Arranged

Twenty

Chapter Twenty - Blast from the Past
(Pt. 2)

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This is not good.

This is not good.

"God Mel. Just come down and talk to me!" I pleaded as I stood on her freshly cut lawn, with a pocket full of pebbles, a ring, and an aching heart. When I saw the lights go out in her room I knew she wasn't coming down, so I went up instead. I can't go out like this, I didn't buy a ring, go behind my mother's back for this. I'm not losing her, not today.

Skillfully, I climb up the vine ladder and stretched my leg onto her balcony like I have done so many times. I pull out my wallet and grab my credit card. I wedge it in the crack in the door and it easily opens. A trick I learned from my trainer.

I walk in and see Melanie standing with her arms folded across her chest, looking just as angry as she did beautiful. She is a piece of artwork, her hair is still wet from her shower, her face was free of makeup, and her eyes were big and full to the brim with tears. She reminded me of how my mother looked not too long ago.

"Get out." She demanded. The words stab me in the chest but I stayed glued to the dark hardwood flooring of her room.

"I'm sorry, I didn't realize-" I said starting up another impromptu speech.

"That you're the biggest jerk on planet Earth? I noticed." She snapped cutting me off.

"Mel. I don't want to hurt you, I'm not good for you."

Worst way to start off a proposal X

I stepped closer to her, but with every step I took towards her she seemed to take two farther away causing her room to seem the largest it's ever been.

"Did you ever stop to think that you are exactly what I need, you're right Alex you aren't good for me, you're perfect for me. You make me feel the best that I ever have, I feel alive and free whenever I'm with you. I felt secure and worth something, something more than what my parents make of me,"

I let go an internal sigh of relief, this is okay. This is perfect actually. She'll say yes.

"But now that it's evident you don't feel the same way, I feel stupid. No I don't feel stupid, I am stupid. Stupid enough to think I meant more than the same girls in and out of your bed, stupid enough to think you felt for me what I feel for you, and more than stupid enough to actually fall for you,"

My heart nearly jumped out of my chest when those words fell from her lip, 'fall for you,' she fell for me.

"Believing you would be right there when I knew for sure, that I was in love with you, and stupid enough to hate you and love you all too equally!" Tears flooded from eyes and I couldn't stop myself from noticing how gorgeous she is right now.

"Mel, I-"

"There is nothing to talk about! You've everything crystal clear for me," she cried out, "My parents are going to be home soon and I don't want them knowing I had company when I was specifically told not to." She said coldly, but I could see the pain in her eyes, I can't imagine what was in her heart.

But she loves me

"Mel, please." I reached out for her waist but she moved away.

"Leave Alexander, I never want to see you face again." She demanded.

I'm in love with you

"You don't mean that." I said stepping closer to her but again she moved away again.

Marry me, just say it.

She was staring daggers at me through her tear filled eyes.

Marry me.

"Get out."

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