�I love you too mom. I�ll talk to you later.� Melissa said just as Julie and Jonathon entered the room. They smiled to her as they sat next to her on the bed.
�How�s mom?� Jonathon asked.
�She and my dad are doing fine. They are so happy about the engagement and they have no idea about Adam.�
�You didn�t tell them?� Julie asked.
�No, I don�t want to worry them. They have been through enough because of me.�
�Mel, none of this is your fault!� Jonathon proclaimed.
Melissa stood up and removed her suitcase from the closet. She placed it on the bed and walked over to the dresser. �It�s my fault that Nick hates me!�
�He doesn�t hate you Mel. He�s just hurt that you didn�t tell him the truth.� Jonathon stated walking over to her.
�I actually thought for a moment that I could have this wonderful life with Nick. That finally for once nothing bad would happen, but once again I�m wrong.� She gathered some of her clothes and laid them in the suitcase. �I lost everything that meant something to me. I lost Nick and I lost the future I could have with him.�
Julie joined Jonathon and Melissa by the dresser. �You didn�t lose us! We will always be your best friends. And if you are leaving, so are we!� Melissa looked over at Jonathon who was shaking his head in agreement.
�Thank you guys, I�m so glad I have you two.� They hugged.
�We will get through this together. We�ll go pack and meet you downstairs, okay?� Jonathon asked her.
Melissa simply nodded and then they left to pack.
�Nick, what the hell are you doing?� Brian asked.
�Brian she lied to me for months about Adam. I just can�t forget that!�
�Nick, she didn�t lie, she was shielding you from a man who honestly is dangerous. Can you really blame her for that?� Leighanne asked.
�That is what Mel does, she thinks she needs to protect everyone, but she should have told me!�
�Okay, you are right Nick, she should have told you, but that didn�t happen. Right now you have a fianc�e who is upstairs packing because she thinks you don�t love her. Are you just going to let her go?� Kevin questioned him.
�Nick, we all know you love her, we have seen that love. Are you going to let her leave after what you two have shared?� Howie asked.
�Stop it; you guys should be on my side, not hers!�
�Nick it isn�t about sides, it�s about your love for Mel. Can you honestly tell me that you can just let her go? That you won�t miss her? If you won�t, then by all means, let her go. But if what you told me about your feelings for her are true then you will go up there and fix this now!� Brian stated touching Nick�s shoulder.
Melissa placed the last of her clothing in the suitcase and zipped it up. She took one last look at the room. One last thing she had to do before she left. She walked over to the dresser and glanced at her hand.
�I�m so sorry Nick; I should have told you all of the truth. I just couldn�t watch another person I loved get hurt because of me. It�s probably better this way, with me gone Adam will leave you alone.� She started to cry as she touched the ring to remove it.
�Don�t.� Nick said walking into the room. �Don�t leave me, don�t remove your ring.� Melissa didn�t say anything; she didn�t know what to say. Nick closed the door and walked over to her. �Angel, I�m sorry for how I reacted. I should have never yelled at you. I was hurt that you didn�t think you could trust me with the whole truth.�
�Nick, I trust you with my life. I didn�t tell you the truth because I was scared. Scared of how you would react, scared of what you would think of me.�
�I love you Mel, nothing and no one can change that. I asked you to marry me because I want a life with you. That includes good and bad times. So please stay for me, for us!�
�I want to Nick, god I really want to, but��
�No, stay with me, marry me.� He stated as he caressed her cheek.
�He won�t stop till he gets what he wants. He�ll do whatever it takes and that means hurting you.�
�Mel, I�m more worried about you. He tried to kill you.�
�Nick, I know Adam better than you do. He likes to play games, to control people, and when that doesn�t work, he takes his anger out on them. I saw it with me and with my father. I can�t and I won�t lose you.�
�I�m not going anywhere; I�m staying right by your side.�
Melissa walked away from him. �Nick you don�t understand, Adam will kill you if you get in his way! I won�t survive without you!� She cried. Nick walked over and pulled her into his arms. She cried as he held her against him.
�Nothing�s going to happen to me and nothing�s going to happen to you.� After some time had passed, Melissa pulled away from his embrace. Nick wiped away the tears that lay on her face.
�Now, I think we better get you unpacked.� Nick opened her suitcase and started to put away her clothes.
�Nick.�
�No, Mel for once will you let someone protect you?� She smiled at him and nodded.
Ring�Ring�Ring.
Melissa walked over to her cell phone and answered it. �Hello?�
�Well, hello sweetheart.�
