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Dedication: NotToday for the amazing cover she made for me, thank you very much for it - I love it! <3

To your right. ---->>>>>

:) <3

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I was most comfortable at home. I didn't have to hide, or not speak my real thoughts. I could just be myself. I live in a small place up on the peak of a hill, with my Dad and brother.  We weren't rich or have an exotic house or anything, but we were happy, comfortable and cosy. I liked it that way. I liked the imperfection.

My Dad was a tall man who was a builder with rough hands, like sand paper. He had many years of hard labour to result that. We currently didn't have a car, as he had a 'slight disagreement with a tree', as he put it.

He was rebuilding the engine, so I was forced to walk up and down our hill twice a day going to and from school. I didn't mind the walk most days, but I hated the walk with a passion when it was pouring rain.

My brother was so laid back, that my father usually joked if he was anymore laid back he'd be in a coma. He was eighteen and finished school. He didn't really have a name for his job. He delivered cigarettes, ick, I hate them, to different places.

He was given a car and didn't have to pay for the petrol he needed. It was a pretty sweet deal actually. The rest of the time, he just laid on the lounge, glued to either his Xbox or PSP.  I'm not exactly what he saved his money for. Video games, I guess?

"Yoooooooouuuuuuu-whooooooooo." I called out as soon as my body was inside the door. It was a little tradition of mine to call out something when I got home, to declare my presence. I know it sounds silly, but whatever. I've done it for years - why stop now?

I walked through the house, making a beeline for my room. I shrugged my bag off, removed my jewellery and changed into a loose top and shorts. I threw my hair into a messy bun and emerged feeling refreshingly more human.  

"Hey Luke," I greeted.

He just raised his hand and I bumped knuckles with him as I fell back onto the vacant part of the lounge. I placed my feet on the small coffee tabled and rested my head back, watching him play 'Halo'. This was our usual hello. 

"Where's Dad?" I asked.

Wordlessly, he jerked his thumb behind him in a vague direction of the garage. I nodded, making my way out there. I opened the back door and skipped down the stairs. I went around the back and entered the garage.

"Oh, hello!" Dad grinned, emerging around from his desk as soon as he heard me come in. "Is it that time already?"  

"Yes," I laughed. I went and hugged him, the smell of oil and grease hitting my nose instantly. I scrunched up my face. I should be used to the smell by now. "What are you working on?"  

"Just the engine still. It still needs a lot of work. What happened to your lip?"  

"Oh, nothing." I said with a casual shrug, almost forgetting about it. The throbbing had eased down, so I hadn't thought much of it. I thought I'd just change the subject and avoid further questions about the incident. "Need help?"  

He frowned, aware of my subtle attempt of changing the subject, but didn't say anything more about it. We stayed fixing it for another hour before we retired into the pool. I dived and paddled, splashing Luke. He just sat there on the step, with a beer. Half the time, he looked like he was stoned, but really, that was just him. He blinked, looked at me, and then spaced out again.  

I loved swimming. I used to do it competitively, but I just did it for fun now. I was over-whelmed with the feeling of home. It was just so good, being myself. I wish I was home-schooled, but Dad couldn't afford a tutor and he didn't have the time or resources to do it. 

"Hey Melanie," my Dad called. I looked over my shoulder as she appeared through the doorway. As she most often does, she had let herself in. He then got out of the pool, toweling off quickly. "I'll go put dinner on. Are you staying, Mel?"  

"If you'll have me!" She grinned cheerfully.  

"Of course."

She shed her clothes and had her new swimmers on underneath. She slithered into the pool. She sidled over to Luke, smirking at him.

"Hi, Luke." she purred.  

He came out of his trance. "Hello, Mel."  

They'd had a thing a few times. It used to bother me, but now, not so much. They made each other happy and Luke was so out of it all the time, he didn't normally have many girlfriends, even though he is quite attractive, so she was good for him.

"Oh and hey Emma," I said to myself. 

She rolled her eyes. "I was getting to you."  

"Sure you were." I paddled over and wrapped my arms around her.  

"What happened to your lip?" she asked straight away, reeling back. She studied me closely, frowning.  

I averted my gaze and fixated my eyes on something outside of the pool. "Nothing."

She slapped her hands onto my cheek and forced me to look at her. She examined it once more, pursing her lips. "Who did it?"  

"I fell-" I began but she cut me off by squashing my cheeks roughly. I squeaked at the force and hung my head.

"Cut the crap, Emma. Who did it?" she barked angrily.

I sighed, my shoulders sagging. "Jamie Keating."  

"I'll destroy her." She snarled.

I almost laughed at her defensiveness.

She looked over at Luke, widening her eyes and tossing her hair over her shoulders and fixing her bikini top. I stared at her, baffled. What was she up to?

"Hey Luke, could you do me a favour?"  

"Hm?"

"I'd just like you to scare someone for me. No biggie." she said lightly, running a finger down her chest, gaining his attention more.

"No, no, no!" I quickly said, shaking my head. "Don't do that!"  

He looked over at me with confusion. "What?"  

Mel moved over, sliding her arms around him. She pecked him on the lips. He sat there, dazed. He placed his beer down and wrapped his own arms around her in response. She maneuvered herself so that she was planted on his lap.

"Um, sister and best friend, in the pool." I blurted out, raising my hand to emphasise my point. Mel laughed, throwing her head back.  

"Lukey..." She began, continuing like she hadn't heard me. She looked at him, their noses inches apart and she began biting her lip seductively. I almost gagged. I was right here! "Can you do something for me?"  

"Sure," he said without the spaced out hesitation he usually had. He really was a different person when it came to Mel. 

"Can you go scare the crap out of Jamie Keating?" 

I shook my head furiously behind her, waving my hands to get his attention. His eyes remained on her though, like he was hypnotised. "Okay."  

Mel beamed and moved closer to him. I made vomiting sounds and they both laughed. Wow, Luke laughing. That was rare. 

"No, no, no!" I said angrily, swaying towards them. "I refuse to let you."  

"Maybe just humiliate her." Mel said thoughtfully, leaning into him. Her perfectly shaped eyebrows knitted together. "Hmm."  

"No!" I repeated, yet again. "It's nothing! Honestly."  

"Okay fine, but if she touches you again, my claws are coming out."  

Luke smirked, playing with her long, blonde waves.  He began twirling her hair around his finger, completely absorbed in her.

"ShalI I leave you two alone?" I joked dryly.  

She rolled her eyes. "Let's go to your room."  

For a moment, I didn't think she was speaking to me.  I gaped at her, my mouth opening and closing numerous times. I probably looked like a fish recently out of water.

"I meant that to you, Emma."  

"Oh," I said in realisation, shaking my head.

Oops...

Mel and Luke exhchanged a look before they let out a laugh. I folded my arms across my chest, clearly unimpressed. They continued laughing, so I did what I thought was best. I sent a ginormous wave their way.

"Oh, that's it!" Mel threatened in a deadly voice.

I pulled myself out of the pool, swiping for my towel. She was hot on my heels. I screamed as she tackled me. I slapped her with my towel, causing a welt to appear on her leg as she gasped out in alarm. I used her surprise to flee into the house. She soon recovered and began to laugh wickedly, following me. I couldn't help giggling hysterically, while I climbed my stairs.  

"Oh, up the stairs..." she drawled, slowing making her way up behind me for dramatic effect. "Nice move."  

She then took the stairs three at a time. I squealed, sprinting into my room. She grabbed me, hauling us both on my bed. We rolled over to the other side, landing in a heap. We rolled on the floor, giggling.  

"So," she said, taking deep, calming breaths. "That was my exercise for the week."  

I  laughed, throwing my head back. We slowly went into sitting position, sobering up. I smiled at her which she returned instantly. It was so good, having a best friend. A popular one too, not that that helped me out at all. 

"I wish you came to my school." I said suddenly, sighing. My life would make a rapid improvement if she did.

She gave me a small smile, leaning over and sqeezing my arm with sympathy. "Why don't you come to mine?"  

"I can't expect Dad to afford a school like that for me."  

"Why don't you try and get a scholarship or something?" she asked. "With sport or something? Join the mathletes, or whatever. Like on Mean Girls." 

I laughed. "Yeah, like I'd socially commit suicide like that. I'm already the lowest of the low."  

"No you're not!" She argued. "What, you think those 'It' girls are better than you?"  

"Yes." I said simply.  

"Well they're not. They're nasty girls who have nothing better to do than pick on people."  

"Exactly." I replied. "They pick on me. I have no power on them."  

"Well, instead of staying under the radar, maybe do the exact opposite. Show them they can't mess with you." She said, a grin forming at her lips and her eyes shining.  

"I can't." I said helplessly. "Six against one, remember?"  

She sighed. She opened her mouth to say something, but Dad called out to us, informing dinner was ready. We pulled each other up and made our way down, our previous conversation lost.

It didn't stop me thinking about her words though...

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