Back off (Mel)

Melanie gathered her things that had been strewn about her desk and headed out of her math class. The bell had rung quite some time ago, but she had chosen to stay after for a little while to finish what she'd been working on. School work helped her ignore the things that she didn't want to think about. After that whole weird issue with Caelan and Devan, she had been constantly obsessing over it for days now. In her own world she had completely shut herself off to everyone around her, but externally Melanie appeared as normal and carefree as ever. This too was another way to distract herself, but talking with her classmates hadn't been working lately either. None of them knew the truth about this school, therefore it was difficult to hold a conversation when all she wanted to talk about were how ridiculous hunters were.

Stuffing her books and things in her school bag, Melanie headed out of her class and to her locker to get some money to at least try and find something to eat. She usually didn't have time to make her own lunch, and today had been no difference. She walked into the cafeteria, late of course, and bought herself a pretzel and cheese. Not the healthiest thing on the menu, but she paid little mind to her eating habits now that she was away from her family. She didn't plan on becoming a hunter, so what was the point in trying to take care of her body as if she were some sort of machine?

Eating in the cafeteria, though it usually gave her some form of solice, didn't appear very enticing this afternoon. She avoided the glances of potential students that might ask her to sit down with them, and crept around the outside of the cafeteria until she made her way to the exit. Once there she expelled a relieved sigh, and walked back down the hall to one of her classrooms in hopes of finding one that was actually empty.

Peering into the windows of the classrooms every so often, she noticed a person sitting alone in one of the desks. It was something that she wouldn't have really paid much attention to if not for the fact that the boy's hair, and posture alone were so recognizable. Melanie took a stopped, took a step back, and narrowed her eyes as she tried to see more clearly into the room. Was that..Nate? It was sad that she still couldn't entirely tell the difference between Caelan and his brother, but she didn't think that Caelan was the type to fall asleep in class.

Quietly she opened the door, and entered the room just as silently so as not to disturb the unidentified student. Though once Melanie got closer and realized that it was Nate, her spirits lifted and a small smile appeared in her features. If only he was this mellow when he was awake, she thought to herself as she walked around to the desk nearest him and pulled a chair out from the desk so she could move it to sit across him. She set her things down and cleared her throat before trying to speak, though she was generous enough to speak softly.

"Hey sleepy head. Don't you think a bed would be more comfortable?" She said, reaching over and poking his arm with an index finger.

Melanie leaned away as he grumbled at her, almost surprised to see that he was even waking up. He'd looked so dead a moment ago. If it hadn't been for the noted rise and fall of his chest she would have thought he was in a far worse condition. She leaned back in her chair and watched him rise slowly, a small grin still present in her features -despite the roll of his eyes. This kid had attitude, and she was well aware of that already, but he was tired and she sure as hell wasn't intimidated by him.

She pinched the edge of her paper plate with her fingers, and delicately pulled it closer to herself while he spoke. As she glanced up at him after hearing him crack his back a light frown adorned her expression, curious if he was okay. He sounded like an old man, a lonely old man. Why he didn't like the company of others, even of the positive variety, was a mystery to her. What problem did he have with people he didn't even give the chance to get to know?

"Why do you hate people so much?" She inquired whilst picking up the edge of her pretzel and ripping off a small piece. She reached over and handed it to Nate, or at least gestured for him to take some so he could eat too. He probably needed the energy more than she did.

As he stood up she feared that he was going to storm off and leave, like he had before when they'd first met. Even though Melanie wasn't in the mood for the company of her friends, it didn't mean that she wanted to eat alone. She wouldn't have even come in here to sit with Nate if she'd desired solitude after all. When he didn't walk away though she felt relieved, and lowered her eyes after he took the peace offering from her hand.

Whenever Nate spoke he sounded so angry. Melanie wondered what had ticked him off this time, or if he was just grumpy because he hadn't been sleeping well. It would explain why he was passed out at his desk. She sighed quietly to herself, and reached over to her food to tear the pretzel into smaller pieces. When she'd mistaken him for Caelan before, she hadn't meant it to be some sort of insult. It wasn't her fault that Nate was taking it that way.

"No ones perfect." She retorted, knowing full well that Caelan wasn't either. Melanie didn't want him mistaking her opinions towards his brother. She didn't think that anyone was perfect, regardless of their talents. Caelan wasn't perfect, and neither was Devan or her family. It almost annoyed her that Nate accused her of thinking such things, as if she were some sort of naive child.

She seized her movements and glanced over at Nate briefly as he spoke a second time. She only had a simple answer to his question. It may have been lackluster, but she had very few reasons for being here. "I just wanted to sit here and eat with you." Was that too much to ask? She didn't want anything from him, and it was all the more annoying for him to accuse her of wanting anything else. Though deep down she simply didn't want to admit that she was upset, and didn't want to hang around her friends in the cafeteria that knew nothing about the reality of the school.

"Do you hate me or something?"

Melanie picked up one of the smaller pieces and dipped the end into her small cup of nacho cheese. Once again she was reminded how unhealthy this lunch was just from the look of the cheese alone. She told herself she didn't care, but in the back of her mind she could hear her mother telling her to put it down and pick up a celery stick instead. Melanie wondered then if Nate's parents were the same. Strict, and persistent, from her knowledge most hunter parents were similar. Surely there were some that were different though...

As Nate spoke, Melanie remembered then as well that he had some sort of issue with his brother. She didn't understand why it mattered so much that Devan and Caelan were more skilled then Nate, if that were even true. Who cares if they were or not? They were older after all, and had more experience. It wasn't as if Nate was incompetent, but perhaps he didn't see things that way. At any rate she didn't like the way he spoke of himself, or her.

She could never hate anybody, but Nate didn't seem to have any problem disliking her. Even if he didn't hate her, he certainly contradicted himself by admitting that he hated everyone. Melanie didn't believe that she was some miraculous exception. Honestly it sort of made her feel...sad. Her expression showed that as she chewed her food and swallowed sullenly. She didn't look up at him, but she felt the need to say something.

"I wouldn't cut you down." Didn't he think that it was rude to even accuse her of potentially doing such a thing? Melanie thought she should feel offended, but it still just made her upset. "You should really pick one or the other. You can't say you hate everyone, then say you don't hate me. You don't have to sugar coat anything for me...if you really hate everyone so much then you might as well tell me to my face you hate me too." Melanie muttered, though in her last words her voice wavered. It was as if she were about to cry but she had no idea why or what from.