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Stubborn Love- A Modern/AU Walking Dead Story	By : ImagineLayla131 Category: S through Z > The Walking Dead Views: 2907 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN NOR HAVE ANY AFFILIATIONS WITH TWD FRANCHISE NO MONEY/PROFIT IS BEING MADE!

Chapter List
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Hi everybody! Here it is, the start of the long awaited date! I just had to post today before Thanksgiving, as a treat to you all! I'm excited to bring more Walking Dead characters into the story. My cousin speaks Pig Latin, which is where I got the idea for Maggie and Beth.
Sorry if anybody seems out of character, but it makes sense in the moment and flows better as the story goes on.
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN NOR HAVE ANY AFFILIATIONS WITH THE WALKING DEAD OR OH, WHAT A NIGHT. ALL PROPERTIES OWNED BY FRANK DARABONT AND AMC (TELEVISION SERIES), ROBERT KIRKMAN AND TONY MOORE (COMIC BOOK SERIES), THE FOUR SEASONS, BOB GAUDIO AND JUDY PARKER, RESPECTIVELY. I ONLY OWN MY OWN ORIGINAL IDEAS AND CHARACTERS.
Chapter Five: Oh, What A Night, Part One
5:30 PM, The Grimes Residence, Calabasas
"Melody, I am so excited for you!" Maggie squealed as she straightened my hair.
"Me, too. I bet he's really cute." Beth said as she put foundation on my face.
It was Friday night, and the night of my big date with Gareth Mandel, or as I referred to him up until four days ago, "Wonder Boy". I was excited, but also a bit nervous, especially because everybody around me was putting so much emphasis on it. When Lori and I went to Sanctuary this morning, Lilly's salon and spa that my dad bought her, for our pampering, it was all anybody could talk about to me. Karen the hair stylist, Donna the esthetician, Haley the nail girl, and Rowan the tanning consultant asked me question after question to the point where I actually had a migraine by the time we left. Regardless of the questioning, they all did a fabulous job on me. My highlights were touched up and my bangs were cut, my eyebrows were finally tamed and re-shaped, my face was smoothed out, my French tips were applied and my toes were painted mint green with little pink and white flowers on them, not to mention my spray tan made everything pop. At the moment, my hair and makeup was getting done by two of my best friends, sisters Maggie and Beth Greene.
Beth and I have known each other since we were two years old in pre-school. My mom would stay with me sometimes, and she noticed Beth was very shy and quiet and all by herself. One day, Mom brought two yogurts and gave one to her, because she would always put sprinkles in my Trix, and that's how we met. Once we saw that we had twin Pocahontas backpacks, we became best friends, and our moms became close as well.
As we grew up, Beth and I would fall in and out of contact, mostly because we went to different schools and were too busy with whatever else was going on in our lives, but nothing would ever break the bond we had. We were the epitome of "opposites attract". Beth is shy, obedient, and soft spoken, while I'm more outgoing, rebellious, and have a tendency to get a little too excited. For years, I thought that her dad Hershel hated me, but it turns out he didn't. Beth got a lot of flack in school because Hershel was so much older than her mom Annette, and the kids all called him "Santa Claus". Truth be told, Hershel Greene was the nicest person anybody could ever meet, a real class act of a man and definitely a book that my father should take a page out of. He always made time for his children and never hesitated to help them.
Maggie and I had only become better friends over the past couple years. Being six years older than us, I didn't see much of her, we were friendly but we weren't close. During my first Costume and Makeup Design Class at Moorpark Community College, my project required a model to recreate an original look on. Beth suggested Maggie, who was trying to break into modeling. Thanks to that suggestion, my Poison Ivy revamp got an A+, I took Maggie's headshots, and she in turn got some quality modeling gigs. Who would turn down a 5"8 fit brunette? Between that and being a bartender at Youngbloodz, an upscale nightclub/bar, Maggie was able to pay her tuition through FIDM, where she was studying to be a fashion designer. I'm glad that I came into contact with Beth and Maggie again, because I don't know how I could have gotten through the past six months without them.
"Have you looked him up on Facebook? Close your eyes." Beth started applying eye shadow on my lids in shades of pink and gold.
"No, I haven't. Don't get me wrong, I've been tempted, but in a way, the fact that I don't know what he looks like at all is kind of sexy. It makes it a mystery."
"So, you don't mind if I look him up then?"
I shook my head. "Knock yourself out, Mags. His name is Gareth Mandel." Rick, Lori, and Carl already knew what he looked like, so what would be the harm in two of my best friends seeing as well? It was better this way instead of them waiting around until he got here, that would be a bit awkward.
"Oh, my god. If you got married, your initials would be M.M. That's so cute! Melody Mandel, it does have a nice ring to it." I could tell Beth was grinning from ear to ear as she penciled in my eyeliner.
"Pfft, dream on, girlfriend. If he's anything like Martin the Moron, then there won't even be a second date."
"I highly doubt your sister would set you up with an asshole like him." The next thing I heard was Maggie gasp behind me. "Ohway, ymay oshgay. Ethbay, ooklay. E'shay eallyray, eallyray utecay!" (Translation: "Oh, my gosh. Beth, look. He's really, really cute!")
"Ou'reyay ightray, e'shay away ottiehay! Elodymay sway away uckylay irlgay!" (Translation: "You're right, he's a hottie! Melody is a lucky girl!"
"Iway inkthay omebody'ssay onnagay etgay away oyfriendbay." (Translation: "I think somebody's gonna get a boyfriend.")
"Ehay oesday indkay ofway avehay away Incepray Armingchay ooklay otay imhay. Ohway, isthay isway osay omanticray!" (Translation: "He does kind of have a Prince Charming look to him. Oh, this is so romantic!")
The girls then burst into giggles. Beth and Maggie were fluent in Pig Latin, and they only spoke it when discussing something private or just to be silly. They tried to teach it to me numerous times, and while I understand a little, I could never fully decipher it. "Ok, enough with the gibberish! Besides, when are either one of you going to tie the knot? Maybe not you, Beth, it's too soon, but what about you, Maggie?"
Beth and Maggie were both in committed relationships at the moment. Maggie had been with Glenn for almost four years now, they had just moved in together in a cozy four bedroom house in Tarzana, which was close to Comic Dojo, the comic book and pop culture store that Glenn runs and owns after buying it from the previous owner with every cent he saved up during his time as a pizza delivery boy. Before meeting Glenn, Maggie had been kind of a loose sorority girl at USC, every night was a party, so it's a huge personal accomplishment that she's been with him for this long.
Beth met Noah back in January at an open mic night she was doing at a coffee shop in Malibu. While Beth was currently going to school to be a veterinarian, her real dream was to be a famous singer/songwriter. I could totally see it, especially since she has the whole Taylor Swift vibe working for her. After the gig, Noah approached me asking about Beth and I introduced them. Turns out, he was an up and coming DJ with a recording studio in his house, and he helped Beth record and mix her demos. Unfortunately, Beth got accepted into the veterinary program at California State Polytechnic University in Pomona, which was very time consuming, so she's put her music career on the back-burner, but things have definitely been heating up with Noah over the past eight months. He was her third serious boyfriend, and it seemed like she was a little jilted with relationships considering her first boyfriend Jimmy decided to pursue competitive ice fishing in Alaska and her second boyfriend Zack had a really bad drinking problem, but her and Noah were so compatible.
In my opinion, the girls really lucked out getting such wonderful guys, I consider them both close friends, too. While I was happy for my friends, there was that little green devil called Envy dancing in the back of my head reminding me how much I wanted a boyfriend.
My luck with guys hasn't been great at all. Randall was my first serious boyfriend, and I was absolutely crazy about him. I thought I was so in love, but looking back now, I realized he was just an idiot. He was going nowhere and taking me down with him and fast. I guess that's what you get when you meet somebody online, which I'll never be doing again. The next guy I date, whomever it may be, has to have goals and aspirations instead of waiting around hoping a golden opportunity will fall out of the sky.
"We've discussed it a lot, actually. I want to marry Glenn, I can't picture spending the rest of my life without him, I'm not really in a rush, and I don't think he is, either. It will happen when it happens, and when it does, I want something small and tasteful."
I opened my eyes in amazement. "A love like yours should be celebrated tremendously! When I get married, I want it to be an extravagant affair. Doves and fireworks in a castle, all that jazz!"
We looked over at each other and started laughing. Up until a few months ago, I was always talking about how I wanted a larger than life wedding. At this point, who knows when that will ever happen, and I hope it's not if it will ever happen.
"I'm sure that whomever you'll end up with will give you everything you deserve." Maggie said.
Beth nodded. "I agree, you'll always be a princess, Melody, at least to us."
"Well, I used to be, I'm the fallen princess at this phase in my life though." I turned around and looked at myself in the vanity mirror. "Wow, you girls did an incredible job on me." I actually did look fantastic, my hair was straightened and half up, my makeup made the green-grey eyes and my lips look luscious.
"Our work here is done. Where's your outfit?"
"Hanging up. I'm wearing my hot pink Louboutins and Lori's silver Judith Leiber clutch." My sister had convinced me to wear a dress despite me telling her I was way too fat. It was a cute little powder blue sleeveless dress with delicate straps and a V-neck. The A-line waist and asymmetric wrap and flounce construction skirt did a really good job covering my problem areas, but I was still self-conscious. The shoes were a present to myself from my first paycheck working for Andrea, and Lori let me borrow her Judith Lieber, she was absolutely obsessed with those clutches, which are beyond stunning.
"Oh, it's darling!" Beth walked over and grabbed it from the top of the door. "Where did you get it?"
"Actually, I've had it for a while and forgot about it, I guess you can that dress was a needle in a haystack."
"You're going to look gorgeous in it." Maggie said.
"Yeah, let's hope so. Crap, he's gonna be here soon, I better get dressed."
"Can't we stay and see him?" Beth asked with a mischievous grin.
"No way! This first meeting is going to be awkward enough, and I know you two will ask a thousand questions. It's part of the best friend protocol." I smiled at them, hoping they'd get the hint.
Maggie rolled her eyes. "Alright, fine. I want full details tomorrow though."
"Of course. By the way, I want to start going to that Zumba class with you, Maggie." I was trying to get my life back on track, and the first part was getting back in shape again.
"Sweet! You'll love it."
"I hope so. Bye, girls." We hugged good bye, I was so glad that we had gotten to spend some time together, it seemed like ages since I saw my friends and I wasn't crying my eyes out.
"Bye, Melody. Have fun tonight."
"Don't do anything I wouldn't do."
I smirked. "I won't. I'm just going into this with no expectations, and hopefully, it will go better that way."
LORI
"Hi, girls!" I greeted Maggie and Beth from my spot in the family room as they strolled down the stairs. They were two of Melody's best friends and we had known the family for years. I really liked them both, they were the epitome of true friends.
"Hi!"
"You should see Melody, she looks stunning!" Beth said with a huge smile on her face.
"I'm sure she does. It was so sweet of you girls to come by and help her get ready."
Maggie nodded. "Of course. She's hiding it, but I know this date means a lot to her. It's the first real date she's been on in a long time, but I don't think she has anything to worry about. We looked the guy up on Facebook, he's hot!"
"I know, isn't he cute?" I asked with a laughing smile.
"Yes, he is! She really lucked out, he sounds like a great guy. I have a feeling that this could be her next serious boyfriend!" Beth squealed.
"Ha, let's hope so, anybody is better than that moron Randall."
"Ugh, don't even remind me. Just hearing his name makes me want to vomit in my mouth." Maggie gave a disgusted look.
"You've got that right. I'm sure she'll be on Cloud Nine after tonight. It was great seeing you both, don't be a stranger!"
"We won't, bye!"
I wasn't sure how much Melody had filled the girls in about Gareth, it seemed like it's all anybody around her could talk about, I just hope her anxiety wouldn't kick into overdrive, because that would strike the possibility of a total disaster. I'm hoping that wouldn't happen, she deserves some happiness for all her hardships.
6:15 PM
RICK
"I'll get it!" I shouted, although I doubt anybody heard me through the loud barking of the dogs when the doorbell rang. We had four dogs, Melody's Golden Retriever Simba, Carl's Puggle Mugsy, Lori's Pomeranian Butterscotch, and my Siberian Husky Kato. Needless to say, it was quite a handful, but totally worth it. I smiled as I opened the door to see Gareth on the other side. He was dressed in all black with a white button up shirt and carrying a bouquet of flowers. "Hey, Gareth. Come on in. You're early."
"Well, better early than late, right?" He stepped inside, giving me a firm handshake.
"I think so, that's for sure. You look great, nice touch with the flowers."
"Thanks."
"Gareth! What's up, dude?" Carl walked into the foyer, tossing his baseball into his glove.
"Hey, what's going on, kid?" They high-fived each other. Carl had really gotten to know Gareth from all the times he had been to the office, and they got along pretty well.
"Not much, same old, same old. Have fun with my aunt tonight, but don't do anything stupid or I'll have to kick your ass." He cocked his head to the side and pointed at Gareth, who half-smirked.
"Carlton Chandler Grimes! Language!" Lori scolded gently as she ambled behind him. I looked over to see Gareth now fully smirking and Carl bowing his head down and his face red.
"Sorry."
"Can you feed the dogs, please? Thanks, sweetie." Her demeanor totally changed when she saw Gareth. "Hi, Gareth! It's so nice to see you again." Lori walked up and greeted him with an air kiss on both cheeks as Carl walked off.
"Thanks, you too, Mrs. Grimes."
"Please, no need for formalities, call me Lori."
"Alright, Lori. I'm looking forward to meeting your sister."
She smiled at him. "She's an absolute doll, you'll fall in love with her, everybody does."
"Yeah, that's true. Why don't you go get her for us?" I asked, I could tell that Gareth was a little bit embarrassed.
"Alright. I'm sure she's ready by now." Lori went up the stairs as I turned back to Gareth.
"Sorry about that, she's just excited. Melody hasn't been having the easiest of times, ya know?"
"Oh, it's cool, I understand. I have three little sisters, so I know how excited girls get." He said with a smile. "Listen, I was just wondering, what kind of guys does Melody usually date? Like football players or something?"
You're asking the married man who just had his tongue in her mouth five days ago.
"Ha, no. I'm not sure what to classify her type as, but I'm sure you'll hit it off. Is this your first date back out there since breaking up with your fiancé?"
"Yes, it is."
I gave him a light punch on the shoulder. "Don't worry about it, I'm sure everything will go fine." It was kind of cute how both of them were nervous and didn't want to admit it, I just hope it won't get in the way of them being themselves.
"Lori, when were you going to tell me how disgusting I look?!"
Confused, we both looked up at the staircase to hear the commotion. Melody's room was on the third floor, but since the house is so large and sprawling that any sound echoed off the walls, therefore making their entire conversation audible.
"Melody, hun, what are you talking about? You look stunning!"
"No, I don't! I look like freaking Honey Boo Boo's Mama June and my ass is as big as Kim Kardashian's! How could I let myself go like this?! Tell Rick to cancel the date, this guy is going to see me and crash into something because he'll be running away too fast to get out of here."
"No, he's won't! Relax, he's downstairs waiting for you!"
Gareth looked over at me with a raised eyebrow. "Everything ok?"
"I don't know. Lori!" I shouted up the stairs. "Everybody can hear you, so can you both come on down, please?"
MELODY
"Oh, my god! He heard everything we've been saying! Both of them!" I started frantically shaking my head. "I'm mortified now, I can't do this, Lori. I'm sorry, I appreciate the effort immensely, but I can't. This guy is probably a total yuppie, I think we're in completely different ball parks."
"Melody, calm down! You are a wonderful, gorgeous young lady, you've been depressed for six months and you said so yourself that you have nothing to lose and have to get back out there." Lori grabbed my bottle of perfume and gave me a couple sprays. "Don't put too much into it, you're going to have a nice time, but you have to relax. Now, where's that pretty smile?"
I took a deep breath, knowing she was right. This was just a delayed reaction from all the attention this had been getting, which was unnecessary, but I had to rein it in. "You're right, I will." I said with a smile. "I'll just play it cool."
Lori returned the smile. "That's my girl. C'mon, let's go." She grabbed my hand and led me down the stairs to the main staircase, Rick and Gareth were talking at the bottom.. "Sorry about that, just having some last minute girl talk." When the guys turned around and looked over, I could feel my face heat up and my heart skip a beat the moment his eyes meet mine.
GARETH
After overhearing Lori and Melody's conversation, I was expecting somebody totally different. Being a guy, I do have a particular type, but I've dated a couple heavy set girls, I just wished that Rick would have shown me an accurate picture. Except when I saw Melody walk down the stairs, I could have sworn I heard the background music from Sailor Moon whenever Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune walk into the room as their human forms. Seeing Melody literally made my heart stop and my palms clammy, and I couldn't help but feel an immediate sexual attraction to her, like something sparked between us when we made eye contact Melody was utterly gorgeous, even prettier in person than her picture, and I have no idea why she thought she looked like Mama June, because it was farther from the truth, not even in the same league.
"Whoa…" She had long, thick honey brown hair I wanted to run my fingers through and tug, eyes I was already lost in, lips I was dying to kiss for hours, not to mention killer curves, but it wasn't just her sexuality. Melody had such an innocent, vulnerable look to her, that in the end, all I really wanted to do was take her in my arms and never let go.
"Gareth, this is my baby sister, Melody." Lori let go of her and stood next to Rick as Melody walked up to me.
"Hi, I'm Gareth it's really nice to meet you." I had no idea what to do, so I just gave her a hug and kissed her on the cheek, hoping it wasn't too forward. Surprisingly, both were reciprocated and with a smile.
"Hi, I'm Melody… Silverstone. I didn't know if Rick told you my last name, because I'm not a Grimes, but you already knew my first name, my sister just said it a minute ago, so I don't know why I'm telling you again. It's Melody with a "y", not an "ie", so now you really know." She nervously laughed and I couldn't help but smile, she was too damn cute.
"That's f-fine. No worries."
Rick elbowed me, he must have noticed we were both dazed staring at each other. "Gareth, don't you want to give Melody the flowers?"
I glanced over at him. "Hmm? Oh, yes, right. Here," I handed her the bouquet. "I didn't know what kind of flowers you liked, so I got you these rainbow tulips. They're silk, so they'll live on forever."
Melody smiled, smelling the flowers. "Thanks so much, they're beautiful. I love tulips."
"I'll take those." Lori took the flowers. "Have a good time, you two."
"We will, good night you guys." Melody gave them each a hug.
"Enjoy yourself." Rick said.
"Bye, Lori, it was good seeing again. Rick, I'll see you at the office." I opened the door for Melody, and on pure instinct, immediately (but discreetly) checked out her butt as she walked out. Again, I have no idea what mirror she was looking in, because her ass was pretty tiny and nowhere near the size of Kim Kardashian's.
MELODY
"So, where's your car?" I kind of had the jitters, this guy was so cute! Cute was an understatement, he was a prime hottie. Gareth was tall and lean, with brown hair, greenish-brown eyes, and a heart melting smile, which I noticed he has two little fangs that were absolutely adorable. All in all, he is absolutely my type. Seeing how good looking he was made me a bit nervous that I would say something stupid, he had already overheard my conversation with Lori, which I'm still embarrassed over, but I'm going to shake it off. After all, so far I was getting a good vibe, he was already proving to be a total gentleman.
"It's that one right there." Gareth nodded his head out to a metallic root beer colored Jaguar XKR convertible with a blue top, and I knew my jaw had just dropped to the floor.
"Your car is gorgeous! I love Jaguars, they're classic."
"I think so, too. Allow me." He stepped aside and opened the door for me, and I smiled as it Gullwinged upwards.
"Whoa! Your car is like Tron!" I said as I got in the front seat.
"Uh, thanks." He smiled awkwardly before closing my door, and I felt like an idiot.
""Your car is like Tron"?! What are you, stupid?!"
"I'm sorry, did you say something?" Gareth opened his door and got in the driver's seat.
"Huh? Me? No…" I looked around for a distraction. "Yes! Yes, I did. I said that I really like your choice of interiors." This was true. Warm charcoal leather with blue stitching trim and black piano veneers, it was all so suave.
"Thank you, I like it, too."
'I'm sorry." I blurted out, unable believe that I had once again said something stupid.
"Excuse me?"
I took a deep breath and looked over at him, unsure if I would regret what I was about to say. "I said I'm sorry. I'm not usually so off the wall, it's just that this is my first date date in a really long time and you're so cute and I guess you can say I'm kind of nervous." I looked away, was it the right thing to say? Maybe I should just leave, I'm obviously not ready to date yet. My hand had wrapped around the door handle when I felt Gareth's hand lightly grab my other one, causing me to look into his eyes.
"Hey, it's alright. I understand things haven't been easy, and I get what it's like. If it makes you feel any better, this is my first date back out there, too."
"Really?"
He nodded. "Mmhmm. Let's go out and have a good time and if you want, I'll tell you all about it."
I smiled. "Ok, sure. Let's do it." There was something so sincere and warm about him, I could feel myself relaxing a little.
"Alright." He smiled and squeezed my hand before letting go and turning the key in the ignition, the car coming alive as it went into drive. I couldn't believe that he had actually tried to comfort me, any other guy either wouldn't have said anything and acted oblivious or shrug and say "whatever". Maybe Gareth was one of the good guys after all. While things had gotten off to an awkward start, perhaps the whole evening wasn't doomed. Either way, I knew it was going to be a very long night...
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