When we left off last, Melissa revealed that she was sexually assaulted soon after arriving in Nashville. Now it's up to Milo and friends to get her out of there before it happens again. But will Melissa be on board for Milo's scheme?
Trigger warning: Mentions of sexual abuse/rape in this chapter. Reader discretion is strongly advised.
Melissa had just revealed that she had been raped just after she had moved to Nashville, shocking Zack and Amanda. They were frozen, stunned that something that harrowing could happen to Melissa. Finally, Amanda spoke up.
"Melissa, I can't believe that happened."
"How could this have happened? Did you see who did it?" Zack asked.
"I didn't see who did it. Everything was such a blur, almost as if someone had messed something up at the afterparty," Melissa explained. "I don't know how it could've happened, but I don't want it happening again. Neither do my parents."
Zack and Amanda then looked to Milo.
"Why's everyone looking at me?" Milo asked.
"You got a plan to get Melissa out of this mess?" Zack asked.
"Yeah, you've always got something in that backpack of yours. You must have a plan to get Melissa out of this dangerous situation."
"I'll let you know as soon as I think of it. All I know is this is gonna haunt me until Melissa's out of Nashville. This could've all been prevented," Milo told himself as he walked off.
Amanda then went to Melissa. "Melissa, I've heard legends about that fountain in center court..."
"What kind of legends?"
"I heard if you make a wish at that fountain, your wish will come true. Perhaps you could wish yourself out of Nashville."
"That's got to be the silliest idea I've ever heard," Melissa scoffed.
"Worth a try, though."
Little did Melissa know, Milo was already at the fountain. Looking into its sparkling waters, Milo thought ahead into the future and made his wish.
'I wish Melissa and her family were back here in Danville...'
That's when an idea came to him. "I don't know how or why...but somehow, I got an idea..."
Back with Melissa...
"Amanda's certainly gone nuts. But if what she told me is to be believed, than I'm basically up to try anything right now..." Melissa said as she started singing to herself. "My place is here...with Milo and my friends..."
All the little cares
picked along the way
Suddenly have disappeared with yesterday
Tossed above the fields
and lost among the winds
My world is beginning today
Oh so many times
have I walked this way
And never seen
the little things I see today
Never had my head
so high above the clouds
My world is beginning today
I know something's gonna happen
But it's out of my hands
Things are gonna start snappin'
Without any plan
All the little cares
picked along the way
Suddenly have disappeared with yesterday
Tossed above the fields
and lost among the winds
My world is beginning today
My world is beginning today
"Well, Melissa realized the first thing she had to do was hear Milo's plan to get her out of Nashville..." Zack narrated.
"How long have you been there?" Melissa asked Zack, who was somehow behind her.
"Whole time. Milo came up with a plan to get you out of Nashville..."
"I figured he'd come up with something sooner or later," Melissa giggled. "So Milo, what did you come up with?"
Milo smiled and gathered Zack, Amanda and Melissa around. "Melissa, you did say that once your 2nd album is finished up, you can basically work on your future projects from anywhere - including Danville...so why don't we help you in finishing that 2nd album?"
Hearing this stunned Melissa. "Really, guys? You'd do all that just for me?"
"Of course, Melissa!" Zack said, flashing a thumbs up.
"Without a doubt! Of course, since this is Milo we're talking about, the chance of a Murphy's law related incident are just about 80% but knowing Milo, there's no risk he wouldn't take for you," Amanda assessed.
"Way to be a killjoy, Lopez..." Milo snarked. "Now why don't we get started over lunch?"
"Read my mind there, Milo!" Melissa said, taking Milo's hand in hers.
"How are they so in sync with each other?" Amanda asked.
"Don't question it, Amanda..." Zack deadpanned. "Just let it happen."
Sounds like Melissa's 2nd album is going to be a mega-collaboration between her and her friends! Will Milo's plan work? We'll find out NEXT TIME!