Best Friend Next Door (Love Next Door Book 2) *Rough Draft*

Chapter 36

"So you finally ready for your first 'date'." Dee did the finger quotes in the bathroom mirror.

Melanie had to laugh, she couldn't help it. This was too many years over do. She rolled her eyes smeared on her pink lip gloss.

"Come on, I had to Mel." Dee laughed. It was wonderful to see Dee laughing again, "So, are you and him."

Melanie sighed, "We've decided to not hold back."

"So..." She started.

Melanie rolled her eyes. "That's none of your business."

"Just be happy, Mel-Mel." Her eyes got serious.

Dee fluffed Melanie's hair with her pedicured fingertips and walked out. Melanie studied herself in the mirror resting her fist on her cheek. She had no expectations, just to be open. She was going on a date with someone she had feelings for, deep feelings. It was time to stop denying that . Now what to do with that was the question.

She tugged at her short white flowery dress, tugged at the sweetheart neckline and turned to the side.

"Mel, your date's here." Val sang.

She felt a weight drop in the pit of her stomach.

"Coming." She called looking at the mirror again, and suddenly she paused. Her heart caught in the back of her throat. She was frozen. She choked.

"Melanie?" Valerie called again, "Come on."

"I don't know what's taking her." She heard Valerie say before she heard her footsteps up the stairs. Melanie's hand flinched twisting the lock on the door and she fell back on to the toilet seat. She swallowed through the dry lump in her throat. Goosebumps rose on her arms that she began to rub, soon she started shaking.

The rapping on the door cause her to jerk, "Melanie, Isaac's here." The knob twisted, "Melanie, don't keep him waiting all night. Mel?"

Her eyes started to burn and a tear streamed down her cheek and her bottom lip trembled and her throat started to close again.

There was another rap, "Melanie Davison."

"I'm sick." She said hoarsely.

"Melanie. This is just like when you two went to prom together, and just about every school dance. It's just like that. No different."

She brushed the tear away.

"You are not going to hide out in this bathroom all night." She knock, "Melanie Davison, you're not scared of a little date are you?"

Another tear strayed. I wished I would stop doing that. She grimaced She reached slowly for the door and her chest tightened. She shook her hands again.

"Melanie." Valerie said softly.

She heard heavy footsteps up the stairs, "Bubbs, come on, babe." Isaac knocked.

She said nothing.

"You're not getting out of this that easily, Mel." Issac he jiggled the door knob, "I'll come in there and get you."

"Isaac..." Val said.

"It's okay," Isaac said softly, "I got it."

She heard Valerie's steps down the stairs a swallowed.

"It's just me Mel." Isaac's fingers wiggled under the door. He giggled, "Don't leave me hanging Bubbles."

She let out a deep breath and put her back against the door and slid to the floor. She watched his fingers wiggle again under the door.

"Come on Bubbles, it's me." He murmured.

She swallowed and allowed her fingertips to find his. His hand closed around them.

"Hey."

"Hey." she croaked.

"So your sister tells me you have a...a date." He stammered. She knew what he was doing, and it was because he knew her too well. This was what she loved about this man. He wasn't her date now, he was her best friend. "Nervous?"

Her lips slowly curved, "Yeah." She whispered.

"If anyone should be nervous he should be."He said, "As far as I am concerned he's the luckiest guy on the planet. If he screws up tonight, he'll never live it down. No-sir-ree."

She chuckled quietly letting another tear stray. "Shaggy?"

"What do you say we ditch that guy and we do something just the two of us. Bubbles and Shaggs, like always."

She took a breath.

"Whatever you want Melanie.

"Okay."

"Okay."

She stood and slowly opened the door and found her best friend on the other side. He smiled warmly as his deep blue eyes searched hers. "Hey beautiful."

She smiled. He wore a simple dark blue plaid open button up, with a white shirt under it with a pair of faded jeans, and his hair hung over his eyes. His eyes were warm and inviting "Hey." She said hoarse.

He reached out his hand and she slowly took it. It was like shock waves, through their joined hands as he lead her down stairs where her sisters were waiting. Her face burned. She felt panic over nothing.

Isaac just lead her to the door and no one said anything.

"You two have fun." Valarie waved behind them.

She shrunk feeling embarrassed.

"You're not the only one nervous, Mel." Isaac tightened his grip on her hand.

She looked up at him, "I guess I was being silly."

He smiled. "I like seeing you like this." His eyes got big, "I mean, I like that you're vulnerable around me Mel. I like that you're nervous because this matters."

He let out a breath, "I don't know what happened. It's like I had a panic attack."

Isaac chuckled nervously, "I think I've had at least twelve already."

Melanie giggled too. She shook our heads, "You would have thought we haven't been friends most of our lives."

"I know." He pulled open the door on his....Christian's truck?

"Christian loaned it to me for tonight. Is it okay."

"Sure."

His eyes got big, "If you don't like it--"

"I love it." She slid in the front seat.

Isaac snapped into himself and slammed the door behind her. He sprinted to the other side of the truck and climbed in. He rested his hands on the steering wheel and just looked at her as she put her seat belt and even after. He shook realization in his head realizing he was staring. He couldn't help it, she was the most beautiful woman ever. The dress was stunning on her, although simple it brought out her caramel skin and her curves. No more beautiful than any of her other outfits or anything else he'd seen her in, and yet this dress was his. Meaning, she went through her clothes knowing she was picking it out for his date knowing he would stare at her, and he was staring. He couldn't stop staring. He shook his head again.

She giggled. "Are you okay? Do you need me to drive."

He cleared his throat. That was probably the best idea, but he needed to be the courter. He needed to get it together. He started the truck and backed out of the driveway. That was when he noticed his door was wide open and slammed on the brake making the two of them whiplash nearly smashing into the dash and then crash into the back of their seats. His door at least slammed shut.

Melanie laughed. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm cool." Isaac took a breath to collect himself.

"Don't kill us, Shaggs." Melanie giggled.

"Making sure you were awake." He smiled throwing his arm behind her seat.and swerved onto the street. He was most definitely awake he had plans with a beautiful lady tonight that had been in the making since he was ten years old.