Chapter 10

"I'll have the steak," Derek replied to the waiter.

"And I'll have the chicken," Melissa said, as she handed her menu to the waiter.

"So... what do you think about this place?" Derek asked.

"It looks beautiful, like the last time we were here. I feel kinda awkward though. Everyone is staring at me. I should have changed," Melissa said, as she glanced around nervously to see if anyone was looking at her.

"No. It's all right. You look beautiful. Plus, you're not on a date with the other people, right?"

"I guess not," Melissa said with a smile.

"I never would have guessed that you have been living with Jackson since high school."

"Why not? We've been best friends since high school. He's always been there for me."

"Well, it may be because you were so outgoing in high school and he always kept to himself."

"Yeah, he was a bit of a mystery. But he's really a great person once you get to know him better. So what's up with all these questions? Are you jealous?" Melissa teased.

"No. Well, maybe a little bit since he gets to live with a great roommate."

"Please, you're giving me too much credit. I nag most of the time about cleaning and cooking. It's the evil side of me. But overall I believe that I'm a pretty awesome roommate," Melissa said with a laugh.

"I bet you are. So what do you do for a living?"

"Uhm... I dog-walk. It's not such a glamorous job, but I love animals. They're so adorable and friendly."

"Well, I think you should become a vet. You have a wonderful personality for it and I'm sure that animals would love you."

"Really? I never thought of that before. Thanks, Derek. I'll be sure to take it into consideration."

"It's no problem. Just glad to help," he said with a smile. "You never talked to your parents about a career?"

"Oh, I never really got the chance. They died while I was in college."

"Oh, I'm sorry I didn't know. I shouldn't have brought it up."

"No, it's okay. You're right. You didn't know. I'm all right so I can talk about it now," Melissa said after took a sip water. "Well, I wasn't really sure about what career I wanted so I just went to college and told them that I'd figure it out. By my senior year in college, I was still undecided and that led to many arguments with my parents. It was Christmas vacation and one of these arguments took place before we were supposed to go to a party. I just went straight to my room and they left. I was supposed to go so I could drive them home since my parents liked to drink a lot at parties, but anger clouded my thoughts. Because I wasn't there, my dad took the wheel and they got into an accident. It was all my fault."

"Melissa, don't be upset with yourself. You didn't know," Derek said, as he wiped away a single tear.

"No, it is my fault. I was supposed to be there with them," she said, as she wiped away another tear. "I'm just mad at myself right now. I should have been a better daughter."

"Hey," Derek said, as he reached over the table and held Melissa's hand. "Don't you think that they'd be happy right now because you're beautiful and healthy."

"I don't know anymore."

"I think they would be, and I think that they're looking after you. They'd be happy to know that you're happy even without a career."

"I guess you're right," Melissa said with a smile.

"Sorry for the wait," said the waiter. "Here are your orders."

"Thanks," Derek said. "This looks really good. Let's dig in!"

00000

"So, Jackson and I usually only work on Saturdays, but that's still not enough to pay the bills. We use the money from my parent's will to take care of that," Melissa said, as she stood in front of the apartment door. "Thanks for a great night. I really enjoyed it."

"I liked it, too. I didn't really expect you to open up to me so soon," Derek said.

"I didn't think I would either. I guess that I really feel comfortable around you."

"I'm glad that you feel that way since I really like you. I mean reallylike you."

"Oh, really?" she said, as they engaged in a kiss.

"That kiss was good," he said, as Melissa unlocked her door.

"Yeah, I know," she said with a smile. "Have a good night."

"Bye."

The apartment was dark when Melissa walked in and took off her shoes. Once she turned on the lights, she saw Jackson sitting on the couch staring straight at her.

"Jackson? You scared me there! Why are you still up?"

"I was worried," he said with a stern face.

"About what?" she asked, not sure of what he was talking about.

"You said you would be back by 10 and it's...," he said as he stopped to look at his watch, "almost 12. If this keeps up, then I don't think you should be going out with that boy."

"Oh, I'm sorry. We went out for a couple of drinks after dinner. I didn't realize it was so late... and... and...," she said, nervously.

"Melissa, I was just joking. Don't get so worried," Jackson said as his stern face turned to a smiling one. "So come sit and talk to me. How was the date?"

"I don't even know why I put up with you," Melissa said with a smile as she took her place at the couch. "Well, I thought that the date was nice. Dinner was really good and we had interesting conversations."

"So, did you kiss him?" Jackson said, as he hugged a pillow.

Melissa just stared at him since she thought that the topic was awkward. "Uhm... why are you acting like such a girl?"

"Well, I thought that you would need a good listener. Don't girls do this all the time? One talks about her date and the other clutches onto a pillow and hangs on to every word of the story?"

Melissa just laughed and said, "You are so stereotypical, although most girls might do that."

"Come on! Answer the question already!" Jackson said in a girly voice.

Melissa laughed some more and then said, "Yes."

"Wait. Did you say that you went out for a couple of drinks?"

"Yeah."

"You probably only kissed him because you were drunk. Just like the night you kissed me."

"What?"

"So am I the better kisser or is he?"

Melissa's answer was a punch on Jackson's arm.

"Come on, Mel. We can talk about it. Nothing weird is going on between us, right?"

"Of course not, but I still don't want to answer the question. It's so... well... weird."

"Nah, it's all right. I get it. You probably don't want to admit that I was the better kisser," Jackson said and then another punch came his way. "All right, all right. I'm done! Wow, your punches hurt." He paused to rub his arm. "Well, I met someone at the café today."

Melissa wasn't expecting this to come up. She had a sinking feeling in her heart after the words left his mouth. But then she assured herself that Jackson probably just met a guy friend. This thought made Melissa feel happier.

"So did you meet an old friend or something?" she asked curiously.

"No, but I did meet a girl. Her name is Monica. She's really great. If you met her, you would love her and..."

Melissa couldn't concentrate on the rest of what Jackosn had to say. She practically got absorbed in her own thoughts.

"I knew I should have gone out tonight! I should have gone to the café and none of this would have happened. What am I talking about? We agreed to be just friends and here I am wanting him to break up with that girl. I have a boyfriend now. I can't be having thoughts like this. But why does he have to get a girlfriend so fast! Then again, I'm already dating someone. I'm such a-"

"Mel?" Jackson said, which initially broke her train of thought.

"Yeah. What's up?"

"You zoned out on me."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I was just... thinking."

"About what?"

"Well... I was thinking that maybe we should go on a... double date tomorrow. It'll be fun! We can go out for lunch and then stop by Eric's new hat store."

Jackson seemed to consider what Melissa was telling him and then said, "Yeah. Sounds good. I'll call Monica."

"And I'll call Derek."

"All right. Night, Mel."

"Night."

Melissa thought that she deserved to win an Academy Award for her acting. She was displaying different emotions from what she was actually feeling inside, but she ignored her inner feelings since she knew that they wouldn't lead to anything good.