The guys had to get back to work and Samantha decided to head home, but wanted Melissa to call her with details. Melissa took Jenny and Gavin inside.
�Mom, we have visitors.� Melissa stated as they entered her house.
�Jenny! What in the world are you doing here?�
�Hi Aunt Kathleen. I decided I wanted to come and visit you and Mel. This is Gavin. He is a friend of mine and Mel�s.� Kathleen looked over at her daughter, who was lost in thought.
�Nice to meet you, Gavin.�
�Nice to meet you too, Mrs. Barnes.�
�Oh please call me Kathleen.� Gavin nodded.
�How long are you two staying?�
�We don�t know just yet.�
�I bet your mother is happy that you are back in town.� Kathleen said drying the dishes she had washed.
�Well, she doesn�t know I�m in town.� Jenny stated softly.
�Jennifer Colleen Paulson.�
�I know Aunt Kathleen, I�m going to see her, but I wanted to see Mel first.�
�Where are you guys going to stay?� Melissa asked finally coming back to reality.
�We are going to stay at my house. I�m sure my mom won�t mind.�
�You better head over there before she finds you are in town and didn�t tell her first.�
�You�re right. Come on Gavin. Mel, I�ll call you later.� She gave her cousin a quick hug.
�Bye Mel.� Gavin said with a smile and then followed Jenny out the door.
�Okay, do you want to tell me what is going on?�
Nick didn�t know what to think. First when Melissa came back, he didn�t think he could get her to be his friend, let alone have her open her heart to him again. Then things started to happen between them, she was opening up to him, getting close. But now, this guy was here and he changed everything. Did Melissa have feelings for him? It was obvious that he had feelings for her; he made that well known with his comment. So where did he stand with Melissa?
�Nick, can you hand me the hammer?� Brian asked holding up a piece of wood.
�What Brian?�
�Hammer, can you hand it to me?�
�Yeah, here.� Nick gave him the hammer.
�Are you okay?�
�Yeah, I�m fine.�
�That was believable.� Brian stated before hammering a nail into the wood. �Nick, I know you are upset about that guy being here.�
�No, really Brian I�m fine.�
�Sure Nick.� Brian continued to do his work, knowing Nick was lying.
�I met Gavin after a year of being in Chicago. Jenny and I met him at this caf� we go to regularly. He introduced himself and he joined us. We starting spending time together and we became friends. That�s it.� Melissa said sitting down at the dining table with her back towards Kathleen.
�Mel honey, that isn�t it. Gavin is here for a reason, isn�t he?� Melissa hated that her mother could read her like a book. She couldn�t keep anything from her, well almost anything.
�Jenny told me that Gavin has feelings for me and that is why he came to Fairview.�
�And?� Kathleen asked with her hand on her hip.
�And what?� Melissa stood up and faced her mother.
�What do you feel for Gavin?�
�I don�t know mom. I had no idea Gavin had feelings for me. I thought we were just friends, nothing more.�
�Alright, what about Nick?�
�Mom.�
�Honey.� Kathleen walked over to her daughter. �You have two men who have feelings for you. You just can�t do nothing.�
�I don�t know what to do. I don�t know what I feel. Damn it, I am really regretting coming back to Fairview.� Kathleen gave her daughter a hug. �Give yourself some time. You don�t have to make a choice this minute. But you can�t hide anymore honey.�
Later that night as Melissa tried to sleep, her mind kept racing. Nothing made sense to her. Just when everything seemed to clear, something else happened.
Just as she had dealt with what happened with Nick, she found out her dad had died. Just as she had dealt with her past, her present interrupted.
After tossing and turning for an hour, Melissa got out of bed and got dressed. She needed to clear her head and there was only one place she could go. Softly, she grabbed her keys and exited the house.
It was hard to believe that this place brought her clarity, but somehow it did. She had finally reached his grave. Slowly she sat down on the grass, facing the tombstone.
�Hi papa. It�s Mel. I bet you�re wondering what I�m doing here so late at night.�
�I like an answer to that.� Nick appeared from the darkness.
�Nick, what are you doing here?�
�Well, I couldn�t sleep so; I thought I would stop by and see your dad.� Melissa then noticed he was holding some flowers.
�Are those for my dad?�
�Yes, here. I�ll leave so you can have some time with your dad.�
�Nick, wait.� She said standing up. For some reason, she wanted him there.
She didn�t understand why, maybe it was the fact he came to see her father or that he brought him flowers, she didn�t know. All she did know is she wanted him there with her.
�Can you please stay with me?�
�Sure.� He walked back over to her and they both sat down. Melissa laid the flowers down on the tombstone. He just watched her, everyday she got more and more beautiful.
�Do you remember the time my dad caught me sneaking out to meet up with you?� Nick smiled at the memory that entered his head. �Yes. I knew something was wrong when you called me crying.�
�I was so worried that he would forbid me to see you.� She stated looking at him.
�But he didn�t.�
�No, he didn�t, however he did call your parents.�
�And we all sat down and had a long talk.�
�I was so embarrassed.�
�You? After the big talk, my dad pulled me off to the side and asked me if we were sleeping together. Then he gave me the birds and bees talk, telling me that I shouldn�t rush into anything.� Melissa started laughing.
�What is so funny?�
�It�s just the fact that when he had that talk with you, we were already sleeping together. So it really didn�t do any good.� Nick started to smile. �Yeah, but at least we got to still see each other. Your dad was strict, but fair.�
�Yeah, he was good like that.� Suddenly she got quiet and bowed her head. Nick couldn�t see her face.
�Mel.� He asked brushing back her hair, so he could see her face.
She faced him with tears in her eyes. �I miss him so much, Nick. I don�t know how to stop missing him.�
Nick wrapped an arm around her shoulders. �Mel, I don�t think you will ever stop missing him.�
�How do I get through this?�
�Well, you cry, talk, scream, whatever you need to do. Just don�t keep them bottled up; it will only make it worse.�
Melissa wiped a tear away and looked at him. �Do you know from experience?� She didn�t know why she asked that, the words just came out of her mouth.
�Honestly?� Melissa nodded her head and look at her father�s grave. �When I found out you were gone, I didn�t know what to do. I didn�t eat, sleep, or work. I just stayed home, thinking about you and how I screwed up everything. Brian finally knocked some sense into me and I tried to move on with my life.�
�Did you move on?� She asked realizing how close they were. She could feel his breath on her neck.
�No, I didn�t, not completely. I moved forward, but I couldn�t forget you. You were always in my mind. I don�t think there was a day that I didn�t think about you, what you were doing, if you were okay, happy.� Melissa looked at him as she felt her heart race. �I�m so sorry Mel, for everything I put you through. If I could change it I would. I didn�t want things to end up like this. You and me distant, not able to stay in the same room together.� He looked into her deep brown eyes, getting lost in them.
�Nick, I don�t want that either. I think we can work our way back to being friends. It will just take time.�
�What if I want more?�
�What do you mean?� Nick leaned in and softly kissed her. Slowly he pulled back and looked at her. When she didn�t respond, he feared the worst.
�Mel, I�m sorry. I shouldn�t have done that, it just I have all these unresolved feelings for you. And then being so close�� Melissa captured him in a kiss. His whole body came alive as the kiss deepened. Everything he had felt for her was coming to the surface. Holding her, kissing her, feeling her close to his body, it was like he was in heaven.
Gradually, Melissa pulled away and looked at him. She couldn�t believe that she had done that. Something came over her and she needed to feel his lips again. She had become so familiar to his touch, his kiss, but this time it was all new and yet comforting. Like she was meant to kiss him, be in his arms. When he didn�t say anything and just looked at her, Melissa freaked.
�I should get home; I don�t want my mother to worry.� She said standing up.
�Mel, stop.�
�No, Nick its okay. I really need to go.� She walked away to only be pulled back by Nick. Once she was in his arms, he kissed her once again. He could feel her return the kiss and wrap her arms around his neck.
Every feeling that she had for Nick came back to her, making her feel lightheaded. However, it reminded Melissa what had caused her to leave Fairview too. Nick in bed with Paige. Suddenly she pulled away, Nick looked at her confused.
�Mel? What�s wrong?�
�I can�t do this. This was a mistake, we shouldn�t have done this.�
�No, this wasn�t a mistake. This was real, what we have is real.�
�Nick, that was two years ago, so much has changed. So much that you don�t know about.�
�Then tell me Mel, tell me everything. I don�t want to live without you in my life.� He touched her cheek. �I know you feel something because I felt it when we kissed. Please tell me I�m not wrong; please tell me you feel something for me.�
Tears appeared in her eyes, she was so confused. She didn�t know what or how she should feel. She had feelings for Nick, strong ones, but she didn�t know if they were strong enough to get pass the past. Then there was Gavin. Gavin had been there for her all the times she needed him. He was loyal, kind, and most importantly trusting. That was something she didn�t know if she could do with Nick. Trust him.
�I don�t know how I feel Nick. So much is going on in my life and I can�t rush into any decisions right now.�
Nick sighed and turned his head away from her. She knew he was upset and didn�t want her to see. �I understand Mel. I just need you to know something.� She looked at him. �I will wait for how ever long you need me to. I want you back. I want a second chance.� He kissed her forehead and headed to the parking lot. Nick got into his car and drove away.
Once he was gone, Melissa fell to the ground, crying. �Papa, please help me! What do I do? Who do I choose?�
