Melody opened her eyes, looking up at a white ceiling. She tried to sit up, but was too weak. Why am I back at Vallery's, she wondered, seeing Vallery, Suzy, and Nick sitting around the table in the kitchen? Melody turned her head and noticed Aj sitting in a chair next to the couch. He noticed she was awake and called the others. Suzy ran into the room and hugged her.
"Mel, what happened? We were all so scared," she asked breathlessly.
"I realize you must have been scared, but I don't think I need to answer your question," Melody answered, trying to hint that she didn't want to say anything in front of Nick or Aj. Suzy and Vallery both knew about her condition even though nothing like this had ever happened before. "I think I am going to go home now." Melody tried to get up, but couldn't on her own, so Suzy helped her.
"I could drive her home. She is in no condition to drive. You have to drive your own car, so you can't drive Melody's. Vallery and Nick haven't really gotten to spend any time together. Nick could pick me up from Melody's in a half hour…" Aj started, but Melody cut him off.
" No, I'll drive myself home, thank you very much," she said, pulling out the keys.
"Oh no, you WON'T!" Vallery said rushing over to Melody and grabbing the keys. "You can hardly stand up on your own, you are NOT driving. Aj will drive you and that IS IT!" With that she tossed the keys to Aj. She waved good-bye to them as Suzy and Aj helped Melody out of the door and to her car. They sat her down in the passenger seat. Aj turned around to Suzy.
"It was nice to meet you Suzy," he said.
"You too," she replied. Melody noticed the keys dangling from Aj's hand. When he wasn't paying attention she grabbed the keys, slamming the door shut and locking it. He pounded on the window demanding that she unlock the car. Suzy and Aj helplessly watched Melody climb into the drivers' seat and pull away. She looked into the rear view mirror and laughed at the shocked looks on their faces. Melody hit the gas and flew around the corner. She went down the road 20mph over the speed limit. All of a sudden she saw flashing red and blue lights. She cursed and pulled over, then laid her head down on the steering wheel. Great, she thought. A few seconds later she heard the police officer knocked on the window, she rolled it down.
"Do you know how fast you were going?" He asked
"No," Melody said sarcastically, then added, "do you know how fast you were going to keep up with me?" The police officer glared at her. Another car pulled up behind the police car. Melody turned around and saw it was Suzy's, Aj and Suzy jumped out of the car and ran to the police officer. Aj pulled the police officer a few feet away from the car so the girls couldn't hear.
"Hey, aren't you one of the Backstreet Boys?" The officer asked. "My daughter loves you guys."
"I'll make a deal with you. If you let my friend over there off the hook, your daughter gets front row seats and backstage passes to our next concert," Aj whispered to the officer. A wide smile played over the officer's face and he shook Aj's hand. The officer gave him his address to send the tickets to. Aj hurried back over to Melody's car as the officer left.
"Where's the cop going?" Melody asked in amazement.
"I got you off the hook, don't ask how. Now give me the keys, I'm driving you home," Aj said sternly, reaching his hand into the car. Melody sighed and handed him the keys. Suzy didn't say anything; she just shook her head and walked back to her car and drover off. Melody moved back over to the passenger seat so Aj could get in. As they went down the road Melody stared out the window, refusing to look over at Aj. A little while later they pulled up to her house.
"I have about 20 more minutes before Nick will pick me up," Aj told her, then asked, "Do you want me to help you to the house?"
"No, I don't really want to go in yet," she admitted. "I don't want my parents to see me like this, they get upset easily. Do you think you could walk me down to the pier instead?"
"No prob," he said, getting out then coming around to help Melody. Aj put his arm around Melody to steady her as they walked. Sitting down on the edge of the pier, Melody looked at her watch, 9:45.
"Do you have any idea why you passed out?" Aj asked sitting down next to her. He took of his sunglasses and waited for her to answer. Melody knew exactly why she had, but she wasn't about to tell a guy she just met, no matter how sweet he was.
"It just happened. People pass out all the time, you know. There doesn't have to be a reason for it. Mine was just like anyone else's," she lied. Aj could tell she wasn't telling truth, he could see it in her eyes. Melody turned her head away and stared out over the water.
"You sure nothings wrong?"
"Yes, Aj"
"Can I tell you something?"
"Sure."
Aj put his hand under her chin and gently turned her face back towards his. "Even though we just met, and I hardly know anything about you, I really like you." He leaned in and kissed her. Melody started to kiss him back, but realized what she was doing and pushed him away.
"Don't," she said standing up, "You don't know what you are dealing with." Still a little light-headed, Melody walked away. Soon she closed the door of her house behind her, leaving a confused Aj sitting alone on the pier. I can't let him get close to me, she thought, it will be hard enough for Suzy, Vallery and my parents deal with my death, I don't want it to effect anyone else. Melody peaked out the window and watched Aj. A few minutes later Nick pulled up and got Aj. Melody watched sadly as the car pulled away.
