�You are going to be fine.� The cut wasn�t very deep so you won�t need stitches.� However, I would take it easy; you still suffer some blood lost.�� The nurse stated as she cleaned Melissa�s wound on her neck.
�What about Nick?� Is he okay?�
�Mr. Carter?�� The nurse asked.� �He�s fine, though his cut was deeper.� He did need stitches, but he will be fine.��
�Can I see him?�
�Sure, let me finish with your bandage and then I�ll take you to him.�� The nurse secured the bandage with medical tape and made sure it stuck.� �Okay, follow me.�
Melissa followed her down a hallway to a room.� �Stay here, I want to make sure the doctor is finished with him.�� The nurse entered the room, leaving Melissa outside.� She leaned against the wall, taking in all that happened.� What in the world caused Gary to break into her house and cut her and Nick?� None of this made any sense, but she knew it was thanks to Nick that she was okay.� He saved her life again; he had a knack for that lately, being there when she needed him.
�You can go in and see him now.�� The nurse stated bringing her out of her thoughts.
�Thank you.�� Melissa watched the nurse walk down the hallway and disappear.� She opened the door and entered the small room.
He was sitting on the edge of the examining table, touching the large bandage that was covering his left arm.� He looked up and smiled at her.
�Are you okay?�� He asked.
No words would come out of her mouth; she needed to touch him to know that he was okay.� She walked over to him and quickly hugged him.� Melissa felt his arms go around her.� She let go of the breath she had been holding and closed her eyes.� The feeling of being in his arms, she will never forget that feeling.� Serenity and love.
�Are you okay?�� He asked again, worried that something was wrong.
Melissa pulled away enough to see his face, but she was still in his arms.� Something took a hold of her and she leaned in and kissed him.� Nick returned the kiss as his hands ran up into her hair.� Slowly they pulled apart, breathlessly.
�What was that?�
�I�m sorry something just came over me.�� Melissa replied brushing back a loose strand of hair.
�Don�t apologize, I liked it.�
Melissa laughed at him.
�Are you okay, really?� He asked touching her cheek with his hand.
�You are the one with stitches and you are asking me if I�m okay?�
�I can�t help it, I care about you.�
�I�m okay.� What about you?� Does it hurt?�� She touched his bandaged arm.
�It�s a little bit sore, but the doctors said it will be like for awhile.�
�Are they releasing you today?�
�Yeah, I just need to sign my release papers.�� Nick stood up from the table.
�Good, I wouldn�t be able to take it if��
�Mel, we need to talk about something��
Knock�knock.
�Mr. Carter.�� The same nurse that escorted Melissa to Nick�s room entered the room.� �I have your release papers ready for you at the nurses� station.�
�Okay.�� He looked at Melissa.
�Go ahead, I�ll wait here.�
Nick smiled at her and then left with the nurse.� Melissa sat down on one of the chairs in the room.� She didn�t know what came over her. She knew that was a lie, as much as she wanted to deny it, she knew what came over her.� Love, she loved Nick and probably always would.� And seeing him get slashed with that knife, she could feel her heart just drop.
�Quit resisting.�
Melissa could hear noises on the outside of the room and she exited to see what all the commotion was.
�I told you to stop resisting.�� The tall red headed police officer stated to Gary.
�I would if you would let go of my arm.�� Gary struggled with the officer till he noticed Melissa was watching.� �Well, well, what do we have here?�
�Looks like a felon to me.�� She replied with her arms crossed.� �What is he doing here?��
�We had the doctors check him over before we take him to jail.�
�How is Carter?�� Gary laughed as he looked at Melissa.�
�Why did you break into my house?� Because you hate Nick, is that why you did all of this?�� Melissa asked keeping her distance from him.
�Ask Carter, he knows why I did this.�
�What does that mean?�
�The fire at your house, it wasn�t an accident.�� Gary smirked.� �It was arson and your loverboy knew along.�
�No, he would have��� Melissa paused and then looked at one of the officers.� �Is that true?� Was it arson?�
�I�m afraid so, Ms. Barnes.� It is all in the report that the fire marshal did.�
Melissa felt her body go limp as she leaned up against the wall.
�I�m sorry Ms. Barnes, but we need to get him to the jail and book him.�
She didn�t hear a word the officer said, her thoughts had consumed her. Nick had lied to her again. She had almost died in that fire, how could he not tell her that it was arson?
Melissa was feeling faint as her back was firmly up against the wall.
�Mel, are you okay?�� Nick asked as he quickly moved towards her.
�Don�t.�
�Mel.�
�How could you not tell me?�
�What are you talking about?�
�Gary was the one who set the fire to my house that almost killed me and you knew all long didn�t you?�� She stood straight up and looked at him.� �Didn�t you?�
Nick bowed his head.� �Yes, I knew.� I was on my way to tell you.�
�And that makes this all okay?� Look at me, Nick.� I have a gash on my neck; you have a large cut on your arm.� Either one of us could have been killed.�
�I should have told you, but you were in the hospital and then you told me you loved me.� I didn�t want��
Melissa cut him off.� �You didn�t want to what Nick?�
�I didn�t want to lose you.�
Melissa laughed as she ran her hand through her hair.� She took a deep breath and let it go.
�The police are positive it is Gary who started the fire?�
�They have his fingerprint on a top part of a lighter, but they are looking for the actual lighter to prove it was him.�� He slowly approached her.� �I just found that out today and I was going to tell you today, that�s the truth.�
�The truth?�� Melissa laughed once again.� �How could you possibly know what the truth is when you constantly lying?�� She reached into her pocket and handed him the melted metal.� �The police are looking for that.�
She turned to leave, but stopped with her back to him.� �You saved my life and I will never forget that, but I�ll never forget all of your lies either.�
�Mel, Mel, oh my god!�� Kathleen came rushing into the hospital and ran to her daughter.� �Are you okay?�
�I�m fine, mom.�
Just then she saw the bandage over her daughter�s neck.� �What happened?��
�I�ll explain later, can we go home?�� Melissa asked moving her mother�s hands from her wound.
�Sure, honey.�� Kathleen glanced over at Nick.� She could tell by the look of hurt on his face that Melissa and he had a fight.� As they walked out, Kathleen looked over her shoulder at Nick.� His eyes never left Melissa as they left.� Her heart broke for him.
�Wait, let me get this straight!�� Jenny stated pacing in Melissa�s bedroom.� �The fire wasn�t an accident, instead it was arson.� And it was that Gary guy that worked for Nick�s dad construction company that started it?�
�Yes.�
�And Nick knew about all of this from the beginning?�
�He said he found out about the arson when I was in the hospital.�
Jenny sat down next to her cousin on the queen sized mattress.� �What about the fact that Gary was the one who started it?�
�He found that out on the same day Gary attacked me.�
�But he was on his way to come and tell you about it, right?�
�That�s what he said.�
�Wow, you don�t live a dull life.�
Melissa gave her cousin a dirty look.
�Sorry, do you believe Nick?�
Melissa stood up and walked over to her vanity.� �Which part?�
�All of it.�
�Nick has told so many lies I don�t even think he know what the truth is.�� Melissa removed a corner of her bandage to reveal her scar.� She was healing pretty well and soon the wound wouldn�t be noticeable.
�I don�t believe that.� I think he was trying to protect you.�
Melissa laid the bandage back down, making sure it stuck.� �I can�t believe what I�m hearing.�
�What?�� Jenny asked laying back on Melissa�s bed.
�You defending Nick.�
�I�m not defending him; I just understand where he is coming from.�� Jenny scooted to the end of the bed. �He cares about you so much and he wanted to do whatever it takes to save you from more hurt and pain.� I can relate to that.�
�Jen.�� Melissa stated facing her with her weight leaning against the vanity.
�No really Mel, when I came to town I was determined to make sure Nick didn�t pull you back in.� I found ways to hurt him and make him aware that he had no future with you.� I wanted to protect you from the pain.�
�The pain he inflicted.�
�Did Nick hurt you? Yes, but he loves you so much.� I never saw that kind of love in my life.�
�What are you talking?�
�I saw you and Nick at your mother�s party.� In my whole life, I never saw you as happy as you were with him.�� She patted the mattress, asking for her cousin to sit next to her.� Melissa joined her.� �You had this huge smile on your face that didn�t disappear all night.�
�I was happy, but I was living a lie.�
�It wasn�t just that.� I saw something in your eyes that changed my opinion about your relationship with Nick.� I saw this shine, sparkle.� You were a completely different person when you were with him.� You were happy, yes, but you seemed�at peace.� Like you had waited for that moment all your life and you had finally reached.� And everything seemed right in the world.�
�And in a matter of minutes, that moment turned from happiness to heartbreak.� I don�t understand what you are doing, Jen.� For years you hated Nick and now you are singing his praise.�
�No, that�s not it, I finally realized something.� I don�t know when it all happened.� If it was years ago or just recently, but I finally realized what has stopped you from being happy.�
Melissa leaned back, resting against the oak bed post.� �And what is that?�
�You.�
