SLASHER

◤ t h i r t e e n ◢

thirteen: hidden secrets pt. 1

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Melanie walks around the grocery store, her eyes scanning each section before she reaches for the vanilla cookie wafers. She's currently on the phone with Zara as she makes her way through the store. As she listens to her friend talk to her grandma on the other end, she stands on her tippy toes and grabs a few boxes of the cookie wafers. Melanie tosses them in the cart and begins to walk further down the aisle with her phone against her ear. As she waits for Zara to speak again, to let her know she's not extremely busy with helping with the thanksgiving dinner with her momma and grandma, she continues her trip around the market buying things for the banana pudding for her family's thanksgiving dinner. She decided to go out, using her mother's car, to get everything and prepare the banana pudding instead of having her mother do it.

Of course, her mother being the super mom that she is with juggling, her baby brothers, cooking thanksgiving dinner, and decorating the house before the rest of the family show up.

Melanie wanted to help out and do some work with the food preparation for thanksgiving and helping her watch the twins. She knew Damien, her step-father, wasn't going to help at all, he was one of those men who don't know the basics of cooking, and the simple fact that his wife needs some help even if she says she doesn't. He was just 'chilling' in the basement with his brothers who showed up early to not help out. It didn't matter, she was here to help her momma despite her step-father and her step-fathers brothers being useless.

She was actually really happy to be back in her hometown. It had been a while since she walked around in her local food market. The last time she was at the market was when she was in her last year of high school. Even so, it felt nice and comfortable to be back in her hometown, and seeing some familiar places.

"Do you think Malik is coming?"

Zara's question, breaking through the tapestry of Melanie's thoughts, causes her to pause in the dairy aisle. With an involuntary hum, Melanie surveys her surroundings, her gaze landing upon the pudding selections. She tosses a bunch of pudding cups packs and tosses them in the cart. Zara's inquiry, unexpected yet timely, gives voice to Melanie's own ponderings as she considers her older brother's attendance.

Melanie releases a sigh, her response tinged with a blend of optimism and uncertainty. "I'm keeping my hopes up. I did reach out to him, letting him know I'd be back home. I'll just have to see if he decides to make an appearance."

Zara's humming voice carries the undertone of bustling activity, the gentle backdrop of running water a testament to her involvement in the culinary process. "Do you think he'll bring, you know who?"

Melanie had never taken issue with her brother's wife, Cassandra. When their paths initially crossed, Cassandra had been amiable. Melanie had even exchanged numbers and other contact details with her. However, despite these exchanges, their conversations had remained quite sparse. Melanie noted Cassandra's striking beauty: her tall stature, long brown hair, fair complexion, and the captivating green eyes that held a unique charm. Cassandra didn't exactly fit the mold of the women her brother typically gravitated toward. In high school, he had often been drawn to athletic types, particularly those on her track team or the basketball squad.