I don't own the Jonathan Larson song. I'm only renting it, ha ha. Here is chapter 5. Eventually, it's very emotional, so here's your only warning. And just to clear something up, Roger and Melanie met at the end of their sophomore year, around March or April. So their first anniversary would be in their junior year. That's all from me. Happy reading.
Can anyone guess which New York City apartment is referred to in this chapter? Happy reading.
Chapter 5
"Happy Anniversary, baby," Roger said, kissing Melanie's head as he handed her a small box. They were sitting against a tree outside of the school, waiting for Mrs. Schwartz to arrive to pick Melanie up.
"Happy Anniversary to you, too, baby," Melanie said. "I can't believe it's been a year already. Where did our junior year go?"
"I know," Roger agreed, smiling. "Open the box, baby."
"OK," Melanie said, and she opened the box to reveal a small green ring in the shape of a heart. Her hand flew to her mouth in surprise. "Oh, my gosh, Roger, this is amazing. Where did you get this?"
"Do you like it?" Roger asked, dodging the question.
"I love it," Melanie said, leaning up to kiss him. She lay in his arms and he pulled her close to him. "Can you believe it's been a year already?"
"Nope," Roger said. "But it's been one amazing year. I've loved every minute of it."
Melanie smiled. "Me too, baby," she said. "This has been the best year of my life. And you know, I really didn't think it was going to be, with my dad leaving and us moving and everything. But you and Mark and the others took me in and made me feel comfortable. Scarsdale is home now."
Roger kissed the top of her head. "I'm so glad you've become comfortable here," he said. "And just in time for us to move to the city, too."
Melanie laughed. "Yes, I suppose it is, huh?" she said. She looked up at him. "I love you, Roger."
"I love you, too, Melanie," Roger said, stroking her hair. Melanie began to relax at his touch and fall asleep for a few minutes. "Hey, silly, you'd better wake up. We gotta get home. Your mom's here."
"Oh yeah," Melanie said, laughing. She wasn't sure how long she'd been dozing, so she was glad Roger had woken her up. Roger got up and helped her to her feet and they walked to the car. But before she opened the car door, Roger turned Melanie toward him. "What's up?" she asked, looking up at him, confused.
"Marry me, Melanie," Roger said.
Melanie's eyebrows rose. "What?" she asked, surprised.
"Marry me," Roger said. Then, remembering his manners, he added, "please. You're gonna be 18 eventually, and then there's nothing our parents can do to stop us, even if we're still in school. I'm already 18."
Melanie smiled. "Mhm," she agreed.
"So, uh… I'd kinda like an answer, Mel," Roger said nervously, looking down at her and smiling.
"Oh. Yes," Melanie said, and she giggled. "Yes, Roger, I will marry you. I love you and I don't know what I'd do without you."
"Me, either, Melanie," Roger said. "I want to spend the rest of my life with you."
"Me too, Roger," Melanie said. "But we wouldn't be able to have the wedding until May, just before graduation.. is that OK with you?"
"If I have to, I'll get your mom's consent, so we can have it earlier," Roger said, looking down at her.
She looked at her mother, waiting in the car. "Well, I'd better go, before my mom sees this."
"Can't we tell her?" Roger asked.
"I don't know, Roger," Melanie admitted. "Maybe not yet, OK? I mean, I know we've been together a year, but… but there are couples in this school that have been together for five years and aren't married yet. I just… just not yet, OK? We will soon."
"Promise?" Roger asked.
Melanie looked up at him. "Promise," she said, and she kissed him goodbye. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"OK. I'm gonna get a real ring and do it right real soon, I promise, OK?"
Melanie nodded. "Even if you don't, I still will," she said.
Roger smiled, his heart pounding with euphoria. "Bye, Melanie. I love you," he said, and he watched her get into the car, holding the box tightly.
"Mel, I was thinking," Roger said, a few weeks later. "When we get married, we should get our own place."
"But I was thinking about going to NYU, like Brian," Melanie said, looking at him.
"I know. We'd get our own place in the city somehow, or we'd share an apartment with Brian and Collins," Roger said.
"That sounds great, actually," Melanie said. "Then you could play in clubs and bars and be on your way to being a rock star."
"With my rock star wife," Roger said.
Melanie smiled. "I like the sound of that," she said, kissing him. Her mother was working again and Brian was hanging out with Collins, so they had the entire house to themselves. They took advantage of this, Roger carrying Melanie up to her bedroom to make love.
"Guys, we need to tell you something," Melanie said, a few days later, meeting Maureen, Mark, and Benny outside of the school with Roger.
"What's up, Mel?" Maureen asked.
"We're engaged," Melanie said.
Maureen, Mark, and Benny's jaws dropped. "What?" they said. "No way!"
"Yes way," Melanie said, laughing. "But you can't tell anyone about it, OK? Particularly Roger's parents or my mom."
"Why not, Mel?" Maureen asked. "They'd be happy for you, wouldn't they?"
"Yeah, but I'm not 18 yet, so we'd need consent," Melanie said. "I don't want to have to deal with my mother for that."
"But your mom's cool, baby," Roger said. "I think she'd say yes. If anything, Brian will convince her to say yes."
Melanie gave him a look. "I still don't want to have to deal with it," she said.
"Ooh, a little rebel, huh?" Benny teased, smiling.
"Shut up, Benny," Roger said.
"Sorry, man," Benny said, looking at him.
"OK, we won't say a word, as long as we're invited to the wedding," Maureen said.
"Of course you guys are invited, you guys are our best friends," Melanie said. "I can't wait to tell Collins and Brian, too."
"Do you think Brian will freak?" Maureen asked.
"Probably," Melanie said, "but I think I can handle him."
"Good luck with that," Maureen said, hugging her.
"Thanks, Mo," Melanie said, smiling at her.
"Oh, and we're gonna move to the city, too," Roger said. "We're thinking about asking Brian and Collins to share their apartment with us."
"You think they'd do that?" Mark asked.
"I definitely think they would," Roger said. "After all, Brian is Mel's brother. He'd do anything to make sure she's safe."
Melanie nodded. "He would," she agreed.
"So that's the plans for now, but again, it's all hush until we say," Roger said.
"All right," the others said, nodding.
"And we're both going to NYU for music," Roger said.
"Sounds good," Mark said, looking at Roger.
Roger smiled. "I'm glad you agree," he said.
Mark smiled. "As long as you two are OK, we're OK with it," he said.
Roger nodded.
Five weeks later…
Melanie put a hand to her head. She was feeling sick and was slightly warmer than usual. She'd been feeling extremely tired all day, but hadn't yet actually been sick.
"Are you OK, baby?" Roger asked, looking down at her with concern, as he met her outside the choir room.
"I'm OK," Melanie said. "I don't feel well."
"You look pale, baby. You should go home and rest," Roger said.
"I think I might," Melanie said. "But I'll wait until second period is over, then I'll go home for lunch and stay home."
"Let me drive you home," Roger said. "I don't want you driving when you're like this."
"OK," Melanie said. "Thanks, Roger."
"No problem, baby. I love you," Roger said.
"Love you, too," Melanie replied, smiling weakly up at him.
Roger drove Melanie home and carried her up to her bedroom. She was so tired, she could barely move. Roger held her as she lay motionlessly on the bed.
"Roger," she said, "I'm scared. I'm never sick… or hardly ever, except for the occasional cold. You don't suppose this could be…?
"I don't know, baby," Roger said. "Look, I'll run down to the health store and get a test, OK? You lie down and see if you can sleep and I'll bring it back. We'll see if that's what it is."
"OK, Roger," Melanie said.
"Mel, do you know if your mom keeps a small bucket anywhere, in case you get sick and can't make it to the bathroom?" Roger asked,bringing thecovers up over her chest.
"Downstairs, in the closet under the stairs," Melanie murmured. Roger quickly went downstairs and got it for her. "Thank you, Roger. I really appreciate this."
"No problem, baby," Roger said. "I'll be back in five minutes, OK?"
"OK. Don't speed, OK? I'm fine, really," Melanie said.
"OK, baby, I won't speed," Roger said, casting a worried look at her before he went downstairs and left for the health store.
"Roger, it's two pink lines," Melanie called from the bathroom.
"Two pink lines?" Roger echoed. "Isn't two pink lines a good thing?"
"No, I think two pink lines means it's positive," Melanie said, looking at him. She sank to the floor in the bathroom, putting a hand to her forehead. "Oh man, this is not good. I don't know how far along I am."
"I'm sorry, baby," Roger said. He didn't know what else to say.
"Roger, I don't want to be the first pregnant senior," Melanie sobbed, and she started to cry.
"I know, baby, and I'm sorry," Roger said. "But what else do we do? I know you, you'll refuse an—"
"That's right, Roger, I don't want an abortion," Melanie said loudly. She clutched her head. "Shit, my head feels like it's going to explode."
"Do you want me to go for a while?" Roger asked.
"No, stay, please," Melanie said. "I'm sorry I yelled at you."
"It's OK, baby, I understand," Roger said. "It's partly my fault, anyway."
"You can't blame only yourself," Melanie said. "I agreed to have sex on Christmas Eve, and there were other times... It wasn't just you."
Roger nodded. Melanie was right; he couldn't disagree about that.
"Well, we'll figure something out, Mel," Roger said. "I promise."
"I hope so, Roger," Melanie said.
One month later…
Melanie was shaken awake roughly by someone one night. It was May and Melanie's birthday was only days away. She could hardly wait to turn 18. According to the doctor, she was almost four months along, so her turning 18 would mean she could make the decision about her and Roger's baby without her mother having any say.
"Melanie! Melanie Elizabeth Schwartz, get up this instant! This is urgent!" said her mother's frantic voice through the darkness.
"Mom?" Melanie murmured sleepily, rolling over onto her back. "What is it?"
"You have to come with me."
"Where are we going?"
"We're going to the hospital."
"Why, what's wrong?"
"Brian's been in a car accident."
"Oh, my God!" Melanie sat bolt-upright and looked at her mother, instantly awake. "Is he OK?"
"I don't know anything more right now, other than he's been in the accident," Mrs. Schwartz said. "We have to go now. Throw on some clothes and a jacket and let's go."
"OK, I'll meet you downstairs, Mom," Melanie said frantically.
"Good," Mrs. Schwartz said, and she quickly left Melanie's room.
Melanie jumped out of bed, dressed faster than she ever had before, and ran down the stairs. Adrenaline coursing through her veins, she grabbed a coat from the closet and followed her mother to the car.
The drive to the hospital seemed to take forever. Melanie had called and woken up Roger during the drive there, and he had said he would meet her at the hospital.
"My mom can kill me later," he had said. "You need me, baby."
"I know, baby," Melanie had replied appreciatively.
The moment Melanie walked into the waiting room, she spotted Roger standing against one of the waiting room walls. He rushed over to her and held her close.
"Melanie," he said, and he hugged her and kissed her, "it's OK. Brian's a fighter. It'll be OK." He looked at Melanie's mother. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Schwartz."
"I know, Roger, but it isn't your fault," Mrs. Schwartz said.
"It's not right for me to not be here for you and her, you know? Plus, Brian's my friend," Roger said. Mrs. Schwartz nodded appreciatively.
"When will we know what's happened, Mom?" Melanie asked.
"I don't know, honey," Mrs. Schwartz said. "Come on, let's just sit down for now, until they call Brian's name, OK?"
"OK," Melanie said. She sat down on the floor next to Roger— they didn't want to be separated by a chair— and waited.
"Brian Schwartz?" the doctor called, as he came into the waiting room.
Melanie, Roger, and Mrs. Schwartz stood up immediately. Though Roger and Melanie had been dozing, they instantly revitalized when they heard Brian's name.
"Yes, what is it?" Mrs. Schwartz demanded, going over to the doctor.
"I'm Doctor Reese Morgan. Come with me, please," the doctor said.
He led Mrs. Schwartz, Melanie, and Roger down a long, white hallway to an office room. He opened the door for them and they walked in. It was a standard office; tan carpeting, white walls, an examination table, a desk, and two chairs. Melanie and Mrs. Schwartz sat in the two chairs, but Roger remained standing.
"Would you like me to get another chair?" Doctor Morgan asked.
"No, I'm fine, really," Roger said immediately.
Doctor Morgan nodded and looked at Mrs. Schwartz. "You are Brian's mother and younger sister, correct?" he asked.
"Yes," Mrs. Schwartz said. "Why? What's gone wrong? Where's Brian?"
Mrs. Schwartz knew in the next second that something had gone terribly wrong, when Doctor Morgan's serious face fell to one hundred percent sympathetic. Then he spoke.
"I'm very sorry to inform you, Mrs. Schwartz, that Brian didn't survive the crash."
Mrs. Schwartz let out an agonizing moan and tears streamed down her face, as she sank to the floor. She clutched her stomach and looked like she was going to be sick. "Oh, my God," she cried, "my boy, my poor baby boy…"
Melanie buried her face in Roger's chest as she cried. She literally felt like her heart was breaking. She had never felt this miserable before. Roger held her close, like he would never let her go again.
"H-how did it happen?" Mrs. Schwartz stammered, after a few long moments, as she sat back in the chair. She had regained some of her composure. "He was supposed to be going back to NYU…?
"They were. Brian and a friend were driving down the interstate, going back to New York University, going eighty miles an hour. It was raining and visibility was poor. Their car started to hydroplane, Brian lost control, and their car went into the ditch. It rolled three times and hit a tree. They were both wearing their seatbelts, so neither was ejected—" Doctor Morgan said, but Mrs. Schwartz interrupted him.
"So Brian should be alive!" she exclaimed. "They always say that seatbelts save lives… that there's every reason car crash victims should live… Why is my baby boy dead if he wasn't ejected?"
"They hit the tree on the driver's side. Brian was driving. The impact of hitting the tree killed him instantly," Doctor Morgan said. "I'm certain that he felt no pain in his death. It was all too fast."
"Doctor Morgan," Melanie began, as something occurred to her. But her mother talked over her.
"Melanie, be quiet, let the doctor speak," Mrs. Schwartz said.
"Doctor Morgan, I need to—" Melanie began, louder.
"Melanie, hush," Mrs. Schwartz said to her.
"Mom, I need to ask Doctor Morgan something!" Melanie said, her voice rising almost to a yell. She looked at the doctor apologetically for reacting like this, and spoke quickly before her mother could silence her again. "Doctor Morgan, you keep saying 'they', 'them'. Was someone else with Brian or not?"
Doctor Morgan nodded. "His classmate, Thomas Collins, was also with him."
"Oh, my God, Collins!" Melanie and Roger exclaimed in horror.
"Is Collins OK?" Roger demanded.
"Thomas— or, as you are referring to him, Collins— has a broken arm, whiplash, and a few cuts and bruises, but he will be fine. He took a breathalyzer test and came up completely sober, and he also took a drug test, which we required. He says neither he nor Brian was under the influence of any drugs. With your permission, we will do an autopsy and find out if Brian was under the influence of any drugs."
"My brother didn't do drugs!" Melanie yelled angrily.
"Melanie Elizabeth Schwartz!" Mrs. Schwartz scolded her, and Melanie sat back against her chair, folded her arms, and scowled, but she was silent. She looked at the doctor. "Please, go on."
"Collins had some minor internal bleeding, which required one blood transfusion, but no surgery, so he will be fine," Doctor Morgan said. "I'm very sorry for your loss, Mrs. Schwartz. Would you like to see your son?"
"Yes," Mrs. Schwartz said, her voice shaking. "Yes, I would… please…" Her voice trailed off to a whisper.
Doctor Morgan nodded. "Very well," he said. "Please follow me."
He led them to a bay in the emergency room. Melanie's heart broke again when she saw Collins sitting in a chair next to the stretcher, his large body shaking with sobs, his face streaked with tears, and he looked frail with grief. Brian's body, mostly covered with a white sheet, was on the stretcher in front of him.
Melanie began to cry again and Roger held her close. "Easy, Mel, easy…" he soothed. "Think about the…"
"Oh, Roger, not now," Melanie squeaked, pushing him away. "Not with… oh, my God… Brian…"
Collins heard her and turned around.
"Oh, my God, Mrs. Schwartz," he said, and he rushed to Mrs. Schwartz and suddenly hugged her, shaking badly. "I'm so sorry. I'm so, so sorry…"
Mrs. Schwartz heaved in a breath and looked up at him. She wiped away his tears. "I know, Collins, I know," he said. "It wasn't your fault. Doctor Morgan said you two weren't drinking or under the influence of any drugs."
"We weren't, I swear to God," Collins said through his tears. "Oh, my God, Mrs. Schwartz, I'm so sorry. I can't say that enough."
"I know, Collins, I know," Mrs. Schwartz said, holding him close and rocking him motherly-like. "It was an accident."
"I know, but… oh, my God, Mrs. Schwartz, I'm sorry," Collins sobbed. He couldn't stop apologizing.
"It's OK, Collins," Mrs. Schwartz said, wiping away his tears and hugging him again. "I'm glad you're OK."
"Me too, but…" Collins stammered.
Melanie walked over to the bay and Collins quickly moved away. Melanie looked down at her brother. Except for a bruise on the left side of his head and neck, which she guessed traveled all the way down his left side, and he was paler than usual, he looked completely normal. It was almost like he was sleeping, not dead.
Melanie sucked in a breath and shivered as a chill went through her body. She reached out and touched his hand; it was cold and stiff. Melanie sobbed again and Roger held her. This made it real. Brian was really gone.
"What are we gonna do?" she sobbed. She tried to look at Roger, but she couldn't tear her eyes away from her brother.
"I don't know, baby," Roger said, holding her close and resting his hand on her stomach. "I just don't know."
Brian's funeral went by in a blur for Melanie. She was in a daze. She could hardly think. Her brother was really gone. In a flash, just like that, he had been taken from her forever.
"That was a beautiful funeral," Mrs. Schwartz said, wiping her eyes as they walked away from the burial site together.
"It was," Mrs. Davis said. "I'm so sorry for your loss, Kali."
Mrs. Schwartz nodded. "Thank you, Kristin," she said quietly, and Mrs. Davis hugged her comfortingly.
As always, don't forget to review. Brian dying in this chapter was really hard for me to write. I wrote it while in school the other day and I almost started crying, right in the middle of my two classes I was in while I wrote this. You guys can yell and scream at me all you want, but I did warn you. I don't think the story will get worse from here, but we'll see. I might have one more incredibly sad situation. I'll have to see where I go with the idea currently in my head. We'll see what I come up with. I'm continuing to write bits that will hopefully turn into chapters soon as we speak.
Until next time, lots of love,
Renthead07