Chapter 15

Melody woke up to hear the sound of the TV raging from downstairs. Shrill sirens and cracking static filled her ears. Seeing that all the doors in the hallway were opened, she figured all her family was downstairs. She came downstairs, and into the living room. Her whole family looked up at her, her mother's breath catching in her throat.

Her hands came up to cover her mouth as she gasped, "Oh, honey..."

Melody stared at the screen. She saw a huge wreck between two cars. One was a green station wagon, the other a blue camero. Melody gasped, Alan's car was a blue camero. That car was all beat up and from it they pulled a body.

The reporter on the screen said, "Live on Apple Street."

Without looking at anyone in her family Melody grabbed a sweatshirt off the coat rack and ran out the door inot the pouring rain. Her heart caught in her throat as she raced down the streets in the town. She passed the post office and Clancy's bar. At the Methodist Church, she skidded to a halt and ran to the right, down Apple Street.

As she came closer, she heard loud sirens and saw many cars. As she neared the sight, alight with the red and blue of the police's swirling lights, she saw an ambulance pull away. Tears streamed out her eyes, she was too late.

She was soaked through by the rain, and the scene around her looked grim now. Suddenly, she felt a hand on her shoulder. Slowly, she turned around. Melody gasped in surprise as she saw who the hand belonged to.

"Alan?" she whispered. "Wasn't that... weren't you..." She stuttered thought her words. Hadn't he been in the ambulance? Was he an angel?

"No," he said comfortingly, "No Melody, I wasn't in there."

"But... your car... the camero!" She cried, tears clouding her vision. She held Alan's arms tightly, as if to keep him there, alive.

"I took my dad's car tonight," Alan explained, his blue eyes shining in his pain at seeing her upset.

"Oh God," Melody sobbed, burying her face in her hands, "oh thank God." Tears and cold combined were making her body shake.

"It's okay Melody, I'm okay," he said, worried about her, she looked so miserable. "And the other guy will be fine in a couple of days." He added, hoping to cheer her up.

"I thought you died." Melody said simply, not looking at him.

Alan didn't say anything. What was he supposed to say? He did the only thing that made sense just then, he pulled Melody's body towards him. He was surprised to feel her collapse against him, leaving no space between their bodies. She wept into his shoulder.

"God Alan, God, you're alive," she gasped as she sniffed, trying to stop her tears.

"Yeah," he breathed, his lips brushing her hair as he rubbed her back, "And it's okay."

Melody just cried. Alan knew something was wrong with her. For the time being, he had forgotten that he had been angry at her earlier that evening, and that she had refused him. He just knew that he loved holding her, and he wasn't going to do anything to jeopardize this moment.

That car crash had woken him up. If Melody didn't want to date him, he would still be her friend because there was no way he was going to miss out on her great personality. She had given his life spice, and he wanted to keep it that way. Melody's body shivered with chills. Alan released her from his arms and took off his jacket, wrapping it around her. She smiled up thankfully.

"Thanks Alan. You do so much for me," she smiled, trying to put more meaning into the words than just a coat.

"No problem," Alan smiled down at her and his eyes visibly shone with love. Melody sighed, leaning against him again. She loved those eyes for always betraying his feelings. Looking up, she knew that he loved her. She wrapped her arm's around his neck, which surprised him. Slowly, he put his hands on her back. After a second of smelling the soapy smell of Alan, she pulled back. She was ready to tell him.

"Alan," she said, staring into his eyes, "Can I take back something I said before?"

Alan, not fully understanding said, "Yeah sure," he said softly, "anything."

"I want to say yes to something you said before."

Alan's breath stopped for a minute. Was she taking back what she thought he was taking back? Was she saying yes to being his girlfriend? He looked down into her amazing face and her deep green eyes. He hoped so. He really hoped so.

"Alan, I like you." Melody said, watching his beautiful eyes for his reaction. "I don't mean talk to you sometimes like you, but I want to be with you. You make me happy, all the time. You make me smile and I feel the best around you."

She paused. Alan's face was gorgeously bright. He was so happy, his eyes looked like they might overflow.

"I think I might be in love with you Alan." Melody finished, "And I would hope that you are in love with me too."

Alan was so happy! She was saying exactly what he had been longing to hear! She wanted to be with him. He knew that she had to love him. How could she not when he loved her so much? He smiled down at her.

"I've been waiting to hear you say that." He sighed, holding her close to him.

Melody leaned against him for a minute before she looked up at his face. Their eyes met. Alan smiled and leaned his head in closer. He tilted his head to the side, getting closer to Melody's face. He could feel her breath on his face. He pressed his lips against hers.

He felt amazing! He was hot up by his lips and cold wherever Melody wasn't touching him, making him shiver. He held her close as the kiss ended by both of them closing their lips over the other. Alan drew back, and they both smiled at each other.

"C' mon," Alan said, wrapping an arm around Melody and walking away, "Let's get you home."

Together, they walked off, hand in hand, in step with each other, laughing and smiling through the wet dreary weather. As they walked off, looking into the sky, they saw the sun begin to rise. Rising on a new day. Alan thought, A great new day!

The End