�Bye Mom, have fun!� Melissa watched as her mother pulled out of the driveway.
She went to the living room and sat down on the sofa. She reached for a magazine on the table and looked through it.
Knock�knock.
Melissa got up and answered the door.
�Sam hi, come in!� Samantha came in and followed Melissa into the living room.
�What brings you here?�
�Your mom.�
�My mom, but she�s having dinner at the Carters�.�
�Yeah I know, she called me.�
�Let me guess. She didn�t want me to be by myself, so she called you to baby sit me?�
�Mel, you know it isn�t like that. She�s just concerned.�
�I know, I shouldn�t be surprised.
�I�m shocked she didn�t call Brian too.�
�She did, he�s renting some movies and getting some food.� Melissa just laughed.
�Come on, let�s sit down and talk before Brian gets here. We have so much to catch up on!�
�Yes, we do. I want to hear all about you and Brian!� Melissa said as they sat down on the plush couch.
�I have the movies!� Brian announced entering the house.
�I guess it will have to wait, but we will catch up!� Samantha stated and then greeted Brian.
�Where�s the food?� She asked him.
�It is on its way.� Brian kissed her then embraced Melissa. �Hi Mel.�
�Hi Brian, so what movies did you pick?�
�We have Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Scream, Saw��
�Do you have anything that doesn�t show blood and guts?� Samantha asked crossing her arms.
�I know you would ask me that, so I picked out Wedding Crashers!�
�We are watching this.� Samantha snatched the video from him and entered the living room.
�She never lets me have any fun.� Melissa laughed at Brian. She was so glad he was here; he could always make her smile.
Knock�knock.
�That should be the food, Mel can you get it.�
�Sure Brian.� Melissa opened the door and saw Nick standing there.
�Hi Mel.�
�Hi.�
�Is it okay that I�m here?� No, every time I see you, I remember what we shared.
�Yeah, come in.� Nick joined Samantha and Brian in the living room.
�Are you okay?� Samantha asked her.
�I�m going to kill your boyfriend.�
�Get in line; I�ve wanted to do that numerous times.� Melissa smiled at her.
�Come on, we are going to have fun tonight.� Fun, somehow
Melissa didn�t think that would happen.
�Okay what�s next?� Brian asked after they finished Wedding Crashers.
�I�m not watching something bloody.� Samantha stated removing the tape from the VCR.
�So what are we suppose to watch then?�
�Well had you picked something out that didn�t involve blood and guts we wouldn�t be having this problem.�
�Corners you two! How about a compromise?� Melissa asked walking over to the entertainment system.
�How about a movie that is suspenseful, but isn�t gory? Like What Lies Beneath?�
�We can watch that.� Samantha replied.
�I think we have it. It should be in one of these drawers.� She said looking through another drawer.
�Let me help.� Samantha started digging in another drawer.
�Mel, what�s this?� She asked holding up an unmarked tape.
�I don�t know, only one way to find out.� Melissa said placing the tape into the VCR and pushing play.
An image appeared on the screen of the four friends. They were dressed in their caps and gowns for graduation.
�This was our high school graduation.� Samantha said as her and Melissa sat down on the floor in front of the TV.
�These are the graduates!� Melissa�s mom echoed as the camera zoomed in on them. The video next went to the actual graduation, following all the friends as they accepted their diplomas.
�We look so young! Look at my hair!� Brian laughed.
�I can�t believe that was over two years ago.� Nick stated.
�What is your message for Mel on her graduation day?� Kathleen asked.
�Congrats Mel! I can�t believe we graduated!� Brian said with a big grin on his face.
�We love you, girl! Can�t wait to have an amazing summer with you and Nick!� Samantha smiled.
�CLASS OF 2001!� Brian and Samantha yelled together.
�You two crack me up!� Melissa said looking at them.
Nick appeared on the screen next, giving his message to Melissa.
�Mel, what can I say? You are my best friend and I know you�ll always be there for me. You were the first girl I kissed and I know I�ll always love you. You�re my heart, I love you.�
Melissa looked over at Nick as he glanced over at her. She wanted to believe everything he said on the tape, but so much has happened. Him cheating, her leaving town, her dad dying, there was no way she could get pass all that.
�Mel.� Melissa quickly turned and faced the TV when she heard his voice. �Dad.�
�Today is one of the happiest days for your mother and me. We got to see our baby girl graduate from high school. In time we will see you graduate from college, get married, and have children of your own.�
Tears fell from her eyes, seeing her dad on the screen. She was so wrapped in the tape that she didn�t noticed them rolling down her cheeks.
�We love you honey! Congrats!�
The screen when blank and left an eerie silence in the room. Everyone looked over at Melissa. She could feel their eyes on her. She touched her face and realized she was crying.
�Mel.� Samantha reached over and touched her hand.
�I need some air, excuse me.� She quickly got up and went out the front door.
�Someone should go after her.� Brian stated walking over to Samantha.
Nick got up and left before they could say anything else. She needed him even though she wouldn�t admit it.
He saw her sitting on the porch steps with her head resting against her knees. He could hear her sobs. Nick wanted to just hold her, just take her in his arms and never let her go.
�Mel.� He said sitting next to her.
She turned her head away from him and wiped away her tears. She didn�t want him to see her cry.
�I promised myself I wouldn�t cry. I was doing so well, and then I saw my dad and I lost it.�
�There�s nothing wrong with crying. You lost someone you loved.�
�Have you lost anyone you loved? Were they ripped from you before you got a chance to say goodbye?�
Nick wanted to say yes, that was how he felt when she disappeared. He loved her and just then she was gone, without a chance for him to explain. However, he knew this wasn�t the time for that conservation, so he shook his head.
�Then you can�t possibly know what it feels like to lose someone you love.� She stated standing up, feeling the need to move.
�Then tell me.�
�You can�t believe they�re gone. You still think they are going to show up like nothing has happened.�
�Is that how you feel?�
�I feel like all my memories of my dad are slowly slipping away. I�m worried about my mother being alone. I�m worried that she�ll never get over losing him. I�m worried; I�m worried that I won�t be able to deal with losing someone else I love again.�
Nick was confused. Who else did she lose? Her grandparents died when she was very young. Plus her dad was an only child, so who could she be talking about?
�Mel, who else did you lose?�
�What?�
�You said you�re worried about dealing with losing someone else you love. Who is it?�
�You must have misunderstood me.�
Nick stood up and walked over to her. He looked straight into her eyes.
�I know you are lying. Who were you talking about?�
�You are so stubborn. It isn�t any of your business.�
�I�m not the only one who is stubborn. Why won�t you tell me? Is it some guy you met in Chicago?� He asked feeling angry, thinking of someone else holding her.
�Go to hell Nick! It is none of your damn business who I dated in Chicago.�
�So it is a guy from Chicago.�
�I�m not going to listen to this. You have no right to ask me this. You lost your right the minute you climbed into bed with Paige!�
�I was waiting for when you would bring that up.�
�I�m leaving.� She headed to the door, but he stopped her by grabbing her arm. He took a deep breath and then looked at her.
�I�m sorry. You�re right I have no right to ask you about the guys you dated.�
Melissa removed her arm from his grasp and went into the house. Once she entered, Brian and Samantha were there to greet her.
�Is everything okay?� Samantha asked.
She couldn�t stay there; she needed some space from everyone. Melissa entered the kitchen and pulled open a drawer. Finally she found what she was looking for. She grabbed the keys to her old car and headed for the door.
�Mel, where are you going?� Brian asked as she walked past him.
�Mel, where are you going?� Nick asked as she exited the house.
�I told you I�m leaving.�
�You aren�t going anywhere!� Nick once again grabbed her arm.
�Don�t touch me. You aren�t my boyfriend, you aren�t my friend. So you have no choice in what I do!�
�Mel, at least tell me where you�re going!�
�I don�t have to tell you a damn thing.� She turned to leave, but stopped and looked at him.
�Just so you know, the person I was talking about, the other person I lost�it was you.� She got into her car and left.
Nick let what she said sink in. Me? The person she loved that she lost was me?! Damn it, she was opening up to me and I got angry! I need to find her! He got into his car and pulled out of the driveway.
