�How did you think of Fairview fair for our date?� Melissa asked as she and Gavin walked through the maze of people.
�Well, I know that you would rather go somewhere fun instead of going to some stuffy restaurant. So I figured what would be more fun than a fair.�
�I�m glad you thought of this. I definitely need to have some fun tonight.�
Gavin stopped her, making her face him. �That will be my mission tonight. No tears, yelling, or sadness, just adolescent fun!� Melissa just smiled at him. She needed this and she wasn�t going to think about Nick or Jenny. Tonight was meant for fun. �So where do we go first?�
�Rides!�
�Hey honey.� Rachel stated as she spotted her only daughter sitting on the couch, reading a magazine.
�Hi.� She said softly. Rachel noticed that her daughter was troubled.
�Jen, are you upset about Mel?� Rachel sat down in the reclining chair next to the couch.
Jenny threw down the magazine and looked at her mother. �How could she yell at me like that?�
�Honey, it wasn�t your place to tell Nick about Mel�s date.�
�I know that mom, but I don�t want Mel anywhere near Nick. That jerk hurt her so badly; I don�t ever want to see my cousin like that again.�
�I know you are coming from a good place, but you have to see it through Mel�s eyes. She had to come back to home because of her father�s death. If that isn�t hard enough, then she has to deal with this past that she never dealt with. She is trying to get through everyday without breaking down.�
�I know how hard this is for her, mom. That is why I want to make sure Nick doesn�t trap her again.�
�Sweetie, what you should be doing is standing behind Mel. Be there for her when she needs you, not making more problems for her.�
�I guess you�re right.�
�I know I am, I�m a mother. We know everything.� Rachel smiled then stood up. �Try not to worry Jen. Mel has a lot of people looking out for her. You, me, her mother, her friends, she has a lot support to lean on.�
�You are crazy!� Gavin laughed at her.
�What is so crazy about that?� Melissa and Gavin went on a ride that flipped them upside down, having only their legs strapped in, she never held onto the bar.
�Weren�t you scared?�
�When I was younger, you couldn�t get me on rides like that. But when I got older, I just seemed to let go. You should try it, it can be a rush!�
�That�s okay, I hold onto the bar.�
�Chicken!�
�I�m a chicken now?� Gavin smiled.
�Yup, you are a big feathered chicken!� She couldn�t hold her grin and burst into laughter. Gavin grabbed her from behind and wouldn�t let go.
�Say, I�m not a chicken.� Melissa shook her head no. �Well then I�m going to have to do this!� He started to tickle her as she struggled to break away.
�Okay, you aren�t a chicken.� Gavin turned her so she was facing him, but his arms were still around her waist.
�I�m glad you agree with me.� They kept looking at each other as Gavin leaned down to her.
�Melissa!� Gavin hung his head in defeat and she just smiled at him. He released her so she could see who called her name. An elderly woman slowly approached them.
�Melissa, it has been so long since I have seen you.�
�Hi Mrs. Russell, it is good to see you. How is Mr. Russell?�
�He is doing well; he is looking at the new tractors in one of the barns. You have grown up to be a beautiful woman.�
�Yes, she has.� Gavin stated looking at her.
�Oh, I�m so sorry. Mrs. Russell, this is Gavin.�
�It is nice to meet you Gavin.�
�Likewise.�
�Mrs. Russell use to baby sit me and Jenny when we were younger.�
�This one was an angel. Your cousin could be a hand full sometimes.�
�She is still that way.�
�Well, I don�t want to keep you, but I wanted to apologize to you and your family.�
Melissa looked confused. �What would you have to apologize for?�
�We were out of town and couldn�t attend your father�s funeral. He was a wonderful man and he will be truly missed.�
Melissa�s eyes started to tear up just hearing Mrs. Russell mention her father, but she fought them back. �Thank you.�
�I�m going to see if I can find my husband. You two have a fun.� Mrs. Russell disappeared into the crowd.
�You okay?� Gavin asked facing her.
�How do I do this? How do I go on with my life knowing that I�ll never see my father again?� Tears rolled down her cheek.
�Come here.� Gavin wrapped her in his arms as she cried into his chest.
�I�m so sorry. This night was supposed to be fun and I�m ruining it by crying.� She stated wiping away her tears.
�Mel, don�t ever apologize for missing your dad. I know what you are going through, it isn�t easy. I want you to know if you ever need someone to talk to or need a shoulder to cry, I�m always here for you.�
�Thank you Gavin, so much.�
�Let�s have some fun. We aren�t leaving here without me winning you a prize. Come on!� Gavin took her hand in his and led her to a game booth.
�I love you too. Bye honey.� Brian said over the phone to Samantha. Brian noticed Nick sitting on the couch deep in thought.
�Hey man, you okay?�
�Yeah, can�t you tell? I�m great. The woman I love is out on a date with some guy.� Nick stated sarcastically. Brian joined him on the couch.
�It doesn�t mean anything Nick.�
�It means she is on a date with Gavin.�
Brian sighed and turned to look at him. �I know this is hard on you, but you don�t know what�s going on in Mel�s head.�
�I use to be able to read her like a book, but now I look into her eyes and I see emptiness.�
�Nick, she just lost her father in a car accident. She had to come back home and face her demons. It is understandable for her to be lost.�
�When she first left, I wished everyday for a chance to make it right again with her. I finally have a chance and I feel like I�m losing her all over again.� Nick ran a hand through his hair.
�All I can tell you man, is don�t give up. You have something that Gavin doesn�t.�
Nick faced him. �What�s that?�
�You have Mel�s past.�
�We have a winner!� The man behind the booth yelled. �What prize would you like?�
Gavin looked at Melissa. �You pick!�
She gazed over all the prize till her eyes landed on a giant light colored bear with a green bow tied around his neck. �That one.� She pointed to the bear. The man grabbed it and then handed it to her.
�Thank you so much Gavin. He is so adorable.� She smiled looking at the bear as they walked.
�No thanks needed, your smile is enough for me.� He gave her a quick smile and enclosed her hand in his.
When he smiled at her, something inside her jumped. She didn�t know if it was how comforting his words were or that she felt safe with him. She just felt at peace around him, like she could stop running.
Knock�knock. Jenny got up and answered the door. �Hi Aunt Kathleen, what are you doing here?� She asked letting her in and closing the door behind her.
�Your mother and I are having dinner together. Would you like to join us?�
�What about Mel?�
�She is still out on her date. I don�t expect her back till late.�
�Hey sis, ready to go?� Rachel asked entering the room.
�Yup, I was just asking Jenny if she wants to join us.� Rachel looked over at her daughter, who had a smirk on her face. She knew that smirk anywhere. Behind that smirk, Jenny�s mind was working overtime. And Rachel bet it had to do with her niece.
�Jen? Do you want to come with us?�
�Yes, suddenly I�m really hungry.� Rachel, Kathleen, and Jenny gather their things and headed out the door.
�Mom? Mom, are you home?� Melissa said opening the front door. �I don�t think she�s home. Come on in.� Gavin walked in and she closed the door. They went into the kitchen and she opened the freezer.
�Okay, do you want French vanilla or chocolate?� After eating funnel cakes and cheese curds at the fair, Melissa had a craving for ice cream.
�Chocolate.�
�A man after my own heart, I love anything with chocolate.�
�That is good for future reference.� Melissa just smiled and grabbed two bowls out of the cabinet. She scooped out ice cream into the bowls and then put it back in the freezer.
�Let�s eat it in the family room.� Gavin followed her and they sat down on the sofa.
�What�s this?� He asked sitting down his bowl and picking up an album.
She took it from him and opened it. �It�s a photo album; my mother must have been looking at it earlier.� She flipped a couple of pages. �That�s Jenny and me with Mrs. Russell. She pointed to the photo.
�You were cute. How old were you then?� He asked looking at the photo.
�Probably four or five. Mrs. Russell was a fun baby sitter. She would play house with us and make rice krispies treats, but when her soaps came on it was naptime. And you better not make any noise!� Melissa stated with a laugh.
�What about this one? Who are those people?� He pointed to the photo next to the last one.
�That�s Sam, Brian, Nick, and me on our first day of school. Our parents made a big fuss about it.�
�You guys did really grow up together.�
�Yeah, we were inseparable.�
Nick was laying on his bed, staring at the ceiling. As much as he tried not to, his mind kept thinking about Melissa. It was killing him to think of her with Gavin, laughing, smiling, and maybe even kissing him. He quickly sat up and tried to rid his mind of that thought.
Brian�s words kept echoing in his head. You have Mel�s past. They had years of memories together, which was something that Gavin didn�t have. He didn�t know that when she got nervous, she would run her hand through her hair. He didn�t know that she was scared of the dark till she was six. He didn�t know that she cried for three days straight when she lost her cat, Whiskers. He didn�t know anything about her.
�Why does my head believe that, but my heart doesn�t?� He asked himself. He let go a frustrated breath and laid back down. He turned his head towards his night stand. He slowly opened it and dug around till he found it.
He looked at the photo. It was taken at their senior prom. Melissa wore a seafoam green dress. He could remember how beautiful she looked, he felt so lucky to be taking her to the prom as his date. They danced the night away with their friends and stayed out all night long. It was an amazing night. More than anything the night was amazing because she was with him. If it had been anyone else, it wouldn�t have been the same. She was the reason it was amazing.
�I won�t let go Mel.� He said touching the photo. �I can�t let go.�
