One step at a time

27

Blake Shepard

Melissa had been gone for a few days and I started to worry no matter how many times Taylor would tell us that she was fine and safe I needed to hear it for myself. We were all sprawled out on Brad's back porch. "I don't think Melissa noticed us before she left even though we had asked her quite a few times for help on our homework and if she did notice us I don't think she remembers" Tony said. We were all missing M now even the boys. "She only remembers the ones who gave her hell well those were the only ones that I heard about" Martin spoke. Melissa would have told Martin what it was like as far as I knew Martin was her best friend at her boarding school she had a few others but they never stuck whatever that meant. We started reminiscing about an hour ago. "There was a rumor going around that she knocked out Stone a week before she left" Casey spoke. "She did I was there it was so funny" I shook my head as that memory popped into my head. "Why did she only hit people for a reason she still does now" Martin asked. "She found out that he punched Brad in the locker room after she saw him with a black eye she did everything to protect her brother back then and I didn't understand why she would I mean you were a kunt to her most of the time I told her to let it go but she told me to go fuck myself so" I laughed at the end. I hated how she would protect her brother when he didn't deserve it most of the time.

"I wasn't that bad" Brad said before thinking about it. "Really? Because from what I seen I would have told her the same thing" Jamie said from the end of the deck. We all laughed as Brad realised how bad he use to be, he might have seen it as little things and most of the time thought of it as a joke but to her and everyone else it was completely different to us he was an asshole who only used his sister as an escape road for when he was feeling down or when he needed to feel better about himself. He changed when M left we all did, we all changed the whole town did I don't think she realises what she did to this town when she left and what kind of hole she left. She took half the town with her without even trying. "My sister is one of a kind and someday I am going to make it up to her, someday I am going to show her how much I love and need her in my life" None of us knew what had happened to make Melissa so cold, To make her build her walls up to make her build a shell around herself and I wanted to know I wanted to feel her pain but she wouldn't let anyone in she let Martin in but that wasn't from choice that was because he was there half the time, He had to watch her fall and he had to catch her half the time but I don't think he was there all of the time there were things she had to face herself and Noah was just a fraction of what forced her to become who she is. Were her family yet she has hidden so much from us. I wanted to uncover the puzzle but at the same time I don't think I would be able to handle what I uncovered. I knew that she was hurting but frim what and why couldn't she open herself to me? I had so many questions with no one to answer them the one who could would never open up to me. My Melissa had changed but why? This was giving me a sore head.

"I'm a bad best friend" I shook my head. "That you are but you better be a better boyfriend" A female voice spoke from behind me, That voice was so familiar yet held something different. I turned around with a smile on my face. "I'm sorry I needed to go away and think about my feelings and what this would mean for me with my background with relationships I'm going to be honest I'm scared but knowing its with you I feel a little bit better" Melissa smiled as I pulled her in for a hug. "Dinner is ready kids" Taylor said as she made her way towards us to hug her daughter and I was forced to let Melissa go. Taylor hugged her tight. "How was it? Was he okay when you left?" Taylor asked as Melissa looked up at her. "I made him dinner before I left and done the washing he had" Melissa smiled at her mother while I sat there with a frown on my face. "Don't worry Blake he was just an old friend of mine" Taylor smiled. "You knew where Lissa was this whole time and didn't bother telling me where she was what a great mother you are" Brad pouted.

The rest of us didn't stick around for her answer as we remembered why she came here in the first place. "Foooooood" Jamie yelled as he made his way to the kitchen and sat down at the dining table where we would all be eating. There was chicken and chips plus salad for those who wanted it. I grabbed everything I was hungry for. Melissa and Martin's food was already plated and handed to them I frowned when I saw what was on their plate. It was mostly filled with salad. "This is how we use to eat at our old school we tried normal food when we first came back and well we both got sick so it was best to stick with what we knew" Melissa explained but I felt like there was more to the story then what she was saying. I let it slide for now. But one day I will solve the puzzle that is Melissa Lee Newman.