Jason and Chrissy sat on the bed in the basement and just waited. Nickelback played quietly in the background. “How much longer?” asked Jason.“It should almost be done. Come on,” Chrissy got down off the bed and took Jason’s hand. She led him to the bathroom, stopped and hugged him. “I’ll be right out.”
Chrissy went into the bathroom and came out a few seconds later with tears running down her cheeks. Jason took her in his arms and kissed the top of her head. “Positive?” he asked quietly.
Chrissy nodded.
“So what do you want to do?”
“We—we can’t keep it. We’re not ready and we have no money and…we’re just not ready,” Chrissy sniffled.
“I understand. Whatever you decide, I’ll always stand beside you,” Jason held her tightly which made her cry more. “No matter what you choose."
“We should’ve told him…” Nathan said as he sat on the edge of Alyson’s bed while she lay next to him. “We’re his friends and should’ve told him.”
“We didn’t want to tell anybody but they all found out. Wendy walked in on us, Jason dragged it out of you and between them and us not hiding it very well, they all found out. It’s Jeff’s fault he doesn’t eavesdrop on anyone,” Alyson rationalized.
“I think people purposely didn’t tell him because he doesn’t like our relationship. He feels that we’re too different people and our relationship is destined for disaster,” Nathan said.
“Yeah, and it kind of makes me mad. Doesn’t matter, I never really liked Jeff that much anyway. He’s not my type,” Alyson admitted.
“Not your type? He’s not a kidney. Jeff’s a nice guy—caring, hard-working, smart and not too bad looking,” Nathan got off the bed and found his boxers and shirt.
“Aw, Nathan loves Jeff,” Alyson said, mockingly. “Look, I just think that maybe Jeff would keep his thoughts about our relationship to himself if he had his own girlfriend, like Melissa.”
“Jeff and Melissa? Yeah, get Jeff back together with a girl he absolutely despises,” Nathan chuckled and put on his clothes.
“I’m serious. If Jeff and Melissa get back together, which if you watch them closely you’ll see they still really love each other, they will be happy and Jeff’ll quit talking bad about our relationship and stop eyeing Wendy and Heather.”
“I am not going to help you do that. If Jeff and Melissa belong together, they will end up together. They do not need our help,” Nathan argued.
“I don’t mean just pushing them together but doing some group things with them and us and creating scenarios where they are alone…”
“Stop. Where’s the kind, non-deceitful Alyson I just had sex with?”
“Getting a couple soul mates to realize that they belong together is now considered unkind and deceitful?” Alyson questioned.
“You know what I’m talking about…”
“Let me do this,” Alyson got up and put her arms around Nathan. “Nothing will go wrong and everyone will end up happy.” Alyson stretched and kissed Nathan.
Melissa sat in the back of the high school auditorium and watched the students put on a play of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. During the intermission a guy, well-built, tall with blond hair, came up to her. “Melissa?” he asked.
“Yes?” Melissa turned around and examined the mysterious person. “Do I know you?”
“Yeah, we…went out about ten or so years ago. Michael Picard?” he introduced himself.
Then it all came back to her. Melissa and her best friend went to a party when they were fifteen. They were having a good time but both had had too much to drink and Melissa was lured into a room by Michael and was raped. She told close friends and they all believed her but when she reported it to the authorities, she lost all credibility when it was discovered that she had slept with Mike twice more with consent. Melissa had managed to put that part of her past behind her but it was extremely painful to think about.
“Mike Picard? God, it has been a long time!” Melissa looked around nervously and brushed her hair back behind her eyes. “What are you doing here in Baldwin?”
“I could ask the same of you but I am the musical director for the school district so I handle that entire area for all play and events,” Mike explained. “It’s not what I want to do but it pays the bills. What do you do?”
“I’m a chef’s apprentice, of sorts, at Baker. I got sick of sitting home alone so I decided to catch a play.”
“Man, I would love to catch up on old times but I have to get back in there. Would you like to have dinner sometime?” Mike asked.
Melissa’s eyes widened and a small smile came across her face. “Yeah, that’d be great. How about tomorrow, eightish?”
“That would be perfect. Where do you live? I’ll pick you up.”
“The apartment’s on Orchard Lane. Number 312.”
“Great! I’ll see you between eight and 8:30. Enjoy the rest of the show,” Michael bounded off back into the auditorium.
Melissa sighed heavily, left the school and got in her car. She laid her head down on the steering wheel and sniffled. “Oh, God, what is wrong with me?” she asked herself softly.
Next:
Jeff and Emily go on a date as does Melissa and Michael.
