An Unforgettable Summer **In Editing**

Chapter 3

*The dream*

I was scared and crying. I was running through the mall. He was right behind me. I heard a gun shot go off. I screamed as it hit me in the arm. He was getting closer to me. I was running out of energy. Then I heard a familiar voice call my name. I looked ahead and saw Ashley. His face was tear-stained and he was frantically calling my name. I tried to get closer to him but my dad grabbed my arm and pulled me back. I turned to look at him, then looked back ahead. Ashley was there, but he was lying on the floor, in a pool of blood. I screamed and I heard another gunshot.

*End of dream*

I woke up to Ashley shaking me awake. When I woke up, I hugged him tightly and he hugged me back.

"What happened?" He asked worried. I was crying too hard to tell him. "Was it a night mare?" He asked. I nodded. "Was it about your dad?" I nodded again. "Was he trying to kill you?" I nodded. "Did he succeed?"

"I think so." I said through my tears. "And he killed you too." I said through my tears.

"Well don't worry. That won't happen. I'm here to protect you and there are 4 other guys that will protect you too. Plus there are police out looking for him. You'll be safe. Don't worry." He said it so calmly. He had no worry in his voice. Just comfort. I smiled at his reassuring tone and closed my eyes again. I was in his embrace and I felt safe. Just as I was starting to drift off to sleep again, there was a loud angry knocking on the door. I looked at Ashley and he got out of the bunk. I stayed behind as he walked to the front of the bus and answered the door.

"Hel- Oomph" *Thud* My heart filled with fear. He found me. I heard the footsteps coming. He walked through the door to the bunk room. He looked at me and smiled an evil smile. He lunged forward and grabbed me by the throat. He pulled me out of the bunk and I slammed to the floor. The wind was knocked out of me so I couldn't scream for help, but someone other than Ashley had to know what was going on. I looked up at him as he kicked me in the chest. I fell backwards and he put his foot just under my neck, putting a little pressure on my chest making it hard for me to breath. He moved his foot up a little and laughed as he put more pressure on my neck. He kneeled down and his hand replaced his foot. He was putting his weight on his hand and he pulled out a dagger. He traced the blade along my neck, laughing as he pushed it down. I felt blood drip down. I whimpered. I was going to die. Then I heard a loud, deafening gun shot. And another. And another. Blood sprayed me and he fell next to me. I looked at him. His face was blank. Expressionless. Lifeless. He looked pale and his mouth was hanging open. He still had the dagger in his hand and his hand was now resting on my neck. Ashley rushed forward and picked me up. I cried into his shirt. When he picked me up I caught a glance of the guys looking at me and Ashley, then to the dead body on the floor of their bus. I felt bad.

Ashley looked at Andy and mouthed the words "Call 911." Andy nodded and pulled out his phone. About 10 minutes, there were 3 ambulances 2 cops cars and 1 firetruck in the lot parked around the BVB tour bus. The body was taken away and since it was protection/self-defense, Ashley was charged with nothing for murdering my dad. I still can't believe he's dead. And Ashley did it. When they finally left after about 20 minutes, I looked at Ashley who was still holding me.

"Thank you." I whispered still through tears. He hugged me tighter, not saying anything. We stayed like that for about 20 minutes in silence. After about 5 minutes though, the guys walked out. They sat on the couch and floor around us. All concerned for me. After about 25 minutes, Jinxx broke the silence.

"Are you guys ok?" He asked, his voice full of concern.

"I don't know." Ashley said, sounding mildly annoyed.

"Well, what about you, Melody?" I shook my head. I was still covered in blood and had that cut on my neck which hurt. Plus my elbow hurt from when I fell from the bunk. I hit it on the one below me and I had a headache.

"How's your neck?" Ashley asked me. I moved away from him. He looked at the cut. My shirt rim was probably stained with blood and the front of me was splattered in blood.

"I want to take a shower." I said flatly. This was disgusting. Andy reached behind him and grabbed a bag of new clothes. He handed it to me. I didn't bother looking to see what was in it, I just took it from him and walked to the bathroom. I shut the door, but didn't lock it and started the shower. I dropped the bag on the floor and stripped out of my blood stained clothes. I stepped in and watched the water tinted red flow down the drain. After about 20 minutes, I stepped out and dried myself off. I looked at the cut on my collar bone. It was big. I reached into the bag and pulled out socks, a pair of dark jeans, red and black panties and bra and put them on. I heard a knock on the door.

"Melody? Can I come in?" I was Ashley.

"Umm...I don't really have a shirt on." I said a little unsure.

"Do you have on a bra and pants?"

"Ya."

"Do you care if I see you in your bra?" He asked.

"No." I said.

"So, it's ok if I come in?" He asked yet another question.

"Sure..." I said, my voice trailing off. The door opened and he slipped in. He shut it behind him and stepped forward. He looked at me. I looked up at him. He looked at the cut on my collar bone and sighed.

"Sit down." He said. I sat on the toilet and he opened the medicine cabinet and took peroxide, cotton and bandages.

"This might sting a little." He said. I nodded. He put some peroxide on the cotton and wiped my cut. It stung like a motherfucker. I sucked in and smiled to himself, but still had sympathy in his eyes. after a while, he was done and but the bandage on. It felt better, but it still hurt. When he was done, I reached into the bag and pulled out a black tank top with a skull and cross bones on it. I slipped it on and I looked at Ashley. He was smirking.

"What?" I asked, almost regretting it.

"Oh nothing..." He said, still smirking.

"What??? Come on tell mee! Pleasee?" I begged.

"Well if you really want to know...I kind of liked you better without a shirt." He said slyly. I laughed. There's the perverted Ashley we all know. I smiled. He took a step forward, and another, and another. Then, he was 2 inches from me. He put his arms on mine and gently slid them up and down. It gave me chills. He put one hand on the small of my back and with the other on the back of my neck. He was going to kiss me. There was 2 inches of space between our lips. He leaned in, slowly, slowly, slowly. Our lips met and sparks flew. His lips were soft and warm. His kiss was gently and full of passion. Maybe this would be the guy who would for once be the one. The one who wouldn't cheat. The one who wouldn't hurt me. The one who I could show off and who would care for me. Not leave me. Not hurt me. I really felt he was the one and I liked that idea. I hoped he was.

When our kiss broke apart, we smiled at each other and we were about to kiss again when there was a knock on the door.

"You know, it's really quiet in there guys." Came Jinxx's voice. Ashley and I looked at each other and smiled. He kissed me quickly, one last time, then before I walked out, he grabbed my arm and pulled me back.

"Mel, I have one thing to ask before we walk out of here." He said. I looked at him with a look telling him to go on. "Will you be my girlfriend?" He asked. I was shocked. I mean, I kind of saw it coming, but still. I was shocked. I smiled and nodded my head. He pulled me into another hug, ending with a kiss. But before we left he said one last thing while still embracing me in a hug.

"I promise to always protect you. I may not be able to keep you from getting hurt, but I sure as hell will try my best and I'll throw myself in front of a train to save you." I smiled. We kissed yet again and then unlocked the door and walked out. Ashley had his arm around my waist and we couldn't stop smiling. We sat down on the couch and the guys looked at us with all-knowing looks. They definitely knew. Oh well, I didn't care. I was happy.