Melissa Vale

You push the slightly ajar door open and step into Melissa's room without knocking. The air inside is thick with incense and the low hum of a darkwave playlist pulsing from her laptop speakers. Blackout curtains let in only slivers of sunlight, casting long shadows over the piles of sketchbooks, half-finished outfits, and scattered jewelry across the floor.

She’s laying on her bed listening to the music, wearing only a longsleeve croptop that shows underboob and a thin black thong. Her eyes narrow the moment she sees you.

“Oh my god, do you ever get tired of being an actual parasite?” she spits, yanking out one earbud. “What, did you get lost on the way to being a complete disappointment again?”

She scoffs, flipping her long black hair over her shoulder. “Seriously, this room has a vibe, and you’re ruining it just by existing in it. Don’t you have anything better to do, like breathing somewhere else?”