Chapter 40: Ryan Winton.
Melissa was awoken by the alarm clock beeping by her bedstand. The noise disturbed her peaceful sleep. She rose from the bed, turn off the alarm and went back to sleep.
She snuggled against her soft pillow as she enjoyed the newly found quietness, or so she thought. The next moment Nicky baged into the room searching for something. And Sam's crazy loud cooking definitely definitely made her snap her eyes wide open.
Melissa picked up her pillow and screamed into it. "Can't someone get some peace and quiet in this house anymore?"
"Quit whinning. Besides it's time you wake up. You can't stay in bed all day." Nicky said as she paraded the room looking for her earrings. "Any chance you've seen my earrings? I can't find them and I'm running late. Could you be a dear and help me find them." Nicky said pleadingly.
"Agg.. find them yourself and leave!" Melissa shouted and threw her pillow at Nicky.
The pillow barely missed Nicky. She picked it up and threw it back at Melissa. It hit her square on the face and Nicky laughed.
"You seem cranky this morning."
"That's what unemployment does to a person." Sam who just walked into the room said.
"Yes l know I'm unemployed. Please tell me something l don't know." Melissa said sarcastically.
"Well here is something you don't know. You would not be unemployed if you actually know what you want to do with your life." Nicky said.
"Yeah. You had the opportunity to go back to your old job at the studio and you refused. Mr Nobody kindly offered you a job and you declined it. What exactly do you want?" Sam asked.
Melissa sighed she didn't want to talk about this. It was way too early for this talks. Ever since she declined Jeremy's offer for a job they had in breathing down her neck wanting to know why she did what she did. And they had been doing it not in a friend to friend manner more like two annoying mothers a annoying the heck out of their teenage child.
When Nicky noticed how Melissa didn't want to say anything she didn't want to push any further. "We'll save you the trouble. I'm already running late anyway so have fun staying home or what ever you do when we're out." Nicky said and walked out. Sam went over to the bed and sat beside Melissa. "You know if something is wrong then you can tell us. We're worried about you. Don't keep us in the dark. Maybe we can help." Sam said her voice filled with concern.
Melissa smiled. "Sam I'm fine. Really you and Nicky don't have to worry about me. And you should get to work. You don't wanna keep Nate waiting do you?" Melissa asked teasingly.
And Sam smiled. Nate was Sam's boyfriend and thanks to him Sam was able to get a decent job. "Promise me you won't stay home all day." Sam said standing up. "I'll try not to." Melissa said as she snuggled her pillow.
Sam and Nicky left the apartment.
Melissa layed back on her bed after they left. The pain she was going through at this moment wasn't physical it was emotional. She couldn't express how she felt but it happened every year. Every year since she accidentally murdered her boyfriend. Mark lavender. She remembered being so frightened that night. Images of his dead body popped in her head. She shut her eyelids tightly as hot tears threatened to fall out. She didn't want to remember but she couldn't forget.
She sat on the bed trying to console herself when she heard the door bell. She wondered if Nicky or Sam left something behind. She wiped off her face quickly and walked leisurely to the apartment door. She opened the door to reaveal a young man with a polite smile plastered on his face. He looked really adorable because of his boyish features. Curly blonde hair, blue eyes and a perfect amount of masculinity.
"May l help you?" Melissa asked. She had never seen him before. But maybe he was a friend of Nicky or Sam.
"Hi good morning." he said his voice warm and friendly. "I'm Ryan winston your new neighbour. Just stop by to introduce myself."
" Nice to meet you. I'm Melissa Williams." Melissa said as she stretched out her hand to shake his already opened one.
"Would you like to come over for breakfast? My sister is a really good sous-chef." Ryan asked sweetly.
Melissa wanted to refuse but didn't want to seem rude. Looking into the bright blue eyes of the young man standing right in front of her she found herself saying yes why not.