Chapter 6
I am hiding in the bathtub/shower in our room. I’m hiding from everyone including Phillip who told me that he loves me and wants to get married. He proposed and I in typical fashion ran. I’ve been here for a long time, like 14 hours. Taylor was out when I got home and he fell into bed without even coming in here. He’s still asleep and it’s 10 o’clock. The phone is ringing and I know Taylor is waiting for me to pick it up, but I’m not there.
12, 13, 14 and Taylor curses while picking up the phone. “What is it? Melissa, hold on Phillip…what’s wrong. Slow down I just woke up. I thought she came in late…I was late but. Well let me…she’s not there. Where is she? What did you do to her? She left and you didn’t go after her? What kind of fool are you? She’s probably dead by now. I’m going out to look for her…I’ll look in all her favorite places. Obviously you didn’t…well I’ll get my brothers to help too. Bye.”
I couldn’t take it anymore. He’s worried sick and woken up with a start and …I’m coming out of my hidy-hole. I could hear him cursing as he put on pants and knocked into the wall. I opened the door and cleared my throat.
Taylor looked at me and said,”Oh hey Melissa, no time to…oh your alright and,” he tripped over himself running to me. I had my lungs compressed for a moment in a tight hug. “Where were you. You ran out last night at 8 and then I didn’t see you when I got home at…”
“At 2. I was in the bathtub all night hiding from everything. Phillip asked me to marry him. I couldn’t take it.” In break the tears. Much hugging and rocking then ensue. “I don’t love him and he loves me with all his heart. I tried to make it work but it just can’t. I don’t love him. I ran to a safe place, like before I came to school here. He’s leaving soon and I can aviod him. He’ll get over me and move on to some other girl who deserves him. I can’t hack it. I just can’t.”
“Oh Melissa. You need to tell him you’re ok and most of all you need to tell him what you told me. He has to hear it before he can grieve then heal and move on. He spent all night looking for you after he figured out you didn’t escape to the ladies room.”
“Fine, but I’ll have to call him because his flight leaves any minute.”
“No it doesn’t. He changed it so he could find you. He called me in a panic because he fell asleep while waiting by the phone.” *knock knock * “Come in Phillip” I tried to make a break for the window, but Taylor grabbed hold and held tight.
“Oh Melissa,” once again I was rushed and squoze. “ I thought you were laying in a gutter somewhere or held captive. Uh Taylor can you leave so we can talk?” Despite my dirty look he back out the door while muttering something about coffee. “Why’d you run again? Please give me an answer and look at me. Look at me darling.”
“Please don’t say that. I can’t stand it anymore. I don’t love you and I have to hide away so I won’t break out of my perfect shell and ruin you life and your image of me. I really did try to let you in and love you but I can’t and I don’t know why. I thought that we would be the stellar couple of the year, but it just isn’t working and this time I can’t blame the music. It’s me. I’m the problem in this relationship and all the time together is not going to help. I can’t marry you and I have to build a shelter here to keep myself from hurting anyone. I think that relationships will never work out for me. I’ll be the famous graphic designer with no loved ones. I’m so sorry.” We both broke down long before I finished. I couldn’t eat these tears and call it ok.
“I can’t stop loving you Melissa. Even with the refuge built so strong around you. I love you and I’ll break it down and follow when you flee.”
“Phillip please.”
“No you please,” He stood up and faced me with a new feeling hung on his perfect face. “I know that relationships are hard but I want this to work and I’ll keep at you until you give in. I’m going home now, but I’m going to be there when you get home. My offer still stands. I want you to be my wife and bear my children. That’s a lot to handle right now, but well I’m always going to be there. Waiting for you to stop fearing me and all the places back home.” He kissed my hand, slipped the ring on it and left me, a pile of jell-o on the floor, crying.
(Day 23) Taylor found me. He washed my face and helped me into bed. Then he left for our last classes of the week. He feilded everyone’s questions as I slept. I later found out that he had been waiting outside and met up with an angry Phillip who told him to get up there and help me. Taylor thought I had been hit or something and ran like mad to get to me. That night everyone piled in our rooms and pigged out with me as I told them my sad story and we watched our weekly shows. I finally looked at the ring myself while everyone was watching Phillip and Chloe break up again. I was beautiful. A big diamond with platinum band. It was what I had always wanted. Plain and simple just like me. It sparkled from my finger and I twisted my hand this way and that to get maximum sparkle exposure. I couldn’t keep it…I guess I’d give it back during Thanksgiving, which was very close thank goodness.
“It looks good, but not right.”
“I’m giving it back and telling him to forget me. I thought it would be easier but he wants to play the hard way.”
“You should have a ring from the man you love. Not that.”
“It must have cost a fortune…well Thanksgiving I’m taking it to the jewlers myself if he wont listen.”
“Good girl. You’re going home during Thanksgiving?”
“If I can get a supersavers ticket. If not then Mandy and I are making our own dinner here.”
“That’ll be priceless…I’d stay just to watch you two make the turkey.”
“Oh we don’t even really like the turkey. We’d make all of our favorite dishes or eat out. Nothing says thankgiving like a pepperoni pizza.”
“You have a good spirit. I think you’ll do ok.”
“Really well now that I have your blessing I can live.”
“Hey,” He hit me with a pillow,”No need to get sarcastic on your roommate. This is a serious time, be serious.”
“I hate being serious. I’m usually the first to crack a joke during a serious situation.”
(Day 24)“I’ll give you serious,” * whap * he popped me with another pillow. OH this was war and it started coming at me from all sides. Everyone gabbed a pillow and started going at each other. And it felt so good to really laugh deep down in my chest echoing it throughout my frame and filling my soul with mirth. We laughed until we cried and laughed at that. Laughter really is the best medicine.

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story stuff