Forever and Always (9 page)

Melanie quickly climbed out of bed and hurried out to the lounge area. Maggie was pacing up and down the floor. She seemed upset. Melanie felt her stomach knot, something was defiantly wrong and she knew it wasn’t going to be good.

“Ok” Maggie said the worry very clear in her voice. “I will be there as soon as I can. Ok. Goodbye”.

“What’s wrong?” Melanie asked fear tying her stomach in knots.

“We have to go back to Boston” Maggie said sadly realising what her words would mean to Melanie.

“Why?” Melanie asked as the breath was sucked from her body. Her legs suddenly felt like jelly. She quickly sat down on the sofa before she fell down.

“Your remember Mark” Maggie said. Mark was Maggie’s ex.
everyone
thought they would get married, including Mark. Mark proposed to Maggie on the last Valentine’s Day. But instead of getting the yes he expected. Maggie said no and finished with him. No one knew why. She had refused to talk about it.

Melanie nodded trying hard to keep her breathing steady.

“He was in an accident” Maggie said as she slumped down into the chair facing Melanie. “He still had me down as next of kin so they called me. He is badly injured”.

“Oh that’s so awful” Melanie said trying hard not to think of the awful thing that was about to happen to her.

“I need to go and be there for him Mel” she said her eyes filled with guilt. “I am sorry but we have to leave this morning”.

“Why can’t I stay here” Melanie blurted, she couldn’t believe she said it out loud. She wanted to be supportive and less selfish but she didn’t want to leave Sam. Not yet.

“Melanie I can’t leave you here unattended” Maggie said wishing she wasn’t the one that was about to break Melanie’s heart. “Your Mom and Dad would freak”.

“What if they say I can stay” Melanie begged. But even she knew the likelihood of that happening were very slim.

“I don’t think that is going to happen” Maggie replied her eyes filled with regret. “I think your Dad would go ballistic if he knew you were left here alone.

“But I wouldn’t be alone” she said desperately. “Sam would be here”.

“Mel I know Sam is a great kid” Maggie said moving closer to Melanie. “But there is no way your parents are going to give permission for you to stay here with someone they haven’t even met”.

“They might Maggie” Maggie said giving her a knowing smile.
“If you were to put a good word in for me”.

“Mel I don’t think...” Maggie began to say but Melanie didn’t wait for her to finish.

“Maggie, please” Melanie begged. “In a few weeks I will have to go home. This is the only time we are going to have together. Please Maggie please”.

“Ok ok enough” Maggie said. “I will call your Mom but I can’t promise anything”.

“Thanks Maggie” Melanie said handing her the phone.

“You want me to call right now?” Maggie replied with a laugh. “You could give me a moment to think”.

“But you want to leave straight away to be with Mark” Melanie shrugged. “The sooner you ring the sooner you can hit the road.

“Fine” Maggie sighed taking the phone from Melanie. She dialled in Sarah number and waited for her to answer.

After Maggie calmed a panicked Sarah, who had thought Maggie called because something had happened Melanie, she explained what had happened to Mark.

As Maggie talked to Sarah, there was a soft knock on the door, Melanie jumped up to answer. It was Sam. He smiled but his smile fell when he saw the worried expression on Melanie face.

“What’s wrong” he whispered glancing over to Maggie on the phone.

“Nightmare” Melanie replied before she turned back to Maggie.

“She is right here” Maggie said turn to Melanie and handing her the phone.

“Hey Mom” Melanie said nervously.

“Hey Sweetheart” Sarah said when she heard her daughters voice. “Mel I am not sure it’s such a good idea you staying at the beach house on your own. I know you Dad will freak out”.

“Mom, please” Melanie replied, a lump forming in her throat and hot tears stinging the backs of her eyes. She turned away from Maggie and Sam. She didn’t want to cry and she knew if she looked at Sam she would. “I swear I will be careful. And Sam is right next door. It’s so quiet and peaceful around here and very, very safe”.

“Melanie” her Mom said in that tone she uses when she was going to say something Melanie wasn’t going to like. “I am worried about a lot more than just then neighbourhood. I don’t know anything about Sam. I am sure he is a lovely sweet boy but you are only seventeen”.

“I will be eighteen the end of August” Melanie shot back quickly. “Please Mom”.

“Melanie if you were a little closer to home maybe” Sarah sighed.

“But Maggie won’t be that far away” Melanie replied. “Please”

“This means a lot to you” Sarah said softly.

“Yes Mom” Melanie whispered.

“He means a lot to you, doesn’t he?” Sarah asked.

“He means everything” Melanie replied as the tears final break free and trickle down her face. “Please Mom”.

“Ok” Sarah sighed. “You’d better put Maggie back on the phone”.

“Thanks Mom” Melanie said releasing a deep breath of air, she hadn’t realised she was holding her breath. “I love you”

“Love you too Kiddo” Sarah said but then added. “And maybe it’s time you rang your Dad and told him that too”.

“I will Mom” Melanie replied and handed the phone to Maggie.

Melanie finall
y looked at Sam as relief swept across her face.  His
eyes were fixed to her, a mix of fear and uncertainty etched across his face.

While Maggie spoke to Sarah, Melanie quickly explained to Sam about Mark and the fact that Maggie was needed to go back to Boston.

“You’re leaving” Sam asked his face ashen.

“That’s what Maggie is talking to my Mom about” Melanie replied turning back to Maggie who was finally finished on the phone.

“Well assuming your Dad doesn’t freak out too badly” Maggie said as she rubbed the bridge of her nose. She looked so stressed out and Melanie felt a little guilty for adding to her stress.

“Your Mom said you can stay here”.

“Oh thank you Maggie” Melanie squealed throwing her arms around Maggie. Suddenly Sam was hugging them too.

“Ok, ok” Maggie laughed. “Just don’t mess up and get me into trouble with your Mom.

An hour later Melanie and Sam waved goodbye to Maggie as she headed off in her car. 

“Now I have you all to myself” Sam said as he pulled Melanie into his arms. He kissed her softly and pressed his head against hers. “I think I just might be the luckiest guy alive”.

Melanie lead Sam back into the house and made him breakfast, then went to get dressed. They spent the day relaxing on the beach. Melanie loved spending time with Sam. She loved Sam.

Later that evening Sam said he would drive to town to pick up some take out for them. While Sam was gone Melanie decided she should ring her Dad. She sat on her bed for a few minutes staring at her phone.

“This is stupid” she said to herself. “This is your Dad. The one you could tell anything to, the one who sat by your bed for the two nights when you were in hospital when you got your tonsils out. The one who threatened Mr Cross, your third class teacher who made you cry when he accused you of cheating on a test, when you didn’t......The one who broke your heart with his careless words”.

Melanie shook her head and tried to force these thoughts out of her head. Quickly, before she could change her mind, she pressed dial on the phone. It rang twice before he picked up.

“Melanie” he said nervously, the sadness in his voice pulling at her heart. Tear instantly burnt her eyes.

“Hey Dad” she replied after a couple of deep breaths to calm herself. “How are you?”

“Better now hearing your voice” he said, she knew he was smiling. She could hear the relief in his voice. “How are you?”

“I’m good” she replied, tears now freely running down her face. This was harder then she thought it was going to be. She just didn’t know what to say to him. How had they turned into strangers so quickly?

“I’m glad” he replied, this was hard for him too. He wished she was right there with him some he could hold her close to him. “Mel, I am so sorry I hurt you”.

“Please Daddy, don’t” she whispered as the sob she was fighting to hold inside escaped. “I just wanted to say hi .....
and
to tell you.... I am ok.........and to tell you...” She could barely breathe.  She could hear his breathing change and she knew he was upset.

“And to tell you I love you” she finally managed to say breathing hard to try and control her sobbing. “I will call again soon”.

“Melanie, wait please” he pleaded. He had so much he wanted to say to her.

“I gotta go” she whispered.

“Melanie I love you” Alex said quickly.

“Bye Dad” and she hung up the phone, dropping it from her hands and sinking back on the bed, curling on to her side pulling her legs up to her chest and sobbed.

Suddenly Sam was next to her and pulling her into his arms. She hadn’t heard him come back and had no idea how long he had been standing in her room. She buried her face into his chest and sobbed harder.

“Hey it’s ok” he whispered softly his breath washing down her neck like a calming wave.  She looked up at him and her eyes met his. He wiped the tears from her face. She felt safe and somehow stronger. She kissed his lips as he softly stroked her face.

Suddenly something exploded between them and they could hold back no longer. He returned her kiss with a blazing passion that pulled into her very soul.

He pulled her to him as he slowly lower her back on the bed, his mouth never leaving hers. Melanie’s head spun. She wanted this. She wanted him so badly. She was ready.

Suddenly feeling brave she grabbed the end of his t-shirt she pulled it over his head. Quickly he opened the buttons on the light cotton blouses she was wearing and slipped the blouse off her shoulder, kissing her neck as he peeled it off her completely. His lips slowly made their way down her neck on to her chest and finally he reached her breasts. He stopped and glanced up at Melanie asking for permission. She smiled and he slowly unhooked the clasp in the front of her bra and softly kissed her breast.

Melanie’s heart was beating so fast she thought it was going to burst right through her chest. Since the day when Sam told her he wanted to wait for their first time to be special she had thought of nothing else. They had come close a few times but never this far.

Sam slid his hand down Melanie’s body till he came to her shorts. He hooked his fingers in side and gentle pulled both her shorts and her panties down. Melanie tilted her hips off the bed making it easier for Sam to get her shorts down.

Now she was lying there naked. She could feel her cheeks flush as his eyes ran all over her body. His breath hitched slightly as he did. He stood up and slowly undid his buckle on his jeans and pulled open the buttons. His eye locked with her as he pushed his trousers and boxers shorts down. Melanie’s eyes instantly went to his erection. He was so ready too. Melanie blushed when she looked back up at his face realising he knew she had been looking at him, there. He smiled nervously at her.

Slow he climbed back on to the bed balancing over her. H
is leaned down and softly kissed
her lips.

“Melanie, are you sure you want this?” he whispered into her ear softly. She could barely breathe. She nodded slowly and smiled. She was sure. He kissed her again and let his hands explore every part of her body until his reached between her tights and softly ran his fingers back and forth over her before he slowly slipped two of his fingers inside her. Her back arched as pleasure rushed through her like hot liquid through her veins. She moaned softly as she tugged his hair and pulled him too her.

“Oh God Melanie” he groaned against her neck. “You are so beautiful”.

Suddenly he kneeled up on the bed and reached down for his jeans.

“What’s wrong” Melanie asked, worried she had done something wrong. He looked at her and smiled as he pulled a condom out of his pocket. Quickly he ripped the foil and rolled the condom down over his erection. Then he was back on top of Melanie.

This time his legs slid quickly in between hers pushing her legs further apart. He stilled for a moment his eyes looking into her eyes waiting for permission. She smile and reached up until her lips met his and she kissed him.

Slowly he eased inside of her. Her heart was pounding so hard. She felt a little pinch and she winced. He stopped immediately.

“Are you ok?” he asked softly, concern written all over his face. “Am I hurting you?”

“It’s fine” Melanie assured him. “It only hurt for a moment”.

Slowly he pulled out and eased into her again. Melanie head was spinning. Stopping again he looked at her and she gave him a reassuring smile.

Once again he pulled out and eased back in but this time he didn’t stop. He continued with a slow gentle rhythm. He kissed her as he moved inside her.