Chapter 9

"Hey, Melissa. You didn't call me back yet so I guess that you're avoiding me (chuckle) or you forgot to call. Anyway, I'll be at your apartment at around six o' clock Saturday night. Sorry that you're not getting this message from me personally. Bye," said the answering machine.

"I can't believe I forgot to call," Melissa said as she placed the newly bought groceries into their rightful places in the kitchen.

"I wouldn't worry about it too much. He doesn't seem like the type to hang around the phone until you call him," Jackson said, also helping to put the groceries away.

"Yeah, you're right. I shouldn't feel so guilty. So where do you think we're going for the date?"

"I don't know. Guys are unpredictable. You should know that since you're living with one."

"Yeah, guys' rooms have a funky smell too," Melissa said with a smile.

"What can I say? Sometimes I have no time to go to the Laundromat."

"It's across the street!"

"I have a hectic schedule."

00000

Saturday arrived pretty quickly. It was almost like time wanted Melissa to go on her date already. She spent the morning walking dogs, which wasn't too bad if it hadn't been for the dogs fighting over a fire hydrant. She returned to her apartment to find Daley and Taylor sitting on the couch.

"What are you guys doing here?" Melissa asked.

"We heard you had a major date with Derek so we wanted to help you get ready," Taylor said, as she made her way to Melissa's room.

"But... how did you guys find out?"

"Please, Melissa. Everyone in our graduating class knows," said Daley.

"This is like high school all over again," Melissa said, as she led Daley to her room.

Not to her surprise, Taylor had already ripped her closet apart. There were clothes on the floor and bed. Taylor was now holding one of Melissa's favorite shirts in the air. She seemed to be examining it and then she threw it to the ground.

"Hey, I like that shirt!" Melissa said, as she picked it up from the ground.

"Don't get me wrong. I like the shirt too. It just doesn't seem first date material," Taylor said, as she examined another shirt. "So what were you planning on wearing?"

"I don't know. Something that's clean and comfortable, I guess," Melissa answered.

"No, you're supposed to say something like... I don't know... pretty?" Taylor said, as she threw the shirt she was examining onto the bed.

"Hey, did you see Jackson?" Melissa asked, as she looked out of her doorway.

"He's in his room," Daley answered, as she walked over to Taylor.

Melissa left them in her room and walked over to Jackson's door. She knocked three times until she heard a "come in."

"Hey," she said as she opened the door.

Jackson was sitting on his bed with his guitar. He had crumpled up papers all around him and there was a basket overflowing with them.

"Hey. So how are your friends doing?" Jackson said, as he made room for Melissa on the bed.

"Fine. They're just choosing my clothes for the date. So... you haven't written a song for tonight yet?"

"No, but it's coming along. I got some verses so I just need more to make a song," he said with a chuckle.

"Listen, I want to wish you good luck for tonight. It sucks that I can't be there, but I think you'll do fine."

"Thanks, Mel. I think they're looking for you," Jackson said, when he heard voices calling for Melissa.

Melissa let out a groan and then exited the room.

"Well, Daley and I had been searching long and hard for this perfect outfit. Do you, Melissa, promise to wear it to tonight's date and forever treasure the kindness given in choosing it by us?" Taylor said with the outfit hidden behind her back.

"I do?"

00000

"Oh, come on. We want to see him pick you up!" Daley said, as Melissa was trying to get them through the door.

"No need. You'll probably scare him off."

"Oh, fine. We're leaving, but you have to call us. Tell us everything," Taylor said and then Melissa shut the door.

A second later, Jackson came out into the kitchen. He was probably getting some dinner ready before performing at the café.

"Your guests leave already?"

"Please. I had to force them out the door. It was a pain."

"So did they find you the 'perfect outfit?'"

"Yeah, but I don't know if I feel like wearing it. Speaking of it, I have to get ready."

00000

Melissa was still in her room when Derek came so he was forced to have a conversation with Jackson on the couch, which was anything but pleasant.

"So what do you do for a living?" Jackson started off.

"I work for my father's company. He manufactures paper. I'm hoping to take over the company after him."

"Really? Sounds good. So where are you taking her tonight?"

"Oh, I made reservations to the restaurant where we had our reunion. She said she liked it there so I figured we might as well eat there."

"Did you tell her beforehand? Isn't it a place where you dress pretty fancy?"

"Yeah, it is pretty fancy. I didn't tell her, but that's okay. I don't think the restaurant will mind if she dresses casually."

"Okay, man. But I doubt she would like that," Jackson said with a smirk.

Jackson couldn't explain to Derek why she wouldn't like the surprise since Melissa finally stepped out of her room. She had her hair down and was wearing a red, low-cut top that was sleeveless. She had on a jean skirt that went down a couple of inches above her knees. To top it off, she was wearing some about knee-high black boots. The two guys in the room were looking at her and she smiled.

"So this is the perfect outfit?" Jackson asked, pretty much staring at her.

"Yeah. You like?" Melissa said and then she looked at Derek. "Hey! Why are you dressed up so fancy?"

"Since we met each other at the reunion, I thought that it was appropriate to have our first date there."

Jackson practically rolled his eyes at this guy's mushiness. He was obviously a romantic and sentimental kind of guy. Derek could have fit the image of a guy sitting next to the phone and waiting for the girl to call.

"That's so sweet, but I'm not properly dressed for it," Melissa said while looking at her outfit.

"It's all right. You look really beautiful and we're almost late for our reservations. We should get going now."

"Okay, then. Uhm... bye, Jackson. Good luck tonight," Melissa said, as she gave Jackson a hug.

"Have fun. Bye."

Jackson saw them leave and thought that he could've done better on a first date.