Episode 49: Scene Seven

Gia refused to let herself look back as she handed her ticket to May. If she was to leave behind the memories, she would have to face her future without looking back. So much had happened in the last few years, and she didn't want to throw everything away. Smiling weakly at an encouraging May, she prepared to board the plane.

"Gia, wait! Gia!" Adrienne's normally quiet voice shrieked through the corridor. She was running as fast as she could in a dress that was restricting her movements. The person jogging behind her startled her even more.

"Mel," she whispered, her eyes softening at the sight of the pained expression on his face. Noticing how concerned he looked, she smiled and waved to them.

Mel bent down to catch his breath as soon as he reached Gia. Looking up at her with slightly angry eyes, he demanded, "What do you think you're doing? You can't just run off like you are!"

"I can and I will. It's not your decision to make, Mel," Gia responded, taking an assertive attitude towards him. She didn't appreciate his approach to the situation and wasn't afraid to let him know it.

"It may not be my decision, but you're doing something that's interfering with my life. I won't stand for that."

"Your life? How in the heck is this interfering with your life?" Gia asked incredulously.

"Gia, you've got to move along. Other people are waiting," May's voice broke into the tension between Gia and Mel.

"Just a minute, May," Gia's eyes fell down hard upon Mel. "Answer my question!"

"Wasn't it you who roped me in to this crazy scheme of yours to go up against city council to re-open First Hope? I seem to recall some girl coming up to me, begging and pleading, asking for my help."

"Scheme?! Begging and pleading?! Mel Clark, you have lost your mind," Gia turned her back to him defensively. "You don't know the half of it. You aren't in a position to understand what I'm going through."

"No, I'm not. In fact, I could care less what you're going through. You told me that you want my help and da**it, you're gonna get it!" Mel snapped, his eyes taking on a fire that neither Gia nor Adrienne had ever seen before.

Adrienne put a reassuring hand on Gia's shoulder. "Everything will be okay if you just come back to our room so we can talk about this. Nothing's worth running away to Germany for."

Gia's shoulder slipped from under Adrienne's hand. She shook her head in frustration. "No, I can't."

"Gia..." May's voice interrupted again.

Looking over at a fuming Mel, Gia said to Adrienne, "I don't know if I can do it, Adrienne."

"Fine, you don't have to do it yourself. In fact, I don't think you should. You should do it with someone you trust, and I think that I'm a pretty good candidate for that," Adrienne smiled softly.

Gia chuckled, a brief smile flashing across her face. "Yeah, I can't argue with that."

"Come on, Gia. Show yourself that you're stronger than you think," Adrienne squeezed Gia's arm.

Gia bit her lip in deep thought. Looking back at forth between the open gate and Adrienne, she finally made her decision. Lowering her eyes to the floor, she whispered, "I'm sorry, Adrienne. I have to go."

And with that, she boarded the plane.