Meg was sitting up in bed, looking up at a magazine when there was a knock on the door. She looked up as Michael opened the door and stepped inside.
"Michael…what are you doing here?" She asked, setting the magazine aside
Slowly he moved towards the bed.
"I wanted to see how you were feeling."
"I'm okay." She said, "A little sore but the doctors said I was lucky."
"I also want to say I was sorry."
"What for?"
"Meg I shouldn't have let you go out there alone."
"Michael, you saved me that night. If you hadn't come along when you did…" she said, then stopped to wipe away the tears that were starting to well up in her eyes. "I…I don't want to think about what…what he could have done."
By this time Meg's was shaking. Michael sat on the edge of the bed. His arm slipped around her, pulling her towards him so her head rested against his shoulder.
"Its all right." He whispered, hoping to comfort her.
Meg pulled back slowly, looking up to meet his eyes. Michael felt the something he had never felt before. Slowly he started to lean down, his lips getting closer and closer to hers. Just as their were about to meet, the door opened and they heard Helen's voice
"Meg…"
They pulled apart and Michael stood up as Helen walked in.
"Meg, the doctors are…oh hello Mr. Brooks."
"Hello Mrs. Pryor." He said, "How are you today?"
"I'm very well." She said, "How are you?"
"Very well. Thank you." He said, "I should be going. I'll see you next week Meg."
He moved towards the door. As he started down the hall towards the elevator, Helen stepped out of the room.
"Mr. Brooks."
He stopped, turning around. Helen walked over to him.
"Would you like to join us for dinner Mr. Brooks?"
"Please call me Michael." He said, "Ant thank you for your offer but I don't want to inconvenience you."
"You wouldn't be." She said, "We never got a chance to thank you for what you did."
Michael thought for a minute.
"All right." He said, "What time should I be over?"
"Dinner is at 6:00 but you can come a little earlier if you like." she said, "Let me write down the address."
She walked over to the nurses' station. A few minuets later, she returned with a piece of paper in her hand.
"Thank you Mrs. Pryor."
"I'm the one that should be thanking you." She said, as tears started to well up in her eyes. Wiping them away, she said, "Somehow I feel I will never be able to thank you enough for what you did last night."
"You don't need to thank me for anything." He said, looking at his watch, "I have to get back to the studio but I will see you later."
Helen nodded and Michael walked towards the elevator while she turned to head back to the room.
Later
Meg was lying on her bed, staring at the ceiling. Carefully she turned on her side and opened the drawer of her nightstand. Pulling out her diary and a pen, she turned on her back. Opening the diary to a blank page, she began to write.
I don't know where to begin. Last night was the scariest thing I have ever been through. I don't want to think about what could have happened if Michael didn't come along. He is always there when I need him.
When he walked in the hospital room this afternoon I was surprised. I didn't expect him to visit me. I don't know how to explain what happened next. He asked me how I was feeling and as I started talking, I started to panic because images from the night before filled my head. Michael saw down next to me and put his arms around me. He pulled me towards him and held me. As I pulled away I saw him looking down at me. Slowly he started to lean forward. My eyes closed as his lips neared mine. Then the door opened and my mom stepped inside. Michael pulled away and stood up.
I don't know what would have happened if my mom hadn't come in just then. I have never felt anything like I did at that moment.
Meg closed her diary, turning it over in her hand. She tried to make sense of what was going on. Michael was just a friend…no more, no less. Sitting up, she winced at the pain in her shoulder and back. She opened the drawer and slipped the diary inside. Then she stood up and crossed the room. Making her way downstairs, she headed for the kitchen. Walking in the kitchen, she sniffed the air.
"Smells good mom."
Helen turned away from the stove.
"I know spaghetti is your favorite."
"Is there anything I can do to help?"
"No, everything is under control." She said, "Why don't you go lay down."
"I've been laying down since I came home from the hospital." Meg said pulling out one of the chairs at the table. "Its boring up there."
Helen looked at Meg sitting down. After a few minutes, she said
"Why don't you make the salad. Everything is in the refrigerator."
Meg stood up and slowly made her way to the refrigerator. She started getting everything she needed to make the salad and set it on the counter. Helen set a knife and bowl on the counter.
"Thanks mom."
Helen nodded; going back to the stove while Meg started on the salad. When she finished, she turned to her mother.
"All done." She said, "Is there anything else I can do?"
Helen looked at the clock
"Why don't you set the table."
"Okay."
Meg opened the overhead cupboard and took out 4 plates.
"We need 5 tonight."
"You, dad, me and Will." Meg said, "I though JJ was going out with Beth and Patty was at Judy's."
"I invited your friend Michael to have dinner with us."
Meg turned to her mother.
"You invited Michael…to dinner."
"Yes Meg."
"I…you…he…" Meg stammered
"Meg is something wrong."
"No…nothing." She said, "I…I'll go set the table."
Meg hurried into the dining room and set the plates on the table. When she returned to the kitchen, she picked up the silverware without saying a word. Walking back into the dining room, she quickly placed the silverware next to each plate.
"Meg?"
Meg walked back into the kitchen to find her mother sitting at the table.
"Yes mom."
"Please sit down."
Meg walked over to the table. Pulling out a chair, she sat down.
"Is everything all right. Are you upset that I invited Michael to dinner?"
"No…It…" she was about to tell her mother about what happened at the hospital when the back door opened and Jack stepped inside.
"Smells good in here."
Meg stood up and walked down the hallway. Watching her retreating form, Jack said
"Did I miss something?"
"I don't know." Helen said, standing up. She walked over to her husband and kissed him lightly on the lips. "Dinner is about ready and we're having company."
"Who?"
"I invited Meg's friend Michael Brooks."
"Is Meg upset because you invited him."
"I don't know. She seemed nervous ever since…" Helen stopped, remembering what she had seen in the hospital earlier that day.
"Since what."
"Since I…I brought her home." Helen finished, "I think she's still in shock over what happened last night."
She walked over to the stove and turned off the spaghetti. Carrying the pot over to the sink, she dumped it in the colander and set the pot on the counter. Turning back to her husband, she said
"I'm going to go check on Meg. Can you keep an eye on the sauce."
Meg walked into the living room and sat on the couch. A few minutes later Helen walked in and sat next to her.
"Meg is everything all right." She asked
"Everything is fine." Meg said, standing up, "I'm going to lay down before dinner."
Helen watched her daughter move towards the staircase. Without saying another word, Meg slowly walked up the stairs, disappearing from sight.
Meg opened her bedroom door and walked over to the bed. Sitting down, she opened her drawer and pulled out the diary again. Opening it to the page she had written on before, she picked up the pen and began to write
Mom just told me she invited Michael to dinner tonight. I don't know why I am so nervous. Its just Michael, the same person I see every time we tape Bandstand. I don't know how to explain it. Every time I think about him, I get this funny feeling in my stomach, like hundreds of butterflies trying to get out.
Meg closed the diary and set it in the drawer. Closing the drawer, she laid down. After a few minutes, she closed her eyes and fell asleep.
"Meg?"
Meg's eyes opened slowly and she saw Will standing next to the bed.
"Mom said its time to get up."
Meg looked at the clock next to her bed and saw that it was 5:30.
"Tell her I'll be right down."
"Okay."
Will slowly made his way out of the room. Meg climbed out of bed and walked over to the dresser. She picked up a brush and ran it through her hair. After fixing her hair, she straightened her clothes and walked out of the room.
She made her way down the stairs and just as she was about to head for the kitchen there was a knock on the front door. Turning, she took a deep breath and opened to door to find Michael standing on the other side.
"Hi." She said
"Hi."
"Come in."
Stepping back, she allowed him to step inside. As she closed the door, she said
"Follow me."
She led him into the living room to find Will sitting on the couch.
"You can have a seat anywhere." Meg said, "I'm going to check on dinner."
"All right."
Meg started down the hallway towards the kitchen while Michael stood in the doorway. After a few minutes, he walked over to the couch where Will was sitting. Taking a seat next to him, he said
"What are you looking at?"
Will didn't say anything. Michael looked over his shoulder and said
"Do you like trains."
Will looked up, nodding his head.
"Me too. Would you mind if I looked at your book too."
Slowly Will shifted the book so that Michael could see it too. Michael pointed to one of the pictures.
"That one's really cool." He said
"Yeah." Will whispered.
They continued to look at the pictures, occasionally pointing to one and saying something.
Meg walked into the kitchen, to find her parents sitting at the table.
"Is everything ready?"
"Yes." Helen said, standing up "Can you take the salad out to the table."
"Sure mom." Meg said, walking over to the counter and picking up the bowl.
She crossed the kitchen and into the dining room. As she set the bowl down, Jack and Helen followed carrying the sauce and spaghetti. They set them down and Helen said
"Meg can you please get Will and Michael."
"All right."
Meg turned towards the living room. She walked into the room, pausing at the doorway. Leaning against the frame, she watched Michael and Will sitting on the couch, looking at a book. After a minute, she said
"Dinner's ready."
Michael looked up, sliding the book away.
"What do you say we continue looking at this later."
"All right."
Will slid off the couch and slowly made his way towards the dining room. Michael stood, walking over to where Meg was standing.
"How did you do that?"
"What?"
"Will is usually shy around new people. He barely talks to anyone outside of the family." She said, "How did you do it?"
"I asked him about his book."
They walked into the dining room. Jack and Helen were seated at the head of the table. Will was sitting next to Helen. As they approached the table, Jack stood up and extended his hand. Michael walked over to him.
"Its nice to meet you under better circumstances Mr. Pryor." Michael said, shaking his hand.
Jack nodded, "Please take a seat."
Michael started to pull out a chair when Will said
"Sit over her Michael."
Michael looked at Meg. Slowly he pushed the chair back in and walked around to the other side of the table. Pulling out the chair next to Will, he sat down. Meg pulled out a chair across from him and sat down. Soon everyone began eating and the usual conversation started. Soon the conversation turned to Michael.
"So what do you do Michael?" Jack asked
"I work as an associate producer on American Bandstand."
"How long have you been doing that?"
"About 2 years." He said, "I arrange the guest appearances, I work with the kids and the production crew and in the summertime I work with the interns."
"Do you enjoy it?"
"Yes sir." He said, "I actually started out as a dancer on the show like Meg. When I was old enough, I working at an intern before college. When I went to college I chose to major in communications. I moved back here and got a job at the studio."
Jack nodded
"And he knows a lot about trains." Will blurted out
Everyone at the table began to laugh. After that, the meal continued on with light conversation. Meg looked up from her plate to see Michael whispering some to Will. Michael looked up to see Meg looking at him and smiled.
When dinner ended, Meg stood up and began to clear the plates. She carried them in the kitchen and set them in the sink. As she turned around, she ran into Michael holding a pot. Taking the pot from him, she said
"You didn't have to help."
"I want to." He said, "You want to wash or should I."
"I'll wash, you dry."
"All right."
Meg turned back to the sink and turned on the water. She poured some soap in and waited while the sink filled. They washed and dried the dishes in record time. While Meg put them away, Michael wiped the counter. When they finished, he looked up at the clock.
"I should be going." He said
"All right."
They walked out of the kitchen and down the hallway to the living room. Jack and Helen were sitting on the couch, watching the news while Will sat on the floor looking at his book.
"Good night Mr. Pryor, Mrs. Pryor. Thank you for inviting me."
"It was our pleasure Michael." Helen said
Michael walked over to Will. Kneeling down, he said
"Good night Will."
Will looked up from his book
"I thought we were going to finish." He said, holding up his book
"Maybe some other time." He said
"Promise?"
"I promise."
Michael stood up and walked over to where Meg was standing.
"Meg can I talk to you for a moment."
"Okay." She said, "I'll be right back dad."
Jack nodded.
Michael and Meg walked out the door and down the front steps, moving towards his car. Meg leaned against the car, looking at him.
"You wanted to talk to me."
"I…I…" Michael started but found himself at a loss for words.
Decided that actions speak louder than words, he moved closer. Leaning in, he allowed his lips to lightly touch hers. Before either of them knew it, the kiss began to deepen. Michael's arms slipped around her, slowly sliding up her back. One hand cupped the back of her neck, pulling her closer.
Suddenly Meg's eyes opened and she pushed him away. She turned and started to run towards the house. A hand closed around her arm, stopping her.
"No! Let me go! She shouted.
The hand pulled her back and a pair of arms closed around her. She tried to get away but it was no use.
"Please let me go." She sobbed, still trying to struggle
The front door flew open and Jack rushed outside to see Michael holding Meg.
"What's going on out here!" he shouted
"Mr. Pryor…I…. I…don't know what happened."
"Let her go."
Michael let Meg go.
"Meg in the house."
"But dad."
"Now Meg."
Slowly Meg moved towards the house. Jack turned back to Michael.
"I don't know what happened out here but I think you should leave."
"Mr. Pryor…"
"Good bye Mr. Brooks."
Jack turned away and walked up the sidewalk towards the house. He opened the door to see Helen trying to comfort Meg.
"I want to know what happened out there Meg."
Meg slowly pulled away from her mother.
"I…I…"
"Was he the one who did it." Jack asked,
Meg's eyes widened.
"No." she whispered
"Then I want you to explain what I saw out there."
Meg looked from her mother to her father. After a few minutes, she looked down and softly she said
"We were outside talking and he…he kissed me."
"We invite him into our home and this is what he does. I can't believe this happened. If I ever see him around her again I'll…"
"It was just a kiss."
"He's an adult and you are a child." He said, "After what's happened to you I can't believe he would do this. I should call the police and report him."
"I wanted him to kiss me!" Meg shouted
Jack looked at his daughter, not speaking. Meg's eyes widened after she said that. Before either of her parents could say anything, she turned and ran up the stars to her bedroom.