Melody drove the few miles to Eagles Cove. Eagles Cove was a section of the beach surrounded by tall, protective rocks. The area inside was not very big and it would be perfect for her date. Everyone knew about the Cove, but they hardly ever came there. People only used the Cove for special occasions so it was often empty.
It was 7:00 when Melody arrived to set everything up. She spread a large red blanket out over the sand. In the center she laid the small basket with the food she had made. She circled some candles around the Cove and lit them for light. Sitting down her special bag, she checked to make sure everything was perfect. It was almost 8:00. She sat down and stretched her legs out across the blanket, waiting for Aj.
Aj silently slipped into Eagles Cove without Melody noticing. He stood there and admired her from the shadows of the Cove. He thought about how good she looked in her cut off shorts and black sweatshirt.
"How do you always look so beautiful?" He asked, walking out from the shadows and startling her. She smiled and motioned for him to come over.
He did just that, sitting close to her on the blanket. Ok, now's the perfect time, Melody thought.
"Aj," she whispered, "I really think I should tell you something. I have been keeping it a secret from you."
"What would that be?" he asked curiously.
"You sure you wanna know?" she said, jumping up from the blanket. She watched Aj smile and nod.
"Well, I know who you are and I have to admit I am a really big fan, I always have been," she said closer to a normal voice. Melody pulled off her sweater revealing her Backstreet Boys tank top, turning to make sure he could see the 'I Love Aj' on the back. She could see him stiffen, and tried hard not to laugh. Then she picked up her special bag. She grabbed the Millennium CD and a permanent marker from it.
"I love you guys soooo much, I have for a while. I knew who you were the second I saw you at Vallery's. I have been pretending to not know whom you were, but I couldn't hold it back anymore. Could you please sign this for me?" she asked innocently. He gave her a strange look. Melody was planning to play it out longer, but his face was too priceless. She couldn't help it; she started to laugh; only confusing Aj more.
"Aj, I'm just joking," she said seriously, seeing a worried look on Aj's face. Melody tossed the CD and pen back into the bag.
"That wasn't funny," he muttered, angry that she had played with his head like that.
"Geez man, you don't have to be all uptight about it. I mean if you would have told me you were in a group in the first place…" she said, now annoyed too.
"Not that you would have given me the chance."
"What do you mean, I wouldn't have given you the chance!?"
"Every time I am with you, you ignore me or just can't talk to me!"
By now both Melody and Aj were angry and had stood up.
"I mean, I can't even tall if you like me or not! First you ignore me at dinner, then you blow me off on the dock, telling me I don't know what I'm dealing with, but the very next day you agree to go out with me! Of course, then you come down with some strange 24-hour illness and can't go to lunch, and you are perfectly fine today! What is your problem!" he yelled.
"You really wanna know!" she screamed into his face, "Do you?!"
"Yes!"
"I'm dying okay! I was scared to see you and be around you. I was terrified that I would fall in love with you and would have to leave you behind!" Her anger, which had completely taken over her, causing her to say that, quickly faded to deep sadness.
Melody lost all her strength, dropping to her knee's on the sand. She leaned down on covered her face with her hands, crying. "Happy now?" she sobbed quietly.
Aj felt immediate guilt for yelling at her. He had no idea how serious her situation was, and didn't know what to do. Aj sat down next to Melody and wrapped his arms around her.
"Shhh, it's okay," he murmured, holding her tightly in his arms. "I am so sorry."
Melody continued to cry for almost ten minutes before she started to calm down.
"How much longer do you have?" Aj asked, still holding her in his arms, almost afraid to let go.
"Saturday."
"That soon?"
"Yeah," Melody answered quietly. That sat together in silence for a minute before Aj said anything.
"Melody?"
"Uh-huh?"
"Was everything you said true. About being scared you would fall in love with me."
Melody thought for a second. "Yes," she said honestly.
"I don't think it is fair that you told me your secret, but I haven't told you anything. I think you should know something about me," Aj said, turning so he could look Melody in the eyes. She waited silently for what he had to say.
"I already love you," he whispered, leaning in to
kiss her. Melody returned the kiss, not pulling away
like she had before.
Chapter 10
