Chapter Thirty
Tommy decided to give Jason the night to think things through. He'd promised Melissa that he would speak to him, so she wouldn't have to worry about him and keep her mind on her and Kira's performance at Hayley's. Though, he wasn't sure what good it would do. Jason really seemed heart broken, this time.
Tommy entered the gym, surprised to find no one, except Jason, in the building. Usually there would be students practicing on the mats, but there was no one. The science teacher figured it was because his friend had been looking forward to seeing Melissa at the Cybercafe and had been planning to close the gym.
Jason was doing what he did the last time he was upset; he was working on killing his knuckles by not wearing gloves while punching the heavy bag. But, again, he didn't seem to care.
"Hey." Tommy said.
"Hey." Jason replied, his punching becoming more fierce.
The science teacher let out an exasperated sigh. "Bro, why are you letting yourself fall apart like this?"
Jason finally stopped punching the bag and looked at his friend, pain in his eyes. "Why? Because, she's leaving. She's going back to her high-class city… she's leaving us… she's leaving the team… she's leaving…" He paused, not wanting to say it.
"You?" Tommy asked.
The fighter nodded. "Yeah."
"Bro, she's not leaving you or the team. She has other responsibilities and we cannot be so selfish as to not let her follow her dream... Jase, you're acting like you'll never see her again."
"I feel like it, man. I mean, look at what happened to you and Kim."
Tommy tensed up at the sound of that name. It had been so long since he had heard or even said it, but this was no time to get emotional over her. He was there for Jason. "That's different… Mel is still part of the team. You will see her again… Trust me."
"I know you're right. I don't know why I'm acting like this."
"Love can be blinding."
Jason gave Tommy a puzzled look as he was getting a smile in return.
Melissa looked around at all the people who were gathered in the Cybercafe. She had never seen so many people gathered to hear one person sing before. Kira must have made a name for herself in Reefside. The older woman was impressed.
"Nervous?" Kira asked.
"A bit, yeah."
"It's been a while since you've been on stage; you have the right to be nervous."
"Yeah, but that's not the reason why I'm so nervous." Melissa said, her heart feeling as though it was going to pound out of her chest. "Where is he?"
"You don't think Jason's going to show?"
"Well, I didn't… until now." She gave the girl a stern glare, but it was all in fun. She was trying to make herself laugh, but it didn't seem to do much good.
Kira let out a short laugh. "Sorry. I'll leave you alone, for right now. We go on in ten minutes."
"Great." Melissa said, looking into the crowd to see Tommy enter the building, but he wasn't being followed by who she wanted to see.
Tommy approached the bar, where she sat, a small, comforting, smile on his lips. "Hey."
"Hey." She said, sadly. "He's not coming is he?"
"Look, Mel, I tried. It's up to him, now."
She nodded. "Great." She spoke sarcastically. "I really blew it, didn't I?"
"I wouldn't say that." A familiar voice said from behind her.
She turned in the stool, seeing Tommy's smile grow wider, to see Jason, clad in a red shirt and his favorite brown, leather jacket. He was holding a single red-tipped, white carnation, her favorite flower, as he stood in front of her, a smile on his lips. "Jase?" She asked.
"Yeah… Look, I'm sorry about the way I acted. I was just being selfish."
"Yeah, you were." She informed him, smiling. She was going to milk it for all it was worth.
"You're not making this easy on me." He said, letting out a short laugh.
"Oh, I don't intend to." She said, slyly as he handed her the flower. She gratefully accepted it, broke off part of the stem and placed the flower behind her right ear. She then proceeded to place a kiss on his cheek. "I'm sorry, too."
"Don't be." He said, pulling her into a tight hug.
Tommy smiled to himself as he left them be and walked over to his students who were watching from only a few feet away.
"Wow, Dr. O., you're quite the little matchmaker." Ethan said, jokingly.
"Yeah, well, I do my best." Tommy replied, sarcastically.
"Yeah, I mean, look what you even did for Kira and Trent." Conner said, pointing over to the other couple sitting at the end of the bar.
There sat Kira and Trent, talking animatedly and Kira holding a yellow rose that was likely to come from Trent.
"Well, that wasn't my doing."
"Yeah, it was mine." Melissa said, she and Jason walking over to them. "If you'll excuse me, Kira and I have to get on stage."
Tommy gave Jason a pat on the back as they saw Hayley on stage, ready to announce Kira's performance.
"Welcome to Hayley's Cyberspace. I now present to you, a favorite of the café: Kira Ford!" The crowd roared with applause as Kira and her band walked onto the stage.
"Thank you… Um, tonight, we have a surprise for you. I have asked a close friend of mine to join me up her, tonight. So, please welcome: Melissa Baker!" The crowd applauded, a few hoots and hollers coming from the small group of men in the back as Melissa walked onto the stage and stood in front of a microphone.
"Thank you. Uh, tonight, Kira and the band are going to help me perform a song from my own band days… I hope you enjoy it." She signaled to the band to begin playing.
Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh paper flowers
Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh paper flowers
Melissa strummed her guitar as she began singing, the entire audience disappearing and the sog being the only think on her mind.
I linger in the doorway
Of alarm clock screaming monsters calling my name
Let me stay
Where the wind will whisper to me
Where the raindrops as their falling tell a story
Kira joined in singing, her eyes focusing on her friends in the back, seeing the smiles on all of their faces as the two girls' voices merged together.
In my field of paper flowers
And candy clouds of lullaby
I lie inside myself for hours
And watch my purple sky fly over me
Melissa's voice stopped singing as Kira's rang throughout the establishment.
Don't say I'm out of touch
With this rampant chaos—your reality
I know well what lies beyond my sleeping refuge
The nightmare I built my own world to escape
The two voices merged once again as the girls both sang the chorus.
In my field of paper flowers
And candy clouds of lullaby
I lie inside myself for hours
And watch my purple sky fly over me
There was a guitar rift before only Melissa's voice and guitar were heard, her eyes focusing on Jason's.
Swallowed up in the sound of my screaming
Cannot cease for the fear of silent nights
Oh how I long for the deep sleep dreaming
The goddess of imaginary light
Jason smiled at her as the rest of the band continued to play and the chorus was heard again.
In my field of paper flowers
And candy clouds of lullaby
I lie inside myself for hours
And watch my purple sky fly over me
The music slowly faded as Kira finished the song.
Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh paper flowers
Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh paper flowers
The crowd roared with applause as the song ended. Kira and Melissa smiled at each other, giving one another a hug.
One more chapter left, sadly. Remember to make suggestions.
I do not own the song 'Imaginary'. That goes to Evanescense.
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