Disclaimer: I do not own the Flight 29 Down or any of its characters. They belong to their respective owners.
The summer vacation was over, school again.
Today was the first day of class. Melissa was eager to meet her friends after the summer vacation. On the way to school, she saw her best friend, Nathan.
"Hey! Nathan!" Melissa called his name and ran toward him. "Long time no see! How was your summer vacation?"
"Hi Mel!" Nathan gave his friend a big smile. "I had a nice trip with Daley's family. We went to Hawaii and it was an over the top experience."
"So… you met Daley's parents?" Melissa asked.
Nathan nodded his head.
"It's great to hear that," Melissa giggled.
"Alright. Stop embarrassing me!" Nathan said, looking puzzled. "What about you?"
"Nothing special. I just stayed home alone."
"You didn't go anywhere?" Nathan blinked his eyes.
"Nope. You know… My parents are too busy to spend time with me."
"What a pity!"
"Yeah… But I'm used to it."
"Okay. In this semester, I'll spend more time for you."
"You don't need to do that."
"Why not? You're my best friend."
Melissa was very happy when she heard Nathan said that. She knew he was a great friend and always there when she needed help.
"Thank you, Nathan," Melissa put her hand around his shoulder. "Now I think we should go quickly if we don't want to be late on the first day."
"You're right. Let's go!"
o-O-o-O-o-O-o
The school bell rang.
Melissa entered the classroom with Nathan. She saw many familiar faces in the classroom. Friends were talking about their summer vacations and the new school year. Melissa went to her seat and sat down. She scanned around the classroom and saw Nathan, Daley, Eric, Taylor were here. Suddenly, the door opened and Jackson walked in. He looked around and sat down on the seat behind Melissa's.
He's there! Behind me! Melissa thought to herself.
"Hey, Jackson!" She turned around, greeting him with a smile. "How have you been?"
"Not bad, I got a part-time job in this summer. I've worked in a music coffee shop," Jackson answered. "And you know what, I've also played guitar in a band of that coffee shop. The salary's attractive and I can also improve my guitar skill."
"Wow! That's awesome!" Melissa's eyes blinked widely. "Have you continued to do this job?"
"Of course! I love it! I can balance my studies with this job."
"I'm so glad to know you got an amazing job."
"Yeah. Thanks."
"Hey, could you tell me where it is?" Melissa asked curiously.
"It's a secret." Jackson smiled, winking at her.
While they were chatting, the teacher entered the classroom. The students stood up and… school started. After a few hours, the school bell rang. The first day of class was finally finished. When the teacher went out the classroom, Nathan gathered Daley, Melissa, Taylor, Eric and Jackson together.
"Hey guys! I have an idea," Nathan said. "I just knew a coffee shop with authentic pop band and many amazing coffee and tea barrages. Why don't we go there tonight?"
"Why not?" Daley smiled, "I'll go with you."
"That sounds good," Taylor licked her lips. "I accept."
"Yeah. Me too." Eric said with a wide and easy grin.
"Sure! I want to have fun with you guys." Melissa nodded with a smile. "My parents are traveling for a business trip and I hate living alone."
"What about you, Jackson?" Nathan turned to Jackson. "Are you coming?"
"Sorry, I can't," Jackson shook his head. "I already made my plans."
"Is that so?" Melissa wrapped her arms around herself. "What a pity!"
"Bye guys, I'd better get going," Jackson said as he left the classroom.
o-O-o-O-o-O-o
That night, the teenagers went to the coffee shop together. The name of that coffee shop was 'Yummy Coffee Shop'.
"Yummy Coffee Shop huh?" Melissa blinked. "What a lovely name!"
"Wow! This place is so packed with people," Eric turned to Nathan. "Is it always like this?"
"Yeah, my friend told me that it had been packed for a few months. The customers come here not only drink the coffee and eat the cake but listen the music too," Nathan answered. " I've heard that since this coffee shop had a band, many teenagers, especially girls, have been going crazy over the guy who played guitar."
"Really? I wonder what the big fuss is over that guy?" Taylor seemed elated.
"Hey! Hey! Remember you're my girlfriend now!" Eric said with a frown.
"C'mon guys! Forget that guitar guy," Daley said, looking at the menu, "we haven't ordered yet."
Twenty minutes later, while they were chatting and having a great time, the MC stepped on the stage and introduced the band. Then the lights were blinding as the air was thick with anticipation.
"This tune is familiar," Melissa muttered.
It's just another morning glory.
Or one more twisted side of this wide ride.
Another chapter in this story.
But I can't hide the way I feel inside.
Because I'm a stranger in a strange land.
And I'm a million miles from my home
If I got to take my last stand I won't stand alone.
I won't stand alone.
I won't stand alone.
I won't stand alone.
"Wait! This song…" Nathan stood up, his jaw dropped. "This voice is…"
"Jackson!" The others at the table said in chorus.
Then they saw Jackson was singing and playing guitar with his band on the stage.
"What is he doing here?" Eric asked surprisingly.
"He told me that he had a part-time job in a band of a coffee shop," Melissa said without taking her eyes off Jackson, "but I didn't even know he's working here."
"Now I can see why the girls have been making a fuss over the guitar guy," Taylor said. "Because that's Jackson."
After the song, the customers cheered and the girls chanted for Jackson's name. A handful of girls even came up to him to ask for his autograph.
"Wow!" Nathan shook his head, "I didn't even know never think that guitarist was Jackson."
"Look at those girls! It's clear they absolutely adore him." Daley said, looking thoroughly surprised. "I can't believe that my friend has become famous… like this."
"YOU'RE REALLY AMAZING! CHIEF!" Eric stood up, shouting.
Eric's voice caught Jackson's attention. He saw his friends were sitting at the table next to the window and looking at him. He knew they had watched his perform. He smiled at them and pushed his way through the crowd and ran up to his friends.
"Why are you here?" Jackson asked surprisingly.
"C'mon Jackson!" Nathan patted on Jackson's shoulder. "We decided to go to a coffee shop tonight. Remember?"
"Yeah! But I don' think you guys will come Yummy Coffee Shop. I'm working here."
"We all see now," Taylor giggled.
"You're amazing!" Melissa gave Jackson a big smile. "Your guitar playing is bright and you show a lot of passion."
"Thanks Mel," Jackson nodded, smiling. "I have to go back to work now. See you guys at school."
"Bye! Have a good day at work." Melissa waved farewell to him.
Nathan, Daley, Taylor, Eric gazed up at Melissa and then smiled.
"Hey? Why are you looking at me like this? Melissa asked with a frown.
"No-Nothing…" Nathan replied. "I just think it's time to go home."
"Oh… Well…" Melissa turned her gaze on Jackson for a moment and then nodded, "Sure!"
o-O-o-O-o-O-o
Melissa's house.
Later that night, while Melissa was reading book, her cell phone vibrated. She grabbed the phone and checked out the call. She blinked widely when she saw that call was from Jackson.
"Hi," she picked up the phone.
"Hey, Mel. It's me," Jackson said. "I'm going to surprise you, that's why I didn't tell you the coffee shop's name. But tonight you and the others knew it."
"It's not a problem with you, right?" she asked.
"Yeah… I guess so. Mel, um… I want to talk about something."
"About what?"
"Um… Well… Just good night."
"Okay. Good night."
Melissa knew Jackson didn't tell the truth. She wondered what he wanted to really tell her. She still loved him, although he had rejected her when she told him that she wanted to have a relationship with him. She wanted to tell him that she still loved him, no matter what. However, she couldn't do it because she didn't want to ruin her friendship with him. What if he still didn't reciprocate her feelings? Obviously, she would get hurt again and she didn't think that she could get over it.
I just want to get him to see me more than as a friend but… he might not feel the same way.
o-O-o-O-o-O-o
Jackson's house.
Why the hell can't I invite her go out with me? It's just a sentence! Jackson blamed himself.
Few months ago, when Melissa asked him to be her boyfriend, he told her he wasn't ready for a relationship and he just wanted to be friends with her. He never wanted to hurt her at all but he knew he had made her depressed. He didn't dare risk falling in love although he also had feelings for her. He wondered when it had happened, when he had fallen for her, but now he didn't know what he should do. After all, when he rejected her feelings for him, he broke her heart.
If I want to be her boyfriend, I have to do something to deserve her love for me.
o-O-o-O-o-O-o
Three days later.
After school, Melissa went home. Her parents were traveling for a business trip so she still lived alone. She went to her room and lied down on the bed. Few minutes later, she fell asleep because she was so tired. Suddenly, her cell phone rang, she woke up with a start, picking up the phone.
"Hello?" Melissa said in a weak, sleepy voice.
"Hi! Melissa." Taylor's voice on the phone.
"Hi Taylor, what's up?"
"This Saturday is my birthday. My family are going to celebrate a party for me. Would you like to join? Taylor asked.
"Yeah, sure. That'd be great," Melissa answered. "Thank you for inviting me."
"You're welcome. I'll be very happy if you come to my party."
"So… The others… I mean…"
"Jackson. Right?" Taylor giggled. "He'll absolutely join the party."
"Well… That's great." Melissa couldn't help but to giggled as well.
"Okay. See you then."
"See you."
o-O-o-O-o-O-o
Saturday evening.
Nathan gave Melissa a lift to Taylor's house. When they arrived, people were almost there.
"Wow!" Melissa blinked widely. "I never think that Taylor's house is too big like that!"
"Yeah! What a surprise!" Nathan said excitedly. "Hey, the party has already started! Let's go and have fun."
"Sure." Melissa smiled.
Nathan and Melissa entered the house, greeting everybody happily.
"Happy birthday to you, Taylor," Melissa gave Taylor a birthday gift, kissing her on the cheek.
Taylor hugged Melissa back and said thank you to her. The party continued. It was so awesome. Music made people come together. They sang and danced joyfully. During the party, Melissa tried to find Jackson but he was not there.
"Did you see Jackson?" Melissa asked Taylor.
The music was so loud so Taylor couldn't hear what Melissa was saying.
"You say what?" Taylor asked loudly.
Melissa tried to spoke over the music, "I said did you see Jackson?"
"Oh Jackson! He's in the garden outside."
"Thank you."
Then Melissa went out to find Jackson.
Where is he?
Then she saw Jackson were talking to a strange girl.
Who's she? I've never seen her before. Maybe she was Taylor's friend.
Melissa suddenly felt a little uncomfortable but she didn't know why.
Come on Mel! There's no way I'm jealous of her just because she's talking with Jackson!
She tried to collect herself.
Calm down! I just need a breath of fresh air.
Melissa went to another corner of the garden. She leaned against the tree, looking at the blossoming flowers. She asked herself why she couldn't just enjoy the party with everybody and ignored what she saw. Her heart hurt so bad because she couldn't do it. She couldn't ignored Jackson and everything about him. She loved him so much although to him, she was just his best friend, nothing more, nothing less. At that moment, Melissa felt someone tapped her on the shoulder. She turned back immediately and she was really surprised when seeing who was right behind her.
"J-Jackson?" She muttered.
"What are you doing here, Mel?" Jackson looked at her as he came closer. "Are you alright?"
"Of course, I'm fine," Melissa forced a smile at him.
Jackson was so close to her and she could see that he was nervous.
"What's on your mind?" he asked. "I don't think you're fine."
"Really! I just go out to get some fresh air. But why are you here?"
"I saw you went out alone so… I'm here."
"I'm okay."
"Yeah… But I don't want to leave you alone."
"What about that girl? I saw you talking with her not long ago. "
"Oh… She's my boss."
"You say what?"
"Her name's Grace. She offered me the job in the coffee shop."
"So… that coffee shop is hers, isn't it?"
"Nope. It's her father's coffee shop and she's a manager."
"Now I get it. But why is she here?"
"Um… Today I have to go to work, I oughtn't to join this party but Grace told me that I could have a day off if I took her to the party."
"So… you like girls like her?" Melissa asked suddenly.
Argh! Melissa! What the hell are you saying? Melissa blamed herself.
"Well… I just like the girl I knew well enough."
What does he mean by that? Melissa said to herself.
"Then what kind of girls do you mean?" she asked.
Melissa thought how could she said such a thing. She obviously didn't want to know the answer.
"Well… Maybe like you…" Jackson muttered.
"What?" she asked, looking thoroughly surprised.
"I'm just joking," he chuckled.
"It's not funny anyway," she stood with arms akimbo.
"Okay, I'm sorry… You know I just want to do something to make you feel better. You're my… best friend."
"Don't mind me. Just go back the party and have fun."
"What about you?"
"I just want to go home right now."
"How did you get here?"
"Nathan gave me a lift to here. But I don't think he want to go home right now," Melissa turned her eyes toward Taylor's house. "I'll take the bus home."
"No, you won't."
Then Jackson didn't wait Melissa's reply, he pulled his cellphone out of his pocket, making a phone call.
"Hey Nathan! Do you mind if I take Melissa home? She feels a little tired."
"Is she alright?" Nathan asked.
"Yeah. Nothing serious. Don't worry. I'll take care of her. Okay. Bye." Jackson hung up the phone, winking at Melissa. "Let's go home."
"What about that girl?"
"You mean Grace? Don't worry. I just promised of taking her to the party with me, but not taking her home."
"But…"
"You know what, I'm here to take you home. Okay?"
Melissa still hadn't managed to collect her thoughts and the only thing she could do was nod.
Five minutes later.
Jackson pointed at a black motorbike which parked in the parking space.
"This's my motorbike."
"Wow… It's my first time on motorbike." Melissa smiled, looking slightly worried on her face.
"Really?"
"Yeah."
When Melissa came closer to the motorbike, as if reading her thoughts, Jackson said, "Don't worry, Mel. I promise I'll take you home safety."
Melissa nodded, climbing onto the motorbike and strap the helmet on. Then she held on to Jackson tightly as he started the engine.
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