Chapter Text
Mels knows what that warm feeling is now: Love. Unfortunately, her best mate doesn’t seem to return it. She’s dancing with him to this stupid love song. Swaying to the music and laughing as he steps on her toes and twirls her around. Mels growls, watching them, a drink clutched in her fingers. Usually she’d take any chance to get her hands on alcohol, but tonight she’s far more concerned that she’ll crack the glass with how tight she’s gripping it. Bitter jealousy sizzling beneath her skin.
“Mels!” A familiar Scottish shout makes her jump, jerking her out of her thoughts to where her Mum, sorry, Amy, is standing besides her, arms crossed. She has an eyebrow raised, a frustrated frown etched across her features.
Mels has no clue why, it was only last week that she and Rory had finally realized they’ve been head over heels for each other this whole time. She should be with him, kissing, flirting, celebrating their new relationship. Not bothering Mels as she contemplates killing the stupid ape that somehow managed to score her Rose.
“What?” She groans, refusing to take her eyes off the “couple” for more than a millisecond.
“What do you mean ‘what’? You’re my best friend. I need my wing-woman here!”
Mels rolls her eyes at the irony of it. Of course she has to be the one to get her parents together. Not tonight though, tonight she’d much rather focus on her own love life thank you very much. She takes a sip of her drink, an apple cocktail of some sort, and turns to glower at her mum. “So? He’s your boyfriend now. Go snog him or something. He’s been head over heels for you forever, I doubt he’ll mind.”
“Urgh, you’re so useless.” Amy moans dramatically, and all Melody can think is “Yes, yes I am, thanks for noticing.”
“Sure am, now shoo.” She glares, biting her lip as that ape leads Rose deeper into the crowd.
“Oh, I see what’s happening here.” Her Mum announces, making her hearts drop into her stomach. Why can't she just leave her alone? “You like him.”
“Like who?” Mels asks, turning to face Amy who has the smuggest grin possible painted across her face.
“Oh you know, Jimmy Stone. The one your Londoner friend has been dancing with all night.”
Melody tries not to gag, throwing up a little in her mouth “No! Why would I like him?”
Amy shrugs. “Well, you have always loved a bad boy, and what else could it be ‘cause you’re clearly jealous. See ya!” She waves halfheartedly, waltzing off to find Rory in the chaos of the club.
“Well, maybe it’s not him I like.” Mels curses under her breath, setting her drink down on the table beside her. She won't be needing it anyway, not if she can have just one dance with Rose.
Jealousy writhes like a snake under her skin as she weaves through the crowd, finally catching up to where Jimmy Stone has her best mate pinned between his lips and the wall. She growls, rage blossoming within her as she sees how Rose is struggling against his grip, clearly pained by his hands on her wrists.
Melody’s pace quickens and she reaches them in an instant, pulling the ape off Rose in a single fluid movement, kneeing him in the crotch without hesitation. A sickly satisfied smile spreads across her face as he falls to the floor with a pained shout, calling her names with every breath he gets out.
“Mels!” Rose’s voice draws her attention, turning her around to face her friend.
“Are you alright?” She scans the girl, a small flutter of arousal joining with the fury enveloping her. Rose seems mostly unharmed, panting, red marks painting her wrists from where Jimmy was holding them. Her rosey pink dress clings to her petite frame just as it did when they arrived, now soaked with sweat from dancing, strands of her golden hair sticking elegantly to her blush and lip gloss as she gasps for breath.
“What was that for?” Rose demands, the fear in her eyes refusing to retreat.
“He was assaulting you.” Melody explains calmly, biting her tongue to keep from yelling. “Come on, let's get you some ice.”
Reluctantly, Rose nods, allowing Melody to put an arm around her shoulder and guide her away, relaxing slightly into Mels’ side as they walk away.
“You bitch!” Jimmy hisses from behind him, and Mels can feel how Rose freezes at the insult. “I’ll beat the shit out of you if you interrupt us again, ya hear? She’s my girlfriend not yours, you ******!”
Mellody winces at the slur, turning to shoot the ape a dark smirk, a dangerous gleam flashing in her eyes. “I’d like to see you try.”
The walk back to Rose’s flat passes in silence, with Mellody scanning every alley for anyone who might think of them as easy prey. Rose may be vulnerable in her current state, but Melody won't let anything happen to her. Never.
The door clicks open as Rose twists her key in the lock, glancing at Mells. “Do ya wanna come in for a bit? Mum’s gone to see Jamie across the way so she likely won't be back ‘till morning at least.”
Mells nods slowly, locking the door as she follows her friend inside.
“So, what do you want? Hot chocolate?” Rose asks, making her way to the kitchen counter.
“Water.” Mels corrects, nudging Rose into a chair as she fills a glass for each of them. They may not have drunk that much but the last thing either of them need is a hangover.
She sets a glass down in front of Rose before sitting in the chair across from her friend, her teeth grinding together at the sight of the slowly growing bags under her eyes and the bruises growing darker on her wrists.
“So, he’s a piece of work.” Mels starts, taking a sip of water before crossing her arms over her chest.
Rose shakes her head, refusing to touch her water. “It was fine, I had it under control.”
“Oh, did you? So that’s why you seemed like you definitely didn’t want him kissing you?” Mels snarks, her hearts fluttering in her chest at Rose’s flinch from across the table.
“Jimmy was right, he’s my boyfriend. He gets to kiss me.”
“Sure, but only when you want him to.” Mels agrees, raising an eyebrow. “The way he spoke to me, does he talk to you like that often?” She knows he does, if only from the way Rose stiffened at the words. It makes her blood boil that anyone would speak to Rose that way.
Rose shakes her head, fingers tapping anxiously against her glass. “No, it's fine really, we’re fine. Jimmy’s really nice, he just had a bit too much to drink is all. Actually, I’m thinking of moving in with him, you know? Dropping out of school too. I know I’m not smart enough for A-Levels anyway, but maybe I could get by with ‘im.”
“Are you serious?” Mels demands, the absurdity of the situation ramming into her like a train at top speed. “You’re thinking of giving up your education? Your future? For an asshole like him?”
“He is not an asshole!” Rose leaps to her feet, standing over Mels with fire in her eyes.
“Yeah, he is!” She shouts, shooting to her feet to meet Rose’s furious gaze. “He assaulted you today! He verbally abuses you, he’s clearly running you ragged; what if it gets worse? And you, Rose Tyler, are one of the smartest people I know and don't you dare forget it.”
“I guess you must not know that many people then.” Rose shoots back, causing Mels to stumble over her words. Rose believes this. She really, truly, believes this. The most wonderful woman in the world and she thinks she’s the bottom of the barrel.
“You really think that, don't you?” Mels murmurs, her voice growing quiet. “You think you’re stupid.”
“Yeah…” Rose hugs herself, shivering slightly. “I’m just some chav off the estates. I’m glad Jimmy wants me. It’s not like I could do much better.”
Mells blinks, her hearts pounding. “Yeah! You could!”
“Like who?”
“Like me!”
Mels pauses, catching her breath as Rose stares at her, the cool night air biting at both of them. “You?” Rose asks, breathless. “You… like me.”
Melody nods, speaking softly. “Yeah, I do, I really, really do. I know I’m crazy and I’m an alien and all that, but I love you. Definitely more than him.” She snorts. “Isn’t that good enough? Someone who actually loves you?”
Slowly, Rose makes her way around the table, stopping when she and Melody are barely an inch apart. “Yeah, maybe.”
Melody gnaws on her lip, the warmth that sprouted so many lonely nights ago melting away the fear lodged in her chest. She cups Rose’s cheek in a gentle palm, her eyes pleading. “May I?”
She could never have been ready for how good it feels when Rose’s lips close on hers, the taste of cherry lip gloss and alcohol flooding her senses. She presses closer, pouring everything, all that warmth, all those happy days and nights full of yearning into the kiss. Rose moans into her mouth, and Mels can feel the giddiness deep within her. She makes Rose happy, she can make people happy.
And the euphoria doesn’t leave, even as Rose pulls away abashedly and rushes her out the door. Because she can make people happy, she can be good! She doesn’t have to be a killer…
Mels sighs joyfully as the door clicks shut behind her. She loves Rose Tyler, and maybe she can't get her away from that awful ape today; but she will. She’s Melody Pond, and she created herself.
“Oh you silly girl.” A sick drawl yanks her back to reality to see the woman of her nightmares standing before her. “We created you. Did you really think we wouldn’t be keeping tabs?”
The creatures are there too, and Melody cant even scream as they advance on her, drowning all her best memories in darkness.