The next few days were heaven on earth. The now united family spent Christmas together, opening presents, having dinner, just being one big family. Everyone could tell that Melani and Bradin were truly happy, like they were finally complete. The aults decided that it wasn't fair to let them live in different houses, despite the fact they all were uncomfortable about them sleeping together. They came to a compromise that they could stay in the boathouse, and Jay could stay in Bradin 's old room, that way, there were parents all around them, but they could still be independent
The two walked along the beach the last Friday before school started again, hand in hand, laughing, the sun reflecting off the diamond in her ring "Bradin, I love you more than life itself"
"And I love you. You make me so happy, I just can't put it into words. My life is so complete with you" he said, leaning over and kissing her.
"Mine is with you too. I could die right now and be totally happy. The only bad thing would be leaving you"
"Please don't, I'd be horribly depressed if you did" he said laughing.
"I'll try not to." She said laughing and kissed him. He laughed too and picked her up carrying her to the boathouse and closing the door behind them
Lucas walked into his house after surfing. He walked into the kitchen to grab something to eat when I heard a voice say "How long have you known"
Lucas rolled his eyes "I'm not in the mood for you shit right now Tanner, what the hell are you talking about"
"How long have you known about my bitch of a girlfriend" He heard James say
Lucas turned around and saw the two of them standing behind him "How long have I know that she was with Bradin, or how long have they been together?"
"Both" he said, obviously in a bad mood
"Well, I've known since the day before homecoming, which was in October, but they've been seeing each other since the first day of school. And honestly, I'm glad she dumped your sorry ass, you don't deserve her. She went through so much shit with you, I'm glad she's happy with Bradin. They're perfect together"
Fire glared in James' eyes "That little whore." He said angrily
"Whatever. They're happy, they make the perfect couple, and the wedding was amazing" Lucas said walking away. James grabbed his arm, and for the first time Lucas realized how strong he really was
"Wedding? What the fuck, they got married? That's such bullshit" he said angrily "This crosses a line. I'm going to get her back, and you're going to help us Lucas"
"Keep telling yourself that" he said as he walked past him, but he froze as he heard a click behind him. He turned around to see James holding a gun to him "What are you doing" he said, trying to sound calm
"You're going to help us Lucas" he repeated "I'm going to get her back, whether it kills me, her or someone else, I'm going to get her back"
Melani walked with Kelli along the beach later that afternoon. They stopped outside her house and sat on the lawn chairs. "So, are you happy Mel, cause you seem happy" Kelli said
"I really am" she said, unaware Tanner and James were listening, gun to Lucas' head "I love him more than anything. I can't believe I actually married him though. That's what makes me laugh. I'm married at 16. But when you think about it, we're more in love than some people who have been married for years. I really am happy Kel, and I'm totally in love with him"
Kelli smiled "More than you were, because you were happy with him before"
"Before I always had to worry about getting caught, and don't get me wrong, I mean I feel horrible about what I did to James, leading him on the way I did, but now he's gone and I can sleep at night. I'm not afraid anymore, not scared of him hitting me, him hurting me. Not that I don't think that he's going to kick Bradin's ass on Monday, but he told me that's his problem not mine, so I'll worry about it Sunday, now I just want to be his wife"
"The way I should be" Kelli said "Listen, I gotta go. You alright alone?"
"Yeah, I'll head home to see him in a little while. I just want to relax, and I can't with him fawning over me. Go, I'll call you later." They hugged, then Kelli walked down the beach. Mel put her head back and closed her eyes. She heard someone calling her names, which caused her to jump. She shaded her eyes to see Lucas calling her from his kitechen window "Hey Luke" she called
Lucas swallowed hard. The gun was at his back so Mel couldn't see it, but he could feel it against his spine "You wanna come up here and get your purse, you left it here the other day and I kept forgetting to bring it to your new house" he called
Mel smiled "Sure, I'll be up in like 2 secs, k?" she called back
"Ok" he replied, but in his head he screamed No, No don't, go back to Bradin. Let him keep you safe
Mel smiled as she walked in the backdoor of Lucas' house. "Luke?" she called "Ok, I saw you like a minute ago, I know you're here" she said laughing
"I'm right here, breathe" he said, leaning against a doorway. He was trying to act cool because James had said one wrong move and he was as good as gone
"So where is my purse? That's a girl's lifeline you know" she said, smiling.
"It's right here" she heard a voice say that caused her blood to run cold. She turned to see James standing at the outside doorway "Nice to see you" he said smiling wickedly
"I know that smile" she said, her hands starting to shake "What's going on? Why are you here?"
"I wanted to see my best friend and his brother. And you" he said, still smiling
"Well, I'll get out of your way, just give me my purse and I'll go. I have to meet my husband at the pier in like 5 minutes"
James laughed "You and Farm Boy huh? Not going to say I didn't see it coming, I should have just gotten rid of him before."
"You won't touch him. I love him James. I'm not going to let you hurt him. I'm sick of you hurting the people I care about. I'm done with you, now give me my purse." She said strictly
"Um, no" he said "Because I'm not letting you off that easy. We're getting back together"
"Hell no we're not" she said angrily "I'm married, you're not going to hurt me anymore. I'm done with you"
"Fine" James said still smiling "Then I'll hurt Lucas" She turned around and saw Lucas with a gun to his head. "Tanner and I decided we don't like what happened, so you're getting out of it. You're going to be with me, no one else"
Mel looked at Lucas "You would seriously shoot your own brother. You're blood." She said to Tanner
"Wanna find out?" He said, walking toward James, gun still at Lucas' head. When he got there, he handed the gun to James "No, I could never do it, but he would. He's pissed"
"Really? Is he pissed that you blackmailed me too? I mean because I'm sure you told him right?"
James looked at her funny "What the hell are you talking about?"
"He knew. He caught me and Bradin the night you left for Cabo San Lucas, and did he call and tell you? NO. You want to know what he did. He blackmailed me into sleeping with him EVERY SINGLE DAY. That's your best friend J, he slept with your girlfriend"
James, now totally confused, was pissed "I don't believe you" he said
"Good, because I didn't. She's just a slut"
"Wanna read the texts on my phone, I have them all saved" she said "See, everyone's known, Luke, Kelli, Allie, Jason, Erik, Chris, Cassi, Laurie, everyone, we just all decided it was better to let you believe you had me, when in reality, you lost me years ago"
"NO I DIDN'T" He yelled his hand starting to shake "NO I DIDN'T"
Mel took a deep breath "Give me the gun J. I don't want you to do anything stupid." She held out her hand to him "Just give it to me…please"
"NO!" he yelled "One of you is lying, and whichever one it is has a bullet with their name on it. I'm calling the shots now." He said pissed
"J, if you love me like you say you do, then give me that gun. You're not going to get anything from shooting anyone. Give it to me" Mel said, her voice shaking
"Oh, what now Mel. You scared of me? Why now, apparently you've been afraid of me for months, years maybe, why are you standing up to me now? Because I might do something stupid?"
"No, because I don't want you to hurt Lucas. He's done nothing, why don't you just let him go?" She said, her eyes falling into his
"Because now he knows. He's served his purpose, I could just get rid of him now. Maybe I should" he said smirking. Lucas looked at Mel pleadingly
"J don't joke like that. You're not going to shoot anyone. Especially not Luke, he's done nothing, the one you have a problem with is me, so leave him alone and deal with me. Shoot me"
James glared at her "It would be better to get rid of him, that way you'd have his death on your conscience all your life. It would be worse"
"Yeah, but Tanner would hate you, and so would I. You'd get nowhere. Let him go and face me. It's between you and me, let's just end it"
James looked at Lucas, the scared look in his eyes. He pushed him out of the way and walked toward Mel. "Happy? No more innocent victim. Now it's just you and me"
"Then shoot me. I mean, that's why you have it right. Honestly, I don't think you have the guts to shoot me. You know that if you killed me, it would haunt you for the rest of your life"
James stared at her "I could do it, don't tempt me to. I don't want to, I just want it to go back to normal. I just want to be with you"
"Well that's a nice fantasy on your part, for me it's a nightmare. I'm married now, and I'm in love with my husband. Get over me and get your head out of the sand. We're over. You pulled this whole stunt for nothing, so unless you're going to take that gun and kill me, we all wasted our time" she said, trying to sound brave
"No, we're not over." He grabbed her arm "Not until I say we are" She took this as an opportunity and grabbed the gun. The two fought over it for a while. Tanner ran over to help James and Lucas ran over to help Mel. The four fought and fought until suddenly there was a loud BANG.
Bradin waited by the pier, beginning to get worried. Mel wouldn't answer her cell, she wasn't there, and no one had seen her. He paced back and forth waiting for her. Suddenly his phone rang. He looked wearily as the Caller ID was blocked "Hello?" he said
"Mr. Westerly?" a manly voice said
"Yes, that's me" Bradin said "Who is this?"
"This is Dr. Andrews from the Playa Linda Hospital. There's been a terrible accident, you need to come here as soon as possible. Your wife was involved"…