PART THIRTY-TWO

*Brian*

With a wide smile on my face, I walked down the hallways of the place I spent nearly 6 months working in. That was all over now, but my reason for being here was not to reminisce. What I held in my hand would make Melody ecstatic and I was happy to be the one to deliver it to her.

I knocked on the door to her office and entered without waiting. "Melody, you won't believe what I go-"

I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw Melody jump in her seat and turn her head away, wiping fresh tears off her cheeks. She had a video camera placed in front of her on the desk, but it was turned off and she now clutched the tape tightly in her hand, like she feared I would take it away from her. "My God, what's wrong?" I asked concerned and kneeled down in front of her. "What happened?"

"It's ... it's nothing," she said hesitantly and did everything in her power to stop the tears that seemed to never end. "I was just-"

"Please don't lie to me," I said softly. "You wouldn't sit here crying all by yourself if it was nothing. What's going on?"

"Better just read this," she whispered and handed me a wrinkled piece of paper that looked like a letter. I frowned, but opened it and quickly skimmed it through. My eyes widened slightly by the use of words from this person and couldn't help but let out a deep sigh.

"Oh no," I whispered, appalled by the cruelty this letter portrayed. Melody buried her head in her hands as her shoulders started to tremble.

"You weren't supposed to know," she sobbed. "You guys have so much going for you, I didn't want you to worry about this as well."

"When did you get this?"

"I don't know," she whispered. "A few days ago maybe. I can't even remember."

"You should've just come to us right away," I said softly and enveloped her in a hug as she cried into my shirt. "Sweetie, I'm so sorry," I whispered as I stroke her back gently. "I know this is a harsh thing to deal with, but we've been through it so many times. Some girls are like that, I guess. The only reason they do it is jealousy. Don't ruin your self-esteem just because of one girl."

"No, not just one," she said as her head came up from my shoulder again. "I spent the entire afternoon online. Apparently all your fans knows about me and AJ, and not many of them think particularly high of me."

"That's just because they don't know what a wonderful person you are," I smiled and caressed her cheek gently. "And how happy you make AJ. Sometimes they just seem to forget that we're here for the music, not to flaunt our personal lives in their faces."

"You don't understand," she whispered and looked down to her hands as the tears kept on falling. "It's not just me they're talking about ... it's AJ too. I'm only dragging you guys down by being with him. I'm scared of what this will bring, Brian. He might not want me after reading some of this."

"You know that's not true," I objected as I placed an index finger under her chin and pushed it upwards so she couldn't look away. "Have you even been watching him these past few months, Melody? He's been walking on clouds, and all he can talk about is you. Don't you realize how happy you make him? He really loves you. Nothing but that matters."

"It will eventually," she said sadly as her lower lip started quivering. Her loss of faith was beginning to really scaring me. She'd attempted to run away from her problems before and I knew that she could do it again if she felt strongly about it. Only this time so much more was at stake.

"What are you saying?" I asked hesitantly.

"I don't know yet," she said and sighed. "I need ... time to think. I only want what's best for you guys."

"If that's really true, then you'll stay," I said quietly and looked into her eyes to make sure she knew I meant it. "You're a friend now, Melody. We don't want you to go anywhere. Don't you know we love you?"

"I know," she smiled softly and hugged me close. "I love you all too."

When we pulled apart again, she bit her lower lip and asked, "Promise me you won't tell AJ what I just told you?"

Her question took me by surprise. "I can't promise you that," I said and shook my head. "If he asks anything, I have to tell him."

"Please do this for me, Brian," she pleaded. "I need time by myself, and if AJ interferes I won't be able to do what's right."

"You already know what's right, Mel," I remarked. "I won't say anything, but I'm not gonna lie about talking to you."

"Okay," she nodded. "That's all I ask."

A nervous pit began to form in my stomach as I looked at her closely. I had never seen such desperation in her eyes. AJ had told me how freaked out she'd been after the party where they got together. If her eyes had been anything like they were now, I didn't blame him for feeling as lost as he did.

"Will you give this to him?" she asked as she put the tape from the video camera into an envelope, along with a CD cover. "I made him something and I don't want it to come from me directly. Could you please drop it off at his house in a few hours?"

"Sure," I said hesitantly as I took the envelope hesitantly. "Are you sure you don't-?"

"I'm sure," she said quickly and sent me a halfhearted smile. "I'd appreciate it if you would."

I let out an exasperated sigh and smiled. "Have I ever been able to say no to you?" I asked and stuffed the envelope into my shoulder bag. "Now, I have something to give you too."

"Really?" she asked and raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

"I think you'll like it," I grinned as I pulled the content out of my bag, silently praying that it would bring her spirits up. "At least I hope so."

Her jaw dropped when she saw what I had in my hand. "It's finished already?" she exclaimed and grabbed the CD as she turned it back and forth and opened the case.

"Yep," I chuckled. "We start selling next week. We're officially finished with the album."

"I love the picture," she remarked with a sly grin and pointed to the cover. "I told you you looked cute in that one."

I blushed slightly, making her laugh again. "I look stupid in all of them," I remarked and wrinkled my nose displeased.

"One of these days you're gonna have to start taking my word for it," she smiled as she enveloped me in another hug. "Congratulations," she said softly. "People will be blown away by you for sure."

"If they do, it'll be because of you," I said as I pulled slightly away and looked at her. She shook her head and smiled halfheartedly. "Hey, one of these days you're gonna have to take my word for it," I remarked.

"Quit copying me," she chuckled and smacked my arm playfully. "I can't wait to hear it though."

"I thought you'd be sick of it by now."

"You're kidding me, right?"

I chuckled softly and stood up again. "Just make sure you check out the thank you's first," I said. "We all put a lot of work into them this time."

She looked up with a surprised expression, but I just smiled. "Just do as I tell you," I commanded and ruffled her hair. She chuckled softly.

"All right, I will. And Brian ... thank you."

"Anytime," I smiled softly. "I'll see you tomorrow."

She looked down and nervously fiddled with her hands. "Yeah, see you tomorrow," she said quietly and looked up again with a pasted smile on her face. "Say hi to Leigh for me."

"I will," I nodded and smiled softly. "Bye, Mel."

"Bye, Brian."

I turned around as I stepped out of the door and closed the door behind me. But my hand lingered on the doorknob as I felt compelled to stay. How come this goodbye felt so final?

*Melody*

I closed my eyes as soon as the door closed and allowed a sigh to escape my throat. This was so unfair. So difficult. But it was necessary.

I looked down at the CD in my hand and smiled softly. AJ looked so handsome in that picture. But then again, he always did. My curiosity got the better of me and I opened the booklet as I skimmed for the thank you's.

They were all pretty long this time and it took me a while to find what I was searching for. But when all the paragraphs had been found, I leaned back in my seat and read them so many times that my eyes watered up from constantly squinting them.

"The next one has to go out to you, Melody. Girl, 'amazing' is the only word to describe everything you are. You have an incredible talent and you know how to use it. The inspiration and smiles you've brought to my life is something I'll always be grateful for. A simple 'thank you' just can't express it. You make even the most boring day at work seem much easier to get through."

"A huge thank you goes to Melody for being possibly the best songwriter we've ever had the privilege of working with. You have improved everything about this album, as well as become a great friend to us. I personally can't find the words to tell you what an impact you've made on us all. If this album becomes a success, it will be because of you and your amazing talent."

"To Mel, for being there when I needed you. Which was practically all the time. Words can't express how much your friendship means to me. I think we all found ourselves a baby sister when we began working with you. Heaven truly found another angel in you and the Lord must pass his words through you to make your songs so angelic. And no, I'm not kidding you this time either."

"Of course, I can't write this without mentioning Melody as well. You deserve all the praise in the world for your determination and dedication to others. You're the most honest and decent person I know, and I can only hope to be like you one day. Working with you has been a privilege beyond words, 'cause you know much we value your talent, don't you? Thank you for being you."

"Without further ado, I want to thank the person that has made my world a better place to live in. Melody, nothing I can say could ever express how I feel. In you I found the one person who has stood by me no matter what, and I'm positive that I will spend the rest of my life with you in my heart. I'm left with nothing but the most simple and meaningful words in the world: I love you."

"God," I sobbed and held the booklet close to me like I was clutching on to life itself. "I love you too. So much."

My glance fell at the letter again and a heavy sigh escaped my throat as the sobs came to an end. This was what I had to do. As much as I wanted to stay, there was no way around it. AJ would be much better off without me in his life. Maybe sales would go up as well. Me staying certainly didn't enhance their chances of breaking any records.

With trembling fingers, I picked up the phone from the desk and dialled the familiar numbers. A muffled voice picked up, mumbling a groggy, "Hello?"

"Nick? It's Melody. Could you put Lorna on?"

"Oh," he said, still sounding confused. "Sorry Mel, I think I dozed off a minute there. Hang on for a second."

"Sure." I drummed my fingers on the table as the other end was silent for a while. After a moment, Lorna picked up the phone with a cheery, "Melody? Hey, hun."

"Hey," I said softly. "How are you?"

"Great," she said. "I was just taking a shower. I guess Nick fell asleep. He wasn't too slurry or anything, was he?"

I chuckled softly. "I got by," I said with a small smile.

"Oh well. Any particular reason you're calling?"

"Yes actually," I said and took in a deep breath. "I have something to tell you. Are you sitting down?"

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Chapter 31 » Chapter 33