"Yeah...I can do that."

"Yeah...I can do that." You say, although your voice is balancing on the edge of uncertainty. Slowly, you grab the doorknob and open the door. Stepping into the bathroom, you see that Melody is sitting in the bathtub. Bubbles covered the top of the water, up almost to the tops of her shoulders, sheilding her body from view. You find yourself simultainiously disappointed and relieved at this.

Her face was slightly flushed, but it was probably because of the warm water temperature. She lifted her arm to wipe at her eyes before turning to look at you. "What's up?" You ask, trying to sound nonchalant. You've never seen her in the bath before and, even though you can't see anything, you know she's naked under the bubbles. Your mind was reeling as your imagination filled in the blanks.

She opens her mouth, but the words seem to die in her throat. After a few moments, she eventually asks: "Could you get my loofah?" She pointes to the wall next to you and the sponge-like object hanging from a hook. "I forgot to get it before getting in the water."

You know that that's not the real reason for her calling you in here, but you don't want to make a scene, so you grab the loofah and bring it to her. She thanks you softly as she reaches out to grab the object. Your hands brush each other and she looks up at your eyes. Her own green eyes are sparkling like emeralds. Finally, she drops her hand back into the bubbly water. She looks away from you and begins to fidget with the loofah.

"Jack...do you think I'd be prettier if I bleached my hair blonde?" Melody asks. The question comes out of left field so quickly, you don't even have time to prepare for it. It catches you completely off-guard.

"What?" You ask incredulously. "Bleach your hair?"

"Yeah...or if I got a tan and darkened up my skin? Do you think I'd be prettier if I wasn't so pale and freckled?"

"Melody, what has gotten into you?" You ask, your mind not able to fathom her line of thinking. Melody has always been confident and spunky about her looks. She always claimed she was sexy and that anyone who didn't agree was an idiot. You've never heard her question her own looks before, especially her hair and skin.

"I want to be more attractive. I want to know how you think I can be."

"What? Why?"

"If I was prettier, maybe Keith...maybe he..." Her voice trailed off and a lightbulb went on in your head. Of course...that was it.

"That girl Keith cheated on you with had blonde hair and tan skin, didn't she?" You ask, crossing your arms. Melody doesn't respond, but you can tell that you're right just from her facial expressions. You want to sigh, but manage to keep it internal. Keith must have done a real number on her heart; it takes a lot to crush such a strong-willed girl's psyche.