt, he didn't necessarily think it was odd. He trailed Zandra to wherever she was going, just taking long puffs on his cigarette.

Once he sat down in front of her at the table in the coffee shop, he looked up at her when she asked him another question. "No." He gave her a friendly smile, opening the water bottle he had bought. Taking a drink, he let his eyes glance over her. Brian could tell he was making her uncomfortable, but he hoped that wouldn't last long. "I know you might think this is weird, that I just decided to talk to you out of nowhere, but I know no one likes being lonely, no matter what you tell me." He shrugged, "I want to be your friend."

---

Mel sighed, moving her book to her other hand as she continued down the sidewalk. "Yeah, I like concerts." Mel didn't like being asked one hundred questions, so that was all she was going to answer. She looked up at Zacky and chewed on the inside of her lip, "Why do you ask?" She was a little concerned with why Zacky was trying to be her friend now, it seemed so weird... They had been going to the same school for years, Melissa had noticed Zacky multiple, multiple times during their high school career, and now he was trying to talk to her? It was weird.

Zandra looked at him, "No, you, like every other guy at out school want to get in my pants. You don't want to be my friend." She said as she took a sip of her latte. She looked at him when he seemed surprised, "Don't be shocked that I know your plan. You aren't the first guy who claimed that he wanted to be my friend." She said, frowning. She didn't like tot hink about the men who thought it was okay to use her.

---

Zacky smiled, "Well, why don't you come to one of our gigs this friday. I think you would really like it. I would tell you to bring your friends, but it appears I am your only friend." He teased her. He hoped she would agree to come because he wanted her to see him play. He was sure he could win her over with his skills. He looked at her, "Well, what do you say?" He asked.

@ dance macabre

Brian frowned, his shoulders hunching forward slightly as he twisted his water bottle around in his hands. If she wanted to play like that, Brian would too. He shrugged, relaxing back in his chair, "I dont really care about getting in your pants, I have the girls in school knocking at my door, and older women from our shows at the bars downtown." He shrugged. "Sorry, I thought you were different... and pretty, too, but I'll leave you to your coffee." He smiled.

Standing up, he pulled out a ten dollar bill and dropped it on the table to pay for their drinks. Brian had no real intention of this being their last encounter, but if she wanted to play hard to get, he'd let her. He pulled his pack of cigarettes from his pocket as he walked out of the coffee shop.

---

Mel wasn't surprised to learn him and his friends were in a band together, they had the perfect look for it. She shrugged, before turning to look up at him, "Hey, I got friends." She defended herself before looking away again, not wanting to have to explain herself. "Maybe, if I can, if I want to...." She shrugged, continuing down the sidewalk. Mel was getting a strange feeling from Zacky, like he had some underlying motive.

Zandra sighed as he walked out and leaned back against her chair. She bit her bottom lip lightly, feeling good since she got rid of him. She didn't need some guy hurting her. She finished her coffee then grabbed her stuff. She had to work this evening so she wanted to go home and get ready. She got home and got dressed then headed to the record shop she worked at. She walked in and set her stuff down before she clocked in and sat behind the counter. Zandra sighed as she began to draw on her sketch pad she had since no one was in there right now.

---

Zacky smiled, "Well if you decide to come I am sure you will really like it. He walked her to her home and looked at her. "I will talk to you later." He said. He walked away from her then headed over to Matt's place. He walked in and sighed, "Damn that was rough. she really doesnt like me I dont think." He told the guys as he sat down.

@ dance macabre

@ Gunslinger;

Brian ended up heading to Matts after leaving the coffee shop, knowing that was where all the other guys would end up too. Matts house was like the hub for their group, because his parents were gone most of the time and most importantly, didn't give it a shit.

The boys looked up when Brian came stumbling in. He grabbed a beer out of the fridge and leaned against the arch way into the living room and raised his eyebrows, wondering why everyone was looking at him.

"Did your attempt go better than Zackys?" Matt laughed.

"I guess not." Brian chuckled.

---

Mel sighed when she was finally rid of Zacky. She couldn't deny that she did like the company on her walk home, but she knew nothing he said was sincere, and there had to be an underlying motive. He wanted something from her, most likely sex and she didn't want to just be another notch in his belt.

Going inside, she had a quick snack and [url=https://www.pinterest.com/pin/289285976050303498/]changed before heading to her part time job at the local record store. When she walked inside, she waved at Zandra and dropped her bag behind the counter. They didn't talk a lot in school, but she liked to chalk that up to they didn't have any classes together. "Anything interesting going on?"

Zacky looked at Brian, "Yea they are really difficult." He said, taking a swig of his beer. He looked over as Johnny mentioned something about them working downtown. "We could always go bug them there." He said, looking at Brian. He wondered if his friend was up for it.

---

Zandra looked at her, "Eh, it's been kind of slow." She said, shrugging. She flipped through the magazine in front of her, "Anything interesting happen with you today?" She asked. She did like talking to Mel. She was nice and they got along really well. She a few people came in and made purchases, but Zandra looked over, seeing Brian and his friend come in. "Great " She muttered to herself, looking back at her magazine. She wanted to ignore him if she could.

@ dance macabre

@ Gunslinger;

Brian smirked, "That old record shop? I'm down." Standing up, Brian stretched and left his beer sitting on the table. "Let me run and take a quick shower." Brian didnt think anything of it, but he wanted to make sure he didn't smell like beer and cigarettes when he went to her work. He didn't know why he cared.

He came out of the shower about fifteen minutes later in some black jeans, and a dark gray t shirt with the sleeves ripped off. He pulled on his leather jacket and grabbed his keys. "Zack?" He called when he was at the front door.

The two arrived at the record shop and went in, Brian looked around, enjoying the smell the old vinyls seemed to give off. He saw Zandra and her friend at the register and he just smirked when she seemed to try and hide behind her magazine. "Hey, girls!" He called as he walked in deeper into the store.

---

Mel frowned when she looked up, hearing the bell of the door. She was just about to tell Zandra about her weird encounter with a Zacky, but speak of the devil... here he was.

"Great..." Mel frowned and turned around, she didn't realize Zandra also wanted to avoid Zacky. "I think I'll start cleaning out the back room....." Mel said as she headed into the back. The door was right behind their counter and she left it open.

Zandra sighed as he spoke to them, "Hi." she said, before she went back to her magazine. She knew he wasn't here for the records because he never came in here before. She bit her bottom lip lightly as she flipped to the next page, trying to avoid him. Though it seemed impossible when she realized the tattooed arms that rested on the counter in front of her. She looked up at him, "What?" She asked, watching him. She didn't feel like having this conversation with him, but she didn't know if it was going to go well or not. He seemed really determined to talk to her and it bothered her. She glanced over as his friends looked through some of the stuff before joining them.

---

Zacky walked into the store, seeing that Mel went to the back. She was really good at playing hard to get. He looked through a few things then leaned against the counter as Brian spoke to Zandra. He knew that Mel could only hide in the back for so long. He glanced over as she walked out, "I wasn't aware that I was so bad you had to hide." He teased her, smirking slightly. He looked at Brian, "I understand if Zandra hides from this asshole though." He teased his friend.

@ dance macabre

@ Gunslinger;

Brian leaned himself on the counter, letting his arms lay crossed on the counter in front of her. "Is that magazine just really interesting or are you trying to hide behind it?" He put on a fake pout to seem saddened. "Zacky knew you worked here... just wanted to drop by and say hi." A small smile replaced the pout on his face. "How long have you worked here?"

---

Mel could hear from the back that the other guy seemed to be bothering Zandra just like Zacky was bothering her, and it made her feel bad to be hiding in the back, leaving Zandra to drown on her own. Coming out, she met Zackys eyes and sighed. "Was walking me home not enough time spent together today?" She teased him right back.

Zandra looked at him, "Depends on what you find interesting." She said, before seeing Mel come out. She watched Brian for a moment, "A few months." She told him. She didn't like that he now knew where she worked. That meant he was just going to pop in and see her whenever he felt like it. "Shouldn't you be doing something?" She asked him. "I'm sure you have better things to do than stare at me for hours." She said.

---

Zacky smirked, "I don't think I will ever get enough of you." He teased her, seeing her blush. He knew that she was shy and he liked that he could mess with her. He had to remind himself not to be too harsh though because he was on a mission. Mel was very fragile so he was going to take his time and try not to be a blunt as he would be with someone else.

@ dance macabre

@ Gunslinger;
Brian shook his head, "What could be better than looking at something so pretty?" Brian knew getting into her world was going to be a feat and a half. It was going to be tough, but he hoped he could swing it. The reward at the end would be worth all the trouble. "What time do you get off?" He smiled.

---

Mel couldn't help the blush that rose to her face. Zacky was making her stomach feel like it was all tied up in knots, and she didn't like it. She leaned back against the counter and frowned, "Use that line often?" She asked, trying to be as snarky as possible. She didn't understand why he wasn't getting the hint.

Zandra looked at him, "I'm here til close and i'm sure you will have found someone else to bother by then." She said, smiling at him. She liked the idea of messing with Brian though. He seemed so determined and something about messing with him made her interested. Zandra ran her fingers through her hair as she looked back down at her magazine. She sighed as she felt Brian still staring at her, "What?" She asked, looking at him.

---

Zacky chuckled, "Nah I have ones better than that." He teased her. He could tell that she was just trying to get him to leave. He wasn't going to give up that easily though. He knew exactly how to play this. he had dealt with difficult women before.

@ dance macabre

@ Gunslinger;

"Mmm, I don't think I will." He told her, smiling. "I mean, it's already 7... this place closes at...9? 10? I can wait around. Maybe I can get you some dinner?" He offered, even though he knew surely she would shoot him down. He was expecting it, but he'd keep trying.

---

"Aw, well, thanks for using the mediocre one on me." Mel gave him a shitty grin and ran her hands through her hair. "I have work to do, so..." Mel picked up some records on the back counter and started to walk off to put them where they go.

Zandra looked at him, "9." She said, hearing him offer dinner. "Sure, but you have to take Mel too." She said, seeing the girl shoot her a glare from where she was in in the store. "We want pizza." She said, looking between the guys. She figured a free meal was the best that could come from this little encounter.

---

Zacky smirked when Zandra invited Mel to go with them, "Sounds like a plan." He said. He was sure that she was just playing Brian, but he would get to spend more time with Mel so that worked out for him. He looked at Mel who didn't look happy. "You aren't going to send your friend alone are you?" He teased her.

@ dance macabre