Paradise (Season 1)

Episode 13: Going Home

Paradise

Going Home

Melissa

I woken on the morning with the very loud vibration on my phone on the nightstand next to me. I tried to sit up, only to feel something holding me back. I look over my shoulder to see Andy sleeping peacefully, snuggled against me. I smiled as last night memories came rushing back to me. Gently moving his arm, I got up and took the call outside.

"Hello?"

"Melissa! Thank god! I've trying to reach you for the longest." Confusion masked my face.

"Why, is everything okay? What's going on?"

"Mel, they've got Dad again. And Mom isn't saving him this time around."

"Don't tell me this is over Cassie again." I heard sister hold back a sob.

"I'm afraid so." I ran a hand through my hair in frustration.

"How is Cassie taking it?"

"We told her that Dad is on a music business trip in Europe right now so he won't be back for a month or so."

"Kat, are you serious? A whole month?"

"Thats what the courts said. All because of Cassie's stupid mother." I sighed.

"How's Mom taking it?"

"She's doing what she can. Just really stressed out. I'm trying the best I can but I guess it's not enough," Kat, my little sister, said softly.

"Hey, you know she appreciates everything you do. She's just under a lot of stress over this..."

"I know. I just want to be able to relieve her of all the stress, ya know? I just don't know what's going to happen over these next four weeks. I mean with Dad gone, it's not the same," Kat huffed. I thought for a moment.

"I'm coming home."

"No you're not. Melissa, you can't always try and fix this. There's no way of fixing this. You always do this, Mel. Always. And I don't--"

"Who's gonna pick up the pieces when you finally have enough and wind up crumbling under pressure? Cassie is 9 years old. She's too young to do it. Mom is too stressed out and Dad isn't around. Who always swoops in and saves everyone from themselves? Me. Whether you like it or not, I'm coming home."

"You're coming home," Kat said, defeated.

"I'm coming home," I replied, confident.

"When?" She asked. I thought for a moment.

"No later than tomorrow night. But don't tell anyone, okay? I want to make it a surprise. I'll talk to you later. Love you, little one."

"Love you, too, Melissa. Have a safe flight." The line went dead. Running a hand through my hair, I turned around to see Andy standing in the doorway looking at me.

"I'm coming with you." I shook my head.

"No you're not. I'm not going to let you walk away from this trip. I'm not going to take the fun away from you. Stay here with everyone else and enjoy it." Andy chuckled, walking over to me and placing a hand on my cheek.

"Do you know why I came here to Los Angeles with you?" He asked. I sighed.

Get ready for the cliche lovey dovey paragraph.

"Because you asked me to. I thought of it as a better why to get closer to you. To show your friends that I'm not that douche bag Ryan. That I'm better than that. This trip was my ticket to finally making you my girlfriend. And that was just me hoping. You've had me wrapped around your finger since the day we met, making me almost like a lost puppy. I need you around, Mel. I don't comfortable or sane or normal without you...I just need you okay? I love you. And if that's--"