Touching Melody (A Forever First Novel) Read Online Free PDF

wet my hair and squirt shampoo into my hand, then massage it into my scalp. As I’m rinsing, I close my eyes. And Kyle is there, as though he’s been waiting. His smile, the one he gave me last night, lights his face, turns my knees to jelly.
    I shudder, and my thighs seem to light on fire.
    From the way he acted last night, the promise he made to save himself for me hasn’t been honored. I try to ignore the way my heart beats when I think about him. If I’m honest with myself, I hoped he’d be here. Despite everything his father did, I’ve missed him.
    After showering I scour my teeth, paying close attention to my tongue. I dress in jeans, ballet flats, and a black tee. Brushing through my hair, I whip it in to a messy bun and apply lip-gloss to my dry lips.
    There are dark circles under my eyes. I put on some concealer and brush on a little mascara. My normally caramel eyes are flecked with green. Sometimes, depending on my mood, they get darker. Today they’re almost almond in color. I know why. Kyle . It isn’t just my encounter with him last night. It’s more than that. It’s the feelings I’ve worked so hard to bury. I’m of two minds. I want to know him again. I want to be his friend, and more. But I shouldn’t. His father is evil.
    My aunt’s words, “bad men raise bad kids” repeat like a broken record in my thoughts. Is he here because of his father? Is he out to get me? I used to hear my aunt and uncle whisper about Chief Hadley, especially when I was younger. They worried he would come after me, try to silence me. Because I know what I saw, and he knows what he did. But in seven years I haven’t heard a word from him. Kyle quit trying to contact me after six months.
    And it was for the best. It’s still the right thing.
    Remember your latest promise , I tell myself, lifting my shirt, touching the iris tattoo.
    Faith . In others, and most especially in myself.
    But it’s hard. My eyes fall on the kanji symbol. The tattoo I got when I was in a dark place emotionally.
    Hate .
    Over the last year I worked hard to push the emotion out. I believed myself calmed down. But seeing Kyle has brought back all the hate for his father. It eats at my insides. I won’t ever stop hating him. Not until justice is served. Not until I see him pay for what he did.
    Kyle is the son of a murderer . It’s better if I stay away from him, avoid him. I take a deep breath. At least he didn’t seem to recognize me.
    Didn’t he ? I wonder, recalling the way his eyes flickered.
    I push that thought away, letting go of my shirt and pulling at a tendril of hair on either side of my face. I give my reflection another once over and put away my makeup. No sense dwelling on it, on him. It won’t do any good since I’ve promised myself I won’t speak to him again.
    I’ll attend my classes, and spend my free time p racticing.
    Avoid.
    Avoid.
    Avoid.
    Right , I think, trying to convince myself to be brave.
    Finished, I sneak into my room careful to be quiet. Grab some sheet music and my iPod, a secret gift from my uncle, and carefully close the door.

6
    Maddie
    Several Beats

     
    The sun beats down as though it’s desperately trying to elevate my mood.
    It’s still September, and there’s a slight chill in the morning air. Bellam Springs has three seasons : Summer, Winter, and Fring , which is the two weeks between Summer and Winter where it’s almost like Fall and Spring combined. Fring . My mother made that word up when I was little and it stuck. I kind of like it. 
    That’s what today feels like , a beautiful Fring day. I hurry into the cafeteria, punch my code into the console, and grab a bagel, cream cheese, and a glass of orange juice. The smell of coffee and bacon fill the room and I debate bacon. But the line is long and I don’t have time. I want to practice the piano an hour before my first class.
    There’s a tiny round table in the corner near one of several large windows, and I sit. After I smear cream