*Melody*

It took an extra two more days until I was finally released from the hospital.

Due to discovering that my immune system is very weak, the doctor wanted to make sure I was 100% alright for me to be back on my feet.

I had changed into clothes Alice bought me as my father signed me out, and me and Alice got my things ready.

"As nice as the staff is here, I'm glad we're leaving this hospital," I said as I closed my bag.

"Yeah, it can get very gloomy here," Alice said. "But, I'm glad you're feeling a lot better."

"Thank you," I smiled as then Uncle CC stomped in and face planted into the bed, groaning into the pillow

"What's wrong?" I asked, lifting up one of the locks of his hair to see his face a little better.

"Andy and Juliet again," he said.

Alice sighed. "Those two always argue, now on the day of Melody's release from the hospital they have to go at it again?"

"Is it always like this?" I asked curiously.

"Usually," Alice sighed. "Juliet, she ummm... let's just say she prefers doing certain things in her way more than others."

"Oh," I nodded.

"That's just putting it nicely," Uncle CC said.

"I'm sure there's still something nice about her somewhere," I shrugged. "Maybe her behavior has reasons. Some of the girls in the orphanage I was in were always bossy and rude to others because they felt rejected or lonely."

"You're right, love," Alice smiled as she held my hands. "Maybe she does have reasons."

I smiled back at her. "May I go see if my father is done, please?"

"Of course, love. I'll finish off here," Alice said as she stood up.

"Oh, Mini Jinxx, by the way, Jake bought you some food to eat on the way," Uncle CC said.

"Alright. Thank you, Uncle CC," I smiled before hurrying out.

*Jinxx*

"And right here," the nurse said, pointing at me on the papers where to sign.

I continued to sign when I suddenly felt someone holding my arm and turned to be met with a pair of familiar blue eyes.

"Hey there," I greeted as she looked up at me with a smile. "Finished packing?"

"Almost done," she smiled up at me.

"Awesome," I smiled as I finished and then the nurse handed me a white paper bag.

"These are the special Epinephrine pens Melody would need in case this were to ever happen again, however if she is bitten by a spider identified as poisonous, you have to get her to a hospital as soon as possible," the nurse said. "Be sure to follow the instructions."

"Thank you so much," I smiled as I took the bag.

"And thank you very much for taking care of me while I was here," Melody said.

"You're very welcome, honey. You all take care now, you hear?" the nurse smiled kindly.

"You too. Thanks so much again," Father said s we waved goodbye and went to get my things.

Once we got everything, we walked to teh waiting room where we saw that the others waited, but Andy and Juliet were bickering.... Again.

"Look we are here because Jinxx asked us, alright?" Andy asked.

"We had something to do, its not mandatory!" Juliet snaped.

"But its polite!" Andy argued back.

Fantastic. Note my sarcasm.

"THERE SHE IS! THANK FUCKING GOD!!" Ashley exclaimed as soon as he saw us, interrupting the argument as he ran up and pulled Melody into a hug. "So glad you are well, Mini Jinxx, and that everything can be PEACEFUL once again!"

"Ummm, thank you?" Melody said with a slight laugh as she looked up at Ashley.

"No, but seriously, we're all actually glad you're okay now," he said.

"That is definitely true," Jake smiled.

"Now, let's get going home," I said, then we noticed Andy and Juliet still looking upset, only Juliet looked more angered.

Melody then walked up to her.

"You know, Miss Juliet, you shouldn't be so angry all the time. Its not really healthy for you," Melody said calmly to Juliet, who looked at her with confusion. "Also... If you continue being this grouchy all the time..... You'll get more of those lines you have on your forehead and eyes."

Ashley and CC almost spat out their drinks as we stared in shock and Melody turned towards the entrance of the hospital and gasped in surprised.

"Are those my friends?" She asked as she curiously ran off to where I noticed her classmates stood outside.

"Wow," Tiffany snickered as Juliet was turning red with anger and trying to control her breathing while we walked out to see Melody being hugged by Tahlia as the others stood around with balloons, stuffed animals

"Thank god you're okay!" Tahlia smiled as the two best friends hugged and then Melody got pulled into a hug by Aylin, followed by Rupert, the twins, Holly, Julio, Elias, and Evan.

"You all came?" Melody giggled as she stood there and Stella gave her a flower bouquet.

"One of our friends almost died from a black widow bite, and lived to tell the tale. Why wouldn't we be here?" Elias said.

"We're just glad you're okay now, Melody," Aylin said.

"We were so worried," the twins exclaimed.

"I'm sorry for making everyone worry. But I'm all better now," Melody assured as she and Tahlia hugged again.

"We're glad you are," Julio said. "That must have been scary to go through that."

"A bit," I shrugged.

"Alright, kids, let's get going home with Melody so we can all celebrate her coming back home," Alice said, and with excitement everyone went to the cars, Melody and Tahlia going ahead with Alice to my car as we all left.

***

"So, you even had a seizure?" Tahlia asked as we stayed in my room.

After the little party we had, everyone went home and Tahlia was sleeping over.

"Yeah, by what I'm told, I started to seize because of how severe my allergies to the bite was. Also, since the spider was a poisonous spider, it just made it all worse," I said.

"How ironic, though, that you have such a fascination for spiders and yet your allergic to their bites," She said.

"Yeah. Never really been bitten by one before. Guess it shows how funny the universe can be," I said.

Tahlia nodded before coming up to me and then pulling me into a hug, surprising me.

"I'm just glad you're okay," She said. "I don't know what I would have done if you died or something."

I smiled and hugged her back tightly. "I'm glad I'm here, too. You're my very first true friend, and I'm so glad I met you."

Her hold grew tighter, yet she was careful with me.

Her hug felt warm and nice.....

We were soon interrupted as then there was a knock on the door and we pulled back.

"Come in," I said, and saw it was my father.

"Hey girls, sorry for barging in. Just wanted to ask if I could speak with Melody for a moment?" he asked.

"Yeah, sure, I'm just gonna go brush my teeth," Tahlia said in an almost bashful tone.

I walked outside and followed my father to the living room where we sat on the couch.

"Is everything alright?" I asked.

He sighed as he opened his arms at me, meaning he wanted a hug.

I smiled and moved over, hugging him as he held me.

"We may not have been in each other's lives for a long, long time," he said. "But if I lose you, I don't know how I would be able to handle it."

I frowned and looked up at him. 

"You're still my daughter.... I wish I was there for you your whole life, saved you from that orphanage your mother left you in...." he said.

"You didn't know about me, though," I said. "My mother never contacted you until that day. But that's alright. We still found each other."

He sighed. "I just wish it wasn't that way."

I tried to think of something to say, but not much came to mind.

"You know, if... If it makes you feel any better," I said. "All the foster homes I've been to weren't bad homes."

He looked up.

"There were one or two questionable ones, but the families never hit me or hurt me or anything. They were mostly just neglectful," I shrugged. "But I managed on my own with them until I was taken from that specific home. But I was still taken care of. So.... Don't be upset that I was still on my own, okay?"

He looked at me.

"After all, you are still my father, and I'm still your daughter," I smiled. "You found me, and we don't have to live our lives apart anymore "

He smiled and pulled me into another hug. "I'm glad I did find you," he said.

"I love you, Father," I said.

"I love you, too my little violinist," he said, kissing the top of your head. "Now, go get some rest."

"Alright. Good night," I said, kissing his cheek before leaving the room, getting a 'good night' from him as I went back, seeing Tahlia already in bed.

"Hey. What did your dad want?" She asked curiously.

I smiled and shook my head. "I'll tell you in the morning."

She looked at me with furrowed brows, but then shrugged as I was going to bed, but hen I stopped and looked at my hand.

The spider bite was mearly two tiny scabs at this point.

"Melody?" Tahlia asked.

I sighed. "What if I didn't survive?" I frowned. "Imagine it... I had finally found my father but a few months later I die from a spider bite.... What would have happened to my father?"

"Hey," Tahlia frowned as she walked over and held my hand. "Don't talk like that. If you didn't survive, we'd all be miserable. I'm most positive your dad would have had a mental breakdown or something."

I frowned and looked down as Tahlia then pulled me into a hug.

"You're an amazing person, Melody. A world without you now just looks all dark and pointless," she said.

I couldn't help but smile and hug Tahlia. "Thanks.... Do you forgive me for saying something like that?"

She chuckled. "Of course. Now, let's get to bed."

I pursed my lips and held her hand.

"Stay by my side tonight, please?" I asked.

Tahlia smiled and nodded as we then crawled into my bed next to each other, pulling

"Hey Melody?" Tahlia asked.

"Yeah?" I asked.

She was quiet. "Nevermind... I'm just glad you're okay," she said.

I smiled as she happily looked at me. "Thank you, Tahlia."

"Good night," she yawned as I turned off the lights.

"Good night," I said as I got comfortable before falling asleep.

I'm glad things are okay now.

~~~~~

Almost ran out of ideas for this chapter. Feeling like crap lately. 😕

Next chapter is a time jump!

🎼Currently in Sapph's playlist:

New Order "Ultraviolence"

https://youtu.be/oS0808hHshM

♡~ sapphire.