Gorgon Girlfriend: Meleda 2 (rough draft)

I’ve found out through stories that Meleda’s mother had obtained her land and house by gambling. She won big time, and I think it’s been hinted she might have done so by cheating. I am unsure, I have heard things from Meleda and the people in Plumstone. But, apparently, the land had once belonged to Mayor Cobble’s family. So I know that a lot of resentment has been built up between him and Meleda’s family. I suppose the pavilion being built was more out of spite than getting confused about property lines. Because if that land had once belonged to Mayor Cobble, then he would know every inch of that land.

I’ve been able to protect Meleda and her home all this time. Although, I am having a hard time coming up with stories on why it is taking so long. Since she is such a beautiful lady, I guess Mayor Cobble and his associates figured I’d have her head lobbed off by the end of the day. They did not expect it to take a month now. But I’ve been able to fend them off with lies about hidden traps all around the property and pavilion as of late. I suppose I’m not making Meleda sound in better, perhaps I should be working towards that instead.

I do like Meleda, though. She’s been so nice all this time, and she’s a really good cook so I’ve been able to eat all sorts of really yummy foods. I hate to admit that I have put on a little more weight, even with all the work I’ve been doing to the house. My fiancée won’t like it at all, but I actually kind of feel good about myself.

I’ve been writing letters home to my fiancée, telling her that this mission is going on longer than expected and it is very dangerous. Sometimes she writes back, but it’s not that often. I’m actually grateful she doesn't, I’d hate to hear about how much she’s worried. She really doesn’t let it on. And she seems to have a new friend around the place, which is nice. I’m glad she has someone around the place to keep her company while I’m away.

I’ve started a garden for Meleda, which is not my strong suit, but I do know something from my sister who works on a farm and all her letters she sends about her pumpkins. I figured a garden would help Meleda in the long run. She’d be able to grow her own produce and wouldn't have to worry about going into town as much. I have also tried reaching out to Meleda’s family. I received a letter from her father, but it was just money, not even a ‘thank you’ or anything. I haven’t heard back from her brother, Nectarios, at all. Maybe he’s busy, although Meleda thinks he’s dead.

I really like it here, though, and, sometimes, when I think about heading home, I get really sad. But I cheer myself up by thinking that Meleda still needs me. I won’t go until Mayor Cobble and the rest of Plumstone give up on wanting to kill Meleda as a monster.

One afternoon as I am finishing some work in the garden, I see Meleda sunning herself outside. She gets cold, so one of her favorite things to do is sit in a really sunny patch. She’s small, but she has really nice legs. And she has scales that look like sugar coated amethyst when caught in sunlight. She really is beautiful, with her gummy worm hair, pretty scales, sweet voice, I like her so much.

“You keep working hard like that, you’re not going to be any good to that thing you have at home,” Meleda says.

“My fiancée?”

“Yeah, that.” She sits up and pulls her legs to her chest. “You plan on giving me all your good years.”

“Not years,” I chuckle. “And I don’t mind it. I’ve always been a hard worker like this.” I pull up my shirt to wipe my face.

“Yes, but paradise isn’t going to last forever,” Meleda sighs. “Let’s face facts, they aren’t going to buy your stories for much longer. They’re going to get fed up and probably burn the place down to get rid of me.”

“I won’t let that happen!” I snap.

Meleda shrugs. “It’ll be fine. I’ll just head home to dad, the jerk,” she grumbles under her breath.

“You could always come back with me,” I offer. I would rather have her with me than have her be somewhere she is unhappy.

Meleda’s smile is all too brief. “I don’t think your fiancée would appreciate you having me there.”

“I think it would be okay. She has her friend staying with her right now.”

Meleda bites her lip and nearly sucks her chin into her mouth. “Your fiancée has a friend with her right now?”

I stoop down to pick up my tools. “Yeah, his name is Hansel.”

“Oh, sweetie, I don’t think-” She stops then stands up. “I don’t want to be the one to do this,” she says. “But I actually like you, and that doesn’t happen much. I like my mom and my brother, kind of, and that’s it. The way you talk about your fiancée and the way she treats you, I don’t think she likes you!”

I frown at her. “But she’s my fiancée.”

“Her dad pawned her off on you!” Meleda puts her hands on my arms. “She’s using you, and I guarantee that. She calls you stupid, makes fun of your apperance, and she begs you for money! I’ve had sugar daddies I’ve treated nicer! She’s a loser, Sebastian, you deserve someone better. Someone who actually likes you and sees what a sweet, adorable guy you are.”

I sit down, taking in what she’s said.

“I’m sorry,” she says gently and sits down beside me. “I just hate everything about her.” She looks apologetically at me as I’m still turning the rocks of my brain around. “Has she ever kissed you? Said she appreciates you?”

“No,” I grumble. “She says she’s saving that for marriage.”

“Affection isn’t just for marriage,” she huffs. “It’s for...for lots of things.” She places a soft kiss upon my cheek, and I swear I could have taken off to the moon even though it was daylight. “No one has ever been this kind to me before, not in a long time anyways.” She smudges away her lipstick on my cheek. “You have a very kissable face too, she’s an idiot.”

I smile softly. “You think so?”

She smiles in return. “I do. She’s stupid.”

“Don’t say that. It's mean.” I place my hand over hers on my shoulder.

“Then why let her say those things about you?”

I can almost see her eyes through the glasses. I just smile at her. “I guess I never noticed it. I only wanted to make her happy.”

She presses her lips together. “You can’t, that’s just it.”

I want to say something else but I hear something coming from around the back. “Sounds like someone is at the pavilion. Go inside and stay low.”

“Be careful,” she whispers before slipping back inside.

I walk around, picking up a shovel as I go. When I get to the back of the house, I see someone standing across the stream. “I told Mayor Cobble to make sure this area stayed clear. It’s dangerous.”

The man is dressed all in purple, and like when I first met Meleda, wears a hat that covers his hair. “Dangerous enough to wield a shovel? Must be scary!”

I scowl at him.

“Big brute, huh?” He steps over the river. “Wouldn’t happen to be the guy who messaged me?” He pulls my letter from his jacket.

Before I can speak, he raises his hand. “Don’t talk, I don’t want my sister to know I’m here. Just know I’m beginning to take care of things in Plumstone, and having her know wouldn’t be any fun.”

“What?”

He chuckles. “Just keep doing what you’re doing. Everything will be taken care of in, I’d say, oh-” He trails off and counts on his fingers. “A week, at the least. Two at most.”

“I still don’t understand.”

“Just keep your mouth shut, big guy.” He slashes his finger across his lips. “I’m only telling you because you asked for my help.”

“Oh, okay.” I’m still not sure, but he’s asked nicely.

He lifts up his hat just a bit and I can see snakes under the brim. “Good job then. I’ll come back when it’s done.” He goes back across the river then disappears down the path heading back to the village.

I go back inside, finding Meleda sitting on my bed, which is actually the sofa. She perks up as I come into the room. “Is everything okay?” She asks, hushed and urgent. She has my pillow clutched in her arms.

“Yeah, it’s fine. Wasn’t anything.” I come and sit down beside her. “Nothing to worry about.”

She breathes with relief. “Good. I know you’re used to fighting monsters and stuff, but I don’t like it. Just thinking about someone laying an ill hand on you scares me.”

“I’m tough! They barely hurt,” I laugh.

She scowls at me then lays her head upon my shoulder. “Good thing you’re so sweet.”

I feel warm and fuzzy all over, something about having Meleda this close to me felt so good. I could smell her, and she always smelled sweet and fruity. I wanted to touch her, to rub her back and comfort her, but I felt so nervous about doing it.

“Y-you really don’t have to worry about it, Meleda! I’m protecting you, it’s what I do.” I put my hand on her shoulder. “So don’t get so upset, nothing even happened.”

Meleda lifts her head. “I know. I was also kind of worried you’d be mad at me for what I said about your fiancée. I got worried that our last words together might not have been so kind.”

“I’m not mad about that,” I murmur. “I’m not sure, but maybe you’re right. I think she might be really mean.”

Meleda places another soft kiss upon my cheek. “I won’t say anything, because I can’t say anything nice.” her gummy worms all move to one side of her head as she snuggles her cheek to my shoulder. “But you deserve better.”

“I know, but, where would I ever find it?” I chuckle.

Meleda snarls and shakes her head. “I don’t want to call you stupid, but sometimes it’s like I have to turn your head to get it! Me!” She snaps in my face. “It’s me! I’m pointing myself directly at you with a welcome sign and an all you can eat buffet! Me!”

“But you’re way too pretty for me.”

She screams into my pillow then glares at me. She grabs me by my face and pulls me down, kissing me until I can’t help but kiss back. As soon as I am swooning and all completely warm, she pulls back.

“Do you get it now?” She whispers to me.

I swallow and nod shakily. “I uh...I think maybe.”

Meleda kisses me again and her long tongue actually goes into my mouth. She tickles me and, with a giggle, she kisses my jaw and down my neck. “I like you a lot, you silly man.” She looks me in the eyes through her sunglasses. “So, if I have to, I’ll fight that...fiancée of yours for you.”

“Please don’t.” I’m still trying to catch my breath. “She doesn’t deserve that.”

Meleda giggles and goes to kiss me again but I stop her. “I need to end it though,” I tell her. “I don’t want to move forward until she knows.”

Meleda pouts. “You’re a good man through and through, Sebastian. Alright. I’ll keep it in my pants until then.”

“You don’t wear wants.”

She inhales sharply. “Seriously, stop it. I want to kiss you so bad!”

I send word to my fiancée to end things, or well, ex-fiancée, I suppose, if this all goes well. The house was her father’s anyways, so all that means is that I’ll be a wanderer again. No big deal to me. Once I hear back from her, I can pursue Meleda in earnest. I wouldn’t want anyone to go behind my back, so I wouldn’t go behind my fiancée’s. Ex fiancée.

I am now aware of Meleda and her tactics. All this time she had been secretly flirting with me. Okay, it wasn’t so secret, I am just not the sharpest nail in the tool box. All this time she’s been trying to capture my attention and turn my head. I suppose it worked, because I do notice my thoughts about her before were already romantic in nature, I just never realized it.

I am hoping her brother will return with good news about whatever it was he was doing to help Meleda. Maybe even by then I would hear back from my fiancée, which would confirm she would be my ex fiancée. Then, perhaps, Meleda and I could have some time as partners rather than what has been going on.

One evening I was woken by a loud banging on the door. I got up, wiping the sleep from my eyes. The banging persisted, sounding like someone angry was there.

Meleda was coming out of her bedroom with a concerned look on her face. I gently pushed her back inside. “Stay there for now. Let me handle this.”

She appears she wants to argue, instead she kisses my palm. “Just be careful.” She goes back into her room, closing the door behind her. I march forward, steeling myself and grabbing a poker from the fire. I go to the door strike it back.

“Who goes there?” I boom.

“Oh, wow, big boy can get scary,” a familiar laugh rings. “No harm here, buddy. Just coming to say hello.”

I glare at the door. “That wasn’t funny!”

“Oh, come on, it’s my sister. I get to pick on her.”

Meleda comes out of her room. “Did I hear that fucking right?” She comes up behind me and tries to rip the poker from my hand. “Open the door, let me say hello back!”

I open the door and let Nectarios inside. He smirks as he glides into the hallway, meanwhile Meleda is trying to chew on my hand to make me let go of the poker. “I’m surprised you’re not happy to see me.” He carefully plucks off his glove a finger at a time. “Been a long time, baby sister.”

Meleda tries to force my arm to make the poker strike him. “You fucked up!”

“Calm down,” I try to coax her. “He’s here because of me.”

Meleda frowns then looks back at Nectarios. “What’d you do?”

He chuckles and takes a piece of paper from his pocket. “The Cobble family hasn’t changed in all these years. Mom really hit the jackpot with those losers.” He hands the paper out to her. “They’re still a bunch of chumps for a pretty face.”

Meleda snatches the paper. Her mouth opens as she reads it. She then stares back at him in disbelief. “This is the deed to the town with your name on it.”

“You’re welcome!” He snatches the deed back. “That idiot got so drunk he didn’t know what he was signing. He thought he was giving me his house. Just like mom.” He looks over his winnings and smirks back at me. “Once morning comes and he realizes what he’s done, I’ll have the leverage to protect my sister. Just like you asked. Now, mind if I lay down for a while?” he goes over to the sofa and lays down where I was.

I sigh. “Oh, good.”

Meleda scoffs. “Figures,” she grumbles.

“I know you told me not to reach him, but I didn’t know what else to do since you didn’t want to go back to your father. I’m sorry.”

She tilts her chin up and sighs. “Come to bed, since he took over your spot.”

My chest grows hot and tingly. “It’s okay, I can sleep in the chair.”

She scowls towards me. “I don’t get to kiss you but I will cuddle you!”

My heart is going so fast, it feels like bunny rabbits running across my chest. I follow her into the bedroom, getting into bed. She takes off her sunglasses and sets them on her bedside table. In the dark, I can’t see her, but I do see the purple glint of her eyes. She snuggles up beside me, curling to my back and wrapping her arm around me.

“I knew you’d be warm,” she sighs dreamily.

I touch her hand on my belly. It felt so nice, so comfortable that I fell asleep right away.

Nectarios certainly had Plumstone scared. He kept the deed, saying he would sell Plumstone to the highest bidder amongst his father’s people, whoever they are, if Meleda’s property wasn’t restored and she wasn’t left alone. Right away, amends were being made, which would have been so easy before, but now it felt like pathetic groveling. Which Meleda seemed to enjoy.

I received word from my ex fiancée who just said “that’s fine”, and that was the end of it. I told Meleda and I finally got to kiss her. I’m afraid I did get a bit excited, though, which she also seemed to enjoy.

I stayed with Meleda, making a promise to Nectarios to protect her. I also added I would love her too. I built her a cart so she could sell her candy, and even though people in the town still didn’t like her, she became very popular with the kids. They liked her because she wasn’t liked by their parents, and they all wanted her special ‘witch’ candy.

One evening, as she cuddled to my back, pressing kisses to my shoulder, I felt myself breathe so deeply. I loved her so much and I had to show her.

“I know we aren’t married,” I tell her as I lay upon her. “But will you accept me now?”

Meleda grinned and wrapped herself around me. “I’ve been waiting for this all this time. I’m ready, sweetie.”

I know this is not the typical romance I was told as a child, but I am happy with the way things went. I love Meleda, monster or not.