{Melon}
~In Jersey~
“It’s a somber day for the Stanford family.” the priest began, “Anna or Grammy, as the kids called her, was a special women. She will be sadly missed.” Melissa and her family sat in the front row, in front of their Grandma’s casket, with Valerie and unfortunately, Matt, for support. Melissa began to sob louder as the priest concluded and the casket was lowered into the ground. “Relax baby. It will be okay. ”Matt said tightening his grip on Melly. “I hope so.” Melly mumbled as she began to cry into his chest. “Ergh, I swear to God, that guy is using this to his advantage.” Val said angrily, “But Nick will be here soon to Matt’s surprise.” Val now half-smiled. “Val, was everything ready at home for the repast?” Melly asked her with her tear soaked eyes. “Yeah, I made all the plans the caterers were going to have it done by 10 mins. ago.” Val smiled and hugged her friend. “Thank-you, I owe you one.” Melly said lowly as she walked to the black limo.
Everyone arrived 15 mins. later at the Stanford home for a repast in honor of Anna. Melissa and Matt got out of the limo last and began to walk up the driveway. Val pulled up in Melissa’s car shortly after and, as she did, the shuttle from the airport w/ Nick and Brian pulled up. “Ahh, They’re here!” Val said walking over to the boys as they got out of the van. “Valerie!” Brian said running to her and kissing her. “Hey Bri-bear, missed you.” Val smiled. “Hey Val where’s Melly?” Nick asked. “Hey Nicky, she’s right up there.” Val pointed to her and Matt. “Who the hell is that?!” Nick said as he saw another man comforting his fiancée. “Matt.” Val simply said, “He’s the problem and why I asked you guys to come here now.”
“Oh, I need to call Nick.” Melly said reaching for her cell. “Why? If he cared he’d be here for you.” Matt told her. “Stop that, he cares he’ll be here tomorrow.” Melly said back. “Tomorrow? Why not now?” Matt kept on. “Matt, please stop. He loves me.” Melly said getting worked up again. “If he loved you he’d be here right now.” Matt sternly said. “Then I guess I must really love her cause here I am Matt!” Nick said as he grabbed Melly’s hand. “Nick! What a surprise!” Melly said as they hugged and kissed. “Yeah, we changed flights, so we could be here for longer.” Nick smiled down as his girl and then at Matt, “And I needed to be here with you.” Matt was cringing inside, he couldn’t take how much in love Melly & Nick were and those idiots Ethan and Jason blew it again! “Those idiots are going to pay!” Matt said as walked away dialing his cell.
~Matt’s call to Ethan & Jason~
“Wassup?” Jason said as he picked up the phone. “I’ll tell you wassup you moron!” Matt yelled from the front of Melly’s house, “You failed again!” “Huh? Nah, man, their flight is tomorrow.” Jason chuckled. “I’m staring at the happy couples right now!” Matt yelled once again drawing attention to himself. He just smiled and waved over at Val, Brian, Nick and Melly. “You guys get your asses on the next flight to Jersey and call me when you arrive. Things are going to have to be done the hard way.” Matt said as he hung up and went inside to join the others for the repast.
~Inside~
“Did you get me Justin’s autograph yet?!” Jessica, Melly’s sister, asked Nick. “No, not yet. But I got Chris and Joey’s last time.” Nick laughed. “Uhuh, great I love Justin tho. Hi Brian!” Jessica smirked at him as she left the room. “Atleast she is doing ok.” Brian said. “Yeah, she’s taking it all better than I thought she would.” Melly sighed. “So, why did you guys come out here today instead of tomorrow?” Melly asked. “Well, Val” Brian started to say as Val pinched his back. “Val what?” Melly looked at the both of them. “I missed him so much, so I begged for them to come today as a surprise.” Val played it off. “Ah, good thinking.” Melly said as Matt entered the room. “Hey Mel, I don’t think I have ever met these two guys officially.” Matt said extending his hand to Nick and then to Brian, “I’m Matt Stewart.” “Nice to meet you, I’m Brian.” he said politely. “And I’m Nick, Melissa’s fiancé.” Nick said making a point. “I see, great, so Mel I have to go finalize some travel plans but I’ll be around tomorrow.” Matt said leaning to kiss her cheek but Melly just extend her hand. Matt was pissed now. “Hope you all sleep well.” “He is one weird guy.” Brian said as Val pinched him and whispered, “We need to talk about him later w/ Nick.”
“Enough about him...how’s your Mom & Dad?” Nick asked. “I’m fine, Nickolas, Thanks for asking.” Dave said as he entered the room, “Mrs. Stanford is still the same.” “Afternoon Mr. Stanford, sorry about everything.” Nick extended his hand. “Same here, sir.” Brian said patting his back. “Thank-you both for being here for us, It’s very much appreciated.” Mel’s father said sincerely. “Anything for Melissa.” Nick smiled. “It’s good to know she’s in good hands.” Dave smiled at his daughter. “Does he know where Nick’s hands actually go?!” Brian whispered to Val and she let out a laugh. “Sorry.” she said. “Melissa, I need you to come say good-bye to the family, they are ready to leave.” Dave said as he left the room. “I’ll be right back guys, make yourselves comfortable.” Melly smiled as she left the room.
“Here’s my only chance to talk to you w/o her.” Val spoke quickly, “It’s Matt.” “What about him? And why can Melly hear this?” Nick asked concerned. “He is behind everything. Ethan & Jason work for him.” Val told them. “What? Val..are you sure?” Brian questioned his wife. “Yes! I heard him on the phone last night, right before I called you, and he mentioned all of us and said ‘Ethan’ repeatedly.” Val continued, “I didn’t want Melly to know he was behind it because ya know, she’s got so much on her mind right now.” “That was a good idea. What the hell are we gonna do?” Brian asked. “What the hell are we gonna go about what?” Melly asked coming back into the room. “What the hell are we gonna do about getting your Dad to let me sleep in your room.” Nick said covering up their convo. “Oh, he said it was okay yesterday.” Melly laughed at her man, “And Val & Brian can have the guest apartment”. “Well, how about we all get settled and then we can watch movies or something?” Brian suggested. “Okay, follow me. I’ll show you where the apartment is.” Melly pointed to Val & Brian, “Nick, you know where my room is, meet you up there in a minute.” “Aight baby.” Nick said as he headed upstairs and they others went to the apartment.
~Guest Apartment~
“Here it is guys.” Melly said as she opened the mini-apartment door, “It’s like a hotel room, I guess.” “It’d be just fine, Melly.” Brian smiled at her. “Yeah, we have the privacy we need and hell, we could never come out of here!” Val laughed as the others joined in. “Well, I better get up there to Nick, just come up the family room when you are done.” Melly said as she began to leave but stopped, “Ah, guys” “Yeah, what’s up Mel?” Val asked. “Well, I, I just want to apologize to you both. I was a real bitch the other day, well days I guess, and it wasn’t right.” Melly started, “After being here I realized how short life can be, so you need to cherish every minute with the ones you love and you guys are my extended family and I love you more than anything.” “Thank-you Melly, I apologize too.” Val began, “I was a real bitch too. We both just got caught in the situation, which we both didn’t have the all facts on, and said things we didn’t mean. You know we love you and Nick like family too.” “Thanks Val, friends again?” Melly asked. “Of course!” Val said as Melly and Val hugged and Brian clapped. “Thank God!” he exclaimed. The girls just laughed. “Well, let me go now. See you in a few.” Melly said as she left. “So, what are we gonna do with that asshole?” Val said angrily, “He isn’t gonna hurt my family anymore!” “Val, relax sweetie, we gotta think this out logically.” Brian said sitting on the bed, “Should we call Steven?” “I think that would be a good start.” Val said reaching for her cell. ::ring,ring:: “Where the hell is he?” Val said as Steven wasn’t picking up. Just then his voice mail picked up: “Hey, it’s Steve. I’m currently in Australia, vacationing, call back in a week, peace.” “The damn guy is in Australia!” Val shouted as she hung up. “I guess we are just gonna have to handle this on our own.” Brian sighed.
~Melly’s Room~
"Took ya long enough.” Nick said as Melissa walked into her room. “I apologized to Val and Brian.” Melly told him. “That was nice of you, so you and Val made up?” Nick asked. “Yeah, she apologized to me also and we said we’re friends again as we hugged.” Melly smiled. “See how happy it made you?” Nick said as he smiled that things would be back to normal between the 4 of them. “Yeah, you were right again.” Melly laughed. “I wanna go see your mom tomorrow with you.” Nick said. “Ah, ok, I’d love that. She’ll love to hear your voice.” Melly said as a tear came to her eye. “She’ll be okay, Mel, I know it.” Nick said hugging Melissa tightly. Nick wanted to tell her about Matt but agreed to Val he wouldn’t. “love you.” Melly whispered. “love you too.” Nick said as thoughts ran through his head of Matt’s involvement. “I’ll just have to do whatever it takes to protect the people I love.” He said to himself. “As much as I am enjoying being in your arms, we better go watch the movie with Bri & Val.” Melly said as she broke their hug. “I’m picking the movie this time!” Nick shouted as he followed Melly downstairs.
~Downstairs~
“Sorry Nicky boy!” Brian yelled from the family room, “I already picked one.” “Oh, C’mon! You picked it last time!” Nick said snuggling on the couch with Melly. “We are gonna watch ‘Scream’.” Val said as the movie started and she sat near Brian on the other couch. The couples were just about half-way through when they got the urge for a snack. “Guys, I’m hungry.” Melly said grabbing the remote to stop the video. “I was just thinking that let’s go raid the kitchen.” Val said following Melly. “It’s great they are back to the old Mel & Val, right man?” Nick said asked as they headed to the kitchen. “Yeah..it sure is.” Brian said as they heard the girls scream. “AHHHHHHHHH!” “Melly, Val..whats wrong?!” Nick yelled as the guys ran into the kitchen. “The door just flew open and this came flying in.” Melly said to him. “What is it?” Brian asked. “It says, “Enjoy your LAST night together.” Val said lowly. “Oh my God, what is going on here?” Melly started to flip out, “I thought we were done with those bastards!” “We need to tell her.” Brian said. “Yeah, I hated not telling her earlier.” Nick nodded. “Okay, let’s do it.” Val agreed. “Hello! Can you all stop talking like I am not in the room! What is going on? What do you have to tell me?!” Melly said upset. “It’s Matt.” Nick said, “He’s behind everything. “What? Matt? Matt that was just here?” Melly asked confused. “Yes, I heard him on the phone and that’s why I asked the boys to come now.” Val said, “He was trying to stop them from getting here. ”He doesn’t seem like the guy to do something like this..” Melly trailed off. “I know, you two have a history together..” Nick said to her, “but you need to believe us.” “I do, he was acting strange earlier yelling at his cell when he saw you guys.” Melly said as she began to cry, “My God, he killed my Grammy and tried to kill my Mom just, just to get us here.” “Yes, that’s true, Melly.” Val said hugging her, “We’ll get through this all 4 of us.” “She’s right babe.” Nick said taking her in his arms, “NoOne is gonna hurt any of us.” “Why?! Why is he doing this to me, to us, to my family. Why?!” Melly cried out, “What did any of us do?!” “I dunno sweetie.” Brian said comforting Val as he answered Mel. “My mom! Someone better check on her!” Melly screamed.
~END OF CHAPTER 48~
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Chapter 49