Everyone waited for Melissa to wake up and tell them what was going on. Nick sat on the sofa beside her, caressing her cheek. He wished he knew what was going on with her. He thought they told each other everything, so what could she be hiding. He knew it had to do with something with Adam, but what? All that Melissa ever said about him was that he was controlling, could there be more to the story?
�She�s waking up.� Brian said, interrupting Nick�s thoughts. He looked down at her and smiled when her eyes opened.
�Hey Angel.� He said softly.
�Hi, what happened?�
�You passed out, so we brought you back to the beach house.� All that happened at the restaurant came rushing back to her. She placed a hand over her eyes and tried to keep her emotions in check. Gradually she sat herself up and looked at Nick.
�I�m so sorry.�
�Honey, why are you sorry? Tell me what�s going on?� Melissa realized she couldn�t keep the secret anymore. She had to tell Nick and everyone else. She stood and walked over to the window. She looked out at the ocean then closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
�The man at the restaurant is my ex, Adam. I was dating him for quite awhile, when he started to change.�
�Change how Mel?� Brian asked sitting next to Leighanne.
�He would make comments about how I should dress, how I should do my make-up, what hours I should work, just things like that at first. I thought he was looking out for me.� Melissa laughed after her last comment. �Little did I know it was apart of his game. He would call me every hour to know where I was, who I was with, and when I would be back home. It got to a point where he didn�t want me hanging out with Jonathon because he couldn�t trust me. He told me that I needed to end my friendship with Jonathon.� She looked at her friends.
�It was then that something clicked in me, I didn�t like who I had become. Adam had tried to manipulate me into some image of a perfect girlfriend. He had turned me into a person I didn�t recognize, a person that my friends didn�t recognize.� She glanced over at Julie and Jonathon. They gave her reassuring smiles.
�I knew I had to end it before things got worse, so I went to his apartment to end the relationship. But he wasn�t home, so I waited for him. And while I was waiting I came across some girls� telephone numbers. Not only was he trying to control everything I did or say, but he was also cheating on me. I was so angry that I had let myself believe that he even cared about me. It wasn�t much longer that he returned home. I told him it was over that I never wanted to see him again. He told me that no one would want me that I was damaged goods.�
�He�s a real piece of work!� AJ stated.
�I told him I knew he was cheating on me and that wasn�t going to be under his control anymore.�
She took a deep breath and tried to hold back her tears. Telling everyone was like reliving the whole situation all over again.
�It was then that I tried to leave, but Adam wouldn�t let me. It was like he just snapped. He grabbed my arm and pulled me back to him. I can remember the look in his eyes; I could see anger, rage. I struggled to get free, but it only made him tighten his grip. He told me that my life didn�t belong to me anymore, that it belonged to him. I was getting scared and wanted to leave, so I threaten him. I told him if he didn�t let me go, I would call the police and he would be put in jail.�
Tears were now flowing freely from her eyes. She couldn�t face anyone, so she once again looked out the window.
�Mel, are you okay?� Jeni asked. All Melissa could do was nodded her head.
Finally she continued on. �I looked into his eyes again and saw that same anger. I tried everything I could to get away and it just seemed to make him angrier. He said that I couldn�t leave him that he wouldn�t let me. It was then that he...he�� Melissa couldn�t bring herself to actually say the words.
�Mel, what did he do?� Nick asked standing up. Tears flowed even faster from her eyes. Julie walked over to Melissa and pulled her into a hug. �Mel, what did he do?�
�The bastard hit her, okay? He hit her so hard that she fell to the ground!� Jonathon stated as he stood between Melissa and Nick.
�Jonathon, its okay.� Melissa said touching his arm.
�No, it isn�t Mel that jerk hurt you and all Nick can seem to care about is what happened.�
�Jonathon this isn�t helping anyone, especially Mel.� Julie replied. Everyone calmed down after Julie�s comment. �Are you sure you want to do this?� She asked Melissa.
�Yes, Jules, they have a right to know.� Julie nodded, stating she understood. Melissa looked at Nick and nodded her head. �Jonathon is right, Adam hit me across my face, and with so much force that I fell to the ground.� Nick looked away from her. Melissa�s heart broke a little when he turned away.
�I knew I had to get out of there or something worse could happen to me. I got to my feet and tried to leave, but he wrapped an arm around my waist and his other arm around my neck. He pulled me back into the living room and he started tightening his arm around my neck.� Melissa touched her neck, remembering the feeling of not being able to breathe.
�He said that if he couldn�t have me that no one would. Then he started to cut off my air supply. I started to feel light headed, but something inside of me told me to fight. Then I remember my dad teaching my sister and me self defense moves and I knew I had to defend myself. I reached behind and started scratching at his face. Finally he moved his arms and made me face him. I kneed him in the groins and pushed him down. I ran out the door and got in my car.�
�Oh my god Mel!� Brian walked over to her and wrapped her in a hug.
�There�s more to the story Brian.� She said once they broke apart and looked at Nick. �A lot more.�
