Chapter 7

On the drive to the airport the car was silent. Ryann sat in the front with Randy, while John and Mel sat in the back. Mel fell asleep about halfway there and John was silently stroking her hair. Ryann looked depressed but didn't say anything to either of them. Right before they pulled into the airport Ryann remembered something from two nights before. She jumped and shook Mel awake, a frantic look on her face.

"What," Mel groaned, sitting up. She was sprawled over the back seat, her feet resting on the armrest on the door, her head in John's lap.

"I just remembered, this guy called my phone after we went the club on Sunday, while I was with Randy. He was looking for you," Ryann said.

"So, what?" Mel said, now rubbing her eyes. Randy pulled into a parking space, but left the car on as the two girls talked.

"He said his name was Michael..." Ryann said, looking a bit worried now.

Mel froze, a look of fear on her face. "What did he sound like?"

"He had an accent if that's what you're asking," Ryann replied. Mel stared out the window at the crowded airport and frowned. John watched her looking worried.

"Maybe you shouldn't go back to Philly," John suggested. Mel shook her head, her frown becoming deeper.

"If he saw me on TV he'll think I'm here. I have to leave. I knew I shouldn't have gone out into the ring with you!" Mel exclaimed, banging her head on the window.

"Will someone tell me what's going on?" Randy asked from the driver's seat, he looked lost and confused. Ryann smiled and kissed him before getting out of the car. Mel climbed out also and got her things out of the trunk. John came up behind her and took her bags for her.

"Can I tell Randy?" he asked as they walked together into the terminal. Mel shrugged, she looked sick and nervous. John caught up with Randy and Ryann, leaving Mel to herself and filled Randy in on what happened to Mel in England.

"So, that means we have to start calling you Vicky now?" Randy asked Mel as they sat down to wait for their flight to be called.

"No, it's too late for that. Michael already knows I'm here, because John said my real name on national television. I just have to continue to use my alias at school, that's all. Maybe I'll get lucky and he won't find me. But I have to leave Texas because he thinks I'm here," Mel explained. She sighed and buried her face in her hands. "Why is my life so freaking complicated. I always have to get involved with something that will get me into trouble."

John hugged her and she rested her head on his shoulder, letting her hands fall into her lap. He leaned over the back of her chair and pulled out a large box wrapped with bright paper. Mel looked up, surprised.

"John, what's that?" she asked curiously. He smiled and placed the box in her lap. He nodded and she ripped the paper open, revealing a brand new laptop with a web cam.

"Oh, my God!" Mel squealed. She placed the box on her seat and jumped on John happily. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" John laughed and she kissed him passionately.

"I guess you didn't notice that your other laptop was missing. I had Ryann hide it form you, I had all your homework and stuff transferred onto this one... This is how we're gonna stay in touch. I bought a web cam too and we cam talk to each other from wherever we are." John smiled. Mel kissed him again, Randy and Ryann watched smiling. Randy had gotten Ryann a new cell phone with video messaging so they could send each other videos.

Just then their flight was called, Mel groaned, and stood up her eyes suddenly darkening.

"What's up?" John asked, as Ryann burst into tears behind Mel.

"I just, I don't want to go back now... I'll miss you so much," Mel sighed. John hugged her to him and she buried her face in his chest.

"Hey, we'll keep in touch, and I know I'll see you again. I'll make sure of it, and until then, we have our web cams." John soothed, running his fingers through her hair.

"Mmm, you smell nice, I'll miss that too," she said, huddling closer to him. He laughed and cupped her face in his hands, kissing her gently.

"Well, I guess this is good bye for now," Mel said, her eyes watering, but she fought back the tears. Ryann broke away from Randy, tears flowing in rivers down her cheeks. Mel kissed John again and the two girls gave their tickets to the flight attendant. She looked back at John over her shoulder, and flashed a small smile before getting onto the plane.

Mel and Ryann returned home late that night. Mel slept over Ryann's and returned to her house the next morning. Her mother was ecstatic about her being on television and dating John. Her father, Roy, on the other hand, was not very pleased.

"I don't agree with this at all. He has a quick temper, and I don't think you should be seeing someone like that right now," he said, that morning at breakfast.

"Aw, come on dad. He's a really nice guy. He was just acting anyway… I mean he's never like that around me," Mel whined making doe eyes at her father.

"Did anything else happen that I should know about?" he asked, giving up on arguing about his daughter's new boyfriend.

"Yes," Mel mumbled, fiddling with her toast. Roy raised his eyebrows in question. Mel sighed and told him about Michael's call on Ryann's phone.

"WHAT!" he yelled jumping up from the table. "How did this happen? Melanie Rae Williams why do you always find a way to get into trouble, why can't you just stay out of the spotlight and out of trouble for once? "

"Dad, I didn't know this would happen! It's not my fault! I was just having fun! You know enjoying my time in Texas! Besides he thinks I'm in Texas but I'm not, I'm here with you in Philly, so there's nothing to worry about!" Mel pleaded, as her father's temper rose.

"There better be nothing to worry about. I'm not taking any more risks with you. From now on, you will only use your alias unless you're with Ryann, do you understand me?" Roy said, breathing hard. Mel nodded and walked out of the kitchen.

She sighed and went up to her room, sitting down at her desk, her cell phone rang. It was John, Mel smiled and answered it.

"Hi, John," she said, switching on her web cam.

"Hey, how was your trip?"

"Fine, I have to tell you something though."

"What is it, Hun?"

"You have to start calling me Vicky. My father flipped out on me about being on TV so now everyone has to call me Vicky… Well, except Ryann," Mel said, just as John appeared on the screen. She waved and blew him a kiss.

"Okay, well, I have news for you too," John said, waving back to her.

"Is it good news, or bad news?"

"Good news… I'm going to Italy to promote my album, and then I'm coming back to Oklahoma for Unforgiven."

"Wow! That's great, have fun and take lots of pictures.. I've never been to Italy before."

"Mel, you look really tired, you should get some sleep," John advised, Mel saw the concern on his face as she watched him on the computer screen.

"Vicky, John, its Vicky now, and I'm not tired, it's just stress from the current situation. Don't worry about me, please."

"Well, Vicky, I gotta go, I'm flying out in the morning so, I gotta get ready. I'll take tons of pictures for you okay?"

"Okay, I guess I'll talk to you when you get back?"

"Maybe even sooner," John smiled.

"Okay, byes," Mel said, waving at the camera.

Just as she was about to hang up John yelled her name.

"What?" Mel asked, making a frantic face so she wouldn't hang up on John.

"I miss you," he said.

"Oh, John I miss you too," Mel smiled, blowing him another kiss.

"Okay, now I really gotta go, I'll talk to ya."

"Byes," Mel smiled and hung up. John waved to the camera, making a kissy face before turning his end off. Mel smiled and turned her camera off as well. She then flopped onto her bed and fell asleep, until the next morning, when she prepared for the day of school ahead of her.

A/N: She slept so long cuz of jet lag, you know... Anyway, don't forget to review :)