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It had sounded good Felt good, especially with his hands gripping her shoulders Eric had stripped down to a T-shirt before going to bed, and Melody found herself staring at the musculature and definition in his ar her into hi himself around her…

Get up

The little voice in her head was firm and motivational

Get looking Now

She sat up, finally glad at having nrateful for Eric’s help — and especially his coed to accomplish the task without him, all the better

Melody wriggled back into her undershirt That, and her underwear, were all she had She glanced over at the heavy ball gown, hung fro on the wall If she put it on now she’d pass out No way

The door opened into the hallith a rush of cool air The breeze was alasmic Melody paused for abarefoot along the darkened corridor

She had no idea where she was going

The egg wasn’t big, but it wasn’t tiny either And it was beautiful enough that it would probably be on display She thought about this as she padded silently downstairs, grateful that the treads ell-carpeted She’d seen a trophy case in the conservatory — or whatever the room with the piano in it had been referred to She’d start there

The first floor ide and spacious Dih tall s as sheShe stopped only once at a pair of double doors that opened into the grand ballrooe draperies that formed the very heart of the house

But it was throughly empty

No proh, and now no cotillion either You’re batting a thousand, Melody

She’d ift’ It turned out that while it was sos, it wasn’t always fun Especially not when your boyfriend Jason inadvertently reveals he’s been sleeping with someone else — one of your closest friends, to boot — just hours before the big night

The realization had been bitter, the confrontation even worse It had ruined any chance Melody had of finishing her senior year with any degree of happiness, but at least it had o to New York that much easier

She sighed, thinking back on what the pseudo-gypsy had said to her about sorrow Her abilities were both a blessing and a curse, and they didn’t always coht useless, too Melody would try to deter, only to read a recipe, or a reminder to pick someone up at the airport, or the rando a puppy