Disclaimer : I own Melissa. That is all.
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Adam walked into the locker room, dropping his kit bag onto the bench. His lack of sleep showed in his lifeless eyes, a dark sweep under each, but he'd come early to skate and clear his head before practice. As he laced up his shorts the door swung open. He looked up, expecting to see Coach or Charlie, but it was Luis who entered.
"Hey Banks," he greeted him. Adam gave him a curt nod.
"Mendoza."
"You here for extra practice?"
"I just wanted to skate. In peace." His tone was harsher than he'd intended.
"I can go..."
"No, it's OK. Sorry." Adam sat as Luis began to get kitted up, attempting to control the battle that was raging within him. Eventually he couldn't control himself any more and burst out, "What was with you and Lissy last night?"
"We made out. A lot." He had the decency to blush. "9 outta 10, if you know what I mean." He winked and Adam forced a smile, his hands curling into fists at his sides. He'd never wanted to hit someone so badly. "Yeah, she's a good'un." He turned away and Adam glared at his back.
"But do you like her?"
"Yeah, she's a sweet girl."
"A 'sweet girl'? Is that it? Is that and '9 outta 10' why you want to date her?"
"Do you have a problem man?" Luis looked surprised at his outburst.
"I just think there's more to love than sweetness and kissing skills."
"Who said anything about love?" Luis asked, confused. Adam realised he'd gone too far.
"Forget it." He turned away.
"Banks, do you like her?"
"No," he replied automatically. Why did he have to say that? Why couldn't he admit it? Why could he never tell people how he felt, share his emotions? Deep down, he knew why. He'd never been able to do that with his parents, and now it was too late. But he couldn't admit that either. The only person he'd been able to share his feeling with was Melissa, and now he'd lost her.
Luis was eying him suspiciously. "So it's cool if I date her?"
"Sure. No problem, it's good, it sounds good. She's great, it'll be great. No, it's no problem, no problem at all." He was babbling and he knew it. He grabbed his stick and walked out, only to collapse against a wall and slap his hand against his forehead, then turn and hit the wall in frustration.
He'd left it too long. He couldn't reach out and grab what he wanted. He'd denied his feelings. And now it was too late – he'd lost her.
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Adam walked into Biology on Monday morning, dreading seeing Melissa. Although she'd been with Luis he had just walked off and left her, and he couldn't exactly tell her why.
He needn't have worried. When he entered the lab he found Melissa already at the bench, head in her hands. She looked in no state to shout at him. Plus, the situation was weird – normally she arrived with a second to spare, yet here she was a full five minutes before the bell.
"What's up Lissy?" he asked her as he sat down. She didn't move. "Lis?" He gently tried to prise her hands away from her face, and when he managed it found sad eyes and tearstained cheeks. He wrapped her up in a hug without second thought – hug first, ask questions later. "What's happened?" he asked, kissing her hair.
"Luis," she mumbled into his shoulder. He pulled back.
"What's that love rat done now? If he's hurt you..."
"No, it's OK Ads. He just kissed me at the carnival, then I got up this morning specially to see him and as I was walking to breakfast he caught me in the corridor and said – he said it didn't mean anything, that it was a, a, a mistake." She started to cry and he pulled her back into his embrace, soothing her, yet filled with anger at Luis for causing her pain. "I don't know why I'm crying, I mean I don't even like him."
"It's just the shock of having him change his mind."
She nodded, she knew he was right – she'd never had a crush on Luis, sure he was cute, but she had never really wanted to be with him. She'd just thought that after he kissed her maybe something could happen. "I just feel stupid."
"Well, don't. HE'S the stupid one, for missing out on you." He gave her one last hug, then pulled a clean handkerchief from his pocket and offered it to her. She laughed through her tears.
"Preppy." She blew her nose.
"Comes in useful sometimes though doesn't it?" She nodded and held it out to him. He wrinkled his nose. "Keep it."
"I'll get it washed. Anyway, what happened to you on Friday night?"
"I felt ill, I went home," he lied. He felt guilty lying to her, but it was easier than explaining the truth.
"Oh, are you OK now?" She looked concerned and he felt even guiltier.
"Yeah, I'm fine, it was just a headache."
"What happened to my bear? Do I get him back?"
"I think I must have dropped him, I'm sorry Lis." Another lie. He felt terrible looking at her innocent face, he didn't deserve her as she deserved nothing less than the truth. She looked disappointed for a moment, then forced a smile.
"Oh well. You'll have to win me another one next year." The rest of the class had arrived by then, and the professor entered and started the class. They sat and listened for a while, Adam desperate to talk to her, but for once he could think of nothing to say to her. There was nothing to say. She took matters into her own hands and nudged him with her elbow. "Did you hear the gossip?"
"About who?"
"Connie and Guy." He shook his head and she grinned, eyes full of excitement. "They're together! At last! Guy bought her a rose, then Julie and Goldie suggested the Ferris wheel, but as soon as Conns and Guy got on they ditched them. According to Jules, Guy finally told her how he felt, and they kissed the whole way round!" She was practically bouncing with happiness for them, but it took all Adam's strength to muster even a weak smile.
"That's great." She looked concerned, and as her mouth opened he knew she was going to ask if he was OK. He couldn't handle that. "Did you hear the other gossip?" he asked quickly, cutting her off.
"There's more?! Do tell!"
"Charlie finally ditched Linda." She clapped her hands together, then immediately looked contrite.
"I feel guilty for being pleased! But she was no good for him. What happened? Details!" He laughed at her.
"They were at this stall where you use a water gun to knock things down. Charlie turned the gun on Linda and got her the tiniest bit wet, she flipped out at him, he realised what a neurotic little psycho he'd hooked up with, and – "
"Robert's your mother's brother," she finished. He looked at her, confused. "You know, Robert's your mother's brother. As in, Bob's your uncle." His brow furrowed even further in confusion. "As in, the saying?" No light dawned on him and she sighed. "You are SO American."
"Gee, funny that." He rolled his eyes and she elbowed him, and then they sank back into silence. Unusually for them it was uncomfortable. Melissa sensed something was wrong, but saw in his eyes she shouldn't push it, whilst Adam couldn't bring himself to laugh and joke, not whilst he was struggling with his feelings.
He loved her. Question was, could he deal with just being friends?
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"Mendoza." Luis halted and turned round. Adam was walking towards him.
"Hey, Banks, what's up?" In answer, Adam grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and slammed him up against the lockers. He was so surprised he didn't even attempt resistance. Adam Banks getting violent? Since when? "Chill out dude, what's up?"
"You upset Melissa," Adam told him, in a voice that was as close to a growl as he could manage. (AN : Can you really imagine Adam growling at anyone?!) "And I want to know why."
"I didn't mean to upset her. I was just straight with her, I don't want a relationship with her."
"You told me you liked her."
"I do. I mean, I did." Adam just glared at him and he sighed. "Look, Banks, Mel's great, sure I like her. Thing is, I'm not going to go there."
"Why not?"
"Look, I don't know what weird thing you two have got going on, but I sure as hell don't want to get involved. You want her and she wants you, it's just neither of you know it yet. Things are screwed up enough already, I don't want to make it worse."
"Things aren't screwed up," was the only reply Adam could come up with. Luis snorted.
"I could tell on Saturday you're totally hot for her. And now you're slamming me up against a wall cos I don't want to be with her? I'd say that's pretty screwed up." Adam opened his mouth to protest, but Luis wouldn't let him. "Until you've sorted things out I'm leaving her well alone." He started to walk away, then paused and turned back. "Oh, and Banks? She's free now, but if I were you I'd make my move pretty quick. She's not going to be there forever."
With that he left, leaving Adam staring after him open-mouthed.
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Author's Note : Yay Guy and Connie! Hehe.
PaTiEnT/anne918/SmOgLoViNg - I hope this chapter has cleared a few things up about the twist in the tale!
Sassy-4eva - The only other pairing that's really going to be mentioned is Connie-Guy, sorry!
CakeEater'sGirly99 - Wow what an awesome day! I love thunderstorms but we hardly ever get them.
Auf wiedersehen!