Hollywood Heights! Leddie must go on

chapter 27

"So tell me, Mighty Mel – "Ian started to say.

"Wait, where did you hear that?" Mel asked.

"From the Valley Girl," Ian said. "So far, you have lived up to that name."

Mel looked down at her hands and fought the urge to blush. They were having a great time tonight. First they went to Circus Circus to play all the games. Ian even won her a prize. Mel returned the favor and won at a shooting game. Now they were walking down the strip taking in all the sights. They had stopped in front of the Mirage and were waiting to watch the volcano light show.

"I only know you as Loren's friend," Ian said. "Tell me something about you that I don't know."

Mel was glad she was now looking out over the water display and not directly at Ian or she was sure he could see her blush.

"I like to create my own style. I love movies and think I can make them. My dreams are vivid and bright, and I write most of them down as soon as I wake up in the morning. When I go back and read them, I wonder who that person is that can have dreams like that. I hate the cold, but love snow even though I've never seen it in person. My life goes a hundred miles per hour, but if it doesn't I get bored."

"That's a mouthful," Ian smiled. "But I like it."

"What about you?" Mel asked. "You're Eddie's friend, but that's all I know about you."

"Okay, turnabout's fair play," Ian said. "I barely graduated high school because I was not one for books. I've been to about twenty different countries but there is one fundamental truth, some people are good and some people are bad and there's nothing you can do about it. I love coffee, hate chocolate, but love chocolate ice cream."

"Chocolate ice cream?" Mel asked.

"Yeah. Weird isn't it?" Ian laughed.

"It's what makes you . . . you," Mel said as she giggled.

Mel laughed along with him and realized she was relaxed and thoroughly enjoying herself. She hadn't expected this. Part of her felt guilty. She had just broken up with Adam, yet here she was having fun with another guy. Was this the start of something? Mel wasn't ready to put a label on this . . . yet.

"I can honestly say that this is probably the most fun I've had sober in a long time," Ian said.

"I'm glad I can be of service," Mel smiled.

They both looked at each other for a long minute before Mel pulled her eyes away. Things were moving a bit too fast. She needed everything to slow down.

She looked across at a crowd of people and noticed that many were staring at something, or someone in the middle of the crowd. Mel's curiosity got the better of her, and she walked over to the crowd and was shocked by what she saw.

"Ian, that's Jake," Mel said in surprise.