Loneliness had always been a constant within her life, friends having been extremely aloof and a family she felt she never belonged in. Alana was an outcast wherever she went, people finding her different and strange compared to her peers that surrounded her. She was quiet, found no reason to converse with those around her or deal with anything that didn't sit within her own little bubble. She referred to keep to herself, focusing on a book she was reading, her latest art piece, or lost within whatever music had managed to catch her attention that day. 

Her passions were her escape from the everyday tortures that loomed over her everyday. 

Today had been no different, Alana sat in the cafeteria of the high school that she attended, a sketchbook splayed out before her on the table. Colored pencils were nestled neatly within their box, all but a crimson color that was currently being used to add to the drawing. 

Delicate strokes left the remains of soft color, creating the very picture Alana was working on. It was her way of blocking out all the noise other students were creating around the jam packed room. It amazed her, how all those teenagers could make so much noise and the teachers had not once tried to wrangle them in to silence them. 

Then again, she was one of those teenagers, just not as noisy. 

There was nothing that seemed out of the ordinary, nothing that would have drawn Alana's attention. It was why her head remained down and focused on the art piece she had managed to distract herself with. 

Of course, her day was about to change without warning. It was about to change in such a way that would shake her world, throwing her completely off her natural day-to-day course. 

"Hello, is this seat taken?" 

Aside from being spoken to, Alana could see the person standing across from her on the other side of the table. The person's bright blue top becoming quite a distraction, pulling her attention from her artwork and onto them. 

Lifting her head, Alana searched out the reason this person sought out her company. She assumed that it had to be a joke from one of the many cliques sitting at the other tables, to trick her and toy with her for their amusement. No one ever wanted to be around her, the awkwardness she gave off had always pushed people away from her. Her silence unsettled those that made any attempt to interact with her, which was why people kept their distance at all times. It was why she assumed that this was nothing more than a joke suddenly being played on her. 

When no reason was found to either side or around her, Alana lifted her head and turned her gaze to meet with that of the colorful person awaiting her response. 

Alana's ash brown orbs met with teal green, a smile shining ever brightly within them. The warmth of that smile left her body vibrating, the chill she felt around her becoming overwhelmed by the brightness being thrust upon her. That warmth didn't linger only in the girls smile, but it filled her teal eyes, making them sparkle like the teal oceans being hit with the bright sunlight. 

Kindness and indifference mingled within their depths, throwing Alana off, never having seen such emotions shed upon her. The ones that she did feel, that she did see, prickled her skin with a sudden buzz she didn't believe she could, or would ever feel. They were foreign to her, nothing anyone had even given a shard of to her. Alana had always been some part of a prank, joke, the laughing stock of the bunch. Even at home she felt forgotten, like her parents had never really wanted her despite telling people how proud they were of her and couldn't have asked for a better daughter. 

As Alana's eyes continued to roam over the girl before her, they painted across a petite face, framed by her long golden hair. It shimmered brightly within the dim lighting that attempted to illuminate the inside of the cafeteria. The girl's golden glow, however, lit up Alana's world and chased away the darkness she had become so comfortable with. The beauty of its glow practically taking her breath away the longer she took in each detail of the young teen staring at her. . . still waiting to see if she could sit down or not. 

However, it wasn't the glow of the girl's golden hair or the shine of her teal green eyes that had thrown her off the most. No, it was the color that her outfit was filled with that blew her away. 

Bright blue shirt, blue jeans with splatters of numerous colors of neon paint and blinding yellow sneakers had blinded her to nearly everything. It mesmerized Alana, her monotonous colored life of black and white had been washed away by the arrival of this human of every color. She was completely taken by this person, captivated by beauty, light, and color on the highest level. Something that had never happened in all her life. 

Alana hadn't been aware she had been staring so long, her jaw slacked and hanging open as if she were trying to catch flies within it. 

"Um, if it's not okay, I can always go find somewhere else to sit." 

Being snapped out of her awe so suddenly nearly startled Alana. She turned her attention back up and onto the illuminating teal orbs that were staring back at her with a new emotion. . . curiosity. 

"Yeah, sorry, you can sit. I'm Alana, by the way." 

Alana spoke quickly, attempting to quell the sudden awkward moment she ended up creating unintentionally. She could only hope she hadn't ruined her chance to get to know the angel that was now in the process of sitting across from her with her gotten lunch. 

"Thank you, I'm Melody." 

Melody. . . a name so fitting to the young woman. 

Her name rang true to the musical tone that resonated within her voice. Soft, yet angelic, Melody's voice was like a beautiful choir of angels ringing deep within her ears. The very sound illuminated the world around her, brightening colors Alana never knew existed. 

Melody was a breath of fresh air within her stagnant world, a glow that was slowly pulling her out of the thick darkness that grasped hold of her. Where Alana had once been in a perpetual frozen winter, she had found the birth of warm colors and confusing compassion. . . a personal spring in the form of a girl that was sitting before her. 

Without realizing it, Alana had become snared by Melody, her heart captured by the young girl. There was a sudden need to know more about the gorgeous siren sitting before her, the need flooding Alana, threatening to overflow within her. She didn't know that one person's presence could chase away darkness she held within her since she was no more than a child. For the first time ever, Alana wanted to keep someone close by her, to keep away the shadows and allow the color to claim everything she absolutely was. 

Where darkness once dwelled within her, Alana had captured a glimmer of light and refused to let it go. She wanted more, to forever hold onto it and illuminated the shadows that possess her and the world around her. The thought of losing it in any way terrified her, not now that she has had a taste of such a sweetness. . . even if it was just the warm and colorful feelings that swirled within her mind. It was a feeling she was not letting go of. . . no matter what people may say or do.