Chapter 8
"Melissa, you're just upset, don't talk like you're
going to leave us." Stef stated. On the outside, Stef
remained calm, but on the inside, she was worried.
She knew that when Melissa made up her mind, there was
no stopping her, and no talking her out of it.
"No Stef, I can't stay here. I was afraid this would
happen. I knew that when JC found out that I was
pregnant, he would never look at me the same again.
And I was right. He doesn't." Melissa said quietly.
"Melissa, you are SO wrong! JC loves you so much."
Justin said as Stef nodded in agreement.
"Whatever." Melissa mumbled quietly with tears in her
eyes. She tried once more to get up, and again,
Justin pushed her back down.
"Damnit Melissa, we're NOT gonna let you leave us."
Justin said, his voice cracking slightly.
Melissa's eyes flashed with rage as she looked up at
Justin.
"You're not going to let me leave, instead, you're
going to make me stay here and be miserable and
unhappy?? You're going to make me face JC every single
day?? And make me forever live with the fact that I
was carrying his baby and that I lost it? Everytime I
look at JC, I think about it, and I CANNOT HANDLE IT
DAMNIT!" Melissa screamed in tears.
Stefanie pulled Justin away from Melissa. "you're
supposed to be keeping her calm, not upsetting her
more." she said as she pushed him out the door.
Stef turned to look at Melissa, to see her bury her
head in her pillow and cry.
She sighed and wished there was more she could do for
her. But this was now between her and JC.
*Later+that+day*
The front door opened, and Justin and Stef looked up
to see JC walk in the door. He didn't say a word to
them, he just walked up the stairs towards Melissa's
room. He knocked softly, but didn't get an answer.
He tried to open the door, but found it locked.
"Melissa, it's JC, can you open the door please?"
"There's nothing to say Joshua." she shot back. He
cringed when he heard her call him Joshua. She only
used it when she was really mad at him.
"Yes there is, we need to talk, and we need to talk
NOW."
She just layed there and ignored his pleas to open the
door. She was being torn apart on the inside, and
didn't wish to be torn apart anymore by seeing JC.
JC finally gave up and walked back down the stairs.
Stef and Justin looked at him coming down the stairs
slowly. Stefanie clenched her teeth in attempt to
keep from biting JC's head off for what he was doing
to her best friend.
She was about to say something, until she saw Melissa
coming down the stairs.
She looked like her normal, vibrant self. Her short
blonde hair was pushed behind her shoulders, and her
face had light make up on it, and was no longer
blotchy from crying.
Melissa ignored everyone's eyes, and walked straight
into the kitchen to get something to drink. Moments
later, JC followed her.
Melissa jumped and whirled around when she felt a hand
on her shoulder. She looked up to see JC. She
avoided his eyes as she turned back around.
"Melissa, why are you shutting me out?" JC said
quietly.
"Well, why do you not look at me the same way you used
to JC? You can't stand there and tell me you don't see
me any different after you found out we slept
together, and that I was carrying your baby JC." she
said as she whirrled around and looked him in the eye.
"Melissa, that's not true." he said softly, as he
reached down to take her hand in his, but she pulled
away.
"I just wish you would quit shutting me out. I want
to help, but how am I supposed to when you're like
this?" he questioned sighing.
"You can't help me now JC. No one can." She whispered
quietly, pushing past him and running back up to her
room, leaving JC behind in the kitchen.
She ran up the stairs to her room and ran into her
room, locking the door behind her. Her mind was
reeling with thoughts, but she knew what she had to
do. She walked over to her bed and picked up the
phone and dialed a number.
"Yes ma'am, I need a one way ticket to Little Rock
International Airport leaving late tonight please."
*Later+that+night*
Melissa snuck out of the house while everyone was
asleep and put her bags into her cherry red ford
probe. She turned and looked at the house one last
time.
"I love you JC." she whispered with tears in her eyes,
as she climbed into her car and took off towards the
airport.
****** by request, the latest hit from 'N Sync and
Gloria Estefan, 'Music Of My Heart' on Power 105.7"
"Oh god, not that song." she muttered as she turned
the radio off, and took the airport exit.
*Back at the house* trying to let her
eyes adjust to the light pouring through her bedroom
window. She stood up and stretched while peering out
the window.
"Where in the hell is Melissa's car?" Stef mumbled to
herself. "Oh god, she couldn't have...." Stef said to
herself as she ran out her door and into Melissa's
room.
Some of her stuff was gone, and there was a note lying
in the middle of her bed, along with her key to the
house. Stef drew a deep breath and picked up the
note.
Dear Josh, Stef, and Justin,
I am so sorry to be doing this to you guys. But I
feel that this is the best thing to do.
You may not realize this now, but in the
long run, it'll save us all a bunch of grief and
heartache.
JC, I don't know what else to say, other than I love
you
with all my heart. Please understand why I am doing
this,
and please don't be upset at me. Maybe one day I'll
be able to explain this better. But until then, I
love
you always baby.
-Melissa
*In Arkansas* so no one could see her eyes
that were still puffy and swollen. She got into her
rental car and drove three hours to her hometown of
Harrison. She smiled for the first time in days as
she looked around at the familar surroundings. And
finally, her mind was off of JC and the accident.
She pulled her car into her old friend, Kelliey's
driveway, and shut the car off. She got out of the
car when she saw Kelliey come out on the porch.
"My god....Melissa? Is that you?" Kelliey cried
walking off the porch.
"Yeah girl, it's me." Melissa smiled.
"What are you doing back here in Arkansas?" she
shrieked, running towards her and pulling her into a
hug.
"Well, I'm really not here by choice, kinda forced to
come back." Melissa sighed.
Kelliey looked into Melissa's eyes, and immediately
knew that something major was bothering her.
"What happened?" she said softly.
Melissa looked down at the ground, and preceeded to
tell her the whole story. Finishing in tears.
Kelliey wrapped her arms around her friend.
"That boy needs a good smack right upside his head for
treating you like that." Kelliey muttered.
"Yeah he does Kelliey. But there's still one problem
that I can't get away from by coming back here."
Melissa stated softly.
"What's that?" Kelliey questioned.
"I still love him with all my heart." Melissa choked
out.
*Back in Florida and turned to run
downstairs.
JC and Justin were sitting at the kitchen table, and
both looked up to see Stef walk in crying. Justin
immediately jumped up and pulled her into his arms.
"Stef, babe what's wrong?" Justin asked worriedly.
Stef couldn't speak, she silently handed the note to
Justin as she clutched onto him tighter. Justin read
the note and looked up at JC.
"We've got a problem." Justin said quietly, trying to
hold back his tears.
JC knew immediately it had to do with Melissa. He
jumped up and snatched the note out of Justin's hands.
He quickly read the note as tears came to his eyes.
He finally did it. He drove Melissa away from him.
JC looked up at Justin and Stef with tears clouding
his blue eyes.
"I'm going after her. I can probably still catch her
at the airport." JC choked out.
"No JC, she's back in Arkansas by now." Stef answered
quietly.
JC numbly walked into the living room and sat down by
the phone. He dialed Melissa's number in Arkansas,
but found out that the number was changed.
He then proceeded to call her mother and all of her
friends. He almost lost her once, and he was
determined not to lose her again.
Chapter 10
*One week later* wake up NOW! JC just called."
Melissa's eyes shot open and she sat upright.
"He...he did?" She choked out, wondering how he found
Kelliey's number.
Kelliey sat down on the edge of Melissa's bed.
"Yeah, he called a few minutes ago and asked to talk
to you. Your mom told him where you were. And he
said he was on the next flight out of Orlando. Which
should put him here in a few hours."
Melissa's heart fluttered. She was still madly in
love with him, but she didn't know if she was strong
enough to face him just yet. She was still hurting.
But she was also hurting from being away from the man
she loved.
"I wonder if he's still mad at me for leaving?" she
thought to herself. "That was stupid and childish of
me, and I'll be lucky to ever get things back to the
way they used to be."
She shook her head and cleared it of confusion and
thought, as she jumped up and ran to the bathroom.
She looked at her reflection in the mirror.
"Damn Melissa, you look like death warmed over." She
muttered to herself.
She sighed and turned on the shower and attempted to
get herself prepared to face JC again.
*Later that day
but he was unsure of how Melissa would react. Then a
figure caught his eye.
Melissa was sitting in a swing in the back yard, her
back to him. JC sat there motionless. He was taken
aback with how beautiful and innocent she looked, in a
yellow sundress and her blonde hair blowing in the
soft breeze.
JC slowly got out of the car and started walking
towards her. He fingered the small object in his
pocket as he looked up at her once again.
"It's now or never." He said to himself.
Melissa noticed his shadow behind her and sighed
deeply.
"Hello Josh." She said quietly as she got off the
swing and stood up to face him. As she turned towards
him, JC immediately pulled her into his arms.
Melissa closed her eyes as he held her tightly. She
breathed in the sweet smell of his cologne and sighed,
once again, feeling safe and secure.
JC pulled away and looked down at her. "I've missed
you so much." He whispered softly.
"I've missed you too." She whispered back.
JC ran his hand softly against her cheek, and then
tilted her chin up towards him, as he leaned down and
grazed his lips against hers. Melissa wrapped her
arms around his neck and pulled him closer and
intensified the kiss, as if to make up for all the
kisses they missed out on.
As the kiss ended, Melissa looked up into JC's eyes,
"JC, I'm so sorry for leaving like that. I should
have never done that....." she was silenced by JC
softly placing his finger on her lips.
"Melissa, there's something I need to say." JC stated
quietly.
"I was in agony the whole time you were gone. A part
of me was gone with you. I never want to feel that
way again. I loved you since the first time I ever
seen you, and now I know that that love is stronger
than ever, and will be for the rest of my life."
Melissa looked up at him as he continued, and gasped
when JC got down on one knee and pulled something from
his pocket. JC took her hand in his and looked up at
her.
"Melissa, I love you with all my heart and soul. My
world revolves around you, and my heart beats for you,
and only you. I never want to spend a second without
you." He stopped and slid the ring onto her finger and
once again looked up at her with nothing but love and
compassion in his eyes.
"Will you spend the rest of your life with me and give
me the honor of making you my wife?"
Melissa stood there with tears rolling down her
cheeks. Unable to speak and move for a few seconds.
"Yes JC." She managed to choke out.
JC smiled as he stood up to her and pulled her into
his arms in a loving embrace.
"I love you Melissa." He whispered softly.
"I love you too Josh." She whispered back as she
looked up at him and placed her lips softly against
his.
Chapter 11
JC and Melissa walked back into Kelliey's house hand
in hand. Melissa was going to burst soon if she
didn't tell someone about the sudden proposal.
"Kelliey?? Where are you? I need to tell you
something!" Melissa called out, as she looked at JC
and smiled.
"I'm in the kitchen Mel." she called back.
Melissa sprinted towards the kitchen, pulling JC
behind her.
"Girl, do I ever have something to tell you." Melissa
said excitedly.
Kelliey stood up from the table and eyed the
hand-in-hand pair, "Well spit it out already!" Kellyie
stated laughing.
"Well, let's just say this, I don't know when, but
sometime, you're going to be flying out to Orlando to
be in a wedding." Melissa said smiling as she held up
her hand to show the ring on her finger.
Kellyie's eyes widened when she saw the ring on her
finger. She grabbed her hand and pulled it closer to
her face to examine it more closely.
"My goodness, someone grab my sunglasses." Kellyie
said laughing. "I'm so happy for you guys!" She
shrieked as she hugged Melissa, and then JC.
Melissa shook her head at Kellyie as she hugged JC and
whispered something in JC's ear, knowing she said
something to the effect of "If you hurt her, you're
gonna be hospitialized."
*Later that day~*
JC sat down on Melissa's bed and picked up the phone
to call Justin to let him know that everything worked
out fine. Justin and Stefanie still didn't know that
JC proposed to Melissa. It had been a split second
decision that his heart lunged at him as soon as he
got to Arkansas.
"Hello?" Justin's voice said through the phone.
"Hey man, it's me." JC answered back.
"Hey JC, is everything okay?"
"Everything's fine, in fact, everything's perfect." JC
said with a smile on his face.
Justin knew there was something that he wasn't telling
him, but decided to wait until they got back to
Florida to ask him about it.
"So when are you guys coming back? Stef and I are
dying here without ya'll."
"We'll be on the next plane out of Little Rock.
Melissa's packing right now as I speak."
"Okay, well, I guess I'll see ya when ya'll get back
home. We'll wait up for ya."
"Yeah do that, cause there's something I have to ask
you that's pretty important, and I really don't wanna
ask over the phone."
"Okay man, we'll be up."
"Later J."
"Bye JC."
JC hung up the phone just as Melissa walked into the
room with her bags.
"Are you ready to get outta here?" She smiled.
"You have no idea." JC laughed, as he stood up and
kissed her.
Melissa and JC said goodbye to Kellyie, and were soon
on their way back to the Little Rock Airport.
*Late+that+night*
JC pulled into their driveway, with Melissa behind him
in her Ford Probe. They both got out of their cars
and raced to the door, eager to tell Justin and Stef
the good news. And to ask them a very important
question.
"Melissa!" Justin and Stef shrieked as soon as the
pair entered the house.
They both ran towards her, and almost knocked her down
from the force of their charging hugs.
"Whoa, easy there guys. I need to breathe you know,
it's kind of an important thing, and I need to do that
in order to survive." Melissa laughed.
They both backed away and looked at her. She looked
like the old Melissa. The happy, energetic one they
used to know before the accident. Melissa was glad
that they didn't notice the ring on her finger. They
wanted to surprise them with it.
"I think you both need to sit down, there's something
we have to tell you guys." JC said looking at Stef and
Justin.
"Oh my god, what's wrong?" Stef questioned,
automatically getting worried.
"Just sit down Stef." Melissa said, adding to the
drama.
Melissa looked at JC, and started to tell about what
happened back in Arkansas, and about seeing her old
high school friend, Kellyie. And she made sure to use
vibrant hand gestures, hoping one of them would spot
the ring on her hand and catch on.
"Just wait a damn second here! Melissa Lynn Morgan,
what in the hell is that on your finger?!" Stef
screeched, jumping up from the couch and grabbing
Melissa's left hand.
"Not so fast Stef, it's soon going to be Melissa Lynn
Morgan Chasez. So get it used to it." JC said
laughing.
Stef's mouth dropped to the ground as she looked at JC
and Melissa. Justin jumped off the couch and hugged
JC and then Melissa. Stef was still in shock.
"Congratulations man! I always knew you would be the
first one to go." Justin laughed.
"And Stef? I would like you to be my Maid Of Honor."
Melissa said, smiling at Stef.
"And Justin, I want you to be my Best Man." JC said,
looking over at Justin.
"I'd be honored to J." Justin said, hugging JC once
again.
By this time, Stefanie finally snapped out of her daze
and screamed, pulling Melissa into a tight hug.
"Should I take this as a 'yes'?" Melissa said.
"No, that's a hell yes girl!!" Stef shrieked
After everyone settled down a little bit, everyone
branched off into different parts of the house, to
call family members and friends to let them know the
good news.
JC walked into the living room to find Melissa asleep
on the couch with her phone book in her lap. JC
leaned against the doorframe and smiled. He quietly
walked towards her, and carefully scooped her up in
his arms, and carried her to her bed. He carefully
layed her down and pulled the covers over her. He
leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her lips before
he turned the light off.
"Night baby, I love you." JC murmured.
"I love you too JC." Melissa mumbled still in her
sleep.
JC ran a hand softly against her cheek and left the
room, quietly shutting the door behind him.
CONTINUE |
