“Aj?” Melody murmured, sitting up with a splitting headache. She felt someone pushing her back down onto the couch.
“Aj’s gone dear. You don’t look well, you need to rest. Your father and I decided it would be best to leave you here, we were scared to move you. You looked so pale, and it scared us so bad when we saw Aj carrying you to the door…” her mom started rambling.
“Carrying me?”
“Yes, we looked outside when we saw your car pull into the driveway. Aj carried you into the house, saying you had passed out. I felt so horrible because I knew I shouldn’t have let you go. I knew you were sick, and you should have been in bed, especially with your heart condition.”
“Whoa, mom stop. I’m fine, I really am. Don’t worry about me, I’ll be up and around the house again in the morning. I’m glad you didn’t stop me from going out, even if I ended up like this. It’s not your fault, stop worrying and go to bed. Okay?” Melody said, sitting up again, despite her mother’s effort to keep her lying down.
“Alright honey, I’ll see you in the morning,” her mom said, kissing her on the forehead. Melody watched her mom slip quietly into her room, so she didn’t wake her husband. Melody crept from the couch to her own room. Opening the dresser drawer, she made a decision. She grabbed her cherished journal, and threw it into the garbage can. I don’t need to write down my feelings any more, she thought, I finally have someone to talk to. Melody crawled into bed and went to sleep.
Melody woke up late the next morning. She rolled over and look at her clock, 11am, she groaned and pulled herself out of bed. Each day it seemed to become harder and harder to do everyday thing like waking up and getting dressed. She dragged herself to the closet to pull out a pair of flair jeans with strips up the sides, and the black tank top with I Love AJ on it. She thought it would be fun to wear to the concert. An hour later, after getting ready for the day, Melody strolled out into the kitchen were her parents were just sitting down to lunch.
“Why don’t you join us,” her father suggested, pulling out the chair next to him. Melody walked over and slid into the seat, staring at the food. She had almost no appetite, but she would have to force herself to eat to keep her parents from knowing anything was really wrong.
“What’s up with the shirt sweetie?” Her mom asked, staring at the I Love AJ with a funny look on her face.
Melody laughed a little to herself. “I just found out that AJ is in a singing group called The Backstreet Boys. I found this shirt and thought it was funny,” Melody explained, not telling the whole truth about why she had bought the shirt.
“So, tell me about AJ,” her mom said, putting on her, yes I know I am being nosy face, her eye brows raised and a slight, side smile.
“Well, he is 22, is really sweet. I don’t know, he is just a great guy. Which reminds me, he invited me to go to the Backstreet Boys concert tonight…”
“Melody, I don’t think you should go. You have been really sick, remember what happened last night?” her mom interrupted.
“But mom.”
“Don’t but mom me, I don’t want you going out at all. Not for a few days.”
I don’t have a few days to waste, Melody thought spitefully, she has no clue what she is telling me to do. An idea hit Melody.
“Okay, fine mom, you win. I won’t go to the concert tonight.”
“Thank you, I realize you must really want to go…”
“I said it’s fine, no biggie.” Melody ate a quick lunch before she headed back to her room, a phone in her hand. She sat down on the bed and dialed Aj’s number. She sat and waited; the phone rang ten times before she hung up.
“Great Aj, make me do it the hard way,” she said out loud. The next person she called was Suzy.
“Hello?” Suzy asked, after she had picked up the phone.
“Hey dude,” Melody said cheerfully into the phone.
“What do you want now?” Suzy demanded jokingly.
“What made you think I wanted something, couldn’t I just call to have a friendly chat?”
“With you, no. What do you want?”
“Okay, okay, I need a favor. Tonight there is a concert that I am supposed to go to.”
“The Backstreet Boys concert?”
“Yeah, how’d you know?”
“I was talking to Howie and he told me all about everything. I’m going tonight too.”
“Well, that’s even better! Now, for the favor I need. My mom told me I couldn’t go to the concert, but that doesn’t mean I’m actually not going to go. I can claim I have a headache and need to go to bed early, then I can climb out the window. All you have to do is park down the street and wait for me, then we can just go to the concert together and Vallery will already be there.”
“Melody, YOU of all people, are going to sneak out of your house?”
“Yeah.”
“Girl, I don’t know what has gotten into you.”
“Are you going to help me out or not?”
“Of course I am.”
