Life Of Melanie (Completed)

It had been two days since my excursion with Lucas, and he still hadn’t called. I refused to let it bother me, because today was my birthday. My mother had made me blueberry pancakes with maple syrup, for breakfast, my favorite. While I was helping my mother clear the table after breakfast, my dad came in from outside. In his hand he was holding a small wrapped box. He looked at me and asked, “Are you ready for your birthday present?” Smiling widely I answered his question with a question, “Are you ready to give it to me?” Looking at my mother he let out a small chuckle, “I don’t exactly know how to answer that.” Giving him a confused look, he handed me the small rectangle shaped box, and stepped closer to my mother, putting his arm around her lovingly.

I took the box from him and gave them one last look before tearing the bright blue paper. Opening the box, I heard a little jingle, but for the life of me I could not figure out what was inside. Slowly removing the lid I heard myself gasp when I saw what was inside. I thought to myself, ‘this can’t be right, I only have a driver’s permit.’ I pulled out a set of keys and looked up at my parents who were both beaming. Stepping to the side my father ushered me to the door, “Well, let’s go take a look.”

The first time I laid eyes on my new car, I fell in love. It fit me to a tee. It was a deep purple, Honda accord. I started jumping up and down, then, I ran to my parents and practically tackled them. They were both so happy for me. “Now of course there will be rules,” my mother chimed in as I climbed into the driver’s seat. “You cannot drive it alone until you get your license, and you will have a curfew.” I just gave a little nod, I was busy pushing buttons and adjusting my seat and rear view mirror. “I can’t believe you guys did this……it was so unexpected.”

“It was supposed to be a surprise, I’m glad you didn’t suspect.” My dad told me. “So do you want to take it for a spin?”

“Of course,” I said starting the engine still wearing my pajamas. Both my parents climbed into the car and put on their seat belts. I thought to myself, ‘things just keep getting better.’

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The day was shaping up to be a spectacular day. Blueberry pancakes, new car, and an appointment for my driving test at two, I definitely had no complaints. I was about to pick up my phone and call Clarissa when it started to ring. Thinking it was probably her I answered, “Morehead meat house you stab em we slab em.” To my surprise a male voice chuckled on the other end of the line, “I’m looking for Melanie.”

Laughing I replied, “This is she,” not recognizing the voice on the other end of the line. “Hey it’s Lucas,” was his reply.
“Oh, hey, sorry about that, I thought you were someone else,” I apologized.
Laughing again he said, “It’s okay, so….. how have you been?”
“I’ve been pretty damn good, and you?” I asked. I got butterflies in my stomach just talking to him over the phone.
“I have been good too, been thinking about you,” he stated.
With that I had to take a seat. I knew I had been thinking about him, but hearing him admit that he had been thinking about me brought a smile to my face.
“Is that so….,” I asked shyly.
“Yea, I was wondering if you had any plans tonight, the band is practicing, and I was hoping you would come and hang out,” he stammered. I thought it was so cute how he sounded so flustered. I wish I could tell him I’d love to hang out with him, but I already, in fact, had plans.
“Well, that sounds like fun, but I do already have plans, my friend Clarissa is taking me to dinner for my birthday,” I explained.
“Oh…..its your birthday?” he asked a little disappointed. “Well happy birthday,” he added.
“Thanks,” I replied, “Maybe afterwards we could meet somewhere or something,” I added feeling a little bold.
“Yea, that sounds cool, when will you guys be done you think?” he asked sounding a little hopeful.
“I’d say around nine,” I replied.
“Cool, so you want to meet me at the ‘Pool Hall’ then?” He asked, taking his turn being shy.
“That sounds like a plan,” I replied.
“Cool nine it is then……. don’t forget about me now,” he joked.
Laughing at his joke I said one word, “Impossible.”
“Okay so, I’ll see you late then.”
“For sure………laterz.”
“Later.”

Smiling to myself as I placed the phone in its cradle, I couldn’t help but laugh. This was the best birthday I ever had, and it was only noon.

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The restaurant was packed. We had to wait over an hour just to be seated. “Wow, I didn’t think we were ever going to get a table,” Clarissa stated as she took her seat at the tiny table for two.
“Well, if you can even really call this a table,” I joked pulling out my chair. “It does appear to have a surface, therefore it is classified as a table,” Clarissa joked back.

After our order had been placed, Clarissa started in, “So new car, and a license to drive, blueberry pancakes, sounds like you have had a pretty good birthday.” “But what is going on with Lucas, have you heard from him?”
I hadn’t spoken to Clarissa about Lucas, I was saving the goods for tonight. “Well,” I began, “He did call me….finally. He wanted to know if we could go out tonight,” I told her. “Of course, I told him I already had a hot date,” I teased while playing with the straw in my ice water.
“No you didn’t, I would have let you stand me,” she smiled.
“No I told him I would meet him after our ‘date’.” I smiled back.
“You are becoming the regular little trap….two dates in one night,” she joked after taking a sip of her diet coke.
“Yep, I have to meet him at the ‘Pool Hall’ at nine,” I said smiling a little too widely. “Oh Mel, I told you, you will get what you deserve.” She said with pure genuine joy. “I don’t know if I deserve him, but I sure as hell want him,” I said nudging her arm with my elbow.

We chatted for awhile longer before our food arrived. Despite our long wait, the food was excellent. While we ate we talked about going back to school, and the activities we planned to join. I tried to talk Clarissa into joining the choir, but she would have none of it, which was a crying shame. She was better than half of the people already in the choir. She was hardheaded. The evening dwindled and the time had come to pay the check. Clarissa and I argued for a few moments, about who would pay, before I gave in and let her treat me. As we were getting up to leave, I caught a glimpse of something……or someone familiar in the window. Wanting to get a closer look I took a few steps forward.
“What, are you looking at,” I heard Clarissa call over my shoulder. Shaking my head, I wouldn’t let myself believe what I thought I just saw, I mean I had to be seeing things. There was no way that he could be here. It would be insane. Turning back to Clarissa, I answered, “ No one, I mean nothing, my mind is just playing tricks on me….thank you so much for dinner.” I said giving her a hug and a light pat on the back.
“You’re welcome, now come on you don’t wanna be late for you um…. second date.”


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I had been sitting on the tattered old couch in the corner for over two hours. Sure, I liked listening to Lucas play, but half the time I was there, the band had been arguing over who would be doing the vocals. The truth was, it wasn’t much fun. I let out a long sigh and glanced over at the other band mates ‘girlfriends’ who were laughing and talking amongst themselves. Lucas had introduced me to them, they were um…. nice, but they didn’t seem too interested in making small talk with me. I wondered how long it would be before they were done, my question was soon answered.

“Fuck it…… I’m out,” I heard Shane, the drummer, yell as he threw his drumsticks against the wall.
“Me too,” Mika the bass player agreed, as she put her guitar in its stand.

Without saying a word, Lucas put his guitar in its stand, and began walking in my direction. I stood waiting for him to approach. When he reached me he grabbed my hand and said, “Lets get the fuck out of here.”
Trying not to look too happy about leaving, I let him lead me out the front door.
“Sometimes, they just piss me off so bad,” he said stopping by his black mustang. “I mean we can barely make it through one single fucking practice.” I think he was talking more to himself than to me but I acknowledged anyway, “Well, it will be okay, you guys sounded awesome.”
“Not that any of it matters since Kacey quit, we don’t have anyone to fucking sing.” He offered still pissed.
I had heard that Kacey Child was going to move, but I didn’t know that she already had. “You’ll find someone,” I assured. Being so optimistic was strange for me, but I did my best to sound sincere.
“Yea, right, so…… you want to go somewhere?” he asked hopefully.

Looking at my watch I said, “I have to be at home in an hour, but we could just hang out here until then.”

For the next half an hour, I listened to him complain about his band and the way things were heading for them. I could tell that making it in the music industry, was really, really important to him. At times I found it comical, but tried to hide my humor in the situation. As the last thirty minuets dwindled away, I found myself wanting to go home. I never thought I would ever want to stop talking to Lucas, but I was getting tired of stroking his ego.

Looking at my watch again for at least the hundredth time I let out a sigh, “I have to go soon,” I interrupted.
“God, Melanie, I am so sorry, it is your birthday, and here I am rambling on about my problems. Can I make it up to you, maybe we could go to a movie tomorrow or something.”
“That sounds good, and don’t worry about the band, you guys rock, you will be fine.” I told him honestly.
“I hope your right, so I’ll call you tomorrow then,” he asked.
“Yea, I’ll be around,” I said with a smile.
“Good,” he said as he stepped in front of me. I was leaning against the hood of his car when he came face to face with me. Taking me by surprise, he leaned down, and kissed my lips. At first I was shocked, and I just sat there, letting him kiss me. Relaxing a little I began to kiss him back. I ran my fingers through his shoulder length blonde hair that smelled way too fruity to be a guys hair. I tilted my head, as the kiss continued. He sucked my bottom lip between his teeth and lightly nibbled before the kiss ended.
“I can’t wait until tomorrow,” he said as he took a step back and helped me up off his hood.
“Me either,” I answered honestly.

He walked me to my car and watched as I drove away. The kiss was nice, but nothing like my first kiss. I hoped that the memory of Brice, would not get in the way of my new relationship with Lucas. I would hate always comparing the two. I still couldn’t help but think, ‘this was the best birthday ever.’