The pageant
Matt and Melina dated and talked for a few weeks as one night he took her to sonics and Melina always prepared her money and a cell phone. Sonic was like the place where serious or heading to serious couples went to be seen sitting in the car with their dating partner. Melina and him ordered some food and Melina had to use the restroom. Melina literally saw the door right in front of her as he offered to go with her to the bathroom which seemed weird to Melina why he needed to follow her to the bathroom. He had parked too close the the ordering menu and slid out of the pick up truck . When they had came back he had accidentally locked his keys in the truck. Melina stood there as many people watched him trying to open the door before finally using melina's phone to call the local police to help him. They tried to help him jimmy it but the truck was old school fortified. They couldn't get it unlocked . Finally he made one more call to his parents and Melina made a call to her mom as she knew if she didn't tell her what happened her mother would end the date early and she didn't want Matt to know they were sitting across the ways following her. Matt's parents showed up the same time melina's mother drove around as the two stared at each other for a minute. They gave him the spare key to his truck and he spoke to his parents. Then he returned and said one sentence
" hey Melina this never happened okay?"he said in more of a confirmation instead of a embarrassed note. Melina nodded and knew that she wouldn't see him again. The next week at school Matt ghosted her in the hall ways and lunch room. They didn't really socialize with each other like sitting together they usually hung out in drama classes and acknowledged each other in the hallway when he make an excuse to be on the freshman hall. But nothing concrete in public. Melina noticed the strain as they finished up drama class as he sat behind her as he said like it was casual
" hey please don't sign up for the pageant this year if she knows you'll be there she will make me be an escort. " He said as she was confused as he hadn't directly spoken to melina for weeks. Just moved around each other. He didn't know her mom had signed her up for it months prior before them dating. Melina nodded like she understood as she left the class confused . Then whispers erupted and glances made their way through the hallway.
" McNally whore. I swear he knew she open her legs that's why they were seen together " Melina heard as the girls whispered looking at her. Melina never mentioned her dating Matt and they kept it casual no big announcement or big displays. Melina went to her next class as the whispers continued.
" I heard he said she was stiff and didn't really do anything but lay there." Another girl said. " Well you don't have to be good laying on your back ." Said the other girl. Then it clicked in her head who they were speaking about. Melina went to the lunch room as Matt was surrounded by his football friends all laughing when she approached.
" Dude she is coming back for more. Get it man ." Yelled his friend as that was all the confirmation Melina needed to know he was behind the rumors as he didn't try to defend her to his friends.
" I'm sorry hunny he said you were really bad at it. Was it your first time. " Laughed another friend of his as Matt shrugged his shoulders like he was agreeing with their assessment.
" You know that isn't true you didn't touch me. We didn't even kiss . Why would you lie to them ." Melina said now understanding what was going on.
" Am I lying. You are a McNally. Who are they going to believe." He said as he smirked as she knew he was just doing this to save face. Melina narrowed her eyes at the words that he spoke as he was right the Mcnally's did have a sour reputation here and Melina was just the latest edition to this inherited reputation with no fault of her own.
" Well all I have to say if it must have been pretty small for it not to hurt me for the first time. In fact I didn't feel a thing. It was so small I had to ask if it was inside." Said Melina as she knew she could fight it or embrace it .
He was right no one would believe she was innocent and he was lying. So of he was going to lie about her she was going to lie about him too. His friends booed and laughed at the inadequate size of his conquest. Melina watched his face turn mad as she smirked and walked away. If she was getting labeled as a McNally slut he was going to be the tiny dick idiot who couldn't please a McNally. Weeks went by as Melina focused on the pageant as the girls snickered in the room as they all knew about the McNally whore. Melina was feeling terrible about herself as she just wanted all the picking and ridicule to stop. Melina had already started to cut small cuts in her arms as joey caught her and his stare alone was devistating enough as he didn't say a word to her as she fell apart from all the mean things kids said to her as he held her because Melina was too cold to care anymore she was numb just numb. Melina needed to escape as it was a week before her pageant and the voices got louder. Her reputation was ruined and she was powerless to stop it . She was being either told what to do or ridiculed for being alive.
Melina went to the store just getting some Tylenol to ease the pain from her period as she crushed it into powder as she took four pills then she did the same to the midol. Then she found I B profin and crushed them too and some Aleve and crushed them .
The simple feeling of floating made her feel numb enough to not care anymore about life . Paula came over to come and see her mom about something she needed now she was living with Landon her boyfriend. They had a friend name Andy who agreed to go on a date with Melina now she was sixteen . Melina was quiet as Landon noticed her reactions.
" Paula something is wrong with your sister?" He said as he drove Melina to meet Andy his best friend. " She is fine . " Said Paula self absorbed about the observation. Landon looked at Melina in the rear view mirror in concern because she was like a little sister to him and he protected her like a sister.
" Melina how have you been?" He asked when Paula brushed it off as Melina being moody. " I've been better." She replied as she was still numb from all the pills she crushed and swallowed earlier with a glass of orange juice. The pills made her more relaxed and she spoke more freely.
" What is the matter? Is Lara giving you a hard time again." He said concerned knowing the extremes Melina felt with and how it was harder on her since she was the only one left there. " No . It's a boy at school . We went out two times and he told the school I was bad at sex. We didn't even kiss how could I sleep with him." Melina said as she began to feel the pills make her feel more aware.
" What! Who the fuck is this guy?" Said Landon as he looked at Paula as she looked less concerned about her little sisters troubles. " Matt Barnes . His mom is the secretary. We went on two dates and now I'm the McNally whore." Said Melina as the hurt began to deep into her again.
" Barnes yeah I know the punk." Said Landon as he was graduated from the same school two years prior . " It's fine . There is nothing I can do. My reputation is ruined. I deserved it to be honest . We were in two didn't social crowds and I didn't know what I was thinking." Melina said as she remembered crying the night she came home from school when she heard her school call her a whore . Lara didn't do comfort as she tried to cry into her mother's arms wanting solutions and all Lara did was call her sister Paula to set up a blind date so she wouldn't have to explain to her daughter that boys were stupid and immature sometimes.Lara mcnally didn't know how to be sensitive to her daughter's needs.
" No one deserves what he did to you." Said Landon as he was more upset at this revelation.
" It's fine he will be at my pageant. He got to be an escort. So that will be just wonderful." Admitted Melina as the wheels in Landon's head started to move.
" When is your pageant?" He asked .
" Next Friday ." Said Melina as Landon decided that he would just take Melina to the movies instead of meeting Andy as he didn't know why Lara called him was over a boy hurting Melina.
Melina avoided Matt all week during pageant practice as like normal she showed up in her hand made dress that was white with a corset and her mom dropped her off at the mall where they did make up if you bought one of the products. Up to this point Melina completed all natural with no make up . Melina sat in the chair an hour to look like an overdone make up . She looked at the products and decided she would purchase the lipstick when the sales person said it for forty dollars for one tube of lipstick she asked about the other items and found out that was the cheapest item on her face. Melina reluctantly forked over the forty dollars knowing it was that or the hundred dollar facial she just had done. Melina paid for everything as she still had to do her hair herself. Her mother didn't pay for the pageant it all came out of Melina's pay check. Melina stood there in her interview outfit as she still hadn't gotten used to public speaking so she fumbled through the interview section. The was the bathing suit portion as she walked down the stage as she still felt self conscious half naked . Matt stood behind her as she was escorted by a really nice guy that had black hair and blue eyes as he encouraged her she was doing fine. Then the formal dress section came up and Matt grabbed her arm delaying her start delay which he knew would cost her points off her final score. Melina tried to jerk away as he escort went to get help with Matt harassing the situation. Landon , Paula, and mia came in on the back stage waiting area as Landon grabbed Matt as he stumbled down the stairs. Melina's escort came back as he saw Landon and backed up knowing Landon from years prior. " Hey man I was just trying to help her." He said looking nervous. " It's okay man we are good but I would like a word with Barnes here. Make sure Melina gets on stage." Said Landon . The escort made his way and escorted me to the stage as he looked nervous . " I didn't know you knew Landon. Man Barnes is cooked." Said the escort as he looked forward as he released me and exited the stage opposite. Melina knew the beat was off in step as she hurried up to catch up with the beat of the music that she practiced her formal walk . Melina spinned as she saw school security cross the room . She stopped and smiled watching the direction they were running back stage . Melina posed and smiled as more officers came out and screams broke out. Matt came out face full of blood and Landon, mia , and Paula escorted off the perimisis . The pageant stopped as they went to see what was going on . The girls went to the room and an hour delay later it resumed. Melina sat waiting as the girls talked in the room talking about how Matt got jumped by the Landon and the McNally sisters . Melina smiled knowing Landon defended her. Melina finished the pageant with Miss congeniality once again and fourth runner up. Melina was taking photos with her awards as Matt came in and dragged her off to the side of the stage. She looked at him and pulled away. " What the hell Melina you sent you scank ass sisters to have me beat up. I knew you were a stupid little whore." He said as something snapped in Melina. He didn't learn his lesson before Melina realized she kicked him off the stage with her platform heels as he landed in the backstage holding area. Melina hired down the stairs as she buried her heel into his balls as he cried out as she stomped and kicked him as he cried out. The security came back around as the pulled Melina back. " You don't get to call me a whore. I'm not a whore!" Yelled Melina as the other contestants came to see what was the noise as they watched her stomp on him . Matt was so embarrassed not only did he get his butt kicked by the Mcnally's but also Landon . Melina was banned from pageants. Melina didn't care . She got matt back for his lies. The following Monday all the guys who didn't like Matt became melina's band of avengers. They all made jokes they would beat Matt up everyday for the lies he spread against Melina. Melina could have agreed and tortured Matt till graduation but she felt enough was done to him already. Matt graduated looking a little more less confident with a scholarship for science and football. Melina didn't morn his leaving she took it as a sign not to date high school boys again . After his graduation Melina was taking the attendance roll sheet to the office as she always had done. Mrs. Barnes looked at Melina as she knew what happened to her son . No one was in the office as she waited for the attendance paper to be taken. The principal told her to wait as she was short staffed because of graduation. The principal stepped in her office to take a call as Melina stood there not saying a word. " Stupid McNally trash. I'll be glad when you leave this school. My boy should have never been with a whore like you." Said Mrs. Barns as Melina shot her a look. " What did you just say to me?" Said Melina as she knew exactly what was being said . She just wanted to know if she was brave enough to repeat it . The thing about girls is they don't ask you to repeat yourself they want you to say it again to see if they learned there lesson. This woman didn't know Melina like that and she was tired of the prejudices she received because of something her sisters did . " Stupid peice of trash McNally." The woman said as Melina lost her temper and jumped over the desk of the secretary and began to wail on her . Mrs. Barnes screamed for help as Melina punched her over and over as the principal pulled her off as she shoved Melina in her office. " Expell her. She hit a member of school staff." Demanded Mrs Barnes. " I heard what you said to her . I would have kicked your ass too. What were you thinking addressing a minor like that?" Said the principal. " She is a McNally!" Yelled Mrs. Barnes Melina came out at the mention of her name." Yes I am a Mcnally and it must be like deja vu as my mother kicked your ass too for talking about my sister Mia. Don't make me have to repeat history ." Yelled Melina as she jumped at the scorned secretary. " Melina go to my office I will handle this. Do not come out. I will deal with you ." Said the principal. Melina went to the office and sat there for two hours as the principal sent home Mrs. Barnes and she came back with a coca cola and a bag of chips as she handed them to Melina. Melina took them and thanked her principal knowing she was going to be in big trouble. " Since it is the last day of school . You can stay in here and it will be out little secret you got suspended . I won't call your mom so you can stay here for the rest of the day until you go home." Said the princepal as Melina was confused why she wasn't getting punished. " Why are you helping me?" Melina asked knowing her outpurst deserved a punishment. " Because I always wanted to get a few hits in on Mrs Barnes but professionally I couldn't. I saw the whole fight. It was deserved. She didn't need to talk to you like that. " Said the principal with a grin on her face. My last day of freshman year I spent in the principals office eating snacks and listening to music with the blinds closed and the door closed until the buses came to take me home.