Free Unchained Melody by S.K. Munt Page A

as the automated shutters lining the picture windows began to buzz shut, one panel at at time as the T. V, which was almost the size of the entire wall, came to life with static snow. Callie closed her eyes against the offending glare and felt her body begin to melt into the cushion. Her dance exams were endless, and she hadn’t realized how tired she was.
    ‘I can’t wait for DVD’s to come out over here.’ Ryan confessed, hitting the fast-forward button his remote as he flopped onto the daybed beside her.
    ‘Ugh. They look so breakable.’ Callie opened her eyes, and saw the copyright warning words on the screening flashing by at four times their normal speed. ‘Why do they brag about the better sound quality? Have you ever heard a song sound better than when it’s played on a turntable?’
    Ryan paused. ‘No.’ He admitted. ‘Sometimes older is better… but not when it comes to picture quality.’
    ‘Well, I disagree; I love black and white photos. Some day, they’ll be cool again- and turntables will replace C. D players once more.’
    Ryan looked at her, his face so close to hers that their noses were practically touching. ‘You’re adorable, you know that? Even if you are mentally unstable.’
    Callie looked up at the screen, needing to not be looking into his beautiful eyes. Ryan was getting prettier with every passing day and it was getting harder not to be affected by it. But she didn’t want him to know that she’d noticed like every other girl in school, for fear that he’d write her off like every other girl in school. He didn’t let girls get close- so Callie had to be a guy. And guys did not breathe their male friends in like she was trying not to do.
    And then Ryan hit play, and Callie forgot all about him and Hunter. She closed her eyes and let the opening chords of Spiderwebs take her somewhere that was of no, and every consequence.
    *
    ‘Mmm, so many places to touch- where to start…?’ Hunter whispered on Friday night from his position against the tree in Wheel Of Fire park under a blanket of humidity caused by imminent rain.
    ‘Here!’ Meredith stilled his hand through her shirt and then guided it up, forcing him to caress the cup of her bra. Hunter pressed his tongue to the roof of his mouth as his body hardened in reflex to her softness.
    Yes! His internal cry was a victorious one. He’d been dating Meredith for over a month and every weekend night he’d found himself in this exact predicament; making out with her in the park while their friends got up to similar things with each other on the playground equipment further away. As exciting as the nocturnal make-out sessions had been, and although he really did enjoy the kissing; enough was enough. His body wanted more and now. In fact he’d gone from wanting it, to needing it. How many lunch hours did he have to pass listening to her theories on why all the teachers sucked, why Home And Away was better than Neighbors and why why Godzilla was a ‘totally underrated’ movie before he got to feel a bit of skin on skin action? If he didn’t let him past her bra tonight he was pretty sure that his leaden balls were gonna fall off.
    ‘No way!’ Alannah said loudly, her voice carrying across the otherwise silent night. ‘Ryan Weaver does not have parties! His folks would lose their minds!’
    ‘It’s not a party. Just like a B. B. Q thing.’ Jed, Alannah’s boyfriend rushed to say. ‘I say we check it out. Could be fun!’
    ‘Who’s going?’
    Hunter’s eyes flew open and on auto-pilot, he broke off the kiss he’d been so invested in and began to pull Meredith away from the tree. Ryan was doing what?
    ‘Hey?’ Meredith yelped, adjusting her shirt. ‘What’s going on?’
    ‘Ssh,’ he said shortly, craning to hear.
    ‘Oh you know… Ryan and Callie, Reece and Marnie. I heard that Laine and Cash were going as well, but not until later because they’re having dinner-’
    ‘Who’s having a party?’ Hunter