Chapter Five

It was a Wednesday morning and the birds were singing. Melanie wakes up and lets out a disappointed sigh. Why is she disappointed? She woke up again. She goes to check her phone to see what time it is, but when she unlocks her screen she sees she has a text message from Robert. Melanie hesitates, but opens it up:

"Good morning beautiful,

God surely gave me the best when he gave me you. I know I've been a total jerk lately, but you know I care about you Mel. Things will get better from now on. I'll start making it up to you…you'll see."

If Melanie were a cartoon her eyes would be big hearts at this moment.

Anybody else could look at this and see he is up to something, but to Melanie, he hasn't talked to her like this in months…and she's trying to tell herself he's doing this because he loves her…

She can only hope….

Classes for the day had now ended. Same as last time, Melanie was getting ready to leave when Christina stopped her, but this time she pushed Melanie into her locker and slapped her just for the fun of it. When they left, Melanie got her stuff and began to leave until Nick stopped her at her locker and they began to talk; this time a little longer. She texted Robert and told him a friend would walk her home. He always calls or picks her up around 3 something. Well, lately he's been Mr. Surprise and she doesn't want a repeat of yesterday.

"Hey, let's continue our conversation outside before we stand here for another two hours." Nick said while chuckling.

Melanie nodded her head in approval while giggling. She closed her locker and they started walking up the street.

"So, have you met anyone else yet, or just boring old me?" Melanie asked Nick while she giggled at her own question. Nick slightly smiled, "No, but I personally think you're pretty cool." Nick told her truthfully. Melanie blushed at his comment and replied shyly, "You're just being sweet… but thanks Nick." Melanie said smiling at the end. He nodded his head and said, "You're welcome…" Nick was about to speak but a light bruise on Melanie's wrist stopped him, "So... umm, what are you doing next Wednesday?" Nick asked her hoping she had nothing to do. Melanie thought for a few seconds before shaking her head, "Um nothing I think… Why?" She looked at him when she finished.

"The church I go to is having a teen awareness event…about teenage dating abuse. You know just come to um, inform you and stuff…" Nick said trailing off at the end. He noticed how she tensed at the word "abuse".

Suddenly Melanie's long, red hair became very interesting as she was playing with the ends of it, "I have to ask my boy- I MEAN mother…. haha." says Melanie, as she tries to giggle it off.

Did he notice? Of course he noticed! He isn't dumb. Ugh.

Melanie blushed at the thoughts in her head hoping he couldn't tell.

But he did, although he didn't say anything, he just nodded. "Alright. Tell me tomorrow?" Nick questioned, hoping she agrees. Melanie nodded her head.

Nick stopped walking when he was in front of this big, white, wooden, house with a huge yard. Melanie just then realized she'd been following him home. She turned her head in his direction when he began to speak, "Well this is my house…" Nick said. He had a confused expression on his face when Melanie's eyes became wide as soccer balls.

"You live here? You're only like…a five-minute walk from my house! That's awesome." Melanie squealed with a smile at the end of her sentence. Nick smiled wide also agreeing with her," Yeah that's awesome! Maybe we could hang sometime? Right now, I have to watch my little sister." Nick said chuckling at the end. And as if on cue, a little dark-skinned girl, probably about 6, came running out the house with two braided pigtails smiling. Right behind the little girl was a beautiful woman with long, kinky hair, probably in her late 40's. The woman came walking towards Melanie and Nick gracefully. The woman who Melanie guessed to be the mother stood in front of the two and Melanie smiled at her. The woman smiled back before talking, "Hello, my name is Monica! I'm guessing you're Melanie? You have a beautiful smile! Nick told me a lot about you." Monica smirked at the end looking at her son. Nick gave his mom a death glare, "Mom…enough please." Nick spoke to his mom clearly embarrassed. Monica put her hands up in surrender while Melanie tried her hardest to hold her giggles in. Since nobody was talking, the little girl decided to speak up, "Hi! My name is Susan! Or you can call me Suzy, I don't like Susan." Suzy mumbles at the end. Melanie let her giggle out and she nodded at the sweet girl, "OK Suzy! I'll remember that." Melanie said squatting down to Suzy's level. She smiled at Melanie. Melanie stood back up and started to move backward, "I'll see you later Nick? I gotta get home." Melanie said while checking the time on her phone. Nick nodded and said goodbye, "Alright! I'll see you tomorrow! Don't forget to think about the event!" Nick shouted as she began to walk down the street. She smiled, "I won't! Bye Mrs. Monica and Suzy! It was nice meeting you!" Melanie said while waving. They all said goodbye and waved at her and went back to what they were doing. While Melanie was walking home, Suzy was bugging her brother, "You like her don't yooooou!" Suzy teased. Nick rolled his eyes and mumbled a "shut up" to Suzy. Monica smirked and agreed with her daughter, "I think he likes her too Susan."

"Yeah mom, whatever. Uh, bye! See you later!" Nick yelled while he picked up his sister and fast walked into the house trying to avoid that conversation.

Monica smiled and shook her head as she got inside her car and started it, "Yeah…. you like her."