Chapter Nine - Why are you here?

Earlier

 Mel - Why are you all the way over there?

Alice -  I just quit, remember?

Mel - Right, I forgot. Want me to put it out?

Alice - Nah, I'm good. Gonna stay over here though. 

Mel -  You thinking of singing?

Alice - No, not today. You?

Mel - I don't know. I'll check the song list.

 Melissa looked though the listings.

Mel - Oh my god.

She was shocked, recognizing the name of a particular song new to the selection. Crushed, by Elise Estrada. It was one she listened to often, one she related to. It always made her think about him.

Mel - ♫I told myself today was gonna be the day, no more excuses cause I knew exactly what to say. Was gonna make my play but just like yesterday my mind erased and I let the moment slip away. Another night , got me sitting here all on my own, picking up the phone, but I can't get passed the dial tone. Rackin' my brain, goin' insane again and again, I can't keep goin' this way.♫

Mel - ♫ Crushed! By the sweetest lips I've never kissed and your fingertips and the warmest touch that I've always missed. Crushed! By the softest hands that I've never held. Probably never tell, you're the strongest love that I've ever felt. Crushed! That I haven't ever let you know, how it always goes, cause I lose my nerve whenever you get close and so I'm left, short of breath, with that heavy feeling in my chest. Baby I'm so crushed.♫

Mel - ♫ So I tell myself that tomorrow's gonna be the day and I keep on tellin' myself that I'm gonna find a way. And I won't be afraid just like yesterday, won't walk away, never gonna let another chance slip away. Cause I gotta know, which ever way it's gonna go. Rest my heart and soul, cause I could never be no more. Rackin' my brain, goin' insane, again and again, I can't keep going this way.Crushed! By the sweetest lips I've never kissed, and your fingertips, and the warmest touch that I've always missed. Crushed! By the softest hands I've never held,probably never tell, you're the strongest love that I've ever felt. Crushed! That I haven't ever let you know, how it always, goes cause I lose my nerve whenever you get close and so I'm self, short of breath, with that heavy feelin' in my chest. Baby I'm so crushed.♫

Mel - ♫ Crushed that I'm so into you, don't know what I'm gonna do, gotta find a way to you.I don't know just what to do. Crushed that I'm so into you,don't know what I'm gonna do, gotta find a way to you. Oow wooahh. Crushed that I'm so into you, don't know what I'm gonna do, gotta find a way to you. And so I'm left, short of breath, with that heavy feeling in my chest. Baby I'm so...Crushed! By the sweetest lips that I've never kissed and your finger tips, and the warmest touch that I've always missed. Crushed! By the softest hands I've never held. Probably never tell, you're the strongest love that I've ever felt. Crushed! That I haven't ever let you know, how it always goes, cause I lose my nerve whenever you get close.♫

A while later, Melissa had finished, Alice came over and pulled her into a tight, comforting hug.

Alice - It was about him wasn't it?

Mel - Yes...

Alice - Mel...

Mel - We grew up together Ali, he was my best friend, until we met her. Even though I shouldn't, I can't help it. I'll always love him.

Alice - I understand.

Marry-Ella and Newton sat his front porch talking when they suddenly hear the screeching of swerving tires down the road, just on the other side of the bridge.  

In a mix of fear and curiosity Marry-Ella jumped up and ran down the road with Newton following behind.
Newton - Marry-Ella!

As Marry-Ella reached their yard Lyndi came running out of the house.

At that moment a crash and earsplitting scream cut through the air.

She ran a few steps further before dropping to her knees as the car came into view.

Newton knelt beside Marry-Ella as Lyndi stood frozen in her tracks by the scream she knew could only be from Katherine.

Newton - Marry-Ella?

Marry-Ella - That, that's Joshua's car.

Lyndi - Katherine's with him.

Newton lifted her from the ground and held her as she stared at the car in the distance, tears streaming down her face.

Lyndi knelt next to Joshua's hospital bed, tears in her eyes, holding his hands tightly in her own while Marry-Ella continued to cry in the background, lying her head on the table.

 

Not allowed to do so inside Mel sat on a bench outside the hospital smoking a cigarette and, as she often did when left alone with her thoughts, she started to think of him, memories of their childhood together flooding her mind.

She remembered riding behind him on the back of his bike as they went to school every morning and the feeling of wrapping her arms around him, wishing she could say she wanted more than friendship, even then.
Melissa - Faster Sammy, we're gonna be late.
Sam - Faster? Alright Lissy, hold on tight!

That Saturday by the water front, they were walking and talking and he reached over and messed up her hair.
Melissa - SAM!!
Sam - Haha! 
He had run away laughing.
Sam - Catch me if you can!
Melissa - Get back here Sammy! I'm gonna get you! 

And she did too, she had finally caught up to him and tackled him to the ground before mussing up his hair like he had done to her.

He was always there when she needed him. When her dog Precious died she had locked herself in her room and only let him in. For the longest time he had just held her while she cried.
Melissa - I know she was a dog but she was more then that, she was my friend Sam. I loved her.
Sam - I know, I loved her too. But hey.. you know what?
Melissa - W-what?
Sam - We still have each other... right? 
She had just nodded, wiping tears from her eyes.
Sam - And I know that I can make it through anything, as long as I have you...

Melissa - Oh Sammy! I don't know what I would ever do without you.

Sam - You'll never have to find out...
Those words echoed though her mind. If only they were true. She and Sam hadn't so much as spoke to each other in years. When they where about thirteen or so she had met and become friends with Lyndi. Of course, being her best friend, he wanted to meet her new friend... 

Suddenly something inside her caused her to look up and she found herself shocked to be looking right at him, at Sam.
Sam - Lissy!
Lissy? How many times have I longed to hear him call me that again?
He had been running toward the hospital entrance but upon seeing her turned and ran in her direction.
Sam -  Melissa what are you doing here?
 Mel - Shouldn't I be the one asking you that?
Sam - My mom called and said... well it kept breaking up but I caught something about you, and the hospital, and a car crash and I just... You're alright?

Mel - I...I'm fine. 
Then for the first time she looked at him, really looked at him, really saw him. She saw... Sam, her Sam.
Mel - You're wearing your hair like that again, like you did when we were kids.
Sam - Huh? Oh um yeah....well...
He swept his hair back only to have it fall back in front of his eye. 
Sam - I need to cut it, or maybe grow it out, so I can pull it back. Hey, um can, can I get a light?
In spite of herself she laughed as she tossed him a lighter. 
Mel - Yeah, sure.

Sam - Thanks... 

They smoked in silence for a while before he finally spoke.
Sam - What happened to us Lissy?
Mel - Lyndi... You and Lyndi happened.
Sam - You didn't have to take her side. You chose her over me, your best friend. Why?

Mel - I, um, I...
Sam - Lissy?
She put out her cigarette and took a deep breath.
I have to tell him, no more excuses. Now or never.

Mel - I was bitter, I was still hurting over you wanting her in the first place. I... I chose her over you...
She paused taking another breath, trying to calm herself.
Mel - I chose her over you because you chose her over me!
Sam - W-what!?
Mel - I loved you, but you wanted her. You broke my heart Sammy and you never even realized it! And honestly I don't know which hurt more.
Sam - Oh...
Mel - Oh? I say I love you and that you broke my heart and you say, oh?
Sam - Well what am I supposed to say? What do you want me to do Melissa?

Sam - Do you want me to take your hands and pull you to your feet and look into your beautiful, gorgeous eyes and tell you that the only reason I ever wanted Lyndi was because I thought I would never have you and that I needed to accept that and move on? That's the reason we broke up, the reason she accused me of cheating was because after you had hung up I whispered "I love you" into the phone.
Mel - Oh Sammy.
Sam - Is that what you want Lissy? Or... or I could do this.
He moved his hand from hers, gripping her wrist and pulling her towards him.

Pulling her in, he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her. In that moment, as their lips finally met for the first time it was like time had stopped and there was only them, this was something they had been building to their whole lives.

He lifted her in his arms, never wanting to let go or to pull his lips from hers. He tried not to think of the years they wasted, that they could have been together if they had just said something. 

She held him closely, never wanting the moment to end. She was kissing Sam, by a fountain, under the night sky with the light of a full moon. It was so unimaginably perfect. 

Sam -  You have no idea how long I've wanted to do that.

Mel - I think I do.

  Alice - Well would you look at that. Bout freakin' time.
The sudden appearance of her friend sent Mel crashing back to reality and she remembered where she was, and why. The joy she had felt seconds before was replaced with sorrow and guilt.
What's wrong with me? I have no right to be so happy right now, when Joshua's lying up there in a hospital bed. And Katherine...
Alice sighed.
Alice - Can I get a smoke?
Sam - Sure.

Mel - Alice! I thought you quit?
Alice - Yeah, I thought I quit too. Then this shit happened.

Mel - So, you've been in there more recently than me. How is Joshua?
Alice - He was still unconscious the last time I checked.
Sam - Whose Joshua?
 Mel - He's, um, a guess a friend. He was with one of our other friends and now he's with Lyndi.
Alice - I wonder if he's awake yet. I spoke to a doctor on my way out here and it should be any time now.

Sure enough, it wasn't long before he started to open his eyes. Sitting up he focused for a moment, collecting his thoughts. He remembered the crash, realized he was in the hospital and assumed Katherine was in another room nearby, then he saw Marry-Ella.

Joshua - Marry-Ella? Why are you here?

Joshua -  Why aren't you with Katherine, Mari?