Chapter 5

My heart was beating faster than I ever thought was possible. Jason, get a hold of yourself. It isn’t even an official date. And besides, we aren’t even seeing each other yet. One step at a time.

By now it was 7:30pm and I was starting to think Melanie was never going to come. Had I said 7:30? But I thought I said 7:00. I could hardly remember in my nervous state.

As if on cue Mel came around the corner. She looked amazing. She wasn’t wearing anything fancy but her jeans and top suited her so well I didn’t think she could have looked any better if she’d tried.

A radiant smile spread across her face upon seeing me and I noticed she quickened her step, as if it wasn’t fast enough.

“Hello Jason,” she greeted me as she approached.

“Hi, you look very nice,” I said, stating the obvious.

“Oh, thanks.” My smile grew as I noticed her blush slightly. “Sorry I’m late.” She looked down trying to hide her face.

“That’s alright,” I smiled down at her, she being about half a head shorter than I. “Shall we go in?” I suggested.

“Sounds good,” was her reply as we walked towards the entrance of the restaurant. I held the door for her and as she walked past a whiff of her perfume hit me. It was so sweet and so matching her style. Not that I knew anything about perfume.

We ordered and found a table near the door. I sat facing the window and Mel towards the counter. We talked about a few things before there was a bit of a lull. A few minutes passed before Melanie broke the silence.

“My brother got home from a business trip this afternoon. That’s part of the reason why I was late,” she confessed.

“Oh you have a brother! How old is he?”  I wondered if she would ever stop surprising me. My subconscious mind answered that unvoiced question in my head with a silent “no”; and I believed it.

“He’s 24. He works for a marketing agency so he gets sent all over the place to do certain jobs. This last trip was for 3 months.” She stopped and our food arrived moments later.

We started eating straight away and as we had just been talking about siblings I thought I would continue the subject.

“My sister came over today.”

“Oh really?” I saw a frown on her face and knew what she was thinking.

“She lives with my Dad on the other side of town. My parents got a divorce 9 years ago. So once a month Bonnie stays with myself and Mum and the next month I go to Dad’s.” Understanding flooded over Mel’s face now.

“Oh, I’m sorry. That must be hard for you. You know you could have cancelled tonight to be with your sister and we would have organised a different day.”

“No, I couldn’t do that,” I smiled at her. She couldn’t have missed my meaning for she blushed slightly and shyly smiled.

“Well, she could have at least come with you. I wouldn’t have minded.”

Just then someone walked into the shop but I didn’t take any notice of who it was.

“I told her that but she said she had to talk to Mum about something anyway.”

It took me a moment to notice that Mel wasn’t making a sound. She wasn’t even moving for that matter, she was frozen in her chair. I looked up to find her pale and staring at something or someone behind me.

“Mel, are you alright?” I asked her across the table.

“I have to go. I’m sorry.”

She got up and nearly ran from the restaurant. I got up, threw what I hoped was enough money on the table and ran after her. As I left the store I looked behind me and saw a single man standing at the counter being served.

I was a couple of steps behind Mel before I tried to get some sense out of her. “Mel, what’s wrong?”

“I’m sorry Jason, I really have to go,” she replied, still walking briskly away from the store not looking at me once.

I grabbed her hand as I caught up with her and forced her to stop and look at me.

“Jason, please let me go.” Her voice was full of anxiety as she pulled at her hand. I couldn’t let her go, not in the state she was in. Her eyes were pleading with me.

“Not until you tell me what this is all about,” I demanded.

I could see her looking over my shoulder to where we had just come from. I heard the bell on the door ring and turned to see who or what it was. The man who was at the counter when we left was coming out.

“Come with me,” she whispered, pulling on my hand. There was no way I was going to let her go until I had some answers. Who was that man? And why was he making Mel so nervous? My thoughts tortured me as we walked in silence. The urge to fight against that man if he ever tried to harm Mel was overwhelming. I couldn’t believe that someone could feel this way about anything or anyone but this was as real as it got. I wanted to fight for Mel, I wanted to fight for her now and be her strength when she was weak. All of a sudden I wished that I knew Mel better so I could take her away and protect her from that man, whoever he was.

We stopped halfway down the street I lived, just outside my front door before Mel turned to me. I’m sure she had no idea where she had brought me.

“Is there any place we can go?” she asked, nervously looking around.

I just stared at her. Her eyes were so huge as they were filled with fear.

“Jason, please!” When I saw her whole face she looked so fearful I thought she was going to collapse. The desperation was in her voice and it snapped me into action.

“Sorry, this way.” I led her through my front gate, still holding her hand. It felt so nice in my grip, a perfect fit. How am I ever going to part from her tonight? I thought. But then the voice of my mum came into my head, ‘Treat her like a princess.’ And that’s just what I intended to do.

“Jason, we can’t just walk into some stranger’s house!” There was shock there instead of worry and anxiety.

I led her around the back as I knew Mum and Bonnie would be in the lounge watching TV. I opened the back door and answered her question. “This is my house.”

* * *

We walked in his back door, my heart still pounding. How Dad had not seen me at the pizza shop I did not know but I was glad Jason had trusted me. It was then that I noticed Jason was still holding my hand. I instantly let go and his grip loosened as he turned to me and smiled. My cheeks started burning. Oh Mel, get a hold of yourself!

“Jason, is that you?” A woman’s voice called from the front of the house. Then I saw a young girl’s head poke out of a doorway and into the hall.

“Yes Mum, it’s me and Melanie. We’ll be in my room,” Jason answered.

I was led into his room. It was fairly blocky with a few clothes spread around and the bed not made. The rest of the room was also scattered with different papers, books and more clothing, but beyond that nothing seemed relevant. Jason quickly pulled the covers over and sat me down on his bed.

“Can I get you anything? A drink? Something to eat?”

“Umm,” I had to think. Did I want anything? I certainly wasn’t hungry. “Maybe just some water?”

“Sure, I’ll be right back.” He left closing the door gently behind him.

* * *

As soon as I entered the kitchen I was bombarded with questions.

“Was that Melanie? She doesn’t look too well, is she alright?” Bonnie started the interrogation.

“Yes, and I don’t know.”

“What happened?” was her next question.

“I’m not sure,” I answered as I got a glass out.

“She can stay as long as she likes Jason, okay?”

“Thanks Mum, I’d better go see how she is.”

I was not even a step out of the room when I heard Bonnie start asking Mum questions not even I could answer at this stage.

I opened the door of my room to find Mel standing up, looking at some photos I had on my desk.

“Is that you?” she asked, pointing to a photo of me and Bonnie when we were kids.

“Yeah, that was a long time ago.” I handed her the drink and she thankfully took it, taking a sip instantly. “Are you alright now?” I went on. Her expression was blank and unreadable but I was glad to see she wasn’t so pale.

“Yes, thank you.” She turned and faced me. It looked like she was close to tears. “I’m really sorry about tonight Jason. I guess I’m just not myself.” Melanie slowly turned away for a minute. I didn’t know what to say. While I was still deep in my thoughts Mel suddenly turned back to face me, had her last gulp of water and handed me the glass.

“I better get going. I’m sorry again about wrecking your night. I’ll see you on Monday.” She looked up and smiled before making her way to the door.

“You sure everything’s okay?” I asked one last time.

“Yeah,” she sighed. “Nothing you can fix.” A weary smile came to her face then and my heart ached for her. I had no idea what was causing this pain for Mel but I desperately wanted to find out.

“Wait here,” I began, “I’ll get my Mum to drop you off.” I started up the hall before I felt a hand on my arm.

“No, please don’t disturb her. My house isn’t far and I need a bit of time to think.” I still wasn’t sure. You shouldn’t be walking home in the dark Melanie, I told her silently.

Melanie obviously saw my hesitation. “Please Jason.” I looked deep into her eyes and it took everything I had not to kiss her. Sorrow and pain seeped out of her life’s windows and I wished to take it away, if only for a minute.

Melanie came closer to me and gently reached up and kissed my cheek. “Thanks for everything Jason.” Her voice was sincere and her eyes sparkled a little.

Standing frozen to the floor, I watched as she let herself out and slipped away into the dark night.

* * *

Oh Lord, I pray that Dad didn’t see me tonight. I pray heavenly Father that You help Dad with his temper too. Help me to be as supportive and understanding as possible. I know I’m not perfect and I know that Dad’s not perfect either but help us in our walks with You Lord.

I continued to pray and think about the night’s events as I walked myself home. I couldn’t believe I’d let myself be led into Jason’s room! And alone too! Who knows what could have happened.

“Mel, you’ve got a lot of thinking and praying to do,” I quietly said to myself.

The streets were surprisingly deserted for a Friday night. If I didn’t know Mount Birch like I did I’m sure I would have been terrified. Just then a car came around the corner and pulled up at the curb. I recognised the car straight away.

“Hop in. I’ll give you a lift wherever you’re going.” The familiar voice came from within as I opened the door.

I settled in for the short ride home. “Thanks Luc, just going home.”

Lucy had just got her P plates and it seemed that wherever I looked, there she was, driving. Her car was nice, comfortable even, but nothing flash. It got her around and that’s all she wanted.

“So what are you doing walking the streets at this time of night?” Lucy asked, pulling up to a red light.

“Dinner gone wrong,” I replied, looking out the passenger window.

The light went green but the car never moved. I think Lucy had forgot she was supposed to be concentrating on the lights. Looking over at her now I could see shades of her shocked face from the street lights. A slight toot from behind however brought Lucy back to reality with a thud.

Taking off quickly I noticed the lights turning amber as we crossed the intersection. Lucy drove straight past my street. I didn’t need to ask her where she was going for I knew exactly the spot she was taking me. We were headed to a park where you can park your car and it overlooks a lake. We always met there when either of us needed to talk.

Lucy didn’t waste any time once we were parked. She undid her seatbelt and positioned herself so she was facing me.

“Talk to me.”

Lucy knew about the family happenings with my Aunt Pat so all that needed to be told was what had taken place in the past couple of hours.