Chapter Three (Part One)

Chapter Three

     Melissa, Jessica and Emmett walked to school after breakfast without saying much. She was still mad about the conversation as if Jessica was implying that she is a judgemental bitch when it comes to celebrities; One Direction to be exact. But she isn’t. She just doesn’t get the idea of girls obsessing over 5 normal-looking guys. She walked ahead in front of her two friends while listening to Florence + the Machine’s ‘Shake It Out’ from her iPod but kept the volume low just in case.

    

     “I think you took the level of fan-girling too far this time,” Melissa could hear Emmett saying to Jessica who gave a loud sigh. “I know that, Captain Obvious! But she of all people should know that her best friend can’t help it. Heck, even she was an obsessed fan-girl!”

      Melissa rolled her eyes but reconsidered Jessica’s words. In a way she was right. Back when they were in the 6^th grade, Melissa was practically obsessed with Leonardo DiCaprio ever since she discovered the modern version of Romeo & Juliet. Her obsession towards him grew stronger when she found Titanic on DVD during her and Jessica’s movie-hunting. Melissa’s day wouldn’t be complete without gushing about how cute his smile was or how unfair it was that she was 20 years younger than him. It drove Jessica mad! But alas, the obsession soon faded into a memory and Melissa’s life was about open-mic nights, fund-raisers, music and photography.

       Thinking about that triggered memory made her feel guilty for giving Jessica the cold shoulder. But she wasn’t guilty about the fact that girls throw themselves at the boys, behaving like total sluts high on sugar. Her thoughts were interrupted when someone pulled the earphones out from her ears. “HEY!” She abruptly stopped walking and whirled around to catch the culprit, Jess. Rolling her eyes, she continued walking towards the already nearby school. “Look, I’m sorry for being a total bitch about you being a bitch about them.” Jessica called out from behind. “But you know how it is when you’re a fan-girl. You just get.....” Jessica couldn’t believe the next word she was about to say. “Crazy.”

      Melissa gradually turned around, faking a surprised shock look. “Do my ears deceive me? Did the one and only Jessica Hathaway-”

“Yeah, yeah. So being a fan makes you crazy! Are you done making fun and forgive me?”

Melissa gave a smug smile and walked backwards. “Maybe. Maybe not. You’re just gonna have to admit what you said to me to get back on my good graces.” With that, she turns back to the front and walks over the steps of West Bridge High. She was just teasing Jessica, of course. But the girl was always full of surprises.

      The school was already flooded with students. Some chilling near the fountain, others running up to the school to get homework done in the last minute. Melissa found just the guy she wanted to see by just recognizing the broad shoulders and dishwater blond hair who was talking to a few of his friend. Austin Mitchel, her long-time boyfriend. Long-time seemed a bit of an exaggeration, they were together for 2 years and 3 months but they’ve been good friends long before that.

       She came up from behind and gave him one of her surprise morning hugs. His friends muttered goodbyes, leaving the lovebirds alone. Melissa waved at them in appreciation. “You’re pretty chirpy this morning,” Austin mused, leaning down to give her a peck on the lips. “I’m just glad to see you again. It’s been a while you know.” She pointed out matter-of-factly as she looped her arm around his while walking up the stairs of the school. Austin looked down and laughed guiltily. “I know, I should’ve pay more attention to our relationship than-”

“Hey, don’t say that. She needs you more than I do,” Melissa scolded lightly. She didn’t want him to feel that way. “So... How is she doing?”

Austin exhaled loudly, “Getting weaker, but she’s convinced that she’s feeling much better.”

Melissa just nodded and didn’t ask anymore. She couldn’t go through what he is going through. No one could stand by that hospital bed with your loved one having breast cancer. Especially when that person on that bed was your mother.

Austin’s mother had breast cancer.

      It was late spring last year; Melissa and Austin were walking back to her house after hanging out at their secret hideout. It wasn’t even a special hideout; just the rooftop of an old unused apartment building but you could see everything from up there. “Come on, mom made your favourite chicken pot pie.” She pleaded. Austin occasionally ate at the Andersons but he got a text from his dad to come home for a family meeting. “You know I want to but my dad sounded pretty serious in his text.”

Melissa faked a pout but accepted his reason anyway. She wasn’t the type to be selfish and whiny about it. “Call me tonight, then?”

“You know, I will,” Austin chuckled, and then gave her a lingering kiss on the cheek. She watched him walk down the street then went into the house.

It wasn’t even an hour later; there was loud pound on the door that could be heard from Melissa’s room. She answered the door only to find devastated-looking Austin, knapsack in hand.

After calling her parents to let Austin stay over in the guest room and four cups of cocoa later, Melissa demanded for the truth.

“She has cancer, Mel,” Austin whispered so softly, Melissa couldn’t hear. “I can’t hear you, Austin. Who has cancer?”

“MY MOM, LISSA! MY MOM HAS BREAST CANCER!” He shouted, standing up with his hands in the air, tears streaming on his cheeks. “My mom, who taught me how to ride a bike, who taught me what’s right and wrong. My mom who should be sitting at the auditorium, crying because her baby is graduating high school and moving to college. My mom who should be spoiling her grandkids when I have a family but she can’t do that all because of A FUCKING CANCER!”

He sunk down to the sofa and burst into more tears, leaning his head on Melissa’s shoulder. She was too shocked to speak. She never heard him speak to her like that, nor did she ever saw him cry this bad. All she did was hugged him and whispered soothing words but never about ‘things will be okay’ because it never will be.

Austin calmed down in awhile but Melissa knew that he wasn’t completely okay. He managed to explain more; his father lost his job at the vet, struggling to make ends meet and his mother’s countless visits to the hospital for chemotherapy weren’t working. It all made matters worse.

  He stayed with the Andersons for almost three weeks but Melissa’s parents did not complain one bit. He was like family after all. And they understood what Austin was going through but never mention in to him and he never bothered to mention anything about his mother.

But Melissa couldn’t handle it anymore.

Ever since that night, he seemed to have an attitude problem. They fought over the littlest of things and he would get angry for no rhyme of reason. There wasn’t even a spark or passion in his kisses, it seemed like she was kissing a robot. She finally spoke up to him one Saturday night in her room.

“You have to go back to your parents. To your mom.” Melissa said with pleading eyes.

Austin shook his head rapidly whilst pacing around the room, “No, I don’t want to go back there and face the fact the she’s going to die.”

“Well, you have to face the fact or she’s going to die in a blink of an eye!”

“DON’T SAY THAT!” He shouted, eyes flaring full of anger.

“But I am right!” Melissa shouted back. “She sitting at home, spending her few last months without her son when she needed him the most!”

It felt like someone just threw a bucket of water at Austin’s face when Melissa lashed him like that. The world suddenly made sense now. “You’re right,” he spoke softly. “I should go home now.” He was about to leave the room until he turned around and kissed her, with passion this time. “Thank you,” Was all he whispered, his forehead leaned against hers. Melissa didn’t need any more explanation. She was just glad her boyfriend was back to his senses.

He left Melissa in her room to pack his stuff. Once he was done, he thanked her parents and promised to call Melissa if he needed her. “Take it easy on her, okay?” She told him by the front door. Austin nodded and kissed her on the cheek, the feeling of hope over empowering him.

   “Mel? Mel,” Austin waved a hand at her girlfriend’s face.

Melissa snapped out of her step back into time and gave a lazy grin. “Sorry, must’ve been out of it.”

“Yeah, no shit,” he laughed. “You’ve been practising for the fundraiser for almost a month and you spend most of your time hanging out with Jess and Emmett.”

“Don’t forget Jess’ obsessed rampage over One Direction,” she groaned and went on with what happened this morning.

Just as Melissa was finished with her story, they were already at her locker. “I didn’t know she was that obsessed with them. As far as I’m concern, the guys from the football team are way better-looking.” Austin said coolly.

Melissa rolled her eyes as she turned her locker combination and took out her History textbook and a decorated notebook. “Like a certain quarterback named Austin Mitchel?” she teased. “And it’s not obsessed, it’s dedicated.”

Austin laughed at Melissa’s sarcastic remark on being a dedicated fan. “You sure know how make me crack up in the morning,”

“Of course, it’s one of the things you love about me.”

Austin took Melissa’s hand and made her turn to face him. “It’s not just that,” he whispered. “Ever since that night, you never fail to make the pain and sorrow disappear. It’s like it never existed whenever I’m with you.”

“Well, that’s what girlfriends do,” she whispered back. “They make sure that the one they love is happy, even when there’s pain or sorrow.”

“Not all girlfriends. Most of them just want the attention they never get.”

Melissa lightly punched Austin’s shoulder before settling down for a kiss. The mood was spoiled eventually when the school bell rang, signalling the start of classes. “I gotta get going,” Austin said, adjusting his bag over his left shoulder. “Don’t want to be late again for Mrs. Clark’s ‘exciting’ calculus class.” Melissa stood on her toes and wrapped her arms around him and gave him a peck on the lips. “See you at lunch.”

Austin kissed back and reluctantly set her back on her feet and walked down the hallway and turned to the right where his classroom was.

She was glad that his romantic ways are back. Her Austin is back.